O'Leary's Packer House. Chicago, Illinois

541 North Wells Street

Guinness Tag: $8.00 | Overall Rating: 7.00

Today's Dedicated Pint: Tom Dury

The owner of this place is dedicated to the Pub and perhaps a little more dedicated towards the Green Bay Packers. Located in River North of Chicago, O'Leary's offers cheeseheads a safe place to watch Packer's games inside Bears country. Aside from the impressive collection of old-timey Guinness signs throughout the wall space, you'll find about 10 TVs scattered throughout the inside for a fantastic NFL spectating experience.

It recently extended its hours until 1AM and it's a short walk from the Mag-Mile, so if you're visiting Chicago then you don't really have an excuse not to snag a Guinness here. Their Guinness comes in at one of the cheapest in the city at 8 bucks in exchange, which is poured in a traditional pint glass with an average finish. They have a good whiskey selection that won't bust your wallet and the beers on tap are definitely worthy of the nod. Smithwick's is always a good second option whenever I'm not feeling like a Guinness, and they supplied me with one.

My favorite thing about the place is the curb appeal, believe it or not. What I'm about to say will be an unpopular opinion; but their "O'Leary's Public House" sign out front is my favorite sign in Chicago. I'm obsessed with how much the green and gold colors pop on this building, and the lettering pops out of the wall in such a vibrant way (especially the shamrocks). It provides that classic look and feel whenever you think of an Irish Pub in the states.

Speaking of their curb appeal, the patio is huge, and it provides a great deal of greenery during the warmer months. Dogs will love O'Leary's as well, as they are greeted at the door with water and a big bowl of snacks =).

As you enter the place you'll notice some pretty high ceilings that make it feel like you're in an attic of some degree. There's a little loft that overlooks the bar and it only has three tiny tables, I love it. The furniture is incredibly worn in, giving off a "used and abused" feel but in a good way. Exposed brick circumnavigates your eyeballs and there's wooden paneling that isn't the most appealing thing I've ever seen. The bar itself has been in place for over 100 years which is neat, and the mirrors that nestle within the bar have been recently updated.

There's a jukebox for the finger snappers, a Golden Tee machine for the athletic bunch, and a small toiletry for those drinking light beer. The place as a whole is your typical spot to grab a drink with some rowdy football fans. You can find cheap food and drinks with any game on the TV that you crave. There aren't any bells and whistles but who cares? It gets the job done.

I like this place, although, I may not be in a rush to ever step foot in here again, I did enjoy my time with these fine folks. The owner is a nice guy, the bartender was engaging, and the crowd was inviting. Slainte, O'Leary's!