Bar guide: Avondale

ALICE’S LOUNGE

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One of the best worst decisions you can make on a Saturday night at 3 AM, Alice’s is quite probably the city’s best late-night karaoke spot. Filled with laser lights, fog, and the clever and off-color quips of karaoke keeper Fred Wood, the “stage” is often surrounded by a host of locals swigging domestics and singing along to every lyric of “Sussudio.” The weekends will get bonkers, but the bartenders (Alice included) are efficient and pleasant, and the door guy rules if you lay off the guff. On packed nights you’ll likely only get to sing once, so cozy up to one of the many baskets of snack mix and do some shots of Malort. —KEVIN WARWICK 3556 W. Belmont,

773-279-9382.

EDELWEISS TAVERN

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Formerly known as Wee Willy’s, this spacious but cozy watering hole updated its name to Edelweiss Tavern when it came under new ownership a while back. The scene remains pretty much untouched, though: drinks are cheap and strong, and the locals are friendly and not shy about sidling right up to pal around. The TV duo hanging behind the bar makes this an ideal spot to catch a Tuesday-night Bulls game with a couple of buds.

—KEVIN WARWICK 3808 W. Belmont, 773-293-7707.

REED’S LOCAL

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After the purchase of bare-bones Avondale watering hole Wally’s Lounge—owned and operated for decades by its namesake, an elderly European charmer with an encyclopedic knowledge of dirty jokes and a bar stocked with perverted gag toys— my worst fear was that it would be gutted and transformed into a highfalutin’ fancy-pants craft cocktail bar (see: Logan Square). Luckily, new owner Joel Hill—along with brother Trevor and wife Melissa—have kept the dive-bar concept intact. They spiffed the joint up a little bit by adding more seating, some fresh coats of paint, and a couple vintage arcade games, as well as giving it the name Reed’s Local—in tribute to the Hill brothers’ late father—but it remains a good neighborhood spot to visit for a cheap-as-hell shot-and-beer combo (an Old Crow and can of Hamm’s is only four bucks) and some pleasant run-ins with locals. —LUCA CIMARUSTI 3017

W. Belmont, 872-806-0520.

REVOLUTION BREWING TAP ROOM

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Maybe Revolution Brewing caters to the bearded midwestern beer nerd, but you’ll have difficulty not enjoying yourself at the brewery’s tap room even if you don’t know the difference between a lager and a porter. A warm and comfortable spot housed within the brewing complex, the tap room rotates 14 of the brand’s beers on draft for reasonable prices. You can drink them at the long bar, on a loungey sofa, or while playing a heated round of shuffleboard. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer a view of the brewery’s inner workings, including canning lines and fermentation tanks. There are also guided tours of the brewery. —LUCA CIMARUSTI 3340 N. Kedzie,

773-227-2739, revbrew.com/brewery.

SMALL BAR

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Around since 1907, this cozy corner spot with its brick walls and tin ceiling represents the most old-school and authentic hangout of the Small Bar brand. The beer list is extensive, featuring 60-odd international and craft brews—a chalkboard lists the names of the impressive beers on tap (expect a new Three Floyds concoction most of the time). With its friendly staff and neighborhood ambience, this place epitomizes unpretentious class. —KEVIN WARWICK 2956 N. Albany, 773-509-9888, thesmallbar.com/ logan.