Declans Irish Pub, Chicago

Pub proprietor Declan draws from his childhood experiences at his parents' tavern in Belfast to re-create an authentically Irish bar experience in Chicago's Old Town. The charming décor, marked by sturdy, leather-topped stools, vintage European posters, and a 140-year-old mahogany bar, comforts guests as they chat over a draft Guinness, relax with a tasty plate of fish 'n' chips, or try to read the first 20 pages of _Finnegans Wake_ before giving up. Patrons sip Irish whisky or sup from a [menu](http://gr.pn/yWrJQ2) of burgers, steaks, and pub-fare appetizers while cheering on their favorite teams on the flatscreen TVs. In addition to the soft-lit, mahogany-lined caverns of the main bar, Declan's friendly staff serves drinks to parties on the expansive patio or to jubilant gatherings in the private party room upstairs.