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# Belford Tavern – Affordable Dive Bar in Chicago, IL

Belford Tavern is a beloved dive bar located at 3200 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL, known for its welcoming atmosphere and budget-friendly drinks. Established in a neighborhood rich with history, this tavern has become a local favorite for its cash-only policy and chilled beer served in oversized glasses. With a mix of regulars and newcomers, the bar fosters a sense of community, making it a great spot for casual hangouts. Reviewers often highlight the friendly staff and the vibrant, unpretentious vibe, making it a must-visit for anyone looking to experience the authentic Chicago bar scene.

## History
### The story of Belford Tavern
Belford Tavern has a storied history that reflects the evolution of Chicago's bar culture. The tavern's name pays homage to the intersection of Belmont and Pulaski, where it has stood for decades. Originally, the area was known for its diverse immigrant population, and the tavern has served as a gathering place for locals from various backgrounds. Its founding vision was to create a space where people could come together, enjoy affordable drinks, and share stories, a tradition that continues to this day.

### Milestones and growth
- **1933**: The tavern was established, coinciding with the repeal of Prohibition, allowing for the legal sale of alcohol in Chicago.
- **1970s**: The bar gained popularity among locals, becoming a staple in the community.
- **2000s**: Renovations were made to enhance the ambiance while retaining its dive bar charm.
- **Present**: Continues to thrive as a cash-only establishment, attracting a diverse clientele.

### Cultural and local influence
Belford Tavern has played a significant role in the local culture, serving as a microcosm of the neighborhood's history. It reflects the changing demographics of the area, where immigrants and long-time residents mingle. The tavern's affordability has made it a go-to spot for those seeking a genuine Chicago experience without breaking the bank. Its presence has also influenced nearby businesses, contributing to the area's vibrant social scene.

### Continuing the tradition
The tavern remains committed to its founding principles of affordability and community. Regular events, friendly service, and a welcoming atmosphere ensure that it continues to be a gathering place for locals. The staff, many of whom have been with the tavern for years, embody the spirit of hospitality that has made Belford Tavern a cherished institution in Chicago.

## Community
### Community involvement
Belford Tavern is more than just a bar; it is a community hub where locals come together to socialize and support one another. The tavern often hosts events that encourage community engagement, such as trivia nights and local sports viewing parties. These gatherings foster a sense of belonging and camaraderie among patrons, reinforcing the tavern's role as a cornerstone of the neighborhood.

### Community notion about the place
Locals regard Belford Tavern as a hidden gem, often praising its unpretentious vibe and affordability. Many describe it as a place where everyone knows each other, creating a friendly and inviting atmosphere. The tavern's reputation as a dive bar is embraced by its patrons, who appreciate the authenticity and character that come with it. This sense of familiarity and community spirit is a significant draw for both regulars and newcomers.

### Events and gatherings
The tavern hosts various events throughout the year, including holiday celebrations and themed nights that attract a diverse crowd. These gatherings often feature local musicians and entertainment, further enhancing the community feel. The bar's spacious layout allows for ample seating, making it an ideal venue for larger groups and celebrations, whether casual or festive.

## Offerings
### What Belford Tavern offers
Belford Tavern is known for its extensive drink menu, featuring a variety of beers at incredibly low prices. The tavern prides itself on providing a laid-back environment where patrons can enjoy their drinks without the pressures of a more upscale bar. The focus is on affordability and accessibility, making it a popular choice for those looking to unwind after a long day.

### Dining and food experience
While Belford Tavern primarily focuses on drinks, patrons are welcome to bring their own food, which adds to the casual dining experience. Many locals enjoy ordering from nearby eateries, creating a unique blend of flavors and cuisines that can be enjoyed in the tavern's welcoming atmosphere. This flexibility allows guests to customize their experience while enjoying their favorite beverages.

### Events and packages
Belford Tavern often features drink specials, including discounted drafts and unique cocktails that cater to a variety of tastes. The bar's events, such as happy hours and themed nights, provide excellent opportunities for patrons to socialize and enjoy great deals. These offerings contribute to the tavern's reputation as a budget-friendly destination for both locals and visitors.

### Facilities and features
- **Cash-only transactions**
- **Large selection of beers**
- **Friendly and welcoming staff**
- **Spacious seating area**
- **Televisions for sports viewing**
- **Parking available in the back**
- **Bring your own food policy**

## Pros and Cons
### Key insights from reviews
Reviews of Belford Tavern highlight its affordability, friendly atmosphere, and unique dive bar charm. Many patrons appreciate the low prices and the welcoming environment, making it a popular choice for casual outings. However, some reviews mention that the bar's dive status may not appeal to everyone, particularly those seeking a more upscale experience.

### Compliments and strengths
- **Affordable drink prices**: Many patrons rave about the low-cost beers and specials.
- **Friendly staff**: The bartenders and regulars create a welcoming environment.
- **Community vibe**: The tavern fosters a sense of belonging among locals.

### Contrasts and notable mentions
- **Dive bar atmosphere**: While many enjoy the unpretentious vibe, some may find it too casual.
- **Cash-only policy**: This can be inconvenient for those who prefer card payments.
- **Limited food options**: The bring-your-own-food policy may not suit everyone.

### Summary evaluation
Overall, Belford Tavern is a beloved dive bar that offers an authentic Chicago experience. Its affordability, friendly atmosphere, and community involvement make it a standout choice for those looking to enjoy a casual drink in a welcoming environment. While it may not cater to everyone's tastes, its loyal clientele speaks to its charm and appeal.

## Location & Nearby Attractions
Belford Tavern is situated in the Avondale neighborhood of Chicago, specifically at 3200 N Pulaski Rd. This area is known for its diverse community and vibrant local culture. The tavern's location makes it easily accessible for both locals and visitors. Nearby attractions include various restaurants and shops, providing ample opportunities for dining and entertainment before or after a visit to the tavern. The neighborhood's rich history and cultural diversity add to the overall experience of visiting Belford Tavern.

## FAQs
**What are the drink prices at Belford Tavern** The drink prices are very affordable, with many beers starting at just $2.

**Is there food available at Belford Tavern** No, but patrons can bring their own food from nearby restaurants.

**What is the atmosphere like at Belford Tavern** The atmosphere is friendly and casual, typical of a dive bar.

**Is Belford Tavern cash only** Yes, the tavern operates on a cash-only basis.

**Are there events at Belford Tavern** Yes, the tavern hosts various events and themed nights throughout the year.

## Visit Belford Tavern Today
Belford Tavern invites you to experience its unique charm and affordability. With a rich history and a strong sense of community, this dive bar offers a welcoming atmosphere for all. Enjoy budget-friendly drinks, engage with friendly locals, and immerse yourself in the authentic Chicago bar scene. Whether you're a longtime resident or just passing through, Belford Tavern is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to unwind and enjoy a cold drink.

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I read Chicago Magazine and sometime within the last 3 to 4 years Ted McClelland wrote an article about exploring Belmont avenue. He mentions this bar. The prices are pretty inexpensive. It is cash only. They ice/ chill the glasses they serve the beer in. It is certainly "dive" "corner tavern" kind of bar. I chose the schooner of MGD because I don't really see the beer places anymore. Like Miller Lite and Miller High life are way more popular these days. I don't work over the summer and there happened to be lots of senior citizens here in the middle of day and definitely noteworthy to get some wisdom from older folks that are still being active+ having fun.

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Good vibes. Good homies. Good chill. If you know you know. Cold beers. Tight peoples.

85e7e2dd-04c7-4cf4-a5b8-1a8d902545f9

Little dive with reasonable drink prices. All of the bottles literally labeled with the price haha. Cash only Staff friendly

dc3083dd-d94b-4cf9-84c9-d274e7ebe45f

DON'T over pay for beer anywhere else!! This is the best bang for your buck. Great local bar. DON'T be discouraged when you first walk in. This bar/liqourstore Has the most competitive prices you will find. It's full of regulars that have been comeing here for decades. Everybody is super friendly. Plenty of seats. It also has alot of people that have a schooner on the run while they wait for the bus. The crowd changes every half hour since people don't camp out here. If you have $3.50 this is the place that has the Bang for your buck. Free parking in the back by the alley. You can bring your own food.The bar/service is the best in town jim/billy/johnny have been serving them up since before i was born.

5c14989d-e8ff-4e80-925a-e9fe12a44ee2

I'm just going to take a moment here and be thankful for the wonderful area I live in, full of great low-key restaurant gems, great choice of chain restaurants, and of course, some wonderful dive bars. Belford Tavern is one of those wonderful dive bars more people should know about. One of the more well lit bars I've been to, Belford Tavern appeals to a lot of people for the same reason: It's extremely affordable to get your drink on here! As little as $2 drafts and a .50 cent to dollar upgrade if you want a 'fishbowl' draft (which is like an 18oz drink I believe). You got your standard MGD, Bud Light and Hamm's drinks on draft, but there's also some Chicago craft favorites like Revolution Brewing ($3 Anti-Hero's...can't go wrong there). Not an intimidating crowd over at the bar, just a bunch of positive beer loving folks watching some sports, which creates the ultimate vibe for anyone passing through for a drink or two. Right on the corner of Belmont and Pulaski, this is one of the spots that no one can pass up. Great food choices surrounding the establishment too (Papa Rays especially).

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The regal-sounding Belford Tavern keeps with the long, strange Chicago tradition of naming businesses on the streets they intersect near. The Beachwood Inn (Beach & Wood Streets), the Bel-Long Pantry (Belmont & Long), even Sears' Homart brand (Homan & Arthington, where the old Sears HQ once stood) are all shining examples. The Belford, at Belmont & Pulaski, was around before the name change from Crawford Avenue to Pulaski Road by Mayor Ed Kelly in 1933. I challenge each and every one of you that has claimed to step foot in a dive bar to try this place out. I am a seasoned veteran of many, many decrepit, stinky, dank, and downright scary joints. I have seen things that would make Travis Bickle's skin crawl. And this, my friends, is the diviest of all of the watering holes I've ever seen. I knew when I moved into the neighborhood in January that I had to check this bar out. Unlike other dive bars that shun sunlight so that you can forget that it's daytime, this place embraces it. Its large windows and glass door let in so much light that you might as well be at a street festival in the summer. The Sox sign in the window, the domestic beer signs, and the corner-hugging way the bar stands were all textbook dive bar. But this place was more than that. Much, much more. If you come in here at night, you'll notice that the bar has flourescent lights on that exude the ambiance of a hallway of a government building built in 1950. Whatever time of day, you're sure to get stared down and even jeered at. But not by one or two lonely souls. By about thirty of them. My third time there, earlier today, I walked in to a Chilean girl (I found that out later) and some Mexicans yelling "Myspace!" at me. Was it my messenger bag that tipped them off that I wasn't one of them? I sat down and ordered a bottle of Miller Lite. $2.25. The bartender, Jimmy, asked if I was Polish. I told him no and laughed and he told me I looked European. Everyone was drinking this mixture of tap beer (MGD) with raspberry "Cracovia" syrup - Jimmy said "to sweeten". I figured, when in Rome and got some. A huge challice of beer for $2! No wonder it was so popular. It actually wasn't half bad. You could also get a 12 oz pint for $1 or a shot for $2.50-4. Everyone in here was smoking. Except for maybe the dogs, one of which was too busy shitting all over the place. The girl that was holding him started yelling until Jimmy provided her a (single) napkin that she cleaned the dog off with. Quite a few men thought this was funny. Most didn't notice. If you want to take in a modern day version of what an immigrant's pub must have been like in 1915, come here. You've got about 5 different languages being spoken, probably most of what I couldn't understand was peppered with curse words. Most of the guys here were actually pretty funny. One time my young-looking friend Greg ordered a beer and a Miller hat-wearing mullet asked if he was old enough to drive. The faded, yellow 1985 Bears poster. The Hydrogen Peroxide stored right next to the vodka. The Lottery Machine (and drunks buying lotto tickets). The fact that this place doubles as a liqour store with no store, just a few racks of booze. The front and back doors. The security camera TV shooting the parking lot out back. The booths. The 6:30am opening time. The random closing times. The rowdy immigrants. So just remember, while you're out there munching on your tagine at Lula or drinking your La Fin du Monde at the Map Room, there are still rowdy immigrants trying to whet their whistle same as you. This is their place. Cheers to them.

5e3c6621-ddf7-4925-83f1-b5a95afd42fc

This place looks just like a Greyhound station with one exception- they serve beer. The beer is served in giant goblets, and is so inexpensive that a homeless guy living under a bridge could buy a couple of drinks to wile away his time staying in from the cold. I actually had a really nice conversation with the guy, apparently a sincere hardworking fellow who happened to be out of a job. You might say a Yelpster has no business being here, but I disagree. Maybe not a good place to meet other Yelpsters, but there's something this place holds on to that is gradually fading in trendier neighborhoods closer to the lake. There's some truth in the notion that lower class are genuinely more friendly (now science has proven it! See http://www.windsorstar.com/Technology/Rich+more+aloof+than+poor+Study/1262344/story.html). Case in point- there's another regular here, commemorated in a Lucky Lottery poster, who won over a million bucks- and still drinks here. Unlike my homeless friend, he has a reputation for tipping poorly. With Busch at $1.50, millionaires could buy 600,000 cans of this for just a million bucks. But if you're here you might as well chat with your neighbors, who are just as likely as anyone to launch into a philosophical discussion, minus the Ivy-League vocabulary, about life itself. When debates get tense, at the end of the day this is a bar where the regulars all know each other by name- they forgive and welcome you back the next day with a new nickname. We're all human, after all- you may be worried about starting your car, I may worry about whether my CTA bus will ever show up, my homeless friend just hopes it's not too icy to roll his shopping cart back to his bridge. With all the open windows and the location at a major intersection, this place is consistently safe and friendly, especially compared to dives just south in Avondale. I drank out their supply of Zamkowe so they don't got that Polish classic anymore, but this place isn't running out of beer anytime soon.

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"Woohoo! As good as it gets!" ^ This is pretty true for the instance I went there. I live right down the street for the last year, always looked in, but had never went there. I walked in, sat down, said what's up to the bartender who was a younger dude. I asked for an MGD, which was their $2 special every day. He brought me this giant goblet of goldeny amazingness. Some people there say the crowd is older. I chatted it up with a younger guy and a girl who were nice dudes. After a free shot of Rumpleminz and another beer, I decided i'd be coming back many, many times. I'd probably go if I had to drive, but I can see the place from my house, so, game on. The people are nice, the older dudes stared at me like they wanted to kill me, but what do you want in Avondale? Apparently a Tanq and Tonic is $3 Seriously? See you tonight. Ha.

973e67bd-649a-46a9-bcda-913ae4efa283

Parking lot in back. Back Door. Local News is ALWAYS on one of the TVs. Order the 16oz bottle of polish beer. Best time to go is during day light so you can watch the corner, one of the best spots to observe the comings and goings of the work a day folk who put the work in the city that........ YES it is a 'dive' but far from scary. Always brightly lit and really bad plastic restaurant furniture. To find a better place to drink and absorb true local culture you need to go to Archer Heights. Vintage cocktail tray behind the bar that says "If you are insulted by what we serve you PLEASE DRINK THE INSULT"

ab6b3308-e656-4855-9e8e-c662e2a52c9d

Can't beat $3 Anti-Hero everyday... sooo tired of paying $6 for a beer. Tax included on drinks and it's cash only

Discover Belford Tavern in Chicago for a unique dining experience. Enjoy delicious food in a vibrant atmosphere. Visit us today and indulge your senses.

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