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Best Country Bars In Chicago

Looking for a place to listen to some Sugarland, Luke Bryan and other country music superstars? Or searching for a great place where you can find other country music aficionados while wearing your cowboy boots? Then look no further than these five country bars, who make their places even more 'country' as some of them organize 'country nights' complete with drink specials and more.
Country
(Photo Credit: www.firewatersaloonchicago.com)

Firewater Saloon
6689 N. Oliphant Ave.
Chicago, IL 60631
(773) 631-0020
www.firewatersaloonchicago.com

Head over to this Edison Park country bar, especially on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights when it features live music (with local bands as well as other bands from all over the country) as well as Wednesdays for some line dance lessons. When you're not dancing to the country music, kick back and take your pick of over 78 beers. Rather have a cocktail? Firewater has a great assortment of those too, as well as moonshine shots.

The Pony
1638 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 828-5055
www.theponychicago.com

This West Lakeview/Roscoe Village bar isn't just country because of all the wood paneling. It also plays plenty of country music (among other current hits). Pair that with all of the personal TVs around the bar, and lots of great comfort food, and you've got the makings of a great modern day country bar. Plus, it is a Texas A&M bar.

Charlie's Chicago
3726 N. Broadway St.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 871-8887
www.charlieschicago.com

Part country western, part disco, and most definitely a gay bar, you're guaranteed a great time at this Boystown bar, whether you're male or female. That's because the dance floor is perfect. Don't know how to dosey do? No problem. Come by on Monday and Friday nights and you can take dance lessons and learn the two-step and line dance -- for free! Just be forewarned: late at night, the bar switches from country music to disco.

Related: Best Southwestern Food in Chicago

Pitchfork
(Photo Credit: Pitchfork Food & Saloon's Facbeook)

Pitchfork Chicago
2922 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 866-2010
www.pitchforkchicago.com

Pitchfork offers more than 100 whiskeys on its drink menu. Want another reason to visit? This Irving Park neighborhood bar is a  corner saloon all the way down to the brick walls. But if you really want the total country experience, be sure to go on country night, a.k.a. Thursday night, when Pitchfork plays some country music to go with its southern pub food. Country night also features some great specials, including a $12 full slab of ribs as well as 1/2 price bourbon and $12 Bud Light buckets.

Houndstooth Saloon
3369 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 244-1166
www.houndstoothsaloon.com

This Wrigleyville bar may be an Alabama bar, but, at its heart, it's a country bar through and through. And if you need more proof, just head there on a Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday night, which are all designated 'country nights.' Houndstooth has food and drink specials galore, but even better, the DJ sometimes gives away tickets to local country music concerts, and come the summer country concert down in Tinley Park, Houndstooth organizes a bus to and from there.

Related: Ask a Chicago Expert: Fall Comfort Food Recipes

Elizabeth SanFilippo is a freelance writer, who enjoys trying new foods from all over the world. But her favorite city for culinary treats will always be Chicago. When not writing about food, she's writing about a variety of topics for numerous websites and blogs, and working part-time at a culinary vacation company based in the Windy City. Some of her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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