The Kerryman Review & Bathroom Guide
Chicago, Illinois
The Kerryman might be my favorite place to get a pint in Chicago. Proper pints, a clean, polished pub, and that true neighborhood-pub feeling. That’s the craic.
Source published July 2026
First-hand Shooki editorial
Shooki’s Review of The Kerryman
By Shooki · Source published July 2026
The Kerryman might be my favorite place to get a pint in Chicago. Proper pints, a clean, polished pub, and that true neighborhood-pub feeling. That’s the craic.
Now, the pub.
I’m going to make what may sound like a ridiculous statement:
The Kerryman might be my favorite place to get a pint in Chicago.
I’ve been to Ireland a few times, and there are standards that need to be followed if you’re going to call yourself a proper Irish pub.
Most places in America miss it.
They hang a few shamrocks, pour a bad Guinness into the wrong glass, play “Shipping Up to Boston,” and call it authentic.
The Kerryman feels different.
The owners come from County Kerry, hence the name, and you can see that influence in the details. Proper pints. Fresh flowers outside. A clean, polished pub that still feels like a neighborhood place instead of an Irish-themed amusement park.
And the menu doesn’t stop at basic pub food.
You can get a legitimate steak, a nice glass of wine, or a proper cocktail if Guinness isn’t what you’re after. There’s lunch, dinner, brunch, a patio, and enough late-night hours to let the evening become whatever it’s going to become.
Most importantly, the place has that true neighborhood-pub feeling.
Walk in alone and there’s a good chance you won’t stay that way. Whether you like it or not, somebody will start talking to you, and twenty minutes later, you’ve apparently made a new best friend.
That’s the craic.
Best for
- A proper pint and some good craic
- A neighborhood pub where you might make a new best friend
- Food, a steak, wine or a proper cocktail if Guinness isn’t what you’re after
Less ideal for
- Paper towels — I reported hand dryers only during my visit
- Keeping entirely to yourself when the neighborhood-pub conversation starts
The Shooki Bathroom Review
First-party restroom record · Source published July 2026
Restroom verdict
Clean, easy to get to, and built to handle a crowd during my visit. My only real complaint is the amenities. Give the people paper towels. Still, a solid 7/10.
- Restroom inventory
- 1 reviewed area — 1 shared men’s restroom; total venue room count unknown
- Review coverage
- Photos establish one shared restroom with two urinals, two basins, soap dispensers and a pump bottle, two toilet stalls, toilet paper, grab rails in one stall and two hand dryers. The men’s designation is inferred from the urinals rather than a photographed MEN sign. My caption reports hand dryers only; no paper towels appear in the original stills. Other rooms, full building inventory, complete fixture totals beyond the photographs and stall lock operation were not established.
- Room reviewed
- One shared restroom with urinals from my Kerryman visit
- Accessibility status
- Unknown · The restrooms were accessible and easy to reach during my visit, and one photographed stall has grab rails. An elevator was photographed, but its operation and full route were not verified. Complete routes, measurements and accessibility compliance were not verified.
- Why this score
- Clean restrooms, easy access and strong capacity during my visit. The basic amenities and hand-dryer-only setup were my main complaint. 7/10.
- Layout
- I reviewed one shared restroom area with urinals. A men’s door designation was not photographed, and complete venue room and fixture totals were not recorded.
- Capacity
- I described strong capacity during my visit. Complete venue room and fixture totals were not recorded.
This is a very useful Shooki if you’re walking around Chicago and need somewhere accessible to make a quick stop—while still having the option to stay for a proper pint, food, and some good craic.
The restrooms were clean, easy to get to, and built to handle a crowd. My only real complaint is the amenities. My followers already know I’m not a fan of hand-dryer-only situations. Give the people paper towels.
Still, a solid 7/10.