The Dandy Crown

“We hosted a birthday party on the second floor and it was great! Plenty of space indoors and outdoors, and the service was wonderful - the event coordinators made everything easy! We'll definitely be back :-)”

“Wonderful British inspired bar here in the heart of West Town, Chicago. We love the decorations on the inside as well as their covered patio. We came here right after Christmas time and we love the idea of the gas fireplace is on their heated patio. They had a wonderful selection of specialty drinks and cocktails for the holiday season. Steve our bartender was wonderful and attentive! We definitely will be back!”

“This was a fun venue for a group party. Big outdoor space and cozy inside space. The slider appetizers were great and everyone liked their drinks and the beer and wine was also great. The servers (Nigel and another one) were very nice but our group was a bit too big for these two folks that we had so it was a bit slow. I would think that it’s normally pretty great in that department as well. Liked it also and look forward to coming back! VictorB”

“My husband and I recently hosted a wedding celebration / farewell party at The Dandy Crown for our US friends and family. When searching for the ideal venue, I stumbled upon the Dandy Crown, a bar neither of us had been to before, but were immediately drawn to the vibe and character of the place based on all the photos available online. In person, the venue did not disappoint. We absolutely loved the cozy, laid back yet sophisticated aesthetic. We we wanted to avoid booking a venue that would lead to our guests sequestering themselves or sticking to groups of people they already knew. The Dandy Crown was perfect for the mood were were seeking to create. The venue features a gorgeous outdoor patio on the first level, and a smaller but equally charming outside balcony off the second level. Beautiful deep emerald and blue couches and chairs are appropriately scattered, and there's even a fireplace on the first floor. The couches and side tables as well as the placement of the bar and wall of appetizers and other dishes helped create an environment where it was natural for guests to mingle and move around about the space, interacting with different groups. Events Manager Maria Castillo went above and beyond to ensure everything for our party matched our vision. She worked with us for weeks on the menu -- ensuring that all of our guests with allergies and other dietary restrictions would have plenty to eat. She coordinated the use of the space, the menu, the drinks, everything in such a professional and warm manner. Anytime I emailed Maria with a question, she responded promptly and made sure I had all the information I needed. Maria made us feel confident and stress-free going into the event, and on the night of, she was there to make sure everything went smoothly. The bartenders and kitchen staff were all equally wonderful. Everyone was friendly, on top of their tasks, and seemed to genuinely enjoy interacting with us and our guests. I cannot say enough good things about the staff. My husband and I had never rented out a venue or bar to host anything before. We went into the process not knowing what to expect -- not even really knowing how to determine the menu, but Maria and her Team guided us the whole way and made the planning process straightforward and relaxed. In the days following the party, many of our guests reached out to us to thank us for such a fun night and commented specifically on the excellence of The Dandy Crown and staff.”

“Went to Dandy Crown for happy hour drinks and snacks with a friend yesterday (Fri night) and had mixed feelings overall. The service was genuinely excellent, multiple staff members checked on us throughout the evening and everyone was friendly, attentive, and welcoming. Unfortunately, the patio atmosphere really took away from the experience. Several parents brought young children who spent much of the evening screaming and disrupting the space, making it difficult to hold a conversation or relax. I understand that families are welcome, but this is still a bar/restaurant environment, not a playground, and parents should be mindful of whether their children can behave appropriately in that kind of setting. Ironically, the dogs on the patio were calmer and better behaved than some of the kids. The pricing also felt pretty steep for what we received. My Aperol Spritz was $14 and a soft pretzel was $10 before tax and tip. My friend ordered the jalapeno herb wings, and they were unfortunately a miss both visually and taste-wise. They arrived looking like a pile covered in green chunky muck, and she found them flavorless and unappetizing enough that she ended up ordering additional food later because she was still hungry. The staff was wonderful, but between the chaotic patio environment and the underwhelming food-to-price ratio, I’m not sure I’d return.”