Hopleaf

HopleafHopleaf
HopleafHopleaf
Bar, Eatery

5148 N Clark St
Chicago, Illinois, 60640-2828
United States

(773) 334-9851 | map
hopleaf.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.48
Reviews:
200
Ratings:
366
pDev:
9.38%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Landsbrew:
Photo of Landsbrew
Rated by Landsbrew

4.64/5  rDev +3.6%

Oct 14, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of snaotheus
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington

4.28/5  rDev -4.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4
I went here like 20 years ago with my then-girlfriend-now-wife and some of her friends and really enjoyed it. I decided to make a point of visiting again this time I was in Chicago. I had dinner and three beers, one Belgian and two local.

It feels mostly like a restaurant, except with a heavy beer focus. Servers were friendly and attentive, quality of everything I experienced was great. Plenty of interesting stuff in a pretty wide variety available to drink.

I had a pork chop, it was great. I might go back tomorrow.

100% would recommend.
Jun 12, 2023
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.89/5  rDev +9.2%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4.75
God's gift to Chicago. A world-class beer bar, with fabulous food, plenty of space and fantastic decor (tons of vintage beer ads, signs & glassware). Everything on the menu is worth having, and the draft list is to die for, even if you DON'T like Belgian beer (their specialty). If you have one night in Chicago & love beer, go here. I'm serious.
Feb 17, 2023
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

4.54/5  rDev +1.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.5
A Belgo-phile's classic gastropub, probably premier in Chicago.
My bad not to have visited until today. But... very glad I did.
Sat in the jardin de bière on a warm summer day. Protected from the sun by Karmeliet umbrellas and lush trees.
A great place to refresh and made the bar (of traditional character) seem average (even tho the bar is above average.)
As a Belgo-phile the quality of the offerings are impressive, despite my having drank almost all of them. I have to conclude that Hopleaf has good taste. Service was unusually good. I chatted with the bartender before going to beer garden. (He encouraged me to go to the garden; possibly thinking I was so talkative it might interfere with other customers.) Service in the garden was fine and the Selection, as I implied, impeccable. It was mid-afternoon, so all I ate were the frites. But they were good enough to rave.

After a quarter century of living here, I need to go back to Hopleaf a second time ... and soon.
Jul 30, 2022
 
Rated: 4.64 by Archfiend from Illinois

Oct 03, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by slasich from Pennsylvania

May 16, 2020
 
Rated: 4.59 by BSEDS from Illinois

Nov 19, 2018
 
Rated: 4.34 by metter98 from New York

Oct 27, 2018
 
Rated: 4.5 by mattmarka1 from Minnesota

Sep 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4.64 by Rubezahl from Pennsylvania

Jul 30, 2018
Photo of West_Chester_Ale_Tester
Reviewed by West_Chester_Ale_Tester from Ohio

4.33/5  rDev -3.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
Another fantastic spot in Chicago to drink beer. If you aren't a big brewery person and like variety, this is the spot. It feels very Chicago and has a taplist to envy. I was lucky enough to grab a seat by the window and got to enjoy some great beer in a great city. You should go, anytime you're in Chicago. It's always worth it.
May 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.44 by kidzord from Illinois

Feb 17, 2018
Photo of sb17
Reviewed by sb17 from Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +7.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
I stopped in on a busy night, so I had to head upstairs to a second bar area. Tons of selections (not exaggerating - at least 60 taps, with additional brews in bottles or cans). There are hard to find beers, and everything I tried was fresh and delicious. I didn't eat here, but what I saw looked great. It's dark and homey, filled with brew-related decor and worn in furniture. During my time there I saw couples and families, both young and old.
Dec 27, 2017
 
Rated: 4.59 by wjbent from Florida

Sep 25, 2017
Photo of DoubleSimcoe
Reviewed by DoubleSimcoe from Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev -6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25
One of Chicago's classic beer bars... and my first visit here after 13 years of coming to Chicago. Chill, neighborhoody ambience, jazz music, breeze coming through the open doors in this beautiful late summer day... nice.

They have two bars, a mezzanine, a dining room and a great garden patio.

Good-but-not-great draft menu with a ton of Chicago-Illinois-Midwest brews plus goodies from Warpigs!!

Check out the Belgian drafts (outstanding) and the bottle menus as well.
Aug 25, 2017
Photo of Hibernator
Reviewed by Hibernator from Massachusetts

4.76/5  rDev +6.2%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 5
I would like to think that I've been to some of the best beer bars in the country during the past 15 years or so as my appreciation for craft beer has blossomed and Hopleaf in Chicago is among the best on that list.

After a exploratory Friday afternoon visit of walking around downtown Chicago and having the opportunity to check out the Rolling Stones Exhibit showcase at Navy Pier, we headed to the hotel room to freshen up before meeting up with a good friend (Shoutout to D-Ball).

We decided to pre-game at Sweetwater Tavern close to the hotel for a beer and then hopped in an Uber and made the trek north to Hopleaf, fighting the infamous rush hour Chicago traffic in the process. The weather was hot and muggy, profiling a typical end of July weather vibe in the air.

Upon arrival, the neon beer signs in the window were the equivalent of a lighthouse providing direction to a misguided boat at sea. Once we walked in, I detected a relaxed and welcoming vibe in the air. The atmosphere was dimly lit by candle light, tin beer signs of the finest breweries decorated the wall and captivating blues music played over the speakers.

This place is tastefully decorated with breweriana memorabilia or other beer related collectibles. I don't remember seeing a TV here and that deserves recognition not as a statement against TV, but rather what the absence of TV in social setting can do among patrons in a bar; it provides the avenue for people to focus on a good conversation, appreciate the music and most importantly, the opportunity to focus on the wonderful beer being consumed.

I typically like to recite portions of the beer lists at places I visit in my reviews, but I would not do it justice if I decided to do that in this case. The focus here is on Belgian beers with an extensive list and phenomenal offerings. Quality was top notch as all of the beers I sampled were served in appropriate glassware, accentuating the marvelous qualities of each rare brew.

When in Chicago, this is an extraordinary beer bar destination. I was completely impressed and hope to revisit in the future. Hopleaf rekindled my love and appreciation for Belgian beer and will remember this visit for many years to come.
Jul 25, 2017
 
Rated: 4.85 by NappyB from Illinois

Jun 06, 2017
 
Rated: 4.6 by BarrelAgedG from California

May 10, 2017
Photo of Hopheadjeffery
Reviewed by Hopheadjeffery from Illinois

4.66/5  rDev +4%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.25 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
I have visited several times and will continue to return. The food has always been very good. The beer selection is impressive. They have 64 taps and a long list of cans and bottles. There is an off-list menu of rare bottling's as well. Recommended.
May 03, 2017
 
Rated: 4.21 by cryptichead from Illinois

Feb 25, 2017
Photo of REVZEB
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

4.69/5  rDev +4.7%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75
This is a special place to us, a sanctuary for beer lovers. The vibe takes me back to locales in Europe I adore, the vintage signs all over tell their own story, as does the bar. The patio is great escape too. Hopleaf is thoughtful in the cultivation of the beers they offer, if it is on the lists it is quality. Diverse styles, there is always lambic in bottle too, and hello there are always a fleet of Belgians on tap, please don’t ever lose this HL. This is probably unfair, but the selection got a tiny reduction as the bottle list is smaller than it used to be. I get it with market trends but I loved find a hidden gem there too, still can. Love the food, I am not a mussels guy but those I have dined with swear by them. Appreciate the ambience too, as long as it isn’t weekend nights it is chill and no one under 21 allowed helps, as controversial to others as that may be. This is a must stop when in the city!

Update: they now have house beers from art history that are fantastic, as well as special taps of Revolution deep woods series including exclusive one-offs. They keep picking some of my favorites, love it!
Feb 21, 2017
 
Rated: 4.36 by needMIbeer from Virginia

Aug 13, 2016
 
Rated: 4.75 by juneof44 from Texas

Jun 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.93 by Stezz420 from Illinois

Jun 06, 2016
Photo of williamsgodfrey
Reviewed by williamsgodfrey from Illinois

4.78/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75
This is likely my favorite place in the entire city of Chicago. I currently live about 1.5 miles away and probably make it in here once a week or so. Phenomenal service, great atmosphere (no TVs!), a huge, huge selection (something like 70 rotating beers on tap and about 300-400 on the bottle menu) with an emphasis on Belgians, and the food is great. Hopleaf is recognized as one of the first "gastropubs," whatever you might interpret that to be.

If you are in Chicago, or visiting Chicago, this place should be a must visit.
Jun 02, 2016
Photo of BSiegs
Reviewed by BSiegs from Illinois

4.46/5  rDev -0.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.75
Loved my visit to Hopleaf. Great taplist, excellent service, and a nice atmosphere. I appreciate their willingness to have a more diverse taplist than most craft beer destinations in Chicago. Food was excellent as well.
Jun 02, 2016
Photo of 98green
Reviewed by 98green from Michigan

4.69/5  rDev +4.7%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4
Stopped by at 3 on a Saturday. Plenty busy but not overwhelming. Vibe is very chill. 30 or so on tap, focus on Belgians, but lots of local and national craft. Pricing was very fair given the quality. Didn't have any food, but it is high end gastropub fare
Mar 26, 2016
Photo of Barnoloid
Reviewed by Barnoloid from Illinois

4.76/5  rDev +6.2%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4.75
An absolutely stellar Belgian bar/restaurant....gastropub....whatever you call it this is one of the 'must visit' places for beer fans in Chicago. The crowd in here is usually mixed, a range of ages, plenty couples and families mixed with friend groups. Can get loud, with the cavernous open main room really amplifying the festivity going on here. Beer selection in bottle and on tap is exemplary. There is a lot of American brewery representation but really if you're here you want to try their extensive Belgian selections.

Food wise, have only eaten here once but loved the offerings, from their charcuterie options through to a fantastic dish of mussels this has something for everyone.
Mar 26, 2016
 
Rated: 4.83 by willrun_4beer from Illinois

Feb 24, 2016
Photo of DMcGirr
Reviewed by DMcGirr from Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev -2.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.25
One of the best and most interesting beer lists I've seen. Food is good, very good by bar standards. Staff is knowledgeable. Have enjoyed each of my visits here immensely.
Jan 25, 2016
 
Rated: 4.16 by Gorf_Minor from Illinois

Jan 08, 2016
Photo of ovaltine
Reviewed by ovaltine from Indiana

4.29/5  rDev -4.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.25
One of my go to spots in Chicago - really good food and a world-class beer selection. My first time trying anything from Maine Beer Company was here (MO). That alone elevates Hopleaf.

But they seriously do have a phenomenal selection of beers. More than worth the trip.
Jan 01, 2016
 
Rated: 4.31 by chitowntink from Illinois

Dec 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.47 by orangesol from Pennsylvania

Dec 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by c-rum from Missouri

Nov 17, 2015
 
Rated: 4.08 by rcjennings from Ohio

Nov 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.45 by MikeThumel from Illinois

Oct 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4.73 by barleywin from Missouri

Oct 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by gatorlove from Florida

Sep 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.43 by Gregf51 from Ohio

Sep 28, 2015
Hopleaf in Chicago, IL
Place rating: 4.48 out of 5 with 366 ratings