Meet us where the beer garden is full all year long
The copper ceiling and walls you see at O’Sullivan’s Public House are original. The building was a roadhouse in the 1890s and even the terrazzo tile on the floor is original.
While the historic preservation of the building is evident, quite a few updates modernize this bustling Irish bar. There is, for instance, a retractable roof over an all-season beer garden.
Despite the modernization, local history is honored here. You can rest your feet at the bar on an old fireman’s pole from a Chicago fire station, and the tables and chairs are from the legendary Berghoff restaurant.
But back to that beer garden! Its all-season warmth keeps people coming from near and far. Not to mention the daily drink specials!
The menu is also a reason to stop at this lively bar with old-school arcade games in the back.
The Bison Burger is a half-pound, hand-formed patty of 100 percent grass-fed deliciousness. The Spicy Pork Chops are bone-in chops grilled with a spicy rub and topped with grilled onions and peppers.
There is also a late-night menu full of sharable bar snacks.
O’Sullivan’s is open Sunday through Thursday from 11am to 2am, and Friday and Saturday from 11am to 3am. The kitchen closes at 10pm on weekdays and 11pm on weekends.
Make sure to check the weekly specials on O’Sullivan’s website. You can get your favorite drink for less than $5 if you pick the right night!
Appetizers are about $15 at O’Sullivan’s.
Don’t miss the drink specials! On Saturday, for instance, you can sip a $5 mimosa for brunch.
Brothers Jim and Dan Watts opened O’Sullivan’s Public House in 2003 alongside their childhood friend Matt Sullivan.
All three bar owners grew up in the area in large Irish families. Today those families are often found at the bar, sipping drink specials in the heated beer garden.
You may find General Manager Anthony Crawford making a historical cocktail behind the bar. He was recently awarded the Dr. Frank Orland Award from the Historical Society of Forest Park for his mixology with a twist of history. Crawford also builds an annual fundraiser that commemorates the days of Prohibition, partnering with local businesses like the Forest Park Emporium to create a Speakeasy atmosphere.
At 7244 Madison Street in downtown Forest Park, O’Sullivan’s is conveniently located less than a half-mile from the Harlem Stop on the Blue Line, the Harlem/Lake Stop on the Green Line, and the Oak Park Stop on the Union Pacific Metra!
