Design element: A designated corner for musicians

As with any local architecture, the weather dictates style. Historically, rural pubs were in the landlord’s house and a fire in the hearth would keep patrons warm in the heart of the home. The fireplace in Galway Arms, while not a central feature, makes Chicago’s winters all the more tolerable. It is reserved for musicians who play four times a week—music is a crucial feature in Irish pubs, too. Stages aren’t provided, instead they circle up and play Celtic tunes in a designated corner.

Design element: Etched glass and mirrored bars that were part of Dublin’s gin palaces.

The Murphy family, which also owns Murphy’s Bleachers in Wrigleyville, opened up this restaurant in a former 1920s funeral home. The teak bar at the center of the pub was hand-crafted with delicate etched mirrors by friends of the family and imported from County Wexford. Another smaller bar in the back was shipped in from Northern Ireland, too.

Traditionally, the gin shops were designed for short stays. Mostly they were for takeaway and had standing room only. However, these days guests at Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro can sit down and stick around for a while.

Design element: Get comfortable in a snug—a room within a room.

A true Irish pub will offer its patrons more than a row of bar stools and high-tops—they’ll have snugs. Essentially, they are tiny wooden booths, sometimes rooms, with latched doors and frosted glass. Originally, the snug was designed as a private area for clandestine gatherings, wealthier patrons who wanted special treatment, or for ladies who couldn’t be seen drinking.

Snugs are distinctly part of Irish culture and aren’t originally found in Chicago, so any snug in an Irish bar here is a recreation or import. The Grafton deliberately set out to achieve the same intimacy a snug provides through its high-back booths with art glass. You’ll get a tease of what it feels like to be in a snug: Secluded while still belonging to the larger room.

Design element: Small windows and almost no natural light.

In Ireland, the best pubs are a bit hidden away—just like in Chicago there’s nothing like a dimly lit dive bar. However, in Ireland is a reason for being discreet. Drinking laws prevent pubs from serving pints past a certain time, but occasionally barkeeps will initiate a “lock-in” where they’ll close shades, lock the door, and quietly keep filling up glasses. It’s illegal of course, so the after-hours guests must exit silently.

Emmitt’s in River West is a cozy, dark pub that’s quite similar to what you’d find in Ireland. There are hardly any windows, which would make it easy to have a “lock-in” if that were the case, and there are plenty of snug-like booths.

Design element: A historic bar and hearty stone fireplace.

To get a sense of how Irish pubs have evolved, visit Fado. The pub exemplifies two different varying styles: the first floor pulls from more contemporary bars in Dublin and the second floor is entirely more rural showcasing the historic pub attributes like the stone fireplaces.

Much of the bar in Fado was built in Ireland—one 100-year-old piece was reclaimed from the 18th century Purty Kitchen in Dublin.