Christmas at Butch McGuire's: Trains, Ornaments, and a Chicago Holiday Tradition

When the calendar turns to December, Butch McGuire's turns into one of the most photographed bars in Chicago — and it's been that way for decades.

Every inch of the place gets decked out: ornaments, lights, and the signature touch nobody else in the city has — double-decker trains that run right through the bar. It's a tradition regulars plan their December around, and every year it raises money for Mercy Home, a cause close to the family. We run a toiletries drive alongside the decor, so the holidays at Butch's aren't just decoration — they give back to the city that's supported us for 65 years.

Groups shift as the night goes on: earlier in the day it's a full menu and a family-friendly crowd taking in the decorations, and after 8pm it's 21-and-up as the bar side takes over. If you're coming to see the trains, come early; if you're coming for a Christmas in Your Mouth, come after dark.

It's Chicago's Gold Coast bar since 1961, wearing its favorite season loud and proud. Come see what everyone's talking about.