Restaurant

Castaways Bar & Grill Situated on the upper decks of the behemoth boat-shaped North Avenue Beach House, Castaways Bar & Grill reaps the benefits of its locale, overflowing with the young, the athletic, and the bronzed the minute the weather warms. Chicago United States 41.913572 -87.624291

3.8 8

Castaways Bar & Grill - Beach Bar | Live Music Venue | Restaurant in Chicago.

See all 11 photos

Collapse map / See photo gallery

Expand map / See nearby venues

Venues Events

Expand map / See nearby venues

Collapse map / See photo gallery

4 User Reviews

User Reviews (4)

Ratings:

Lucas

Adriana

Jonah

Emma

Party Earth Review Situated on the upper decks of the behemoth boat-shaped North Avenue Beach House, Castaways Bar & Grill reaps the benefits of its locale, overflowing with the young, the athletic, and the bronzed the minute the weather... ... read full review

Neighborhood:

Lincoln Park
Address:

1603 North Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60614

Get Directions

Train:

Brown, Purple Express Lines: Sedgwick
Phone:

773-281-1200
Links:
Official Website

Hours:

Daily 11am–11pm (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Closed for inclement weather at management’s discretion
Recommended as:
- Day Spot

First to review Jayson M.

Write your review

Party Earth Castaways Bar & Grill Review

The Scene

Situated on the upper decks of the behemoth boat-shaped North Avenue Beach House, Castaways Bar & Grill reaps the benefits of its locale, overflowing with the young, the athletic, and the bronzed the minute the weather warms.

Lincoln Park, Chicago –

Although a number of amenities along the Beach House’s ground floor are available to beachgoers – including bike and volleyball rentals, showers, and snack food stands – partiers know to head straight for the stairs that lead to big burgers, stunning views, and lots of skin.

The shirtless-and-proud set sashays around the front of the boat, flaunting biceps and bikinis against a backdrop of the iconic cityscape and Lake Michigan, and redefining the historic notion of a Chicago meat market.

DJs and cover bands often perform on weekends, and many patrons spend the entire day on the open decks, pounding beers, exchanging digits, and dancing beneath the awnings of the long center bar.

After a scorched day in the sun, volleyball players and sunbathers bound up to the rooftop for a boisterous twilight cocktail and much-needed grill food, while the sounds of the water lapping off Lake Michigan help everyone forget how frickin’ cold it was last winter.

With panoramic views of beautiful skylines and beautiful people – beer-goggled and otherwise – Castaways Bar & Grill is an oasis of island spirit on the Lake Michigan shore.

read less

Tip from Lucas:

Where else in Chicago can you walk from your volleyball game to a boat and grab a beer with hundreds of swim-suited revelers?

Crowd

Volleyball players, jocks, fraternity and sorority-types, sunbathers, and loads of tourists, early 20s to 30s.
Entertainment / Music

Live music or DJs most weekends, though schedules vary. The Chicago Air and Water Show is held nearby, usually at the end of August.
Food / Miscellaneous

Hot dogs, ice cream, and general snack food at ground level concession stands. American grill food at Castaways, including salads, burgers, and fish and chips.
Prices

Appetizers $4–$9, salads and wraps $8–$13, burgers and sandwiches $7–$14. Beer $5.50–$6, wine and sangria $6–$6.50, beach cocktails $7.50–$9.

What to Wear / Dress Code

Beachwear: shorts, swim trunks, swimsuits, flip-flops, sundresses.
Hot Nights / When to Go

Sunny days between Memorial Day and Labor Day, especially on the weekends.
Close By

Corcoran's Grill (1615 N Wells Street) has giant TVs, a big beer garden, and daily drink specials.

Tags:: 20s30sBar FoodBurgersCover BandsDJDancingDeckEarly 20sEarly 30sFish and ChipsFormer JocksFrat GuysGood LookingGood for GroupsGreat ViewHot DogsJam PackedJocksLate 20sLive BandMeat MarketMid 20sNo Dress CodeOutdoor AreaPartySandalsSandwichesSangriaShortsSinglesSorority GirlsSportySummerSunbathersSwimwearTouristsWall to Wall

Castaways Bar & Grill User Reviews

Danielle Martin Feb 20, 2013 3.0 stars Booze Cruise f you are lucky enough to stumble into Chicago between the months of June and August than Castaways needs to be on your to do list. Located on North Lake Shore Drive, it sits on the upper deck of a boat. Here, you can enjoy delicious drinks from AMF to a Margarita while gazing out at beautiful Lake Michigan. The ambiance tends to be similar to that of a beach house in Cabos San Lucas, filled with 20 somethings who throw back drinks as the midwestern sun beats down on them. If you can dig that kind of vibe, then by all means throw on your ray bans and dive into the delicious variety of bar food items. Might I be as bold as to recommend the chips and guac? Make sure to bring along some sunscreen since you can sit out in your bathing suit and drink away the summer. For the locals, being at Castaways is like being on a vacation in your own city. It is the perfect place to go and enjoy a sunny Chicago summer’s day. If all the heat and margaritas get to you, you are but mere feet away from the lake. Take a dip and continue on your day in the sun. The two downsides to this summer haven: Transportation: Getting there can be a bit of an obstacle, while there is paid parking, public transport does not run too close to this locale. Price: The drinks and food are a bit overpriced, but what can you expect, you are paying for the view. Overall if you are in the mood to truly enjoy the beautiful Chicago summer, this is the place to be. With a party-hardy atmosphere, and a view that makes you feel like you are in a tropical paradise, this is Chicago’s own little slice of heaven.

Brinda Gupta Dec 11, 2012 3.0 stars Location makes it worth it! You know what, the drinks and food are overpriced, the music is from a frat party in the 90s, and there are lots of bros, but the location is worth it. On a warm, sunny day, you can almost forget that you’re in the middle of the country—the sand and blue water look better than they have any right to. And the money you’re shelling out is for the location. It’s definitely a fun experience to sit on the roof with a cold drink, especially after being in the sun all afternoon. You also get a great people-watching spot…for that, I will put up with everything else!

jsunmatthews Aug 22, 2012 3.0 stars Location, Location, Location. If hanging out with packs of dudes knocking back beers and calling everyone “brah” is your version of hell, then avoid Castaways on weekends. It’s a big boat on the beach, there’s lots of eye candy, and even when the music is some tool singing a crappy rendition of Jimmy Buffet (who is an ear-bleeder to begin with) at least you can enjoy the view. Major college scene, plenty of skeevy old dudes checking out ladies a half-century younger than them. It is gloriously awful and I love it. Come with realistic expectations and leave hammered.