Riverside Tap Room

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Riverside Tap Room

Riverside Tap Room is a hidden gem in the quiet corner of Blue Island, frequently visited by locals who cherish its authentic charm and community feel. With an exceptional beer garden accompanied by horseshoe pits, barbeque grills, and cozy decks near the Little Calumet River, this pub offers a relaxing and unique outdoor experience perfect for enjoying classic drinks with friends. Despite its vintage ambiance, Riverside also features live music events for those looking to spice up their night out. If you're searching for a dive bar with an unmatched character and friendly atmosphere, Riverside Tap Room on Aulwurm Drive should be at the top of your list.

Recent social media posts

10/06/2026

🧙‍♀️✨Calling all Witches ✨🧙‍♀️

Join us for a night of MAGIC & MISCHIEF at Riverside Tap 🔮🌙

🖤COVEN MEETING
📆 Saturday, October 24
⏰ Starting at 6 PM
📍Riverside Tap

Gather your coven, grab your broomsticks, and prepare for a wickedly good night. 🧹✨

Witches, we’ll see you at the Tap. 🔮🖤

09/30/2026

✨ LADIES NIGHT ✨
This Friday- October 2nd

Tonight we celebrate the LADIES!
MEN… we want you to celebrate with us!
ALL ARE WELCOME!

09/25/2026

☀️ SOL FEST ☀️

Saturday, September 12th was nothing short of MAGIC ✨✨✨

Thank you to We Are Chandelier for your wondrous vision and all the hard work you put into bringing it to life! Executing a day this magical is truly a labor of love—and you are SEEN! ❤️

It was an incredible day filled with friends, family, community, music, art, food, and fun—one that we at the Riverside Tap will not soon forget.

Thank you to everyone who came out and supported Sól Fest—the bands, the vendors, and the Riverside Tap. We put on events like this for many reasons, but one of the biggest is to connect with our amazing community while supporting local artists, musicians, makers, and small businesses.

It truly brings us so much joy to see all of you show up and support these events the way you do. ❤️

Most things with a small business take a village—but events take a village and then some!

🎶 A huge thank you to the incredible bands:

Doll Face
Mel and Tom
American Hustle
Chandelier
Shannon Baker & the Burners

Your talent blows us away and fills our souls.

Thank you to all of our wonderful vendors for the delicious food, beautiful handmade goods, art created right before our eyes, and all the little moments and memories you helped make throughout the day and night.

And a MASSIVE thank you to our hardworking staff! When we say, “We have an event coming up,” you already know it means a nonstop day from the second you walk through the door—and you all SHOW UP! 💪❤️

Sibling teamwork goes UNMATCHED—thank you, Cara & Max.

We see the work everyone put in to make the day what it was, and it couldn’t be what it’s meant to be without each of you.

Summer might be over, but Sól Fest was the perfect way to send it off. ☀️✨

Thank you to everyone who helped create the magic, and thank you to our community for showing up for it. ❤️🐢

09/05/2026

OFFICIAL NOTICE
Date: September 5, 2026

In the early morning hours of September 4, Riverside Tap was the victim of a forcible burglary.

Law enforcement responded to the property. The situation has been documented and is being addressed appropriately. Our property and management team are currently working through the necessary steps to move forward.

While it is extremely disheartening to have this happen to us and to the businesses around us, the consistent and uplifting support from our family, staff, customers, police officers, and detectives has meant a great deal to us.

We appreciate the patience, understanding, and support of our staff, customers, and community as we work through this situation.

Riverside Tap

07/30/2026

Play BINGO - WIN 💰💰💰
Tonight & every Thursday at 8:30!

07/03/2026

UPDATE: The cute little guy’s name is Bowser! His mom picked him up.
He is home safe!

Tortoise Drama Continues… 🐢

You seriously can’t make this stuff up.

After a full day of enjoying the peace of having Mojo back home—safe, sound, and happy—we got another unexpected twist in our tortoise adventure.

The fire department stopped by today to make sure Mojo had made it home safely… and then dropped off a FOUND Sulcata tortoise!

As much as we’re enjoying this handsome little guy while we keep him safe, we’d really love to reunite him with his family. He’s a relatively young male, clearly well cared for, and in great shape.

If you’re missing your Sulcata, please reach out! Proof of ownership will be required before he’s released.

And before anyone asks… Mojo does NOT need a friend (or a boyfriend). 😅

Sulcatas are solitary, territorial animals that do not form social bonds with other tortoises. We also have absolutely no interest in adding baby tortoises to our future plans!

The consensus here is: tortoise ownership is not for the weak.

07/01/2026

Back to our regular programming folks 😅

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
We are having a BBQ this Friday, July 3rd!
Celebrations start at 3:30 & go all night!
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
On the 4th of July, we will continue celebrating AMERICA’S BIRTHDAY!!!

Food Served at 2 pm & $2.50 domestic bottles all day & night!!!
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸250 YEARS🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

04/28/2026

CINCO DE MAYO
Eat & Drink ALL DAY with us 🙌🌮🤩

Address

13351 Aulwurm Drive
Blue Island, IL
60406

To get to Aulwurm Drive in Blue Island by public transport, take the Metra Rock Island District Line and alight at the Blue Island Station. From there, head north on Vermont St. until you reach Irving Ave. Turn right on Irving Ave. and continue until you reach Aulwurm Drive.

If driving, take the I-57 South and exit at 127th St. Head east on 127th St. until you reach Western Ave. Turn left onto Western Ave., then turn right onto Broadway St. After a few blocks, turn left onto Aulwurm Drive.

There are several parking options available along Aulwurm Drive, including street parking and nearby parking lots.

Opening Hours

Monday	12pm - 2am
Tuesday	12pm - 2am
Wednesday	12pm - 2am
Thursday	12pm - 2am
Friday	12pm - 3am
Saturday	12pm - 3am
Sunday	12pm - 2am

Website

http://fanningsriversidetap.com/

Alerts

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What people say

Riverside Tap Room is a hidden gem that once you discover, you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. This pub is a true throwback and a favorite among locals who are always happy to welcome new regulars. The outdoor space at Riverside Tap Room is simply amazing and one of the best places to enjoy a drink in Blue Island. The beer garden is filled with horseshoe pits, barbeque grills, and cozy decks that make you feel far from home. The dull roar of the interstate and nearby freight trains become relaxing as you settle in for a drink with friends.

The authenticity of this place cannot be bought these days, making it truly unique. The owners are great, the bartenders are friendly, and the regulars are full of stories and happy to share them with newcomers. It's not quite a dive bar because it's just too fantastic to be labeled as such. However, if you're looking for the sunniest dive in Blue Island, Riverside Tap Room is definitely your spot.

Since 1974, this pub has been Southside Chicago's number one bar for darts, bags, slots, and live music in their huge backyard! It's hard to believe that this place isn't packed every weekend because it's such an incredible spot. But perhaps it's best kept as a secret that only those who know can enjoy fully. If you haven't visited Riverside Tap Room yet, do yourself a favor and check it out soon!