The Northman Beer & Cider Garden Riverwalk

My cousin who has lived in Chicago proper for years has mentioned this was her favorite place to drink on the Riverwalk! As a tourist coming in from out of town, I wanted to be able to enjoy a drink and small meal on the famed Riverwalk - I had actually walked end to end the day before but was overwhelmed by so many promising options. So I ended up going with my cousin's recommendation!Came here on a Thursday afternoon and there was still a relatively good amount of folks dining here. The man at the counter was so nice to confidently recommend me the salad after I'd mentioned that while I wanted to have the Chicago hotdog, I needed something lighter before embarking on a 90 minute boat tour. He was so welcoming and kept up with the funny jokes!The salad had the perfect texture of crunchy, had the right amount of dressing and didn't feel heavy at all! I also had a seltzer and went on my way. Both the food and drink were brought to me relatively quickly and I was able to enjoy and soak in the vibes.I definitely wasn't disappointed! Plenty of outdoor seating with a clear view of the beautiful river (very important to note as some other good options have a narrower venue). Was also blessed with amazing sunny and warm weather that day which added more to the chill vibes! If you want a sit back with a view, this is your spot!

Such a great spot to chill!LOVE the cider!We had the pineapple and blueberry. Fruit forward, a touch of bite to give it depth and goes down 'oh so smooth'!We could easily have spent the entire afternoon drinking cider here and watching the people go by on the sidewalk and the river.But we didn't.... we thought about it but didn't because we wanted to experience more of Chicago. hahahaha!We also had a few nibbles... while most won't order a salad at place like this... we did and it was fresh and tasty! We also counter balanced it with a pretzel and shawarma dog. All of it quite tasty and I'd go back and order it all again and again. The dog had great snap and flavor. The pretzel was huge... so definitely share that.There are tables and chairs... fcfs. I can see this place getting super slammed on the weekends when the weather is good.

Fabulous bar, and quick bites located on the Chicago river front! Outdoor seating while ordering at the counter! Many beer and wine choices! Fast service and great ambience! Bratwurst is delicious, and Chicago dog is original and great! Loaded tots with cheese, chili and jalapeños provided additional opportunity for enjoyment

Great options for vegetarians! The vegan Italian sausage dog was amazing! The seltzer on tap was delicious. The ambiance just cannot be beat. Live music, twinkling lights, trees and seats right on the river.

Great spot on the river walk with plenty of outdoor seating for you to grab a beer or cider and a Chicago dog! Not a ton of picnic tables with umbrellas though so be careful on a hot day!

This is a wonderful spot to sit on a beautiful warm summer day and enjoy drinks and food with friends. They have a nice selection of beer, classic food items like a Chicago dog or large pretzel, and a lot of seating options with rows of picnic benches. On hotter days it may be busier, especially on Saturdays. We came here on a Sunday afternoon and there was plenty of seating. The service is always really nice and the food is pretty standard and tasty. They also have some non-alcoholic beer options, which I appreciated as someone who doesn't drink. Overall this is a really nice place to sit and enjoy time outside with friends. If you're ever on the Riverwalk and need a place to sit and relax that doesn't feel too crowded or congested like some of the other more narrow areas on the river walk, this is a great option.

Spent a lot of time here during recent weekend trip to Chicago. The vibes here are immaculate. Easy to grab a spot right on the river and people watch. Several different places to grab beer (TONS of choices) as well as a full menu with lots of food options. Bathroom situation was public restrooms shared with the rest of the Riverwalk, but never had to wait too long.

We stopped by on our way to a river boat tour which I'm sure most people were doing as well. We wanted a quick lunch with a good view of the city. The picnic tables were clean and it wasn't terribly busy despite it being mid lunch. The hot dogs were okay, nothing special for how pricey they were but it's mostly for convenience sake. We got 32oz of cider each and they put them in plastic containers which had dirty lids that seemed like they hadn't been cleaned after many customers. We took them off the bottles and the cider was good otherwise. Okay if you need something quick before a tour but I would not go out of my way.

The real value of this place is the location. Located on the Riverwalk this is a wonderful spot to stop to have a beer and a quick bite while you're exploring the city and wanna just stop and take in some sites. They have a nice selection of sausages that are perfect for a quick snack. It definitely isn't a sitdown spot but for a casual meet up place with a great view can't beat this joint.

I decided to roam the city for a few. I was curious about the Riverwalk and boat cruised, so I went below. Many people out and about but this place caught my eye. I didn't know what to pick but the guy at the counter provided a suggestion. I was a good one. I enjoyed the outdoor seating, listened to their music and sipped my beer. Pretty cool area to hang out in, it's got good vibes.