After all the stories my boyfriend recounted about his infamous pub crawls I had no idea what to expect from Chico bars. Â With a "though the drinks are cheap, they are also mighty" warning as we set off for Duffys, I was surprised to find the bar both clean and friendly. Â The rumors proved to be true as we watched them fill our glass with 90% vodka and 10% soda water and demand a whopping $3.50. Â We whisked our cocktails to a quiet room in the back with open seating and a pool table. Â After the 8 ball fell in and our glasses emptied we venture back to the bar for round two. Â The bartenders were friendly and patient, even after the liquor began to set in. Â With friendly patrons, competent staff, stiff drinks, and cheap prices- Duffy's is the perfect place to start the festivities or bring the evening to a close.
Review Source:I'm not cool enough nor do I think myself more intelligent than everyone else... I also don't like hiking my pants up to my knees to wade through waste and water to squat over unisex toilets. Â The staff is nice, I am not a fan of a lot of the clientele. Â The place often reeks of a combination of vomit, cat box and arm pit. Â An interesting mix but disgusting at any rate. Â Way too many people for such a small bar. Â Clearly I am in the minority with this opinion but oh well!
Review Source:Not so much a review as a request for help ! Â I distinctly remember
going into Duffy's but no idea how or when I left on a week-long,
one-day & night business trip to Chico. Â I'm sure I left an umbrella
in Duffy's that night. Â It's made in China, black and has a chip on the
handle. Â Not looking for return just a note that it found a good home.
I recently used Duffy's for the bar at my 25th anniversary party and they were fabulous! Â Doug was so easy to work with, making my selections of liquor, a keg of Sierra Nevada Porter, after dinner drinks, and signature cocktail simple and perfect.
We hired two bartenders who were attentive, personable, professional and productive. Doug worked the bar when it was needed and kept the bar supplied when it was less busy.
All around perfect party and I highly recommend using Duffy's if you need bar service!
I made a return visit to Duffy's Tavern recently to see if ownership has gotten rid of skanky psuedo-intellectual girl bartenders. This has long been the problem with Duffy's - the girl bartenders at this place all think they are Uma Thurman, they spend what seems like hours "eyeing" you over before they deem to wait on you. Most of the time these bartenders are in an animated conversation about some serious academic topic they pretend to know something about. Last year one of these drip tatooed lady bartenders was waxing on about "Long Days Journey into Night" and I felt compelled to lash out, "you know nothing of Eugene O'Neils work. You are a complete idiot. How about serving me a cocktail, isn't this a bar? Â After this remark this awful lady bartender - festooned with tatoos that had been strategically placed on her body to hide the fact she wasn't shapely - she had the nerve to 86 me from Duffy's! She actually kicked me out of the bar. Â She lashed out, "We don't serve frat boys here buster. Why don't you go to Normal Street you big fat -frat slob!". After that comment two members of the Pub Scouts - who are local homeless guys that play bad music at Duffy's frequently - wrestled me to the gound. As I was being pulverized one of them said, " We don't like guys coming in here who critisize the intellectual abilities of Duffy's psuedo-hipster girl bartenders . They are an essential part of what makes this over-rated dive work. Â What Duffy's is all bout is rude bartenders, and our bad band - the Pub Scouts, which plays bad music, over bad conversation being made by bad -boorish intellectual types. Got it buddy!" With that the Pub Scout - his name was Boris as I recall - got in two really good punches. I then crawled out of the bar bleeding profusely.
On this visit the minute I entered the bar I was immediatly escorted out, I didn't even get a chance to wait five minutes to get waited on. Apparently they have my picture on the wall, and there are standing orders to keep me out.". Geez, all I ever wanted when previously visiting Duffy's is a cocktail in a timely manner delivered by a friendly bartender. Is that a lot to ask? I guess so because I'm on the permanent 86 list. So yes, I have a serious difference of opinion on Duffy's. Many believe this is a really cool bar full of cool people, but I think it's a hideous gyp joint that features terrible bartenders, bad music, and junkie looking decor.
Duffy's makes me want to barf.
What a great bar and environment. I frequented this bar for years and miss it a lot.  It is fun, unique, and cheap.  This is a great place for a night of not remembering and a day of hanging out! The bands that come through here are lots of fun also. On Friday they provide food and the Pub Scouts play. It is a 12 person band who that play traditional Irish music.  The backroom is really fun to hang out in with a full size pool table and a photo booth that has never worked.  Sometimes it feels like a speak easy party in the back.  Everyone should sometime to stop in a say hello.  I suggest adding some Riley's Beef Jerky to the beer. It is called a Beer Turd  Riley's Jerky is a hard Jerky and when it soaks in a nice Sierra Nevada it becomes a wonderful snack.  The jalapeno jerky goes great with a Sierra Nevada Wheat Beer. Just ask Lexi the bartender, she is great.
Review Source:A. There is a velvet print of Elvis behind the bar.
B. There is a block print of Jesus with a baseball bat to the right of the bar.
C. A & B are empirical proof that this is a rad bar.
I grew up in Chico but moved to the Wine Country before I came of legal drinking age. This weekend I lived out a long-held dream: I had a Goose and soda with my cousin at Duffy's. Okay, I had two. Or was it three...
Duffy's pulls off being a dive bar without being terribly dirty and scary. And that, my friends, is a delicate balance that I truly appreciate.
People were friendly, bathrooms were reasonably clean, and the drinks were probably expensive in comparison to other places in Chico but about right for where I come from. Oh, and the door guy was nice and even suggested what "signature" Duffy beverages I should have since it was my first visit. Nice kid.
Duffy's will be my new go-to bar when I'm in Chico.
Looking for a good Bloody Mary? You've found it. Likely the best Bloody I've had at ANY bar period.
Cheap Drinks!
Eclectic crowd to say the least, with different nights drawing different scenes (dance night, live music, The Pub Scouts on Friday happy hour, etc.) The Juke box could use a modest update.
Recent renovations have been a welcomed improvement.
Let me state on the record, that I have never been to Duffy's when I was 100 % sober so my review might be a little drunkenly biased. That being said I love DUFFYS! The only reason I wouldn't give it 5 out of 5 is because recognize its a slight acquired taste and the drinks can be pricey if you don't do the deals.
PBR is cheap, cheap, CHEAP and seriously who doesn't love PBR? I also love the vintage juke box and great selection of beats! I love the dive bar feel and the fact that not all the girls are in short skirts and not everyone is a young CSUC student!
I would recommend Duffys to those who are looking for a chill, low-key environment to hang out in where you won't get hassled much! Also its rumored Paul Zingg goes there to grade papers! Awesome!
This.
Place.
Where to began?
I often call Duffy's "The Back 9 of drinking" because its the sort of place you go when you are severely inebriated or you're an alchie. Both states of mind kind of signify "the end of the game". Know what I'm saying? Get the metaphor?
Anyways, this place does have some positives. They are:
*Cheap cheap cheap cheap drinks
*STIFF drinks
*weird cult like following
*They do music venues & all sorts of events. which is cool
*You can take ANYONE in there to hang out with- old, young, normal, dirty hippy, crusty old whatever, upwardly mobile professionals, not really that much fun friends, whatever, they all fit in!
*If you're really trying to get that pseudo Chico hipster/ bohemian look down, Duffy's IS WHERE YOU NEED TO HANG OUT. Well besides Naked Lounge
Cons:
*full of gross nasty people who make come up and bother you, or worse, creep out on you and try to seduce you (*shudder*)
*and yeah yeah yeah its kinda a dirty filthy place, but I think if it was clean it would lack that certain oh um "yeah its filthy but I'm just focused on the BOOZE and music and company vibe its got going."
*lets be honest here, hipsters (whatever you want to call them) in Chico can be really FUCKING ANNOYING. I don't really like to hang @ their liquor destinations. You're not that cool just because you don't shower and you read Falkner and listen to Cash and drink Pabst. OH and you're not entitled to EVERY CHAIR in the bar even when you go outside to go smoke your American Bugle you roll-yourself ciggies. dicks.
Sooo Anyways, that place is what it is, I wouldn't change it, its just not really the sort of place I choose to spend time and my money. There's a place in San Luis Obispo that is kinda similar, but a bajillion times cooler than Duffy's, its called McCarthys! its an Irish bar that not crusty and @ least the hipster there have done there research and actually seem like real hipsters- they've got that Rockabilly thing down! I think it was invented there?
But yeah, Duffy's....
its
just
not
for
me......
ah, duffy's! Â this place holds a firm place in my drunken heart! Â my brother was playing summer ball and would end up in chico during the season. Â the boyfriend and i would head out, support him, hang out with our cousin and have a blast. Â our cousin had friends that worked at duffy's so off we went.
the drinks are great. Â the prices are even greater. Â the atmosphere was chill and i laughed harder than i have in a long time. Â the backroom became my home away from home.
there is awesome people watching and you make new friends in a matter of minutes. Â live music is cranking up the volume in the front. Â there's no attitude and nothing but fun.
make sure you pick up a shirt to wear proudly and savor the memories. Â and when you're done drinking, walk out, turn to the right and hit up the pizza joint next door. Â i suggest the pesto slice. Â pure, pure heaven.
Yes, your feet stick to the floor...
Yes, that is the best Bloody Mary you may ever experience...
Yes, you DO want to make sure the barkeep becomes an amigo. (big dude, can throw you like a javelin...do not piss off)
Yes, it most certainly has it's share of "colorful" (for lack of a better word) characters.
Sooo...draw me another Guinness (was that my 3rd or 4th? hmmm...)
"I'm home ma'!!
What would I do without Friday evening trad music sessions at Duffy's? The Pub Scouts totally rock, and never fail to bring the spirit of Ireland to the bar every week. I spent a year in Limerick, studying Irish dance and music, and I can tell you that the Pub Scouts can bring it on. They always open up a bit of space for me to dance in, making it the highlight of my week.
Duffy's itself is awesome. It's down-to-earth and seems totally at ease with being just what it is: a bar. If you're looking for a chic club with fancy drinks and pretentious people, Duffy's is not for you. But if you're just looking to meet up with some friends for a drink and some good music, and even meet new friends, this is your place.
I'm just waiting for the right time to buy my very own Duffy's t-shirt.
Augh! Love/hate/love/hate/drink/hmm/awesome/crowd/shot..Â. and so it goes on and on here.
I love the crowd when it's the people I like, and I know a lot of regulars there. Unfortunately a lot of people I really don't like are regulars there. Hmmm...
The drinks are really strong, but hey, most would be in those chintzy little glasses they give you. Don't really seem like they're worth the money, but they're not crazy expensive. Hmmmmmm...
The atmosphere is dank, which I like. Sometimes. I like ironic stuff I think. Or maybe I hate it. Or maybe I like it because I hate it. The hipster paradox. At least it's interesting. Got that charm to it that's really hard to describe or escape.
I'm always so back and forth on this place it's not even funny. Some of the best and worst times ever have been had here.
Oh, who am I kidding? I'm a local hipster/scenester kid. Five stars it is.
The key, as noted by others already here, is that Duffy's has by far the best crowd in town. You dont have to be a beatnick, or a theater gal. You dont have to be indie or wanna-be-intellecutal. Just be your self, jesus. Is it really that hard? If you are just a normal human being, and you be yourself, you are a welcome member of the Duffy's crowd.
Generally, this is the only bar in town where i actually found myself getting into conversations with strangers... be it about beers, or classes, or whatever. This is just that sort of place, and it seems that all the interesting people i met in Chico always enjoyed Duffy's. Theres a good correlation there.
The bar tenders are awesome, they remember you if you tip well, its not as redonkulously loud as Normal or LaSalles, and its got good people. AND I hear they have Hard-A now. Go already.
ok I must tread lightly because Duffy's patrons are very loyal. So for anyone reading this and wanting to find a cool club in Chico to go mingle or dance ..this place is NOT for you. It is mostly locals and beatnicks...theater folk and greenfeet. Everybody is cool but they aren't super friendly to outsiders unless you fit in with their "type". It is small and the alcohol is cheap and good. Now if you don't want to deal with the crazy college students and you looking for a more intellectual crowd this place is for you.
Review Source:Kitsch factor: 10+
Drinks: 10+
Service: 10+
My goodness my guinness, this place is amazing... the true locals, the drifters, the vagabonds flock to Duffy's... it's sometimes the most hoppin bar in Chico, sometimes the most empty, but you'll always recieve quality drinks and quality service... I recently made a rule that I only tip $1 at Chico bars, but Duffy's is an exception. They pour like you've been lost in the desert for days... and sometimes, if you're lucky, you'll receive complimentary saucy nuts (delicious!)
My drink of choice: Blueberry Stoli + Cran (only $3.75) Â
Where else can you hang out with Bright Eyes after a rockin concert at the Senator?
Went to college in Chico, and Duffy's was my bar. Â Best Bloody Mary around, made from scratch. Â Don't get ooged by the A-1 and pickled juice -- that and the shot of Guinness make it. Â Last visit I brought a friend here who doesn't like to drink, and after a Duffy's BM she was clamoring for another the next morning at 10 am.
Review Source:If an Irish Car Bomb decided to become a bar, it would be Duffy's Tavern. An acquired taste, but delicious. Makes you feel kinda hardcore and warms you up real quick. Quality people, stiff drinks. Even if you skip it the other 364 days of the year, go on St. Patrick's Day--I think I'm, like, a 1/4 Irish now just from spending a few hours there.
Review Source:If you like a bar that isn't full of bling-bling, hyphy, or hoochies, then you should be at Duffy's "Irish" Tavern. Â Though some evenings can be crowded (such as Wed and the weekend) it is a comfortable place to be. Â Unpretensious atmosphere, stiff drinks, professional staff, and everyone you don't want to run into...and those you do.
Review Source:For my money, Duffy's is the best bar in Chico. Â It's not much too look at from the outside -- is it an Irish bar trying to be a little chalet? -- but step inside, let your eyes adjust, and everything is right with the world. Â Yeah, it's a bit of a dive, but it's my dive. Duffy's has the best jukebox in Chico, the drinks are priced right, the people are locals or used-to-be-locals, and the decor is inspired (Jesus playing baseball is a personal favorite). Â Is there anything sweeter than finishing a long work week by going to Duffy's on a Friday afternoon, listening to the Pub Scouts, with a tall glass of Guinness in hand? I didn't think so.
Review Source:What are two good looking fella's like yourselves doing in a place like this" inquired the old guy with two hooks for arms. Â He then told us jokingly that we should get out since we were hurting his chances with the ladies. Â If you are looking for a surreal experience like this check out duffy's with its mix of gruff locals, and artistic types. Â The mix of artistic types and the hook guy telling people they are good looking might be why this place has a rep as a local gay bar. Â However, this place is definitely worth checking out for a good time and an bit of Irish river dancing music.
Review Source:
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
