If you’re a Chicago Fire fan, you’ve undoubtedly spent countless hours with Firehouse 51’s crew at their favorite hangout, Molly’s Pub. But did you know that Molly’s is based on a real bar in Chicago? Yes, it’s true! While you won’t find a “Molly’s” in Chicago, you can visit the bar that inspired it: Lottie’s Pub.

Located in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago, Lottie’s Pub served as the location for exterior and interior scenes in season 1 of Chicago Fire. The crew filmed on location, but soon, the producers realized that frequently closing off the bar for filming was not sustainable. So, starting in season 2, a set based on Lottie’s Pub was built at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios to accommodate the number of scenes shot there.

Despite the change in filming locations, fans can still visit Lottie’s Pub and enjoy Chicago Fire-themed items like the “Chicago Fire burger,” “Chicago PD burger,” and “Chicago Med turkey burger” on the menu.

Molly’s has become much more than just a bar for the Chicago Fire crew—it’s a place of refuge, celebration, and emotional bonding for the characters. It serves as a second home to the firefighters and paramedics of Firehouse 51, where they go to relax, celebrate milestones, and deal with personal struggles.

As of season 13, the ownership of Molly’s Pub changed following the tragic death of Otis. Mouch, Herrmann, and Trudy Platt now own the bar, and Stella Kidd manages it as the bartender when she’s not on shift. Fans of the show are likely to see even more drama unfold at Molly’s, as it continues to serve as an important space for both work and personal moments outside of Firehouse 51.

Whether you’re a fan visiting Chicago or simply enjoying Chicago Fire from your couch, the real-life bar that inspired Molly’s remains a fun piece of the show’s world, adding an extra layer of connection between the characters and the fans.