Nightlife in Chicago

Best nightlife in Chicago

12 hand-picked bars, clubs, live music rooms & late-night eats.

• The Aviary

  $$$$

  Cocktail bar · West Loop

  Grant Achatz's haute-cocktail theatre.

• The Violet Hour

  $$$

  Cocktail bar · Wicker Park

  Speakeasy classic, behind mural facade.

• Kumiko

  $$$$

  Cocktail bar · West Loop

  Japanese-influenced cocktails, James Beard winner.

• Smartbar

  $$

  Club · Lakeview

  Underneath Metro — house & techno since 1982.

• PRYSM

  $$$

  Club · River North

  Bottle-service megaclub.

• Green Mill

  $$

  Live music · Uptown

  Capone-era jazz club, still nightly.

• Metro

  $$

  Live music · Wrigleyville

  1500-cap rock venue since 1982.

• Cindy's

  $$$

  Rooftop · Loop

  Chicago Athletic Association rooftop over Millennium Park.

• London House Rooftop

  $$$

  Rooftop · Loop

  Riverwalk rooftop with Wrigley views.

• Sportsman's Club

  $$

  Cocktail bar · Logan Square

  Patio cocktail bar with rotating guest mixers.

• Au Cheval

  $$

  Late-night eats · West Loop

  Kitchen open until 1am — the burger.

• Pequod's

  $$

  Late-night eats · Lincoln Park

  Caramelized-crust pan pizza until 2am.

Where to eat

• Alinea

  $$$$

  Modernist tasting · Lincoln Park

  Grant Achatz's three-star theater on a plate.

• Pequod's Pizza

  $$

  Deep-dish · Lincoln Park

  Caramelized cheese crust — the locals' deep-dish pick.

• Au Cheval

  $$

  Diner / Burgers · West Loop

  Two-hour wait for the country's most-talked-about cheeseburger.

• Girl & The Goat

  $$$

  Modern American · West Loop

  Stephanie Izard's wood-fired plates, share everything.

• Lou Mitchell's

  $

  Diner · West Loop

  Route 66 diner since 1923 — fluffy omelets and free Milk Duds.

Live & on stage

• Lollapalooza

  Grant Park · Jul 30 – Aug 2 · Festival

• Pitchfork Music Festival

  Union Park · Jul 18–20 · Indie

• Chicago Blues Festival

  Millennium Park · Jun 5–7 · Blues / Free

• Christkindlmarket

  Daley Plaza · Nov 21 – Dec 24 · Holiday