40 bars, restaurants, clubs, and venues open after 5. Hours, phone numbers, and vibes included.
From the team behind two-Michelin-starred Oriole, All Well landed in the West Loop with a $120 five-course tasting menu from James Beard winner Noah Sandoval and chef Larry Feldmeier. Stay late for the bar menu — short rib sandwich, raclette potatoes, tempura maitakes.
Ukrainian Village's Beauty Bar is a retro salon-turned-nightclub with pink-hued interiors, disco balls, martinis, and DJs spinning Y2K classics. If you want to dance to Destiny's Child on a Saturday night, this is the move.
BOOKCLUB is a Chicago electronic music venue built for DJs, dance nights, and late-night energy. The sound system is dialed and the crowd comes ready to move.
Tucked in the West Loop, Bottom Lounge delivers raw, unfiltered rock, metal, and alternative shows in a converted warehouse that feels more like a gritty backroom than a venue. No velvet ropes or polished floors here—just high-octane performances and a crowd that’s all about the music, not the decor.
Bourbon on Division is a premier nightclub located in the heart of Wicker Park, offering a dynamic multi-floor experience that blends immersive themed events, high-energy DJ sets, and captivating drag performances. Known for its stylish interiors and curated nightlife programming, the venue sets the standard for Chicago's upscale club scene.
Cleo's is the West Town sports bar that's always the right call — whether you're cheering on your favorite team, grabbing drinks with co-workers, recovering from a breakup, or just because you want a good pour. With a full food menu and a bocce court to keep things interesting, Cleo's brings laid-back neighborhood energy with enough personality to keep you coming back. It's the kind of spot where everyone feels welcome and the vibe is always on point.
Emporium's Fulton Market outpost drops retro arcade cabinets and craft beer into the heart of the West Loop dining scene. It stays open late for the post-dinner crowd, making it the ideal second stop on a Randolph Street night.
The biggest Emporium location in Chicago packs the city's largest collection of classic arcade games, pool tables, and pinball alongside craft beer until 3am on Saturdays. Logan Square's ultimate low-key hang for competitive types.
Ukrainian Village's Empty Bottle has been booking cutting-edge indie, experimental, and electronic acts since 1992. The room is small, the sound is big, and the calendar consistently delivers artists before they break.
An agave-forward cocktail bar on Milwaukee Ave that transitions from specialty coffee by day to mezcal and tequila cocktails by night, open until 2am. Logan Square's answer to wanting great drinks without the pretense.
Ukrainian Village's beloved dive bar has just enough updated charm to keep things interesting -- craft beer on tap, a loyal neighborhood following, and the kind of low-key energy that keeps the place buzzing until 2am.
Bucktown's neighborhood bar since 1988 hosts nightly live music spanning jazz, punk, and comedy in an intimate, art-filled room. It's scrappy, unpretentious, and still one of the best spots to catch a random great show on the North Side.
This West Town cocktail bar channels 1970s rock-and-blues energy with throwback vibes, creative drinks, and an atmosphere that feels like the golden age of vinyl. The Chicago Avenue strip location keeps it buzzing late into the night.
The West Loop's Good Night, John Boy is a 1970s fever dream — retro wallpaper, bulky TVs, a sparkling disco ball, and a groovy energy that builds as the night goes on. It's weird, it's fun, and the dance floor doesn't disappoint.
The West Loop's Grapes & Grains is a sophisticated piano bar and cocktail lounge with live music, networking events, and curated social experiences. The upscale atmosphere makes it a refined alternative to the neighborhood's louder options.
Division Street's Innjoy has been a Wicker Park staple for creative cocktails and a come-as-you-are atmosphere. The bartenders know what they're doing, the brunch draws a crowd, and the vibe stays consistently right.
One of the oldest Latino drag bars in the country, La Cueva has been a Little Village LGBTQ+ sanctuary for over 40 years. Two elaborate shows a night with drag queens and kings make this a nightlife institution with serious history and heart.
A Bucktown institution since the 1930s, Lottie's serves burgers, pizza, and brunch with a big beer garden and a late-night bar scene that keeps rolling until 3am on Saturdays. It's the kind of neighborhood pub that has outlasted every trend around it.
Little Village's anchor for a proper night out, Mi Tierra brings traditional mole, fresh seafood, live music, and a full bar that stays open until 2am on weekends. The 26th Street institution is the real deal for Mexican cuisine and late-night energy.
Little Village's hidden speakeasy-style bar serves Latino-fused craft spirits and cocktails behind a discreet side-street entrance. The hearty entrees and craft beer round out a spot that rewards those who know where to look.
This sultry basement cocktail bar beneath Thalia Hall specializes in inventive punch bowls and craft cocktails in a retro-bohemian Pilsen setting. The subterranean vibe on 18th Street is moody, intimate, and built for a night that goes long.
Logan Square's definitive gin bar backs an inventive cocktail program with a lush backyard patio and a late-night menu that draws the neighborhood's creative crowd. The gin collection here is arguably the deepest in the city.
Cash-only and proud of it since 2003, Skylark is Pilsen's cult-status dive bar with retro rec-room decor, craft beer, a photo booth, and live music. The kind of neighborhood spot where the bartender knows your name and your drink.
A spirit-forward cocktail bar housed in a converted 1920s Ukrainian Village social club, Sportsman's Club pours daily-changing drinks alongside an amaro machine and runs a curated bar-goods shop. The kind of place where the bartender is a genuine craftsperson.