Bars, restaurants, clubs, and venues open after 5. Hours, phone numbers, and vibes included.
Soo Ahn's Adalina commands the Gold Coast with uncompromising Italian elegance—think crystal chandeliers, A5 wagyu, and caviar service that justifies every penny. Skip dessert and head downstairs to the clandestine cocktail bar, where the real night begins for those in the know.
THE original Italian beef, period. Al's has been dipping sandwiches on Taylor Street since 1938, and the formula hasn't changed: thin-sliced beef, soaked in jus, loaded with hot giardiniera, wrapped in Italian bread that disintegrates in your hands. Order it dipped. Eat it over the wrapper. This is Chicago.
The birthplace of the Italian beef sandwich. Al Ferreri and his sister Frances and brother-in-law Chris Pacelli Sr. opened this family beef stand in 1938 on the corner of Harrison and Lafflin, originally called Al's Bar-B-Q because the beef simmered outside. They figured out you could slice the roast thin on a deli slicer, cook it in its own juices with secret spices, and feed twice as many people with a first-rate sandwich. Since they were all Italian — that's where 'Italian Beef' came from. The Taylor Street location is the original, now run by the Pacelli family's next generation. Over 150 culinary awards. Ships nationwide via Goldbelly. This is not a chain — this is where Chicago's signature sandwich was invented.
Alto redefines the Italian steakhouse experience from the 17th floor of Wind Creek Chicago Southland, offering sweeping views alongside expertly grilled prime cuts aged a minimum of 28 days. The raw bar features oysters, jumbo shrimp cocktail, and tuna tartare, while the craft cocktail program delivers inventive creations in a sleek, elevated setting. Reservations are required for this exclusive dining destination, open Sunday through Thursday 5PM-10PM and Friday-Saturday until 11PM.
Andersonville's rustic Italian BYOB changes its menu weekly based on what the farms are growing -- it's seasonal cooking at its most honest. The intimate dining room and bring-your-own-bottle policy make it one of the best date nights on the North Side.
Barraco's Evergreen Park is the ultimate 24-hour food anchor on the South Side, serving Italian favorites and pizza around the clock at 3701 W. 95th Street. With a full sports bar, spacious banquet and party room, and catering services, this location is one of seven Barraco's spots across the Chicagoland area. Open seven days a week with no closing time, it is the go-to destination when hunger strikes at any hour of the night.
This Roman-inspired wine bar on Andersonville's Clark Street strip pairs house-made pasta and wood-fired dishes with Italian-focused craft cocktails. The daily happy hour pulls in the neighborhood crowd, and the candlelit dining room is a proper date-night spot.
Upscale Italian dining at Old Orchard in Skokie. Part of the DineAmic hospitality group. Handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and craft cocktails.
Southwest Side Beggars location keeping the Garetto family tradition alive since 1976. Same thick, loaded pizzas that made the South Side chain legendary — deep dish, thin crust, pasta, and wings. A neighborhood staple for families, late dinners, and carryout runs after work.
South Side institution since 1976 when Angelo Garetto opened the first Beggars in Blue Island. Still family-owned by the Garettos, this Stony Island location has a full dining room, bar with happy hour specials, and seasonal outdoor patio. Known for thick, cheesy pizza — both thin crust and deep dish — plus pasta, wings, and their famous motto: 'We Lay It On Thick.' The kind of place where every South Sider has a go-to order.
Pull up a stool at this no-frills Archer Avenue institution where $3 domestics and neighborhood camaraderie are the main attractions—order a Italian beef from Ricobene's and have it delivered straight to your seat. Bridgeport's realest dive bar doesn't pretend to be anything it's not, which is exactly why locals keep coming back. The jukebox, the regulars, the dive bar smell—it's all authentically Chicago.
Canal Street Eatery in the West Loop offers unlimited pizza, pasta, and salad for those who believe more is more. A solid group-dinner option near the Fulton Market corridor when everyone's hungry and nobody wants to overthink it.
Ciccio Mio in River North is serving theatrical Italian with all the trimmings—plush booths, truffle mozzarella sticks, and a rom-com vibe that'll have you feeling like the protagonist of your own night out. This is where you take someone when you want dinner to feel like an *event*, not just a meal.
Michelin-recognized and Logan Square proud, Daisies delivers handmade pasta and seasonal market-driven plates with a stellar happy hour that locals guard like a secret. Dinner service runs until 11pm on weekends.
Lakeview's most swoony spot for date night, where French-Italian small plates and a seriously curated wine list pair perfectly with the kind of fireplace glow that makes you lose track of time. Food & Wine named it the most romantic restaurant in Illinois for good reason—the intimate lounge setup practically demands you linger over another glass. Come hungry for sophistication but plan to stay for the vibe.
Fulton Market's Fioretta blends Italian steakhouse elegance with live jazz and lounge performances Thursday through Saturday. The stunning dining room fills with smooth melodies from 6:30 to 9 PM — perfect for a date night that doesn't try too hard.
Giordano's in the Loop serves the deep dish pizza that put Chicago on the culinary map. Thick, cheesy, and unapologetically indulgent, it's the kind of meal that anchors a night out downtown.
The late Cubs broadcaster's namesake restaurant occupies a landmark 1895 River North building packed with wall-to-wall sports memorabilia. Harry Caray's pairs prime steaks with Italian classics in a room where the history is as rich as the menu.
Il Vicolo Trattoria is a traditional italian in Oak Park.
Fine Italian dining in a stunning historic Gold Coast mansion with a courtyard that feels like a secret garden. La Storia serves handmade pastas and classic Italian dishes in one of the most romantic settings on Dearborn Street. The kind of place that makes a regular Tuesday feel like an occasion.
The inspiration for FX's 'The Bear.' Founded by Joseph Zucchero in 1979, Mr. Beef on Orleans is a no-frills, counter-service Italian beef shop where the sandwich does all the talking. Jeremy Allen White visited during filming and trained here for his role as Carmy Berzatto. Order it dipped with hot giardiniera and eat standing up at the counter like a real Chicagoan. No seats, no pretense, no nonsense — just one hell of an Italian beef. Closes at 4pm because they don't need to be open late; the line starts at lunch. This is the beef joint that launched a TV show and reminded the world that Chicago runs on Italian beef.
Brewery and wood-fired pizzeria. Artisanal pizzas, specialty sliders, and a full lineup of freshly brewed IPAs and stouts. Trendy, energetic, with an open-air feel. Beverly's foodie brewery.
Italian-American bistro meets upscale bowling and bocce at Oakbrook Center -- the western suburbs' ultimate group outing spot for mixing dining with competitive fun. The patio overlooking the lanes is a scene on warm nights.
Yes, tourists know about it. Yes, it's still good. Portillo's River North is the flagship of Chicago's fast-casual empire — Italian beef dipped with hot giardiniera, Chicago-style dogs, and the chocolate cake shake that has no business being that good. Late-night crowds, loud energy, and a menu that covers every Chicago food group.