Bars, restaurants, clubs, and venues open after 5. Hours, phone numbers, and vibes included.
Hip industrial bar built from recycled materials with neon accents and graffiti art murals. Full gastro-pub menu with wood-fired pizzas and vegan burgers. Regular live DJs. Major weekend hotspot for singles and dates. 2.4 miles northeast of the Little Village Arch.
Simon's Tavern in Andersonville is a local favorite where locals swear by the velvety Swedish Glogg and the unpretentious charm of its dimly lit booths. Skip the tourist traps—this corner bar’s warm, no-frills atmosphere and reliably stellar service have kept regulars coming back for decades.
SixtyFour Wine Bar & Kitchen is Naperville's go-to for serious wine lovers—their rotating list of 64 by-the-glass selections pairs perfectly with chef-driven seasonal small plates that actually justify the splurge. Catch live music on summer Fridays and you've got the kind of date night that feels effortless but feels premium.
Late-night, low-lit neighborhood tavern. A Skokie staple for no-frills drinks and regulars. Classic dive bar vibes.
Legendary, unpretentious vintage dive bar that pulls in an energetic Pilsen crowd. Sunday evenings routinely turn up the volume with live music sessions across two full sets. Famous for tater tots, pierogies, and roasted pork sandwiches with kitchen open until 11 PM.
A cash-only dive bar tucked beneath the Loop El tracks since 1971, named after the gondola from the 1933 World's Fair — the clocks run 10 minutes fast, the beer is the cheapest in the Loop, and decades of Chicago sports history are scorched into the bar wood.
Avondale's Sleeping Village is a bar and music venue with an intimate room that books fearlessly across indie, experimental, metal, and DJ nights. The kind of spot where you discover your next obsession on a random Tuesday.
High-energy, loud rock-and-blues tavern with a packed bar and steady rhythm-and-blues tracks. St. Louis ribs, smoked chicken wings, brisket sliders, and craft beer. Weekly live blues and rock performances.
Music-centric South Side bar and grill with a casual, neighborhood vibe. Comfort food menu paired with live music performances and a laid-back atmosphere.
Sofitel's Gold Coast location hosts an upscale afternoon apero that elevates the concept of after-work drinks to something genuinely French and refined. The lobby bar's sleek design and curated cocktail menu make it a Magnificent Mile standout for those who prefer sophistication over volume.
Boutique craft cocktail lounge in Lincoln Square. Gourmet smash burgers, specialty hummus, charcuterie boards. Sophisticated, intimate, moody, romantic.
The rooftop pool bar atop The Robey hotel in Wicker Park serves frozen tropical cocktails with skyline views that practically beg for Instagram. Solana's resort-style atmosphere is peak Chicago summer, and one of the most photogenic rooftops in the city.
Sip craft brews in style at Solemn Oath Brewery in the Maplewood area, where a unique selection of ales and lively vibe make for a perfect adult outing.
Some Like It Black Creative Arts Bar is a lively arts bar and music venue located in the heart of Bronzeville, offering a dynamic fusion of live performances, visual art displays, and an engaging nightlife experience. Open from 3:00 PM until 11:00 PM, with extended hours until midnight on Fridays, this great spot celebrates cultural expression and artistic innovation in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere.
Soundgrowler's got that sweet spot where serious beer nerds and live music junkies actually want to hang—their rotating house-made IPAs and stouts pair perfectly with legit tacos while local bands tear it up on weekends. The vibe is refreshingly unpretentious for a craft brewery, with trivia nights that draw a solid crowd and bartenders who actually know their stuff. It's the kind of place where you stumble in for one beer and suddenly it's midnight.
Intimate Art Deco Cuban-inspired cocktail lounge on Elm Street in the Gold Coast. Sparrow mixes Caribbean-inflected cocktails in a moody, beautifully designed space that feels like a hidden Havana parlor. The kind of bar where you settle in for the night.
Evergreen Park's cozy wine bar on 95th Street offers curated wines by the glass, craft beers, and small plates in a warm, welcoming setting. Spoke & Vine is the south suburb's quiet answer to the date-night question.
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.
Spybar, located in Chicago's lively River North district, offers an exclusive blend of sophisticated ambiance, cutting-edge mixology, and engaging entertainment that defines the city's elite nightlife scene. Its iconic rooftop terrace and curated events make it a worth visiting destination for discerning patrons seeking unparalleled luxury and innovation.
Contemporary American bistro with live acoustic sets on weekends. Chef-driven dinners, artisanal flatbreads, botanical mixology. Sophisticated, romantic, trendy.
New Orleans French Quarter flair with craft cocktails, Creole cooking, and a lively speakeasy/DJ setup in River North. A lively spot for dinner and late-night cocktails.
Streeter's Tavern bills itself as 'The Greatest Bar Below Earth' — an underground tavern tucked beneath the streets of Streeterville that delivers a one-of-a-kind late-night atmosphere. Every Thursday night features a live DJ from 8 PM to 2 AM, with daily specials running Sunday through Thursday and happy hour Monday through Friday from 5 PM to 7 PM. Part of a well-known family of Chicago bars that includes Lodge Tavern, Redhead Piano Bar, and Original Mother's, Streeter's combines neighborhood charm with downtown energy. Private party bookings are available for groups looking to take over this unique underground space.
Sugar Factory's Rosemont location turns stadium-adjacent dining into pure spectacle with those signature goblet cocktails and indulgent American fare. The 9,000-square-foot space near Parkway Bank Park delivers Instagram gold for anyone craving maximalist vibes and comfort food excess.
Fulton Market's Swift & Sons occupies a historic cold-storage building and serves globally sourced prime beef alongside one of Chicago's most acclaimed cocktail programs. The kind of West Loop steakhouse where the old-fashioned is as carefully crafted as the dry-aged ribeye.