Bars, restaurants, clubs, and venues open after 5. Hours, phone numbers, and vibes included.
Rowdy, ultra-popular, and lively bourbon and taco oasis in Wicker Park. Energetic DJs spin classic country, soul, and rock records on vinyl to a packed crowd. Known for al pastor tacos, carne asada tacos, queso fundido, and micheladas.
An acclaimed professional theater company dedicated to producing plays, musicals, and performances celebrating African American culture and history. Founded by Jackie Taylor, it presents world-class productions featuring blues, jazz, and theatrical performances on Chicago\x27s North Side.
Bustling, legendary late-night blues club in River North with an enthusiastic crowd dancing to world-class local bands. Operating since 1985, it offers authentic Chicago Blues every night.
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.
Behind a hidden grass door on Division Street in Wicker Park lies Bordel, a Parisian-inspired speakeasy lit entirely by candlelight. Nightly jazz, burlesque, and live entertainment share the room with savory small plates — it's moody, romantic, and very hard to leave.
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.
River North's Briny Swine is a seaside smokehouse and oyster bar mashing up Carolina-style BBQ with fresh seafood and Lowcountry dishes. Live music hits the Briny stage Wednesday through Sunday, with weekend sets running until 2 AM.
A top mid-size Broadway venue in the heart of the Magnificent Mile, housed in the northeast corner of Water Tower Place. Originally built in the 1970s as The Drury Lane Theatre, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place is part of the Broadway In Chicago family and hosts touring productions in an intimate 590-seat setting — just steps from Michigan Avenue.
High-energy neighborhood party bar in Fulton Market with killer craft cocktails and live music sets. A fun, unpretentious spot for a night out in the West Loop.
Authentic Southern soul food restaurant in Bronzeville. Full menu plus spoken word, comedy nights, and live entertainment. Soulful, intimate, and community-rooted.
An ACM-nominated country music venue right in River North with a 16-foot stage and emerging artists performing daily. Bub City pairs the twang with freshly smoked BBQ in a sprawling 4,500-square-foot honky-tonk-meets-city space.
Bub City's rolling into Rosemont with a honky-tonk vibe that's pure Chicago swagger—think live country acts, bourbon-soaked cocktails, and the kind of packed dance floor that doesn't quit. Book your table on Tock because their hours flip around more than a two-step, and you'll want to lock in your spot before this place hits capacity. It's the kind of night out where you'll actually understand why people still dress up for a night in the suburbs.
Owned by the absolute blues icon himself. Unrivaled live music energy, incredible local and national acts, and signature Louisiana-style soul food. A mandatory stop for any music lover visiting Chicago.
A beloved Logan Square live music bar and arts venue since 2010, The Burlington is one of Chicago most respected independent stages. Hosting local and touring acts nightly across rock, indie, folk, and experimental genres, the bar has earned a reputation as the heartbeat of Chicago neighborhood music scene.
An iconic Chicago concert hall with a storied history dating back to 1926. The Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Uptown seats up to 5,000 for major national touring acts, and its Spanish Baroque interior — ornate archways, painted murals, and a distinctive cloud-effect ceiling — makes every show a visual experience. Located one block from the Lawrence L stop.
The Loop's Cadillac Palace Theatre hosts major Broadway touring productions in a stunningly restored Vaudeville-era setting. The gilded interior is as much a show as whatever's on stage — this is how theater was meant to be experienced.
Logan Square daytime cafe, nighttime bar, and celebrated music venue since 2010. Voted Chicago Best Non-Traditional Music Venue by the Chicago Reader. Serving craft cocktails, local coffee, and a night snack menu, Cafe Mustache hosts live music and karaoke nightly — Fridays at 10pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 8pm. A true neighborhood institution with an anything-goes creative spirit.
Gritty, deep-neighborhood late-night dive bar filled with old school jukebox lines and cheap, heavy pours. Street-style Steak Tacos, Tamales, Chicharrones, Draft Beer Cervezas.
Deeply authentic, brick-walled Mexican steakhouse centered around open-fire grilling and social dining. Charbroiled Arrachera Skirt Steak, Grilled Onions, Fresh Guacamole, Charro Beans.
Trendy, dimly lit coastal resort aesthetic with a highly stylized bar crowd and curated ambient energy. House-made Mole, Crispy Flautas, Seafood Staples, Craft Mezcal Infusions.
Synonymous with summertime in Chicago, Castaways Beach Club is the iconic boathouse on North Avenue Beach with the best skyline views in the city. This reimagined summer destination blends classic lakefront charm with modern design — serving elevated food, craft cocktails, and hosting rooftop house music sets and high-energy summer parties on the North Deck from May through September.
Outdoor amphitheater in Orland Park hosting free summer concerts. Casual, lively, community-centric.
Chicago top mid-size concert and dance venue, hosting national touring acts and world-class DJ events in a striking industrial space on the Near South Side. Radius Chicago (formerly Cermak Hall) seats up to 2,500 and is the go-to venue for electronic music, indie concerts, comedy, and major touring productions. Ticketed by AXS.
Hyde Park's hottest Black-owned spot serves up premium steaks alongside live bands and rotating DJs—this is where the city's sophisticated crowd goes when they want dinner, drinks, and dancing under one roof. The vibe skews grown-and-sexy: think power players in tailored fits mingling with the arts crowd over aged beef and craft cocktails. It's the rare Chicago venue that nails fine dining and nightlife without feeling like you're choosing between two different experiences.