Bars, restaurants, clubs, and venues open after 5. Hours, phone numbers, and vibes included.
Bar in Hazel Crest at 17520 Kedzie Avenue.
A stylish cocktail bar in Chinatown-adjacent Armour Square on Wentworth Avenue, offering craft cocktails in a modern setting close to Rate Field.
Uptown’s Big Chicks thrives on LGBTQ+ inclusivity and monthly art installations—think neon-lit drag shows and mural-covered walls that double as a gallery. Themed nights (think ’80s prom meets queer punk) keep the crowd buzzing, but it’s the unfiltered camaraderie that sticks.
Billy Sunday is a vintage amaro cocktail bar in Logan Square, serving Chicago's north side.
A veteran-run neighborhood lounge anchoring North Center with an excellent after-5 PM atmosphere. Modern twist on classic bar comfort food paired with 25 rotating craft beers on tap. Known for trivia nights, a welcoming crowd, and genuine neighborhood energy.
Dog-friendly dive with a killer happy hour that keeps Wicker Park regulars coming back. Black Hole Bar is the kind of unpretentious spot where you can settle in for a few rounds without checking your bank account. The patio is a bonus on warm Chicago nights.
Neighborhood tavern in Oak Lawn serving solid burgers and cold drafts. Open till midnight on weekends — unpretentious south suburb local.
Oak Forest’s Blarney Stone Pub has been pouring craft beers and hosting open mics since ’94—think 40 drafts, 80+ bottles, and a kitchen open ’til 2am. A neighborhood staple with live tunes every week, it’s where locals sip pints and stumble into impromptu performances.
Blind Barber is a barbershop speakeasy in West Loop, serving Chicago's west side.
Speakeasy bar in Lakeview at The Den Hotel. Also listed as Room 13.
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.
Slip through the neon-lit back alley behind Sushi Dokku to find this under-the-radar Japanese speakeasy pouring meticulously crafted cocktails that'll make you rethink what you thought you knew about spirit work. The vibe is pure Tokyo cool—smooth beats, selective DJs on weekends, and a crowd that actually appreciates a well-made drink without the posturing. It's the kind of spot locals keep to themselves, tucked away where the real night happens.
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.
Vintage speakeasy in the South Loop that pairs Prohibition-era cocktails with karaoke nights, creating the rare combination of craft drinks and unhinged fun. Brando's nails the speakeasy aesthetic without taking itself too seriously.
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.
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.
Bar in Wrigleyville at 3647 North Clark Street.
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.
Legendary Irish tavern and Gold Coast institution on Division Street since 1961. The quirky, eccentric decor changes with the seasons, the drinks are strong, and the crowd is a mix of regulars and first-timers who all end up having the same great time.
Bar in Wrigleyville at 3707 North Halsted Street.
A neighborhood sports bar and grill on Halsted Street in West Pullman, serving the far South Side community with drinks, food, and game watching.
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.
Virtue Hospitality's Hyde Park gem serves seriously crafted agave cocktails and small-bite botanas in a space that actually feels like a proper escape—not some Instagram fever dream. Skip the Loop lounges and grab a date-night cocktail here where the bartenders know their mezcal from their tequila. The tropical drinks hit different when you're tucked into this corner of the South Side.
Authentic old-school dive bar in Lincoln Square core. Imported European lagers, pilsners, and traditional schnapps. Gritty, historic, European-fringe, no-nonsense.