Bars, restaurants, clubs, and venues open after 5. Hours, phone numbers, and vibes included.
Division Street's go-to sports bar with an absurd number of draft beers, TVs on every wall, and bar food that punches above its weight. Fatpour's 1,300+ reviews back up what locals already know — it's the best spot to catch a game in Wicker Park. Wings, beer, and shouting at the screen, as intended.
Orland Park's high-energy sports bar keeps 20-plus drafts flowing alongside a premium spirits selection and full pub menu until 2 AM daily. Wall-to-wall screens and a loyal local crowd make Fatties the south suburb's living room for game nights.
High-energy late-night lounge in downtown Naperville. Sports tavern fare, jumbo wings, custom burgers. Summer DJ dance parties and karaoke showcases Thu-Sat after 9PM. Rowdy, loud, lively.
High-octane party atmosphere featuring a massive retractable roof, industrial design, and an energetic live DJ spinning loud 90s and 2000s throwbacks. Known for ribeye tacos, vegan non-asada tacos, red snapper fish tacos, and brisket nachos.
A neighborhood bar and grill on Milwaukee Avenue in the Sauganash community, offering a laid-back spot for drinks and food with daily hours until 2 AM.
Schaumburg's Irish sports pub brings barbingo on Tuesdays, DJ-spun dance sets on Fridays, and a crowd that keeps the energy high all week. Finn McCool's pairs cold pints and a full pub menu with wall-to-wall screens for the suburban sports faithful.
One of Chicago's oldest continuously operating taverns since 1904, Fireside serves Cajun-accented food, ribs, and pizza with a spacious beer garden in Edgewater. The 4am license makes it one of the few late-night options this far north.
Craft beer hub and gastropub in the South Loop with an impressive rotating tap list that showcases local and regional breweries. First Draft is the neighborhood's go-to for beer geeks and casual drinkers alike, with solid food to match.
Downtown Evanston's go-to rooftop bar serves craft cocktails and open-air dining perched above the Davis Street dining district. The lively happy-hour scene makes it the best place on the North Shore to catch a sunset with a drink in hand.
Social darts with digital scoring, craft cocktails, and shareable plates. Groups of 4-15. Semi-private oches. Walk-ins welcome weekdays, book weekends.
Flipside Brewing on 183rd Street is the blue-collar answer to craft beer snobbery—they're brewing legit small-batch stuff in-house while slinging proper comfort food that doesn't pretend to be something it's not. South siders know it as the essential stop before catching a show, where the pints flow cold and the crowd keeps it real. It's the kind of brewpub that gets better the more you go, packed with folks who actually live in the neighborhood instead of Instagram tourists.
Voted number-one brewpub in America, Forbidden Root is Chicago's first botanic brewery crafting beers infused with herbs, spices, and botanicals on the West Town strip. The full dinner menu and unique pours make it a standout on any night-out itinerary.
Classic Roscoe Village pub with a jukebox, pool table, patio, and some of the best bar food in the neighborhood. No pretense, no gimmicks -- just a local favorite that does the basics better than most.
Anchoring Chatham for over 20 years, this intimate community institution draws an elegant, mature crowd. Heavy pours, a cozy outdoor backyard smoking patio, and resident DJs playing classic, disco-infused Chicago House.
Head west to Naperville and catch live rock and blues at Frankie's Blue Room, where the vintage vibe and rooftop deck make Friday and Saturday nights worth the drive from the Loop. This is legitimately the suburbs' most credible spot for live music—no tourist traps, just solid bands and actual cocktails. Skip the downtown crowds and post up here instead.
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.
A rare West Loop piano bar where live keys set the mood and cocktails flow at reasonable prices. GG Piano Bar brings a chill, sophisticated energy to Lake Street that's perfect for date nights or unwinding after a long week. The kind of place where the music makes the experience.
Craft beer bar and kitchen in Lincoln Square core. Gourmet pub burgers, hand-cut fries, and an extensive craft tap list. Relaxed, foodie, sports-focused.
Orland Park's signature dinner-and-drinks destination pairs a creative New American menu with a craft beer selection and a buzzing social scene. This upscale gastropub has become the south suburbs' go-to for a proper night out.
With 50 taps and over 150 bottles spanning the globe, this is a craft beer obsessive's paradise. Late-night weekend hours, gourmet pub fare, and a judgment-free zone for debating hops and malt profiles until 1 AM.
Gman Tavern is a Wrigleyville neighborhood staple that hosts benefit concerts, local music, and community events without any of the Cubs-strip pretension. Low-key, local, and always worth popping into.
High-energy Gold Coast lounge with live DJs and bottle service on Division Street. The kind of place that draws a well-dressed crowd ready to go late into the night with a proper sound system and VIP sections that deliver.
A retro speakeasy in the basement of Lonesome Rose in Logan Square. Classic cocktails, dim lighting, and a genuinely off-the-beaten-path vibe. Find the entrance through Lonesome Rose.
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.