Bars, restaurants, clubs, and venues open after 5. Hours, phone numbers, and vibes included.
Bar Mar offers a vibrant nightlife experience with a focus on great food and service. Located in a prime spot on the river, it's a popular spot for late-night dining and drinks.
Barrio is a modern mexican-american in River North, serving Chicago's downtown side.
Streeterville’s local favorite, Birdman Ramen, serves up rich tori-paitan and bold shoyu bowls—no frills, just soulful broth and springy noodles. East of Michigan Ave, it’s the only spot delivering this level of ramen focus to a neighborhood hungry for authenticity.
Modern, high-speed inner loop industrial taproom catering to drinking groups and after-hours business workers. 15-hour brisket, honey buffalo wings, smoked jackfruit, and local IPAs.
BLVD Steakhouse brings upscale dining to Streeterville with premium cuts, polished service, and a refined atmosphere. A reliable high-end steakhouse option near the Magnificent Mile for those who take their beef seriously.
Casa Margarita is a waterfront mexican in Streeterville, serving Chicago's downtown side.
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.
This River North steakhouse doesn't just serve cuts — it serves a show. The 150-seat, multi-level room features a front stage bathed in blue fluorescent light where local and national jazz artists perform nightly.
Flaco's Tacos is a fast-casual street tacos in Gold Coast, serving Chicago's downtown side.
Gibsons Italia offers a vibrant dining experience with a focus on Italian cuisine. Known for its lively atmosphere and valet service, it's a popular spot for adults looking to enjoy a meal or drinks after work.
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 downtown location of Chicago's most iconic fried chicken institution. Harold Pierce founded the original in 1950 at 47th and Kenwood after moving to Chicago from the South in 1943. Now with 40+ locations across the South Side, Harold's is THE fried chicken of Chicago — order a half white, half dark with mild sauce and you're speaking the local language. The mild sauce is the thing: a sweet, tangy, slightly spicy concoction of ketchup, BBQ sauce, and hot sauce that you won't find anywhere else in America. Fries, white bread, coleslaw on the side. Harold's became a Black-owned institution partly because of redlining — big chains avoided Black neighborhoods, so Harold's filled the void and became a cultural anchor. This #62 location on Wabash brings South Side soul to the South Loop.
This casual late-night refuge satisfies intense midnight cravings with exceptional Pakistani barbecue and Indian classics. Specializing in beautifully charred, smoky tandoori kababs and rich, deeply spiced biryani cooked fresh, and operating until 3am every day, it is a top for nighttime food runs. The perfect place for heavy, high-flavor protein meals long after most kitchens have closed.
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.
Chicago's most beloved deep dish since 1971, and the River North flagship is where out-of-towners and lifelong locals sit side by side waiting for that buttercrust to arrive. The sausage patty pizza is the signature, the crust is buttery and flaky, and the cheese pull is real. Skip Giordano's — this is the one.
Loop newcomer Mariela comes from James Beard semifinalists Rishi Kumar and Zubair Mohajir of Mirra fame. The menu spans Southeast Asia to the Americas with standouts like seafood arroz negro with uni hot sauce, king crab agnolotti, and tom yum aguachile with Thai herbs and coconut.
Embracing a modern, welcoming dining environment, this restaurant delivers a rich culinary exploration of Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani recipes. Talented chefs utilize premium ingredients and traditional techniques to craft highly aromatic curries, tender tandoori meats, and masterfully blended spice combinations. Exceptional service and extended late-night hours on weekends make it a comfortable sit-down feast destination.
This wildly inventive modern fusion eatery puts an exciting Indian twist on classic Chicago comfort fare. Famous for Chicken Tikka Masala pizzas with crisp crusts topped with bright, rich spices, diners can also customize massive rice bowls, wraps, and street-style chaats. On Friday and Saturday nights the kitchen stays open until 2am — an elite stop for a trendy post-party meal.
Inside the Hyatt Centric in the Loop, Mexican Radio brings the heat — literally, with a tabletop trompo that gets set aflame tableside. Chef Dudley Nieto (Fat Rosie's, Chapulin) runs the all-day menu of enchiladas, octopus-shrimp ceviche, and more.
South Loop’s buzzy heart gets a flavor boost at Mikami, where steaming ramen bowls anchor a night of sake flights and shareable small plates. Skip the tourist traps—this izakaya’s broth-driven menu and intimate bar feel make it a local favorite for date nights that linger past midnight.
This highly reliable casual eatery serves traditional, family-style Indian, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani dishes in a welcoming environment. Robust flavors come through rich curries, perfectly seasoned meats, and aromatic basmati rice options. A neighborhood favorite due to generous hours — open until 1am every night. Be sure to pair your spicy meal with one of their unique offerings like the Indian Burger.
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.
Ramen Misoya brings legit miso ramen expertise from Japan to the Near North Side, with rich broths in Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Nagoya regional styles. The depth of flavor here separates it from every other ramen spot in the city.
Upscale Italian by Lettuce Entertain You. House-made pastas, prime steaks, and an extensive Italian wine list in a sleek River North setting.