Bars, restaurants, clubs, and venues open after 5. Hours, phone numbers, and vibes included.
Activate Chicago blends laser tag, escape rooms, and arcade gaming into one high-tech unique experience with interactive challenge rooms. It's the kind of competitive group outing that actually lives up to the hype — and makes for a killer date night.
An indoor mini golf bar in Lakeview with arcade games, craft cocktails, and a playful atmosphere. Artist-designed holes and a laid-back vibe make it perfect for date night.
Bar-cade with 50+ classic arcade games, pinball machines, craft cocktails, and local beer. Free to play, just buy a drink. DJ sets on weekends. Three Chicago locations.
Emporium's Fulton Market outpost drops retro arcade cabinets and craft beer into the heart of the West Loop dining scene. It stays open late for the post-dinner crowd, making it the ideal second stop on a Randolph Street night.
The biggest Emporium location in Chicago packs the city's largest collection of classic arcade games, pool tables, and pinball alongside craft beer until 3am on Saturdays. Logan Square's ultimate low-key hang for competitive types.
Brookfield's Galloping Ghost holds the title of largest arcade in the country — over 900 machines, all on free play with one flat admission. No booze, no gimmicks, just row after row of classic cabinets that'll teleport you back to 1987.
Game Night Out in Lakeview stocks board games, party games, and interactive experiences in a BYOB-friendly setting. Bring your own bottles, grab a stack of games, and settle in — perfect for double dates and friend groups who want something beyond another bar.
Headquarters Beercade in River North packs dozens of free-play classic arcade games and pinball machines into a massive space with craft beer on tap. All games are free with a drink purchase — which makes the second round a very easy sell.
Modern interactive gaming experience with pub food in Skokie. Arcade games, craft beer, and a casual social atmosphere. Great for groups and date nights.
Retro-meets-modern arcade bar with pinball, classic cabinets, a full stage, and an elevated DJ booth alongside craft cocktails. Life Bar stays open until 2 AM on weekends with live entertainment, trivia nights, and gaming tournaments that bring out the competitive crowd.
Logan Arcade in Logan Square transforms the historic Hardware building into a serious pinball and retro gaming haven with craft beer that keeps the crowd going until 2 AM. This 21+ barcade punches above its weight with rare cabinets and an obsessive pinball collection that'll destroy your night in the best way.
Neighborhood bar with pool tables, darts, pinball, and a solid beer selection. Unpretentious dive that stays open late. The kind of place where you end up staying way longer than planned.
Arcade sports bar in the heart of Andersonville with classic games, house-made comfort food, and rotating craft beer. Creative seasonal cocktails and late-night hours until 2am on weekends keep the neighborhood coming back.
Boystown's best-kept secret is this free-play arcade bar where you're nursing a perfectly crafted cocktail while crushing it at vintage Pac-Man and pinball machines until 3 AM on Saturday nights. The themed drinks hit as hard as the nostalgia, and the welcoming LGBTQ+ crowd makes it feel like you're gaming with friends who actually get it. Skip the overcrowded dance clubs and post up here instead—it's arcade heaven without pretension.
WhirlyBall mashes up bumper cars with lacrosse, then throws in bowling, laser tag, and a full bar for good measure. It's controlled chaos on the northwest side — perfect for competitive friend groups and team outings that actually deliver.