31 bars, restaurants, clubs, and venues open after 5. Hours, phone numbers, and vibes included.
Lincoln Park's aliveOne is the neighborhood bar that gets it right with live music, trivia nights, and a welcoming vibe that never feels forced. Solid happy hour and regular themed events keep the calendar interesting and the regulars coming back.
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.
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.
Handmade craft cocktails with fresh-squeezed juices and a chef-driven menu give this modern neighborhood bar a polished edge. The late-night vibe runs until midnight on weekends -- a step above the typical suburban bar scene.
Upscale neighborhood bar and grill in Lincoln Square. Gourmet pot pies, elevated burgers, wraps, and specialty martinis. Down-to-earth, festive, vibrant.
A welcoming Wicker Park bar with attentive staff, clean vibes, and prices that won't wreck your wallet. Easy Bar lives up to its name — no attitude, just solid drinks and good company on Division Street. A reliable go-to for locals who want to keep things simple.
Ukrainian Village's beloved dive bar has just enough updated charm to keep things interesting -- craft beer on tap, a loyal neighborhood following, and the kind of low-key energy that keeps the place buzzing until 2am.
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.
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.
Authentic Mexican dining in Lincoln Square with live jazz and music events. Massive margaritas, sizzling fajitas, tacos. Soulful, vibrant, foodie. A neighborhood institution.
An airy Wicker Park hangout with a pool table, friendly staff, and the kind of relaxed atmosphere that makes you stay longer than planned. Gold Star Bar is a Division Street staple for casual nights with friends. Grab a booth, rack up the balls, and let the evening unfold.
# Hippo's Hippo's on 111th Street is where Mount Greenwood comes to drink—no craft cocktails, no velvet ropes, just ice-cold beer and actual neighbors who know your name. It's the kind of South Side dive that gets packed for Bears games, serves its purpose with zero apologies, and reminds you why neighborhood bars still matter in a city obsessed with the next big thing.
Chicago's second-oldest continuously operating tavern, holding it down in the South Loop since 1890. Kasey's is the neighborhood bar that survived Prohibition, two World Wars, and every trend. Come for the great beer selection and stay for the no-nonsense atmosphere.
A fun and lively West Loop staple famous for its oversized Aperol spritzes and buzzing weekend energy. Lone Wolf Tavern's 1,200+ reviews confirm what Randolph Street regulars already know — it's one of the most reliably good times in the neighborhood. Great for groups and spontaneous nights out.
Maria's Packaged Goods & Community Bar in Bridgeport is where you grab craft spirits from the retail side then slide into the intimate cocktail bar for some of the city's most inventive drinks. Attached to Kimski and packed with serious beer and whiskey selections, it's the hybrid spot locals hit when they want both a bottle to take home and a killer nightcap.
A 4.8-star Wicker Park favorite with great music, genuinely friendly service, and a warm atmosphere that makes you feel like a regular from your first visit. Mirella's Tavern is the kind of bar that earns its reputation through consistency and heart, not hype. One of Division Street's most beloved spots.
An iconic, long-standing South Side staple. Grown, sexy, and incredibly lively neighborhood music lounge known for its amazing drinks, stepping music, and a warm local crowd celebrating Sunday night.
Classic old-school Chicago music tavern in Wicker Park with nightly rock, jazz, or blues acts. A neighborhood institution that has been hosting live music for decades.
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.
Rosa's Lounge is the real deal—a family-owned South Side blues institution that relocated to Logan Square and has been serving up authentic, no-frills live music since 1984. Catch touring blues legends and local stalwarts in an intimate, unpretentious room Tuesday through Saturday, with the bar staying open until 2 AM for serious late-night listening. This is where Chicago's blues community actually gathers, not where tourists come to perform authenticity.
With a near-perfect 4.9 rating, this Humboldt Park sports bar delivers good vibes, quick service, and prices that won't break the bank. Sari's flies under the radar on the west end of Division Street, but the locals who know it swear by it. Unpretentious, welcoming, and exactly what a neighborhood bar should be.
Late-night neighborhood tavern. Gritty, no-frills, low-lit, local, intimate. The kind of place where everybody knows your name. Open until 2AM (3AM Saturdays).
Shoeless Joe's Ale House & Grille in Schiller Park is a late-night favorite near Rosemont and O'Hare, staying open until 2AM Sunday through Friday and 3AM on Saturdays. The kitchen keeps rolling until 10PM on weeknights and midnight on weekends, making it a reliable spot for late-night bites and drinks when nearby Rosemont venues start closing. Located at 4926 N River Road, this welcoming neighborhood bar is the perfect wind-down destination after a concert or night out.
Late-night, low-lit neighborhood tavern. A Skokie staple for no-frills drinks and regulars. Classic dive bar vibes.