Best Chicago nightlife

Our Local Expert Says:

This tucked away dive bar draws a varied line up and is generally packed with locals looking for a crazy dance party. Generally you will find plaid-wearing "cool kids."

Description:

This friendly tavern's OLD STYLE BEER sign shines like a beacon, guiding roots-music fans through the grimy industrial neighborhood that surrounds it. The owners' beer-can collection and some "celebrity" memorabilia are on display in the front room. In back, local musicians play country, rock, and bluesy tunes on a small stage backed by an impressive stuffed sailfish. It's no-frills, all right, but the Hideout also books some of the best lineups of folk and "alt country" bands in the city, including Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco), Kelly Hogan, and the New Duncan Imperials.

Our Local Expert Says:

This neighborhood bar boasts an extensive Belgian beer selection, as well as a fantastic draft line, but don't forget about the food that compliments the quality beer superbly.

Description:

If you don't know your Farmhouse from your Trappist or your Abbey-style ales, or perhaps, more importantly, if you do, then Hopleaf should be your next destination for a goblet or two. In addition to an extensive list of Belgian beers available on tap (over 15) or by the bottle (over 100), this tavern also features beers from all over North America and Europe. If beer isn't your thing (gasp!) then check out the wine list; Hopleaf features a number of wines available by the glass or bottle. Of course, with all this drinking you'll probably want to do a little eating. A few standout features on the menu include the mussels (white-wine steamed or white-ale steamed, your choice) and the frites with aioli.

Description:

A fixture on Chicago's late-night theater scene, the Neo-Futurists have been doing their hit Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind since 1988 (it's now the longest-running show in Chicago). The setting -- a cramped room above a funeral home -- isn't much, but the gimmick is irresistible: Every night the performers stage a new collection of "30 plays in 60 minutes." The "plays" vary from a 3-minute comedy sketch to a lightning-quick wordless tableau; the mood veers from laugh-out-loud silly to emotionally touching. The show starts at 11:30pm on weekends; get there about an hour ahead, because seats are first-come, first-served, and they do sell out. The late-night curtain attracts a younger crowd, but I've taken 60-something relatives who have had a great time (unlike many improv comedy troupes, the Neo-Futurists don't rely on raunchy or gross-out humor). Admission is random: Theatergoers pay $9 plus the roll of a six-sided die. If you want to feel that you've experienced edgy, low-budget theater -- but still want to be entertained -- this is the place to go.

Our Local Expert Says:

Great history, great music, great fun!

Description:

This is the absolute best place to see jazz in Chicago! The Green Mill is a former speakeasy from days of Prohibition, where it was the headquarters Chicago gangsters, including the infamous Al Capone. Also famous for being the location where Joe E. Lewis was attacked with a knife. The ornate, sophisticated, and dark atmosphere has not changed much from the old days, and neither has the music. It has definitely upheld its mission to uphold a "mix of down-to-earth friendliness and class." There are different regular acts every night, with Big Band swing on Thursdays, Sabertooth Jazz Qunitet on Saturday and Sunday after 1am, and even a Poetry Slam on Sundays.

Our Local Expert Says:

Famous for its alumni, Second City will have you rolling on the floor and keep you entertained, plus the drinks and food make the experience complete.

Description:

Chicago is famous for comedy, and it has Second City to thank for that. Almost every famous comic to come out of Chicago spent time at Second City before they "hit it big." A few famous alumni include Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, and Steve Carell. Don't miss the revue on the mainstage (does not play on Mondays), sure to skewer politicians local and national in the most hilarious way possible. As a general rule, Chicago politics equals comedy gold. Be sure to get to the theater about 30 minutes ahead of showtime, as seating is first come, first seated.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is the place to see great bands before they go big! Great venue to relax, eat, and drink while listening to your favorite bands.

Description:

This tavern is housed in one of the former Schlitz bars, but the Schlitz is gone. Instead, you will find a good collection of beer and a wonderfully eclectic variety of live music on a stage in an adjoining room. You can drink at the bar for no extra charge, but to hear the music, you have to pay a cover fee. Both parts of the tavern, performance and bar areas, tend to host a mix of locals from the Lakeview neighborhood and others from throughout the city who have come to check out this week's jazz, rock or folk act. If you get hungry, you can sneak away to the Harmony Grill, which is owned by the same person and attached to the bar.

Description:

From the music played before the show starts, to the live organ music played on the weekends, to the twinkling stars and wispy clouds projected overhead, a trip to this theater can be a romantic trip through time. Every month, the schedule is crowded with a huge variety of films, including foreign films, American art films and classics. The theater has been known to show such outlandish things as a 1970s 3-D adult film for the midnight and cult crowd. See website for show times, event calendar and more.

Our Local Expert Says:

Great activity for you weekend!

Description:

This might seem like an average bar, but look a little further and find the night's best activity: bowling! Located just off the Southport Brown line stop in lively West Lakeview since 1922, Southport Lanes is a small and fun local bowling alley, which uses real pin-setters! There are only four lanes, so it may be difficult to find a spot on the weekends, but enjoy a game of pool and a few beers while you wait. Even if you don't want to bowl, this is a fun hangout any night of the week.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is a Chicago clubbing institution that provides an array of musical styles, creating a diverse crowd. Always an experience.

Description:

If you are looking for an eclectic and diverse environment to get your groove on, then this is the place to be. It is a bit off the beaten path located in an industrial River North neighborhood , but this adds to its unique and rusty charm. The stylized interior creates a whimsical ambiance with leopard-skin couches, antique lighting, colored murals, and private booths. Here you can have the intimacy of a small venue and the feel of a dance club all in one place. The DJ's are some of the best in the city, spinning an array of beats including hip hop, African, house, soul, and funk that draw a wide-range of patrons that come from all backgrounds. Popular Thursday nights bring in a younger crowd, and Saturday and Sunday draw a hip urban crowd for hip hop and soul.

Description:

Owners Mark and Laura Blasingame have made this place into an expression of their love for world travel, and the free buffet every Tuesday night, served to reflect the cuisine of a different country every week, is only the first indication of that love. The walls are lined with bookshelves housing a variety of atlases and travel guides, Internet connections are available to help plan your next world voyage, and perhaps most importantly, the draught beer list includes a variety of exciting imports (including Belgians like St. Feuillien, Achouffe and Urthel). On Fridays, enjoy live blues and on Saturday, live jazz. There is no cover charge for either night. See website for details on the quarterly "Cafe Scientifique" lecture/discussion series.