The best bars & nightlife in Chicago
98 bars & nightlife we’ve checked and stand behind — with the story on each one. Not a ranking; a record.
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Standard Market Grill
NightlifeEatery inside a gourmet market serving farm-fresh, seasonal American plates in a streamlined setup.
Standard Market Grill
NightlifeFuller House
NightlifeRustic-chic American tavern in a lofty space offering wood-fired pizza, craft beer & sports on TV.
Fuller House
NightlifeDJ's Sports Bar & Grill
NightlifeLocal hangout in a former house serving burgers & pub food, with 12 TVs screening sports & a patio.
DJ's Sports Bar & Grill
NightlifeHooters
NightlifeSports bar & grill chain famous for chicken wings served by waitresses in short shorts.
Hooters
NightlifeEdison Park Inn
NightlifeEdison Park Inn nails the everything-under-one-roof vibe with handmade pizzas from a wood-burning oven, freshly battered chicken fingers,…
Edison Park Inn
NightlifeBiliardo & Co.
NightlifeBiliardo & Co. is the rare pool hall that actually feels refined, with premium Brunswick tables, a championship-style 10-foot carom setup,…
Biliardo & Co.
NightlifeMorrison Roadhouse & Pub
NightlifeSince 1932, Morrison Roadhouse & Pub hits that sweet spot between flavorful grill fare and big-game energy, with TVs, pool tables, and…
Morrison Roadhouse & Pub
NightlifeShemroon kabab house
NightlifePark Ridge’s Shemroon Kabab House nails the Persian-Mediterranean sweet spot with smoky koobideh, juicy joojeh, and that dill-and-lima-bean…
Shemroon kabab house
NightlifePennyville Bar Car
NightlifePennyville Bar Car shakes up handcrafted, seasonal cocktails and pairs them with farm-to-table plates, plus live music and one of Park…
Pennyville Bar Car
NightlifeBeer on the Wall
NightlifePart bottle shop, part chill tasting room, Beer on the Wall keeps 16 rotating taps pouring while you settle into lounge seating or grab a…
Beer on the Wall
NightlifePatina Wine Bar & Bistro brings a relaxed European vibe to your midweek plans with creative wine and cocktail pairings, a charcuterie board…
Chili's Grill & Bar
NightlifeFamily-friendly chain serving classic Tex-Mex & American fare in a Southwestern-style setting.
Chili's Grill & Bar
NightlifeAqua Bar
NightlifeAqua Bar is the spot to kick off your night this week or wind it down, with mixologists who know their way around a shaker. Perched…
Aqua Bar
NightlifeLa Fiesta Mexican Restaurant
NightlifeSpacious cantina featuring large portions of classic Mexican fare, margaritas & outdoor seating.
La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant
NightlifeChasers Sports Bar & Grill
NightlifeChasers Sports Bar & Grill delivers plenty of TVs, cold drafts, classic and custom cocktails, and a crowd-pleasing menu this week. Post up…
Chasers Sports Bar & Grill
NightlifeChili's Grill & Bar
NightlifeFamily-friendly chain serving classic Tex-Mex & American fare in a Southwestern-style setting.
Chili's Grill & Bar
NightlifeShortstops Grill & Bar
NightlifeIf your living room couch is getting cocky, give it a break and hit Shortstops Grill & Bar for juicy burgers, wings, street tacos, pizza,…
Shortstops Grill & Bar
NightlifeClancy's Pizza Pub
NightlifeClancy's Pizza Pub brings classic Irish pub vibes, craveable pizza, those must-try Pot Roast Rolls, and nightly music. A south-suburbs…
Clancy's Pizza Pub
NightlifeBlue Water Lounge
NightlifeWarm, cozy, nautical-themed watering hole serving a wide selection of martini cocktails.
Blue Water Lounge
NightlifeFlapjack Brewery
NightlifeFlapjack Brewery keeps it local with small-batch pours across eight rotating taps, headlined by the smooth Fantasmo Vanilla Cream Ale, and…
Flapjack Brewery
NightlifeEl Nuevo Vallarta Sports Bar & Grill
NightlifeSet inside Berwyn’s 1920s town bank, El Nuevo Vallarta Sports Bar & Grill pairs game day energy with an expansive Mexican and seafood menu,…
El Nuevo Vallarta Sports Bar & Grill
NightlifeBar Tini Lounge
NightlifeBar Tini Lounge keeps things elevated with craft cocktails, premium spirits, and inventive presentations from legit mixologists, all set in…
Bar Tini Lounge
NightlifeAva’s Wine Bar and Gaming Lounge
NightlifeAva’s Wine Bar and Gaming Lounge in North Riverside pairs a thoughtful lineup of global wines and craft cocktails with the simple thrill of…
Ava’s Wine Bar and Gaming Lounge
NightlifeStriker Lanes Inc
NightlifeFamily owned in Berwyn with 12 lanes, Striker Lanes Inc keeps it friendly with automatic scoring, a lively bar, and weekly karaoke or DJ…
Striker Lanes Inc
NightlifeFriendly Tap
NightlifeFriendly Tap is that rare Berwyn spot where a proper beer or glass of wine meets a cozy coffee-and-tea scene, with live music, community…
Friendly Tap
Nightlife93 Octane Brewery - Elmhurst
Nightlife93 Octane Brewery is pouring carefully made ales and lagers at its Elmhurst taproom, brewed by a dedicated crew with one simple goal, make…
93 Octane Brewery - Elmhurst
Nightlife151 Kitchen | Bar
Nightlife151 Kitchen | Bar brings that Chicago polish to downtown Elmhurst with a Midwestern heart, from shareable small plates to a legit prime…
151 Kitchen | Bar
NightlifeCooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
NightlifeFine New American cuisine is served along with a range of wines that are available to taste & buy.
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
NightlifeAnfora Wine Merchants
NightlifeAnfora Wine Merchants brings the spirit of a European enoteca to Historic Oak Park with wines worth discovering, plus classes and tastings…
Anfora Wine Merchants
NightlifeTre Sorelle Ristorante & Pizzeria
NightlifeTre Sorelle Ristorante & Pizzeria is that laid-back, family-owned Italian spot where authentic pies, fresh pasta, and house-made gelato…
Tre Sorelle Ristorante & Pizzeria
NightlifeCork & Bean
NightlifeFrom first latte to nightcap, Cork & Bean nails the local coffee, cocktail, and wine bar vibe with craft drinks and easygoing bites. Grab a…
Cork & Bean
NightlifeTannins Wine Bar & Boutique
NightlifeElmhurst’s go-to for a relaxed night, Tannins Wine Bar & Boutique mixes a selection of wines and beers paired with handcrafted cocktails…
Tannins Wine Bar & Boutique
NightlifeDuneyrr Wine and Beer Company
NightlifeDuneyrr Wine and Beer Company crafts Nordic and Belgian-inspired beers alongside exploratory co-fermented wines, where tradition meets…
Duneyrr Wine and Beer Company
NightlifeOpen Outcry Brewing Company
NightlifeOpen Outcry Brewing Company keeps Chicago’s South Side buzzing with fresh, handcrafted beers, legit Neapolitan-style pizza, and scratch…
Open Outcry Brewing Company
NightlifeWild Blossom Meadery and Winery
NightlifeTasting room of a craft brewery specializing in mead from its own bees' honey along with wines.
Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery
NightlifeMarz Community Brewing Company
NightlifeMarz Community Brewing Company keeps Chicago interesting with small-batch originals like Jungle Boogie and Tropical Tiger, plus spirits and…
Marz Community Brewing Company
NightlifeOdyssey II
NightlifeNeighborhood spot offering cocktails and other drinks, plus music, dancing and a juke box.
Odyssey II
NightlifeHybrid liquor store & neighborhood tavern supplying a large rotating menu of rare craft beers.
Bronzeville Winery
NightlifeBronzeville Winery pairs fine wine and curated whiskey flights with seasonal small plates, artisanal cheese boards, and plenty of vegan and…
Bronzeville Winery
NightlifeMore Brewing Company
NightlifeLet More Brewing Company treat you to creative pours, from limited barrel-aged treasures to fresh taproom releases, with roots in Villa…
More Brewing Company
NightlifeTierra Distilling Co. & Cafe
NightlifeTierra Distilling Co. & Café turns rescued fruit and unique raw ingredients into bright brandies, thoughtful whiskies, and playful…
Tierra Distilling Co. & Cafe
NightlifeJonny Cab's
NightlifeEatery and bar for American classics, like prime rib and pasta, with an open stage for live music.
Jonny Cab's
NightlifeCantina Rosa
NightlifeIf your week needs a little upgrade, Cantina Rosa is pouring agave-forward craft cocktails that hit both newcomer and serious-sipper sweet…
Cantina Rosa
NightlifeCrushed By Giants Brewing Company
NightlifeChill brewpub with an industrial vibe offering craft beer, sandwiches & pizza, plus bar bites.
Crushed By Giants Brewing Company
NightlifePhase Three Brewing Company - Taproom + Kitchen nails the local combo of great beer and good food, so your pint doesn’t have to fend for…
Pour Destino - Elmhurst
NightlifePour Destino is a Pour Hospitality Group concept that nails the neighborhood hangout vibe, pouring legit morning coffee, evening cocktails,…
Pour Destino - Elmhurst
NightlifeFamily-run since 1982, A&S Beverages Wine & Spirits on Halsted is the kind of neighborhood bottle shop that actually knows what you like,…
Imperial Oak Brewing
NightlifeFrom big imperial sippers to twists on classic styles, Imperial Oak Brewing keeps the taps fresh with an ever changing lineup and frequent…
Imperial Oak Brewing
NightlifeImperial Oak Brewing
NightlifeModern warehouse space with murals features housemade beers on tap plus a generous BYO snack policy.
Imperial Oak Brewing
NightlifeThe Open Door Taproom & Bottle Shop
NightlifePart taproom, part bottle shop, The Open Door Taproom & Bottle Shop leans hard into local with a beer list, wine picks, spirits and mixers…
The Open Door Taproom & Bottle Shop
NightlifeCooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
NightlifeUpscale chain serving New American fare paired with house-label wines in a contemporary setting.
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
NightlifeDeuces Sports Bar & Grill
NightlifeBig HD screens, crispy wings, stacked burgers and easygoing sandwiches make Deuces Sports Bar & Grill a clutch hang for Oak Lawn locals,…
Deuces Sports Bar & Grill
NightlifeCooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
NightlifeUpscale chain serving New American fare paired with house-label wines in a contemporary setting.
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
NightlifeChicago Waffles Oak Park
NightlifeWhether you're a syrup purist or chasing a savory stack, Chicago Waffles Oak Park nails the breakfast-and-brunch sweet spot with locally…
Chicago Waffles Oak Park
NightlifeGhost Donkey
NightlifeMake this week a mezcal moment. Ghost Donkey is a neon-lit playground where the music is loud, the drinks are strong, and the vibe leans…
Ghost Donkey
NightlifeFive & Dime
NightlifeFive & Dime is Evanston’s rooftop escape perched above its sister restaurants in downtown Evanston, with a lively bar, open-air terrace,…
Five & Dime
NightlifeLittle Madrid Tapas-Café
NightlifeIn Andersonville, Little Madrid Tapas-Café does classic tapas, croquetas, and paella with 100% organic ingredients imported from Spain,…
Little Madrid Tapas-Café
NightlifeVolo Restaurant Wine Bar
NightlifeWhen you need a grown up night that feels neighborly, Volo Restaurant Wine Bar brings a well curated wine list, thoughtful pairings, and a…
Volo Restaurant Wine Bar
NightlifeZanies Comedy Club
NightlifeUp-&-coming acts & established comedians share the stage at this intimate, contemporary venue.
Zanies Comedy Club
NightlifeThe Blue Horse Tavern
NightlifeDowntown hang alert: The Blue Horse Tavern is a casual American neighborhood bar in downtown Evanston serving dialed-in craft cocktails and…
The Blue Horse Tavern
NightlifePrinters Row Wine Bar and Shop
NightlifeWhether your week calls for a glass at the bar or a bottle for the couch, Printers Row Wine Bar and Shop nails it with a rotating lineup of…
Printers Row Wine Bar and Shop
NightlifeWine, cheese plates, and cocktails served in a comfy space with happy hour.
Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar
NightlifeLoungey local gathering place for pairing wine & beer with gastropub plates in homey-chic digs.
Rootstock Wine & Beer Bar
NightlifeLaugh Factory
NightlifeWell-known comedy club for seasoned & emerging stand-up acts, plus surprise celebrity guests.
Laugh Factory
NightlifeApero
NightlifeApero nails the French art of the apéritif with natural wines, thoughtful cocktails, and just-enough snacks to warm up your palate. When…
Apero
NightlifeWebsters Wine Bar Chicago
NightlifeAn extensive wine list & an eclectic menu of small plates in a cozy space with outdoor seating.
Websters Wine Bar Chicago
NightlifeJ9 Wine Bar
NightlifeGlobal wines & classic cocktails are offered alongside light bites in a stylish setting.
J9 Wine Bar
NightlifeGracie's Wine Bar & Gaming Cafe
NightlifeGracie's Wine Bar & Gaming Cafe is an easy win this week, turning tasting into a choose your own pour at the Fountain of Youth, where a…
Gracie's Wine Bar & Gaming Cafe
NightlifeEvanston SPACE
NightlifeEvanston SPACE keeps the North Shore music scene intimate and fun, with a steady slate of shows in a cozy room. It’s conveniently next to…
Evanston SPACE
NightlifeOskar
NightlifeCraving a proper pour or a creative riff this week? Oskar is Evanston’s whiskey-focused cocktail bar with a seasonally rotating menu,…
Oskar
NightlifeZanies Comedy Night Club
NightlifeDecades old comedy club that hosts nationally-known headliners & is 21 & older only.
Zanies Comedy Night Club
NightlifeERIS Brewery and Cider House
NightlifeERIS Brewery and Cider House is Chicago’s women-owned brewery and cider house turning out creative modern ciders alongside craft beer, plus…
ERIS Brewery and Cider House
NightlifeDearly Beloved
NightlifeDearly Beloved mixes immersive, sensory-driven cocktails with chef-y plates like a cheeky Caviar Cigar and a legit Wagyu Smash Burger, all…
Dearly Beloved
NightlifeLe Midi Wine
NightlifeLe Midi Wine nails that sweet spot between cozy and sleek, pouring smartly curated wines by the glass or bottle, a few crafty beers, and…
Le Midi Wine
NightlifeGrand Cru Chicago
NightlifeGrand Cru Chicago is a West Town wine bar and shop built for discovery, pouring global finds and under-the-radar grapes. Let the crew build…
Grand Cru Chicago
NightlifeFat Cat
NightlifeBar with 1940s decor featuring comfort-food eats, beers & cocktails plus pool table & sports on TV.
Fat Cat
NightlifeThe Pearl Club
NightlifeElegant, old-world-style cocktail bar with small bites, including caviar and shrimp cones.
The Pearl Club
NightlifeBig Mini Putt Club
NightlifeBig Mini Putt Club keeps it simple and fun with a 9‑hole indoor course designed and built by the Big Mini team and a full bar pouring…
Big Mini Putt Club
NightlifeThree Dots and a Dash
NightlifeThree Dots and a Dash is a hideout for tropical cocktails, shareable group drinks, and a rum list that reads like a world tour. Post up in…
Three Dots and a Dash
NightlifeBrando's Speakeasy
NightlifeIntimate lounge/club delivering drinks, karaoke & dancing in a vintage space in a historic building.
Brando's Speakeasy
NightlifeRiddles Comedy Club
NightlifeRiddles Comedy Club keeps Oak Lawn nights lively with over-21 comedy shows, open-mic surprises, and weekly karaoke fueled by a full bar.…
Riddles Comedy Club
NightlifeTimothy O'Toole's Pub Chicago
NightlifeTimothy O'Toole's Pub Chicago nails the sweet spot between rowdy game energy and easygoing neighborhood hang. Plenty of TVs, billiards if…
Timothy O'Toole's Pub Chicago
NightlifeThe Dawson
NightlifeWhether you need a low-key weeknight escape or a spot to celebrate, The Dawson brings bold, wood-fired cooking with inventive craft…
The Dawson
NightlifeWard Eight
NightlifeWard Eight is the neighborhood cocktail refuge where the drinks are thoughtful and the vibe stays unpretentious. Swing by this week for the…
Ward Eight
NightlifePeckish Pig
NightlifePeckish Pig is a legit restaurant and brewery turning out house beers, solid cocktails and wine, and the kind of dinner-and-brunch menu you…
Peckish Pig
NightlifeDouble Clutch Brewing Company
NightlifeDouble Clutch Brewing Company keeps Evanston fun with award-winning, on-site brews and an industrial-chic space punctuated by a rotating…
Double Clutch Brewing Company
NightlifeThe Wine Goddess
NightlifeThe Wine Goddess is Evanston’s hybrid wine shop and neighborhood bar, pouring thoughtful wines by the glass alongside local beers,…
The Wine Goddess
NightlifeCooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
NightlifeModern outfit offering American fare and wine tastings from their winery for casual dining.
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant
NightlifeDeep Red Wine Merchant
NightlifeRelaxed shop for bottles featuring a curated assortment of wines from global regions.
Deep Red Wine Merchant
NightlifeSpoke and Vine
NightlifeWine bar offering a rotating selection of 100+ wines by the glass, plus microbrews and small plates.
Spoke and Vine
NightlifeBird's Nest
NightlifeIf your week needs a reliable go-to, Bird's Nest keeps it simple... and ridiculously good. Think baskets of crispy wings with a lineup of…
Bird's Nest
NightlifeGus' Sip & Dip
NightlifeRiver North’s Gus' Sip & Dip keeps it simple in the best way with fine mixed drinks, dipped sandwiches, and a deep list built by Kevin…
Gus' Sip & Dip
NightlifeLong Room Chicago
NightlifePart relaxed bar, part coffeehouse, Long Room Chicago keeps things easy with a rotating beer list, crafted cocktails, and a casual back…
Long Room Chicago
NightlifeLaura's Wine and Craft Beer
NightlifeWhether you're in a wine mood, chasing a new IPA, or eyeing a hard seltzer, Laura's Wine and Craft Beer keeps it fun with wines, craft…
Laura's Wine and Craft Beer
NightlifeThe Tasting Room at Chicago Winery
NightlifeMarket-driven fare served in a modern American eatery sharing a space with a working winery.
The Tasting Room at Chicago Winery
NightlifeSketchbook Brewing Co - Evanston
NightlifeSketchbook Brewing Co is that rare combo of inventive seasonal releases, dialed-in year-round favorites, and a tap list that turns group…
Sketchbook Brewing Co - Evanston
NightlifeArbella Cocktail Bar
NightlifeHip, lofty lounge where intricate, globally inspired cocktails pair with eclectic small plates.
Arbella Cocktail Bar
NightlifeAlter Brewing + Kitchen
NightlifeAlter Brewing + Kitchen is brewing creative, delicious, drinkable beers for everyone, and the Oak Brook spot brings a full restaurant vibe…
Alter Brewing + Kitchen
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