The Night Owl's Guide to Chicago Neighborhoods After Dark
New York might be known as The City that Never Sleeps, but Chicago can keep on the lights just as late. Downtown Chicago has its Theatre District and plenty of restaurants, but some of the best nightlife is in the city’s neighborhoods. Whether you want to catch live entertainment, go bar hopping, or order late-night food, these five Chicago spots will not disappoint.
Boystown
Boystown, a community known for its LGBTQ pride, is tucked away in the larger neighborhood of Lakeview, but don’t let its modest size fool you. Some of the city’s best nightlife is in Boystown. Stay out until 4 a.m. any night of the week at the Berlin nightclub, which has been helping people party since the 80s. For cocktails and a drag show, head over to the Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club. When you’re looking for somewhere for an end-of-the-night meal or just a refuel spot, Tasty Asian Restaurant is always a good choice. Located on Broadway Street, this spot is open until 2 a.m. every night. Plus, they deliver.
Bronzeville
Dance the night away to live music at Renaissance Bronzeville, which shares a name with its Bronzeville location. This spot is open until 2 a.m. every Wednesday through Sunday (3 a.m. on Saturdays). Bassline, located on South Michigan Avenue, also does music every night, staying open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and 3 a.m. on Saturdays. After dancing, you can get your greasy late-night eats at Alice’s Bar-B-Que, which stays open to 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. If you want more sit-down style food late at night, Truth Italian serves dishes inspired by southern Italy until 2 a.m.
Fulton Market
Fulton Market is the place to be for anyone who appreciates good restaurants. This industrial area turned development hotspot has every diner’s dream on Randolph Street’s Restaurant Row. Get tapas at Nia Mediterranean, open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. If you want to linger longer over food and drinks, head to Bar Siena. This Italian restaurant stays open until 2 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. Right next door, upscale diner Au Cheval serves an extensive food and drinks menu covering the dairy-free, gluten-free, and allergy-conscious crowds. If you’re looking for some entertainment with your meal, City Winery regularly hosts live music with its expansive wine and dinner menus.
Logan Square
On any given night in Logan Square, you’ll find people out on Milwaukee Avenue. This busy strip is alive with bars and restaurants that stay open late to draw in the neighborhood’s younger crowd. Sate your taste for craft beer at Revolution Brewing or Hopewell Brewing Co. If spirits are more your style, you can sip on vodka, bourbon, whiskey, and gin at Chicago Distilling Company. For late-night food, you can’t go wrong with pizza from Paulie Gee’s, which slings pies until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The marquee at Logan Theater shines brightly well into the night. Catch the latest releases at the theater, or get tickets for the monthly late-night series. The theater screens old classics well into the night. You can bet the Logan will dig up some horror classics for its October series.
Uptown
Music lovers will appreciate how easy it is to find a show in Uptown. The neighborhood has the Aragon Ballroom, Riviera Theatre, and The Green Mill all within walking distance. The Aragon Ballroom and the Riv host an eclectic array of musicians that draw equally eclectic crowds. And The Green Mill is a cocktail lounge with a love of jazz. You can catch live music there pretty much any night of the week, and the doors stay open until 4 a.m. (5 a.m. on Saturdays).The Green Mill owners are also planning to open another space right next door, according to Chicago Eater. The new Club Della Robbia will be a dining hall, according to the report.
Speaking of dining, you can satisfy your post-show appetite at spots like Hopleaf (the bar’s dinner menu is served until 11 p.m. on the weekends) and Fat Cat Bar (open until 2 a.m. six days a week and until 3 a.m. on Saturdays).