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Hepcats, artists, and yuppies converge on the famed six corners of North, Milwaukee, and Damen avenues, where the cast of Real World Chicago once resided. Previously scruffy and edgy, the area is now dotted with pricey, upscale bars, though the occasional honky-tonk still survives. Logan Square, in particular, has seen an explosion of new nightlife venues in recent years. Those looking for a dance party tend to head to the Debonair Social Club or Slippery Slope, while cocktail connoisseurs brave the wait at the Violet Hour.
This comedy showcase started in the back room of a Lincoln Square diner, where for years young comics like Hannibal Buress, Cameron Esposito, and Kumail Nanjiani honed their stand-up. The Lodge now has its own venue in Bucktown, where you can find the next generation of comedians working the room most nights of the week.
The second-floor ballroom hosts all-ages rock shows put on by the team at the Empty Bottle, plus other live performances and assorted special events. The acoustics aren't the best, but the hip younger crowd it draws doesn't seem to care. For those 21 and over, there's a full bar.
Come summer, Ludlow gets top marks for its spacious back patio, and when the weather goes south, it's hard to fathom a cozier spot than one of the high-backed stools that flank the handsome vintage bar. Whatever the season, the drinks here are stiff, and the smash burgers hit the spot. Check the website for the monthly roster of quirky events, like musical bingo nights and tarot readings.
The Map Room might help you find your way around Chicago, if not the world. Guidebooks decorate the walls of this self-described "travelers' tavern," and the craft beers represent much of the globe. This is a favorite gathering spot for soccer fans, so expect it to be roaring during World Cup season.
Local beer geeks flock to this minimalist taproom, stationed along a rather unassuming stretch of repurposed industrial buildings, to sample the latest pours from Off Color Brewing. Traditional European styles with a twist (Berliner weiss brewed with Chardonnay grapes, for instance) are the order of the day here.
Nick's Beer Garden is a neighborhood favorite, especially in the wee hours (it's open until 4 am; 5 am Saturday). Kitschy tropical decor—think palm trees, flamingos, and a surfboard—adds to the appeal.
This spot was one of the first anchors of the now-teeming Wicker Park nightlife scene. Locals come to drink, eat, shoot pool, and see and be seen. The enclosed indoor-outdoor patio lets you get the best out of the chancy Chicago weather.
Chicago hipsters and indie rockers have made Rainbo Club their unofficial meeting place. Apart from the working photo booth wedged into a corner, the stripped-down hangout is pretty barren, but drinks are dirt cheap and the crowd is loyal.
Chicago has evolved one of the country’s best craft-brewing scenes, but back when the pickings were slim, Revolution was here, satisfying drinkers thirsty for something more interesting than watery macro brews. The Milwaukee Avenue location is a good place to work your way through a flight of the house beers---the offerings skew toward classic German styles and hop-forward IPAs---while lining your stomach with unfussy pub grub like burgers and fried cheese curds. (There’s also a taproom in nearby Avondale with a less-polished vibe and a limited menu of nibble-y things.)
Grab a biscuit and a tang (that is, a shuffleboard disc and cue) and embark on a vacation within a vacation at this Brooklyn import, featuring 11 shuffleboard courts (one of them up on a seasonal rooftop deck) that channel a retro cruise ship, as well as a rotating lineup of food trucks and tropical cocktails. Courts are first come, first served; to minimize the wait, try turning up at opening time (that's 5 pm on weekdays, and noon on weekends).
That the once-shabby stretch on which the Scofflaw sits grows hipper by the month is no coincidence; the cozy, brick-walled cocktail bar, which boasts a huge collection of gin, put the intersection of Kedzie and Armitage Avenues on the map. The kitchen—which turns out one of the city's best burgers—stays open till 1 am.
You can catch small indie bands, DJs, and local acts at this concert space that also doubles as a coffee shop in the morning and a beer garden (with dozens of options on draft) in the afternoon and evening.
With its giant dance floor, craft cocktails, and dim, red-hue lighting, Slippery Slope has brought a cool, clubby vibe to Logan Square. (It gets bonus points for the Skee-Ball machines located next to the door.) This place gets especially crowded on the weekends, when the dancing gets serious.
This Ukrainian Village bar’s roots as a nightspot for local Polish immigrants can still be felt in its warm wood accents and retro backbar. Classic cocktails are the drink of choice; they pair perfectly with the warmth of the back patio’s brick fireplace.
Check the letter board over the front door of this Wicker Park storefront for a list of the rising indie rock and hip-hop acts playing there soon, often on their first Chicago gigs. Chances are good they'll be playing a larger venue the next time through. Locals also come for the popular Thursday reggae nights and regular open-mic events.
The Violet Hour channels a Prohibition-era speakeasy—an unmarked door in the mural-covered facade leads to a mysterious, curtained hallway. Inside, twinkling crystal chandeliers cast a glow on cornflower-blue walls, and extremely high-backed blue leather chairs encourage intimate conversations. Add to that pricey but flawlessly executed cocktails and a small menu of refined snacks, and it's our idea of nightlife heaven.
This long-running cozy, candlelit bar is a romantic place for a date. It stocks more than 500 bottles of wine (at least 20 are available by the glass) plus ports, sherries, single-malt Scotches, a few microbrews, and a menu of small tasting entrées at reasonable prices. At $20 for 3 pours, the Monday evening self-guided blind tastings are a hit with neighborhood oenophiles.
This is the place for infectious live reggae, world-beat music, and Caribbean cuisine Tuesday through Sunday. Take a breather at the bar and sip a signature Famous Wild Hare Rum Punch or a Jamaican Red Stripe beer.
Zanies books outstanding national talent and is Chicago's best stand-up comedy spot. Dave Chappelle, Ali Wong, and Jeff Garlin have all performed at this intimate venue.
Double Door is a hotbed for music in Wicker Park. The large bar books up-and-coming local and national acts from rock to acid jazz. Unannounced Rolling Stones shows have been held here. Door No. 3, a lounge with a speakeasy theme, occupies the basement.
The highly stylized Rodan is a restaurant and lounge that caters mostly to the young neighborhood hipsters who arrive at dinnertime (served until 11 pm) and stay put until closing. The narrow space often feels cramped, but if you can snag a spot at the bar or on a blue-suede banquette, an evening of major-league people-watching is in store. Snacks are served all night, so refuel with a pile of wasabi-tempura fries served with a side of siracha ketchup.
