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Chicago's entertainment varies from loud and loose to sophisticated and sedate. You'll find classic Chicago corner bars in most neighborhoods, along with trendier alternatives like wine bars and lounges. The strains of blues and jazz provide much of the backbeat to the city's groove, and an alternative country scene is flourishing. As far as dancing is concerned, take your pick from cavernous clubs to smaller spots with DJs spinning dance tunes; there's everything from hip-hop to swing. Wicker Park/Bucktown and River North have the hottest nightlife, but prime spots are spread throughout the city.
Shows usually begin at 9 pm; cover charges generally range from $3 to $20, depending on the day of the week (Friday and Saturday nights are the most expensive). The list of blues and jazz clubs includes several South Side locations: be cautious about transportation here late at night, because some of these neighborhoods can be unsafe. Drive your own car or ask the bartender to call you a cab.
This longtime country-and-western themed outpost still hosts line dancing two nights a week (with free lessons!) plus karaoke and bingo nights, and there's also a variety of queer acts throughout the week including all-male revues and multiple drag performances.
One of the best-known queer night clubs in Chicago, Hydrate combines a relaxed front lounge with a late-night, high-energy dance floor in the back. Weekly events include DJs, drag shows, and viewing parties for RuPaul's Drag Race when the show is airing. Sundays see the post-brunch crowd stopping in for drinks and then dancing well into the night.
Enjoy late-night music, potent martinis, and Gothy vibes? Late Bar, located along a somewhat lonely stretch of Belmont Avenue, is the place for you. The best time to come is Saturday night, when the club is bumping with New Wave classics until 5 am.
A neighborhood lounge that turns DJ-driven dance spot late at night, this newer entry on the Halsted Street strip makes a striking statement with its signature visual, a cloud-like illuminated ceiling sculpture that's visible from the street.
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.
Sound-Bar is a two-level labyrinth of nine bars, each with a unique design and color scheme (some even serve matching colored cocktails). Feel like dancing? Join the pulse of Chicago's best-dressed on the huge dance floor.
This late-night underground dance club has been in the River North area for more than 25 years. Featured are internationally renowned and up-and-coming local musicians and DJs.
This subterranean dance club has dropped the quasi-military underground bunker theme it once sported, but it still attracts celebs, international DJs, and the clientele that follows both.
Despite being hidden away underneath the El tracks in a spooky stretch west of downtown, Transit is wildly popular with young clubgoers. Inside, the multiroom space has a crisp design and sumptuous VIP area. Don't miss the glowing black-and-white bar between the oval and chandelier rooms, or the mezzanine with its minimalist furniture and oversize mahogany table.
