Bars and pubs in Chicago

969 bars, pubs, wine bars and breweries in Chicago.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 969.

Photo: MisterJayEm, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence)

DrinkBarWicker Park
The Hideout
One of the finest drinking and hollering establishments in the U.S., the Hideout hosts the best in alt-folk, bluegrass, Americana and just plain hillbilly music. The place is a bit hard to find, hidden as it is next to the city's main north-side refueling station for garbage trucks, but it's more than worth the trouble. Of special interest to old-timey fans is the regular Tuesday night appearance of Devil in a Woodpile.
Tue 7PM-2AM, Wed-Fri 4PM-2AM, Sat 7PM-3AMOutdoor seating
DrinkBarLincoln Park-Old Town
Kingston Mines
The larger of the blues bars on Halsted. Has a great set-up with two stages and two bands every night. One band plays for an hour on one stage then the other band takes over on the second stage for an hour — continuous music all night from 9:30PM.
Sun-Fri 8PM-4AM, Sat 8PM-5AM
DrinkBarPilsen
Skylark
From the outside, it looks like an old-man bar that's been prepped for use as a bunker during World War II, but on the inside there's an excellent selection of cheap beer, pinball, a photobooth, some of the strongest $5 mixed drinks you'll find anywhere in the city, and tater tots — oh, delicious tater tots. If you have poor taste in movies, you might be delighted to hear that Skylark was featured prominently in the 2006 movie, The Breakup.
Sun-Fri 4PM-2AM, Sat 4PM-3AMWheelchair accessible
DrinkBarNear South
Kasey's Tavern
Excellent dive bar in historic Printer's Row. Extensive beer selection, disgusting bathrooms and "Absolutely No Dancing." Kasey's is good for a drink before or after a Sox game.
Sun-Fri 11AM-2AM, Sat noon-3AMOutdoor seating
DrinkBarLakeview-North Center
Sidetrack
A large, stylish, multi-room bar that makes a great place to start the night, with slushy drinks and showtunes on a big screen. (Sundays are sing-along nights.) Gay or straight (but predominantly gay), this is one of the best bars in Chicago.
Sun-Fri 3PM-2AM, Sat 3PM-3AMWheelchair accessible
DrinkBarBridgeport-Chinatown
Bernice & John's
Bernice's Tavern
A laid back and particularly friendly Bridgeport dive bar with Thursday open mic nights that have caught on well with local artists.
Mon 3PM-midnight, Wed-Fri 3PM-2AM, Sat 11AM-3AM, Sun noon-midnight
DrinkBarLakeview-North Center
Bernie's Tavern
One of the most popular bars with locals and out-of-towners alike. The rather small inside bar opens to a large back patio. Crowd has gotten younger the past few years, but you'll still find fans from ages 20 to 90 having a good time.
Sun-Fri 10AM-2AM, Sat 8AM-3AM
DrinkBarNear North
Blue Chicago
Live blues most nights of the week, except for Sundays. Has a sister club by the same name just a couple blocks away at 536 N Clark (312 661-0100, no music on Mondays).
Sun-Fri 8PM-2AM, Sat 8PM-3AMCover Su-Th $8, F Sa $10
DrinkBarWicker Park
Empty Bottle
To Chicago as the Knitting Factory is to NYC, the Empty Bottle hosts a mix of touring indie-rock veterans, local bands, and occasional appearances by American and Dutch avant-garde jazz. The sound and the room are OK at best, but the people who work here (and their great taste in music) make it exceptional. They also program events in Logan Square and Portage Park, among others. If you're hungry before a show, step next door to Bite (see Eat).
Mon-Wed 5PM-2AM, Thu-Fri 3PM-3AM, Sat noon-3AM, Sun noon-2AM$10-15, Mondays free
DrinkBarWicker Park
Gold Star
An old, speakeasy-era bar among the Division nightlife that now caters to a younger crowd, but hits all the marks: cheap beer, a good jukebox, pool, and cheap beer. (Also cheap beer.)
Sun-Fri, Sat
DrinkBarLakeview-North Center
Jake's Pub
A good place to recover from shopping binges at the Century Shopping Centre and its neighbors (see Buy). Jake's has a good beer selection and dependable jukebox. Dogs are not only welcome — they're encouraged.
Mon-Fri 3PM-2AM, Sat noon-3AM, Sun noon-2AM
DrinkBarLogan-Bucktown
Lemming's
Comfortable neighborhood bar with local art to be seen and games (board & video) to be played. Look for the "Lemming's" sign by day and the "Schlitz" by night.
Mon-Fri 4PM-2AM, Sat noon-3AM, Sun noon-2AM
DrinkBarBridgeport-Chinatown
Maria's Packaged Goods & Community Bar
Longtime Chicago scenester Ed Marszewski and his brother Mike have re-launched their mother's stalwart bar and liquor store as a community bar. Expect regular performances from 90s no-wave and post-rock bands, electronic artists and performance artists. Ed's connections to the art scene are broad and deep (he's thrown parties at venues ranging from warehouses to the MCA), so the entertainment should be good.
Sun-Fri 11AM-2AM, Sat 11AM-3AM
DrinkBarBridgeport-Chinatown
Mitchell's Tap
Lots of different kinds of beer, bowling, golf machines, and frequent live music.
Sun-Fri 11AM-2AM, Sat 11AM-3AMcover on Sa only: $3-5
DrinkBarLakeview-North Center
Nisei Lounge
Local cult favorite with an interesting Japanese backstory. No sushi here; just a great bar with a few pool tables.
Sun Tue-Fri 11AM-2AM, Sat 11AM-3AM, Mon 6PM-2AM; open at 11AM on game days
DrinkBarWicker Park
Phyllis' Musical Inn
Everyone feels welcome at the Musical Inn. Outdoor seating is packed on Division in the summer, which is why this is one to know — few people are aware that a great beer garden lurks behind the tall stone fence next door to Phyllis', which looks like a garden variety dive bar at first glance. (Befitting the name, there are bands here sometimes.)
Sun-Fri 3PM-2AM, Sat 3PM-3AM
DrinkBarNear North
Second Story Bar
It's no small feat to find this place — look for the pink-lettered sign up on, well, the second story. Inside, you'll find a gay bar that falls on the fun side of sleazy (or the sleazy side of fun), far more of a dive than you would expect in these surroundings and the perfect antidote to hotel bars.
Sun-Fri noon-2AM, Sat noon-3AM
DrinkBarPilsen
Simone's
Good food (especially the Mexican-influenced Pilsen Burger), but go for the beer: while their mixed drinks cost more than Skylark and aren't nearly as strong, they have an absolutely spectacular collection of beers on tap and in cans/bottles. That, and the decor is done out in this bizarre steampunk-pinball machine theme. They have good DJs spinning on most nights and trivia nights on Tuesdays.
Sun-Fri 11:30AM-2AM, Sat 11:30AM-3AM
DrinkBarNear West Side
Spectrum Bar & Grill
The Greektown location means that ouzo and saganaki have a place among the usual bar & grill fare.
Mon-Fri 11AM-4AM, Sat 5PM-5AM, Sun 5PM-4AM
DrinkBarLakeview-North Center
Ten Cat Tavern
The kitty on the sign is cradling a ten-ball because there's pool to be played here, but in most other respects, this is someone's apartment that happens to have a bar in it (and a pretty good backyard).
Sun-Fri 3PM-2AM, Sat 3PM-3AM
DrinkBarNear North
The Hangge-Uppe
The best bar in the Rush/Division nexus. Drinks aren't over-priced, the decor is cool, and there are two floors for dancing, depending on whether you prefer retro or modern beats.
Open 7PM; Sun-Fri to 4AM, Sat to 5AM
DrinkBarLakeview-North Center
The Long Room
A low-lit neighborhood lounge with a casual atmosphere worth settling into for a while — and, yes, it's a very long room.
Mon-Fri 5PM-2AM, Sat 5PM-3AM, Sun 7PM-2AM
DrinkBarLogan-Bucktown
The Map Room
Their motto is "Don't be lost," but you may as well give in to their disorienting collection of exotic beers. Their tap selection is one of the more extensive in the city, with surprises for even the most jaded beer drinker: extensive draught and bottle menu, including a cask-conditioned selection, but occasionally unfriendly management.
Mon-Fri 6:30AM-2AM, Sat 7:30AM-3AM, Sun 11AM-2AM
DrinkBreweryLakeview-North Center
Uncommon Ground
It's almost unbelievable that such a lovely, relaxed bar/cafe is this close to Wrigley, but there it is. Evenings see a full schedule of acoustic music with a full bar of beer, cocktails, and wine, while organic breakfast, lunch and dinner are served all day, and two fireplaces await in the winter. Uncommon Ground also hosts the annual Jeff Buckley Festival, now in its tenth year, in honor of the singer's legendary 1994 performance there.
Sun-Thu 9AM-11PM, Fri Sat 9AM-midnight
DrinkBarLogan-Bucktown
Charleston
An old-time Bucktown joint with a big selection of reasonably priced beer and an impressive antique wood bar. There's a Jazz Jam every Tuesday night, and rock/folk/jazz shows most Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Mon-Fri 3PM-2AM, Sat Sun 2PM-2AM
DrinkBarLakeview-North Center
Hydrate
Inheritor of the space formerly owned by the infamous Manhole, Hydrate is now the ultimate dance club to See-and-Be-Seen on Halsted. On a night out in Boystown, everybody winds up here at one point or another.
Sun-Fri 8PM-4AM, Sat 8PM-5AMCover $10-20, depending on DJ and event
DrinkBarNear South
Kitty O'Shea's
Better than your average hotel bar, with a stately ambiance that's nevertheless hospitable to Bears fans on their way back from Soldier Field or Grant Park festival-goers.
Sun-Thu 11AM-1AM, Fri Sat 11AM-2AM
DrinkBarLincoln Park-Old Town
Liar's Club
Good place to dance on the weekend — the DJs play the hits and know how to take the measure of the frat-free crowd. The round wood track-lit dance floor is a stand-out, too. If your friends don't dance, they can wait at the bar upstairs.
Sun-Fri 8PM-2AM, Sat 8PM-3AM$5 cover on weekends
DrinkBarNear South
M Lounge
Martinis and jazz; live performances Tu W 7PM-10PM. Nights with music supposedly have a two drink minimum, but for cheapskates, it is unclear how this policy would be enforced.
Tue-Thu 6PM-1AM, Fri Sat 6PM-2AM$12 martinis. $4+ beer, no cover
DrinkBarLincoln Park-Old Town
Old Town Ale House
An old-time Old Town dive, decorated with photos and newspaper clippings to show its history and favored status among famous Second City alums. Note the very late hours.
Mon-Fri 8AM-4AM, Sat 8AM-5AM, Sun noon-4AM
DrinkBarLakeview-North Center
Roscoe's
Roscoe's is a multi-purpose bar — by night, there are good drink specials and a great dance floor, but by day, you'll find a relaxed neighborhood bar with artwork by local artists and a sidewalk cafe (in the summer) for lunch.
Mon-Thu 3PM-2AM, Fri 2PM-2AM, Sat 1PM-3AM, Sun 1PM-2AM
DrinkBarLincoln Park-Old Town
Delilah's
This is the joint where Kurt (Cobain) met Courtney (Love). No kidding. The booze selection is unbeatable and recent almost-rock-stars spin the records.
Sun-Fri 4PM-2AM, Sat 4PM-3AM
DrinkBarLakeview-North Center
Hungry Brain
There's a lot to like at this small Roscoe Village bar: a few pinball and arcade machines, the sense of being in someone's comfortable basement (with beer), and the Sunday night (10PM) Transmission series for improvisational and experimental jazz.
Tue-Sun 8PM-2AM
DrinkBarWicker Park
Rainbo Club
An old bar — the classic neon sign tips that right away — with a few literary references in its history. In a neighborhood of hipster dives, this is the hipster dive, but at least you can say you've been.
Sun-Fri 4PM-2AM, Sat 4PM-3AM
DrinkBarLakeview-North Center
Resi's Bierstube
A fine old-fashioned brauhaus, with high marks for the music, the beer garden, and the ambiance. Food on offer from the kitchen (closed Mondays) includes sausages and schnitzel, of course.
3PM-2AM daily
DrinkBarLakeview-North Center
The Closet
Forgive the pun if you can — this lesbian dive bar is another great after hours destination and the place to go for hook-up attempts that drag late into the night. It's open a lot earlier in the day than most Boystown spots and usually has sports or music videos on by day.
Mon-Fri 2PM-4AM, Sat noon-5AM, Sun noon-4AM
DrinkBarNear North
House of Blues
Food, drinks, and music. Blues fans may find something good, but the roster of bands can stray from the classic old bluesman with a guitar to the worst of twentieth-century music (no genre excepted), so don't show up without checking the schedule first.
Hours vary by event; Sun morning gospel brunch starts at 10AMTickets can run as low as $10 and upwards of $55 for some national touring acts
DrinkPubNear North
Pippin's Tavern
Fake Irish pub, notable mainly for being tucked away behind the Water Tower, right off the Magnificent Mile. The after-work crowd is generally laid back, and the lack of (excessively) loud music and sports TV makes this a decent choice for exhausted shoppers in need of a beer.
Sun-Fri to 4AM, Sat to 5AM
DrinkBarNear North
The Original Mother's
Hugely popular bar that trades on old rock-and-roll cred — Cream, The Velvet Underground played here long ago — to adorn a modern dance floor and pool tables.
Sun-Fri 8PM-4AM, Sat to 5AM
DrinkCocktail barWicker Park
The Violet Hour
Named after a line in T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land, The Violet Hour is hidden away — there's no sign, and no name on the door. Inside, though, is a marvelous, decadent, Alice-in-Wonderland plus speakeasy vibe. It's a great place for a date. The cocktails are $11-12, but they won't disappoint — certified mixologists take up to four minutes to make them. And if you've never had a banana peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich deep fried and dusted with bacon crumbs, here's your chance.
Sun-Fri 6PM-2AM, Sat 6PM-3AM

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Chicago (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps.