Timeline
18:01
Start the evening at Sidetrack. This large, stylish bar is a great place to begin, offering slushy drinks and showtunes on a big screen. It is open from 15:00, so you have plenty of time to settle in before the walk.
18:31
Walk 38 minutes south-southeast to Lincoln Park Zoo. The grounds are expansive and winding, offering a perfect pre-sunset stroll. Admission is free, and the facilities are modern despite the historic charm.
19:31
Watch the sun set toward the WNW. The wide-open spaces of the zoo provide an unobstructed view of the sky as the golden light fades into twilight.
20:16
End the night at The Closet. This lesbian dive bar is open from 12:00 and stays open until 04:00, making it a reliable late-night destination for a relaxed drink after the sunset.
Local tip
The walk from Sidetrack to the Zoo is about 38 minutes. If you prefer a shorter walk, you could start at Ann Sather (4 mins from anchor) for breakfast earlier in the day, but for a sunset plan, Sidetrack is the best fit for a pre-show drink.
Check before you go
- Sidetrack is open Mo-Fr and Su from 15:00, and Sa from 15:00.
- The Closet is open Mo-Fr from 14:00, Sa from 12:00, and Su from 12:00.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Chicago (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).