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Chicago, United States
Photo: Arturo Pardavila III from Hoboken, NJ, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Lakeview has the lion's share of Chicago's nightlife, starting with Wrigleyville, home of the Chicago Cubs and major players in the city's theater and music scenes, and Boystown, one of the largest and most vibrant LGBT communities in the United States. Down the street from both is the Belmont strip, where teen punks flock to shop and show off in the Dunkin' Donuts parking lot.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Great big wonderful park with plenty of softball fields, football and soccer fields, basketball and tennis courts, trees, and a nice walking path. The leafy surroundings make it a great place for the annual pumpkin patch in the fall.
Overshadowed by the magnificent Graceland Cemetery across the street in Uptown, the smaller, slightly overgrown Wunders was established in 1859 and features some intriguing monuments, with more of a forgotten-by-time atmosphere than its more famous neighbor. A third cemetery, Jewish Graceland, is directly south.
The Annoyance began with the long-running Co-ed Prison Sluts, which set the tone for what followed: fun, original shows with equal parts ironic kitsch and cheerful shock, led by Mick Napier, who directed some of Second City's best shows. The Annoyance is also one of the major training centers for comedy students in Chicago.
Chicago's foremost source of cinematic delight, with two screens for classic and world-premiere independent movies and the occasional mini-festival.
If you like to sample the bowling culture of any city you visit, this is a fine choice; there are eight well-kept lanes, a cash bar, a good jukebox, and a few references to The Big Lebowski. Might be wise to call ahead for availability in the early evening, though, as there are a few leagues.
Ernie Banks, Harry Caray, the 1908 champs, and the 2016 champs; yes, this is the home of the Chicago Cubs, the North Side's beloved baseball team. Among ballparks, only Fenway in Boston can match the old-time beauty of Wrigley and its famous ivy-covered walls. If you'd like to see Wrigley without attending a game, tours are occasionally offered ($25).
Chicago's foremost rock venue, although other genres like electronic and hip hop figure in the lineup as well. If a band is on the verge of stardom and they're on their way through Chicago, the Metro has a knack for booking them. Many shows are all ages, and are generally affordable. Tickets general admission (e.g. standing room only), so be prepared to stand, and press forward for your right to see a guitarist's nostrils. Smart Bar, next door, is owned by the Metro and features good DJs most nights of the week.
One of Chicago's landmark venues for cool music. The building was built over a hundred years ago by the Schlitz beer company, a heritage that is acknowledged by countless plastic cups serving that and other cheap beers for indie rock fans.
Artists in Chicago have developed communities in so many different genres — rock, blues, jazz, classical, hip hop, house, reggae, folk, country & numerous traditional ethnic style — that Martyrs' strives to be the place to see each of them.
A good concert venue — not dissimilar to the Metro in size or sound quality, but there are seats.
The Chicago home of the nationally famed performance art Blue Man Group. Shows in the evenings, with matinees included on weekends. If you've seen them elsewhere, you're not likely to see anything new here.
The Playground has a few things going for it: the perfect location for beginning or ending the night with a show, a BYOB liquor license, and a non-profit co-op structure that makes the performers here some of the most enthusiastic and committed you'll find. Quality will vary by ensemble.
One of the mainstays of Chicago's storefront theater since 1982, Stage Left hosts everything: new works of social, political, intently serious drama are balanced out by manic rough drafts of new comedies by guest ensembles.
The annual celebration of Chicago's gay community, led by a parade down Halsted with floats and foam rubber contraptions that are not for the faint-of-heart. It's crowded, but it's a favorite of people from all over the city, and always high-energy. Most Boystown bars, clubs, and restaurants hold special events along with it. It gets very "lit"!
Long standing Thai food restaurant on Broadway in Boystown. Numerous noodle, curry, and rice dishes at a very affordable price. BYOB, so stop at Treasure Islando before hand and get a nice bottle of wine to go with your meal. Good price on lunch specials, or use it as a great meal to start your night out on the town.
Best known for being open late when you're too drunk to go anywhere else, this vegan friendly cafe has a variety of food from Mexican to pizza, and a nice selection of desserts.
Good casual Thai food has been somewhat of a challenge in many parts of Chicago. This new BYO has succeeded when many other Thai restaurants have failed. Menu is available in both English and Thai.
One of Chicago's best-rated frozen custard shops, and a beloved local institution. Open only in the summer months.
High-end Italian cuisine with a charming, intimate vibe. The pumpkin ravioli is a knockout.
This Swedish standby is a can't-miss for one of the city's best breakfasts, served all day, including warm, fresh-baked cinnamon rolls dripping with sugary icing. Now a bona-fide chainlet with five locations around Chicago, but try the nicely renovated 50-year-old Belmont branch.
A restaurant serving vegetarian-only food on Chicago's north side, the Diner's emphasis on quality — and its vegan shakes, which it proudly describes as "the shiznit" — has kept it around for more than 30 years.
Cash only BYO creative Mexican joint with a continuous line out the door for dinner. Known for fresh ingredients, moles, and small plates.
Big, tasty crepes for breakfast, dinner, and dessert, with plenty of wine and beer. The outdoor seating is especially nice.
It began as a tavern, but now has a full kitchen for German food and meaty dinner specials.
Great Mexican/Argentinean food with comfortable indoor and outdoor seating that can turns one hour into three before you ever think to look at your watch.
The original location for Mia Francesca's fine Italian dining, and the best — it's noisy, crowded, and not the place for an intimate meal, but Mia's has great pasta & fish, and offers a very Chicago atmosphere of hustle & bustle.
Argentinean steakhouse with fantastic beef. There are a few side dishes like empanadas and a good dessert menu, but the beef is the star attraction. It's BYOB.
Extensive menu of fresh seafood, Mediterranean, and vegetarian specialties. Plenty of fruity and exotic drinks and lounging space on offer, too.
Late night dance bar and a great place for the after hours party, although they play country for the early crowd before midnight on weeknights or 2AM on the weekends. Karaoke hits on Sunday and Thursday.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Guaranteed the only bar in Wrigleyville with Joy Division and Public Enemy on the jukebox. If you want a beer after a Cubs game and you don't want to be surrounded by frat boys, this is the place. Next to the Metro and Smart Bar.
Cozy neighborhood bar known for its extensive collection of board games and bottled wines. It's a local favorite that escapes most of the obnoxious behavior found down the street.
Granddaddy bar for all bleacher bums. Get there early if you want one of the coveted outside tables. It's always packed on game days; expect to pay $5 for a can of domestic beer. In the off-season, Murphy's turns into a rather cozy neighborhood bar.
Local cult favorite with an interesting Japanese backstory. No sushi here; just a great bar with a few pool tables.
Home away from home for suburbanites. Packed on game days; some say too packed. Sing to your heart’s content with the piano guys upstairs or get out your pent-up aggression from another Cubs’ heartbreaking loss in the batting cages.
Less overtly sports-focused than its neighbors. Great place if you are thirsty at 3AM.
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.
Surprisingly good food at this cash-only joint. Owners will put just about any sport that’s televised anywhere on at least one TV if asked. Cornell vs. Harvard Men’s Ice Hockey anyone?
There's beer and late-night food in the quiet front room, but the Beat Kitchen is worthy of recognition as one of the best venues in the city outside of Wicker Park for double or triple bills of excellent, little-known local and touring bands. Tuesdays are set aside for the Chicago Underground Comedy stand-up showcase.
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.
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.
A low-lit neighborhood lounge with a casual atmosphere worth settling into for a while — and, yes, it's a very long room.
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.
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).
Very good hostel near Wrigley Field that is open 24 hours a day. Comfortable beds, free Wi-Fi, free breakfast and a common area with large screen TV and computers with Internet.
Reasonably priced bed and breakfast in a turn-of-the-century greystone building, not far from Wrigley Field and the nightlife on Belmont. Amenities include internet access in the lobby, continental breakfast, and a complimentary lunch or dinner at Trader Todd's restaurant/karaoke bar two doors south.
Closest accommodations to Wrigley Field, in a turn-of-the-century building.
83 rooms with wireless internet and a breakfast buffet. It's close enough to walk to Wrigley Field and the bars on Clark Street, but not close enough that you'll have to listen to them while you try to sleep.
Art Deco interiors and elegant furnishings, right next to the Belmont train station — so light sleepers may want to look elsewhere. Among the amenities are Wi-Fi, afternoon cookies, and access to Bally's Fitness Club.
Boutique hotel in a residential pocket, with olde worlde touches like poster beds and butler pantries. Similar amenities to the City Suites Hotel, which is under the same management.
European decor in a city-designated landmark building, two blocks from the lake. Same management as the City Suites and Majestic hotels.
Librarian chic clothes boutique.
Find bargains on a large selection of second hand merchandise, including many upscale brands. All proceeds support HIV/AIDS care and gay and lesbian services.
A vertical mall headlined by the Landmark's Century Centre multiplex showing independent and foreign movies, and several floors of stores from fashion chains like The Express.
Bookstore for the radical union, the IWW.
Cheap re-sale clothes shop. They also have a location in Wicker Park, but this one is open later (for those impulse fedoras) and has two floors.
Excellent selection of letterpress cards and other artful items, antiques, and one-of-a-kind objects. They also have a framing gallery in Andersonville, Foursided, but this one is a true gem.
By train
The CTA Red Line makes stops in Lakeview (Belmont) and Wrigleyville (Addison, Sheridan).
By bus
By car
Lake Shore Drive has an exit at Belmont. Beware of driving on Clark Street on weekends and during Cubs games, though.
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