Sweet Spots
Looking for a great place to linger over a cocktail? That special outdoor patio? An authentic Irish pub or dance palace of the moment? Whatever your need, we've got the perfect bar or club to satisfy it
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| The Green Mill in Uptown, a jazz landmark celebrating 20 years of poetry slams. |
>> You rank The Big Lebowski among the greatest movies of all time. Is there an alley where "Dude" would feel at home?
Upscale bowlers get lots of love these days. The arrival of Lucky Strike Lanes (322 E. Illinois St.; 312-245-8331) and 10 Pin Bowling Lounge (330 N. State St.; 312-644-0300) means that bowling is now included in swanky date nights or evenings with clients. But isn't it a bit weird to see a bowling alley accessorized with a wine bar and fireplaces? For the bowler who prefers Miller High Life to Red Bull, there's Lincoln Square Lanes (4874 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-561-8191). This barebones, workingman's bowl and bar is situated above a hardware store, and has the dust, dirt, and battle scars to be a Chicago classic.
>> It's a beautiful evening, and you want to enjoy your cocktails outdoors. Options?
[Bucktown] You can sit along the sidewalk outside Iggy's (1840 W. North Ave.; 773-227-4449) and inhale the fumes of the revving motorcycles out front. But it's better to head upstairs for a more serene rooftop complete with full-service bar and cabana booths that hold eight and curtain off for privacy. There's a minimum tab for the booths, but it's easily attainable if everyone orders dinner and drinks.
[River North] Citizen Bar (364 W. Erie St.; 312-640-1156) showed up out of nowhere in May, but the party posse can smell a good outdoor bash. It has two spacious patios-bigger than the bar inside-but the huge rooftop is where you'll find most of the young revelers and a bustling pickup scene.
[Old Town] There may be no better spot in Old Town for summertime people watching than O'Brien's (1528 N. Wells St.; 312-787-3131), with its teak patio furniture and center gazebo bar. We like the combination of young couples and 30-something singles that mix and mingle here. Dogs are welcome too-just park it with your pooch at one of the sidewalk tables.
[Edgewater] Moody's Pub (5910 N. Broadway Ave.; 773-275-2696) is already well known for its burgers, but the Edgewater locale also deserves credit for a beer garden that feels truly tucked away. Towering trees block out the harsh city light, water trickles from a fountain in the background, and ivy covers the walls.
[Lake View] Jack's Bar and Grill / 404 Wine Bar (2856 N. Southport Ave.; 773-404-8400). Big as it is, the shared patio of these two Lake View mainstays is as intimate and tranquil as a neighbor's yard. Here you can plant yourself for an entire evening, thanks to a menu with options like baked Brie or a teriyaki chicken sandwich with pineapple and Havarti cheese. Farther west is Chief O'Neill's Pub (3471 N. Elston Ave.; 773-473-5263), an almost pastoral beer garden that will surprise even veteran outdoor drinkers, especially considering its location on an unremarkable stretch of Elston Avenue. Walk through the handsome Irish bar and restaurant and you'll find a wood deck and a lawn large enough for pickup football (were it not for the trees and flowers).
[South Side] Cork & Kerry (10614 S. Western Ave.; 773-445-2675). During the chilly months, Cork & Kerry is a classic Irish bar with loyal customers and bartenders who take pride in pouring a proper Guinness-the kind of place where the barstools are filled by 6 p.m. on a weekday. In the summer, this mainstay opens its 200-seat beer garden, a multilevel deck dotted with trees, flowers, and outdoor furniture.
>> Dilemma: It's gorgeous outside, but your buddies want to watch the big game on TV.
Long known for its barbecue, The Fireplace Inn (1448 N. Wells St.; 312-943-7427) also has a giant patio with over a dozen TVs and a retractable roof. Translation: TV in the great urban outdoors, rain or shine.
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| Serving them up at Stanley's, scene of live-band karaoke on Sunday nights |
>> You want more from your gay bar.
Kathie Bergquist and Robert McDonald, authors of the recently released A Field Guide to Gay & Lesbian Chicago, offer up a few of their favorite spots. When Bergquist wants "cool and swank," she heads to Joie de Vine (1744 W. Balmoral Ave.; 773-989-6846), a modern wine bar that can be a go-to for date night. At the other end of the spectrum is Lost & Found (3058 W. Irving Park Rd.; 773-463-7599), a mellow lesbian bar with an older crowd. "It's like walking back in time," Bergquist says. The bar keeps its door locked and buzzes in customers, just as it did decades ago, when lesbians feared persecution or police raids. McDonald likes Big Chicks (5024 N. Sheridan Rd.; 773-728-5511), the welcoming, colorful Uptown bar that draws a gay and straight crowd for its food and eclectic art. Both authors tout The Jeffery Pub (7041 S. Jeffery Blvd.; 773-363-8555), a South Side landmark for Chicago's African American gay community since the sixties. Andersonville is filled with popular gay hangouts, but both writers like to send people to T's Bar and Restaurant (5025 N. Clark St.; 773-784-6000), "one of those great bars where everyone from the neighborhood likes to go and where straight people can feel at home," McDonald says.
>> You want a place that doesn't give a flip-and pulls it off beautifully.
In a city where too many bars go for niche-sporty, hipster, Irish-the Hungry Brain (2319 W. Belmont Ave.; 773-935-2118) happily defies logic. It opens at 8 p.m., but the house rule is to keep the door locked until the first customer arrives. "Sometimes that means we don't open at all," admits the bartender. The place typically gets crowded around 10 p.m., and the laissez-faire attitude holds sway at any hour. Inside, past a stage used for Sunday night jazz shows, you'll feel like you're in your wacky grandmother's cozy basement. The taps are vintage, salvaged from a defunct tavern nearby; the furniture is from alleys and resale shops; and some ashtrays are as large as dinner plates. "A homeless man came in here once," the same bartender proudly declares, "and he said this place looks like a junkyard exploded." Amen to that.
>> Irish kitsch can get a little stale. Where is there an authentic Irish pub?
Some Irish bars beat their patrons over the head with a shtick: shamrocks, leprechauns, and Guinness posters run rampant. Three years ago, when co-owners Malcolm Molloy and Billy Lawless opened The Grafton (4530 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-271-9000), their mission was to do their Irish homeland proud. They named the bar after the renowned street in Dublin, banned Irish bric-a-brac, and created one of the classiest neighborhood bars on the North Side. The burgers and properly poured stout get high marks, too.
>> You have a taste for something below haute cuisine but above basic pub grub.
One of the best trends in nightlife nowadays is the "gastro bar," the fancy name for taverns that serve ambitious food. The Local Option (1102 W. Webster Ave.; 773-435-3136) goes several steps beyond basic with its New Orleans–inspired but eclectic menu (from po' boys and potato salad to guacamole and fish tacos). This recently remodeled spot has plenty of booths and restaurant-style seating, but it retains the casual neighborhood/college bar vibe, meaning you'll still spot a few DePaul students doing shots of Jägermeister.
Bucktown's Silver Cloud (1700 N. Damen Ave.; 773-489-6212) serves well-prepared comfort food like chicken pot pie, meat loaf, chicken soup, and sloppy joes with tater tots. The bar's retro diner vibe adds to the old-fashioned hominess.
We already knew the skillet cookie at Gaslight Bar & Grille (2426 N. Racine Ave.; 773-929-7759) had its own cult following, but this comfortable neighborhood bar offers other delights, too. Tender chicken wings come with a choice of seven sauces, and they make a great topper on those larger-than-life salads. But our favorite dish is the appetizer of crispy Reuben rolls, fried in a won ton casing.
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| Haven help us: The handsome Irish bar Chief O'Neill's Pub boasts an expansive, almost pastoral beer garden. |
>> You want a swanky place to lounge all night.
A late-20s crowd has made the Fulton Lounge (955 W. Fulton Market; 312-942-9500) its West Loop drinking destination since it opened in 2002. But even when this meatpacking district hot spot fills to capacity after 11 on a Friday or Saturday night, the 13-foot ceilings make the exposed industrial loft space feel as roomy as a friend's newly converted warehouse condo. We like warm touches such as a crackling fireplace in winter, brick walls, shag carpeting, and comfy contemporary sofas and chairs. And we love the cocktail list, with its martini flights and "vintage" drinks like Manhattans and Negronis.
>> You love Rainbo Club in Ukrainian Village, but miss the gritty spirit that first drew you.
The venerable Rainbo club (1150 N. Damen Ave.; 773-489-5999) is still fighting to remain true to its roots as a neighborhood bar for artists and everyday folk, but gentrification has made that a challenge-on weekends it may feel like a watering hole for frat boys or tidy couples on their way to dinner. When Rainbo's co-owners, Jim Garbe and Dee Taira, opened The Skylark ( 2149 S. Halsted St.; 312-948-5275) three years ago, its Pilsen neighborhood reminded them of Ukrainian Village, circa 1985. "People are still discovering the bar and the neighborhood," says Garbe. "It's nice to have that feeling again-of people popping into a bar and having no idea what they're getting into." Skylark is a roomy, dimly lit affair that is home base for South Side artists, musicians, a few Sox fans, and soon-to-be young professionals. Don't miss the big, old-fashioned photo booth just a few steps from the far end of the bar.
>> You're a blue-state type who's into biking.
Bars begin simply enough. A guy dreams of opening a place where he'd like to drink. Josh Deth, a bicycle advocate, activist, and former Goose Island brewer, did just that with Handlebar (2311 W. North Ave.; 773-384-9546), where his disparate interests blend quite nicely. Bike messengers, Critical Mass riders, and wonks from the Chicago Bicycling Federation consider the place a second home; beer lovers dig the diverse selection; and the mostly vegetarian fare draws raves.
>> You'd like some gemütlichkeit to wash down with your Bitburger.
Authentic ethnic bars are rare these days, and German bars, a must-do for any true beer lover, seem like a dying breed. The North Center neighborhood is the home of Resi's Bierstube (2034 W. Irving Park Rd.; 773-472-1749) and Laschet's Inn (2119 W. Irving Park; 773-478-7915), two of the last true German beerhouses in the city. At Resi's, enjoy a stein with some schnitzel and, weather permitting, get your taste of Old World Germany in the tidy beer garden.
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| Fans listen to Paper Clip Theory at Darkroom, which becomes a Jamaican house party on Thursday nights with DJ Redlox. |
>> There's extra buzz when a celebrity is in the house. Where do the A-listers party?
Le Passage (937 N. Rush St.; 312-255-0022), a French-influenced subterranean club with gilded pillars and red velvet booths, is still a go-to spot for celebs like Bill Murray, Pharrell Williams, Billy Bush, members of 'N Sync, Destiny's Child, Ricky Martin, Keanu Reeves, and Macy Gray. If you're lucky, you might even catch an impromptu performance from the likes of Tommy Lee or Jamie Foxx.
At Rockit Bar & Grill (22 W. Hubbard St.; 312-645-6000), David Schwimmer, Jeremy Piven, Vince Vaughn, Henry Rollins, Larenz Tate, Billy Corgan, the Black Eyed Peas, Hank Azaria, Ryan Cabrera, and Joe Simpson have frolicked amid the rugged-chic digs conceived by Oprah's designer-sidekick Nate Berkus. We've spotted more than a few of these regulars chowing down on the Rockit burgers and sweet-potato fries or playing a game of eight-ball in the upstairs lounge.
Reserve is also popular with the boldface-name set. (See Reserve: The Guided Tour.)
>> Girls just want to have fun-and maybe go wild. Where can they?
Dancing on bar tops became a cliché around the time Piper Perabo became a household name. Coyote Ugly (316 W. Erie St.; 312-642-2400), the kitschy hick bar concept that inspired the romantic comedy of the same name, established a Chicago outpost in 2003, and gangs of bachelorettes have been trooping there ever since. For a less touristy option, Marc Bortz's homegrown Hogs and Honeys (1551 N. Sheffield Ave.; 312-377-1733) also encourages girls to shake it high above the groping crowds or ride a jerking mechanical bull.
>> So many nightlife options, so little time. What spot offers a little something for everyone?
Grand Central (950 W. Wrightwood Ave.; 773-832-4000) is a one-stop shop for nightlifers with a case of ADD. You can drink on the cheap (top-shelf cocktails are $6, imported beer $4), eat above-average bar food, and watch the big game on one of the 29 plasma TVs. Live acoustic music is featured Wednesday through Saturday, when cover bands like the Paramours croon your favorite rock ballads. And the whole bar becomes a crowded dance floor when the DJ takes over around 10:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
>> You're on the North Shore in search of a lively and sophisticated scene.
The lines of locals and road trippers from the city waiting to get into Miramar (301 Waukegan Ave.; 847-433-1078) prove that restaurateur Gabriel Viti's Paris-meets-Havana bistro in Highwood is more than just a place to eat. Early in the evening the action centers on the bar; after 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, the eatery morphs into a wilder (and younger) dance club and singles bar.
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| Paper Clip Theory at Darkroom |
>> You think you can sing. Where can you belt out your favorite song?
You never know when someone famous is going to show up on Sundays at Stanley's Kitchen & Tap (1970 N. Lincoln Ave.; 312-642-0007) for live-band karaoke. Musicians like Kid Rock, Billy Corgan, and Michael McDermott have all taken over the stage, and even native wild child Jeremy Piven has gone animal on the drums. But most Sunday nights it's the regulars who grab the mike and do their best Bon Jovi imitation with the help of a live backing band.
For a less intimidating karaoke scene, Louie's Pub (1659 W. North Ave.; 773-227-7947) in Wicker Park lets you take that mike wherever you're comfortable, be it in the middle of the bar or on a barstool surrounded by friends. The whole bar usually chimes in to help you work out that tune by Carole King.
>> You're a foodie. Is there a place where dining and lounging go hand in hand?
One of the first of the restaurant-lounge hybrids, Bella Lounge (1212 N. State Pkwy.; 312-787-9405) attracts partyers seeking a scene within a scene within yet another scene. Is it a restaurant, a lounge, a club, or all three? It's a beautiful spot with equally beautiful people who aren't afraid to flash what the good doctor gave them.
At the upscale sushi restaurant Japonais (600 W. Chicago Ave.; 312-822-9600), the scenesters head straight to the swanky downstairs lounge to sip orchid martinis (and dine) on a veranda overlooking the Chicago River. The scene there percolates till the wee hours.
Tapas restaurants have been popping up all over the city lately, but we love the bustling bar scene at Del Toro (2047 W. Division St.; 773-278-1500). This neo hipster hang in Wicker Park sports red-and-black mosaic tiling on the walls, funky seating along the bar, and a lounge area upfront that teems with trendy types.
Between the Clark and Dearborn Street bridges at river level sits Flatwater (321 N. Clark St.; 312-644-0283), a shiny new gem of a lounge that feels like a small resort-except for your magnificent view of the big city. The food is good and easy-we enjoyed the flight of hot dogs (chili-cheese, Chicago style, and corn dog) paired with a flight of Goose Island beer.
>> You live in the 'burbs and want a good pub crawl outside the city.
Head to Madison Street in Forest Park, where a string of pubs and sports bars cater to multiple tastes. If you're young, professional, and beautiful, and don't mind noise, hit the packed bustle of O'Sullivan's Public House (7244 Madison St.; 708-366-6667). For grit, draft beer, college-age revelers and those who seek them, there's Doc Ryan's (7432 Madison; 708-366-2823), a bustling sports bar where, come nightfall, ESPN commentary is drowned out by party rock. For a tamer pint and fine bowl of stew, join the poets, teachers, and PTA moms-on-the-town at Molly Malones (7652 Madison; 708-366-8073), where a warm interior and attentive bartenders offer a true neighborhood vibe.
>> You don't like having to trek downtown from the suburbs just to go out.
For sophisticated cool, try Bill's Blues Bar in Evanston (1029 Davis St.; 847-424-9800), an intimate spot where live bands play everything from 1920s jazz to Chicago blues. The diverse, music-loving crowd isn't afraid to shake a leg, especially on Wednesdays, when John Nance hosts a steppers bash.
To catch bands on the rise, nibble tasty wings, and choose from more than 60 beers, try Durty Nellies in Palatine (180 N. Smith St.; 847-358-9150), an unpretentious T-shirt-and-jeans spot with a killer sound system. A not-so-painfully hip crowd of 20- and 30-somethings head here to sway to live punk, rock, and pop.
If you don't mind a little cheese in your dance music, and the occasional 22-year-old who truly believes she's all that, there's Famous Freddie's Roadhouse in Mount Prospect (1799 S. Busse Road; 847-593-2200). The best part of this often swarming den of kitschy décor, plastic cups, and Gen Y smooch-seekers is its split personality on Fridays and Saturdays. While the lower level is dominated by bodies gyrating to a DJ-driven blend of eighties pop, techno, and hip-hop, the upstairs is dedicated to local bands.
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One of the city's best new bars, Wicker Park Tavern keeps the party going |
>> You want to dance and you don't mind paying $20 to get your booty on the floor tonight.
Flamboyant crowds and a thumping beat set the scene inside Crobar (1543 N. Kingsbury St.; 312-266-1900), a multitiered dance hall that has set the standard for megaclubs in Chicago. There are usually topnotch DJs on the bill and the occasional celeb in attendance.
You could easily get lost inside the massive, smoke-filled, maze of Sound-Bar (226 W. Ontario St.; 312-787-4480). House, trance, electro, and hip-hop are piped through a state-of-the-art sound system by big-name DJs such as Paul Oakenfold, Paul Van Dyke, and Sasha.
On Thursdays Enclave (213 W. Institute Pl.; 312-654-0234) fills up with folks lured by nightlife promoter Tony Macey, who hosts some of the most popular club nights in town. The VIP booths are reserved for bottle service; congregating nearby are young gals showing ample flesh.
Even a recent makeover hasn't slowed things down at Rednofive (440 N. Halsted St.; 312-733-6699), the go-to late-night spot for clubsters who want to continue the partying after other bars have announced last call. Chandeliers, rich fabrics, low lighting, and a live percussionist accompanying the DJ set the anything-goes mood.
>> You like hanging with the hipoisie.
You've know you've entered a hipster's paradise when you enter Green Eye Lounge (2403 W. Homer St.; 773-227-8851). Paintings of decapitated heads adorn the walls; a bartender named Turbo claims he used to be a model; and there's no jukebox, so the staff controls the musical vibe, which meant Billy Dee (who's played bass for Hank Williams Jr.) the night we went. The small room has about a dozen highboy tables, filled with patrons sipping microbrews like Three Floyds', Alpha King, and Two Brothers' French Country Ale.
>> You want to dance-but at a place that's low-key and neighborhoody.
When you don't want to navigate the rope line at a hot-right-now club, Betty's Blue Star Lounge (1600 W. Grand Ave.; 312-243-1699) offers a down-to-earth but rowdy late-night dance party that goes till 4 a.m. (5 a.m. on Saturdays) seven nights a week. The DJ-spun tunes, ranging from hip-hop and house to funk to reggae, are as diverse as the neighborhood crowd that hits the dance floor in back; a live rockabilly band plays during the week.
Subterranean (2011 W. North Ave.; 773-278-6600) is like two clubs in one: upstairs is a live music venue featuring prog, rock, pop, hardcore, metal, blues-and the occasional comic. On the main level, get in on the retro dance-off when DJs mix old-school classics. The small dance floor gets crowded but you can get your freak on anywhere in the lounge.
If you don't know where to look you can easily miss Liar's Club (1655 W. Fullerton Ave.; 773-665-1110), a beer trap with a dance party. In the red-carpeted front room, rock memorabilia pays homage to Kiss. Create your own lasting memories in the photo booth, which probably sees more action than your bedroom. Then head to the back to get down to mainstream hits.
1st Photograph: Saverio Truglia Assistant: Alan Rovge Models: Stephanie Cantu/Arlene Wilson And Isaac Metcalf/Ford Chicago Location: Sound-Bar Wardrobe: Dress, Jewelry, And Shoes Neiman Marcus Michigan Ave., Men's Tuxedo Shirt And Pants Burberry Porsum Styling: Kami Bremyer Assistant: Debora Hollander Second Assistant: Harmony Hauser Hair And Makeup: Susie Lee/Ford Chicago Hair And Makeup Assistant: Judi-Anna Alvarez Tables: Luminaire All other photography by Jerome De Perlinghi
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