Chicago · Nightlife

FIESTA SIDE

Chicago closes late and plays loud: blues until 4am in Lincoln Park, house music in the basement that helped invent it.

Green Mill, Uptown

Capone-era jazz lounge where the booths never moved. Cover drops to $5 from 1am Fri-Sat. Talking over the band is not done.

Kingston Mines

Two stages trading blues sets until 4am Fri-Sat on N Halsted. Discounted entry for students, seniors and service workers.

Smartbar

Dance basement under Metro at 3730 N Clark, doors about 10pm. International DJs plus the long-running Sunday Queen! party.

Empty Bottle

Scruffy guitar room at 1035 N Western, open 5pm-2am and to 3am Saturdays. Cheap beer, loud bills, no dress code whatsoever.

The Violet Hour

Unmarked Wicker Park door at 1520 N Damen, open daily 5pm-1am. Book via OpenTable; the walk-in queue moves very slowly.