Categories: Nightlife

Chicago Lounges 2

Author: Audarshia Townsend

Each Chicago neighborhood offers its own distinct flavor that trickles right down to the lounge culture.

In the downtown area, or the Loop, you’ll find a crowd of post-work partiers who come to wind down after a long day at the office. Music ranges from Top 40 classic to contemporary pop tunes that make these suited-up revelers want to sing along and maybe, just maybe, dance a little. Get there early enough—usually by 4:00 p.m.—and you’ll be able to snag a table to relax with cocktails and perhaps a few appetizers.

Unfortunately, Chicago doesn’t allow a real “happy hour” at dining and nightlife establishments, but you might catch a daily drink special at some of the more popular hangs like Encore ,Martini Bar or Whiskey Blue. More traditional lounge settings await you at downtown lounges, including plush furniture and updated versions of classic cocktails.

While the downtown lounges tend to cater to more business-minded folks, the ones in the West Loop and River North aim for a trendier, nightcrawling crowd. And since they’re so close to the center of downtown, you’re likely to see after-work types—if they can still keep up by 10:00 p.m. But expect more style-conscious patrons filing into these bars known for glamorous waitstaffs, VIP bottle service and the city’s hottest deejays cranking out dance music and hip-hop. Red-hot spots like Y Bar , Lumen  and Underground  attract long lines during the weekend, so calling ahead for a reservation or to be put on the guest list is highly recommended. These are not the type of places to go for specialty martinis; if you’re bellying up to the bar, keep it simple: beer, cocktails, a glass of bubbly. These bartenders are the busiest people in town!

You’ll find more casual, chilled-out customers hanging out at lounges in Bucktown/Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, Roscoe Village and Lakeview. No lines, no (required) bottle service to sit down, your favorite beer on tap, and most likely a sports bar/nightclub concept. But what’s most refreshing is that you’ll rub elbows with the people of the neighborhood. During the week, there’s bound to be nightly food and drink specials with ample seating and a friendly vibe in the air. Weekends, however, tend to get boisterous with deejays spinning the same clubby fare as the downtown clubs.

Also, this is the time when people from all over Chicagoland decide to filter into these ‘hoods. Mostly post-collegiate crowds hit up bars Landmark  and Empire Liquors , while places like Violet Hour  and The Matchbox  get a sophisticated drinking clientele.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out places of interest near Chicago Lounges 2:

Ai
358 W. Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60610

This River North Japanese Sushi Restaurant & Lounge opened it's doors in late-September 2007.  From the siblings who brought Ringo Japanese Restaurant and Tsuki to Lincoln Park, comes this lounge/restaurant with authentic Japanese cuisine.

 

Andy's Jazz Club
11 E. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60610

Bin 36
339 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60610

This spot has everything for the oenophile, with a retail store, tavern, restaurant and cheese bar.

Salud Tequila Lounge
1471 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60622

This Bucktown nightspot is all about Mexican fare and all kinds of premium tequilas. Go early and relax; go late and be crowded in with a 30-ish crowd of Bucktown residents and party scene adherents.

 

10pin Bowling
330 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60610

This hip, nightlife-centered Chicago lounge features 24 bowling lanes and an extensive martini list. Edible fare here is served from a small plates menu, perfect for sharing.

Ai
358 W. Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60610

This River North Japanese Sushi Restaurant & Lounge opened it's doors in late-September 2007.  From the siblings who brought Ringo Japanese Restaurant and Tsuki to Lincoln Park, comes this lounge/restaurant with authentic Japanese cuisine.

 

Andy's Jazz Club
11 E. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60610

B.L.U.E.S
2519 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614

Chicago blues house features local artists every night at 9:30 p.m. Cover varies.

Bamboo Room
616 E. Golf Rd., Schaumburg, IL 60173

South Pacific-inspired lounge, with nightly DJs.

Big Chicks
5024 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60640

The colorful Uptown bar caters to a mostly lesbian and gay clientele but is very straight-friendly.

Bin 36
339 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60610

This spot has everything for the oenophile, with a retail store, tavern, restaurant and cheese bar.

Blue Chicago
536 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610

Sample the sounds of the sultry saxophone, the bold bass, the thundering trumpet and the  daring drum beats at Blue Chicago, one of Chicago's best blues clubs. Open seven nights a week, Blue Chicago features some of the best names in blues and jazz.

Harlem Avenue Lounge
3701 South Harlem Ave., Berwyn, IL 60402

Blues fills the air every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Harlem Avenue Lounge.

 

Le Passage
937 N. Rush St., Chicago, IL 60610

A top Chicago nightclub for going on a decade, this Gold Coast neighborhood nightlife haven attracts a high-profile crowd. It seems likely that this will be a club destination in Chicago for years to come.

RiNo Lounge
343 W. Erie, Chicago, IL 60610

Rino lounge is a new Chicago hot apot that already has the celebrities visiting. This posh after-hours hot spot with animal and naturalistic motifs boasts sightings of stars like Entourage's Jeremy Piven, David Schwimmer, Michael Jordan, and the cast of Prison Break.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]-->

 

 

 

 

Salud Tequila Lounge
1471 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60622

This Bucktown nightspot is all about Mexican fare and all kinds of premium tequilas. Go early and relax; go late and be crowded in with a 30-ish crowd of Bucktown residents and party scene adherents.

 

The Redhead Piano Bar
16 W. Ontario St., Chicago, IL 60610

Top-notch piano players make The Redhead Piano Bar a sought-after venue when it comes to sophisticated live music in Chicago. Gather around the piano, or head toward the back of the room for more intimate conversation.

Tryst
3485 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60657

Tryst is the most chic place to be if you're in Wrigleyville, that is--if you're not into the whole sports bar mania that is Clark Street. 

 

10pin Bowling
330 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60610

This hip, nightlife-centered Chicago lounge features 24 bowling lanes and an extensive martini list. Edible fare here is served from a small plates menu, perfect for sharing.

Blue Chicago
736 N. Clark St, Chicago, IL 60610

Sample the sounds of the sultry saxophone, the bold bass, the thundering trumpet and the  daring drum beats at Blue Chicago, one of Chicago's best blues clubs. Open seven nights a week, Blue Chicago features some of the best names in blues and jazz. 

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