Categories: Nightlife
After Dark: Chicago Blues Bars
Author: Jody Robbins
Your Music vs. My Music
If the Blues are your thing, any comprehensive, Blues-minded tour of Chicago should start at Blue Chicago, where you will find a wealth of Chicago Blues merchandise, and a nightly host of family-friendly (kids under 12 get in free) Blues music from legends and newcomers alike. Another location just up the street increases your musical options, as does the Blue Chicago Store. You'll catch jazz in all its heady permutations at Andy's Jazz Club, where a full range of jazz offerings grace the stage here seven days a week, night and day.
At the infamous Double Door , you never know whether you'll see a legend, or an about-to-reign up and comer. Regardless, be sure that you'll enjoy yourself at this Wicker Park club that's a legend its own right. Rock ‘n' roll is primarily served here, but the musical calendar here has branched out in the last few years to include a wide range of musical acts. It's the dive-with-good-live-music of which you've always dreamed. Ranging into rock ‘n' roll's immediate ancestor, you can get constant doses of the Blues at Kingston Mines , a venue that's been around for decades. The players here are so hot that, if you know who you're looking for, you are likely to see some of the city's top players checking out the competition.
If you are looking to check out top DJs in a sound-friendly atmosphere, stop! You've found Sonotheque, a haven for those whose priorities are high-end acoustics. An insane sound system is complemented by sound-friendly materials used throughout the design scheme of the highly regarded, contemporary designer, Suhail. The schedule here is important, as all kinds of tunes make the play list here on a given night. For something a little earthier, the rock ‘n' roll set has been visiting Five Star Bar & Grill. Here, we're talking early rock ‘n' roll, so expect vintage touches throughout, and a healthy bourbon selection.
With four different dance floors, Club 720 is like a dance-themed Disney, with lots of Latin beats on tap, as well as some reggae and hip-hop. If you can't salsa, take a class; or just enjoy the show. And, finally, it's Crobar, a Chicago institution. In its latest form, the music makers here are queuing up everything from disco to techno to rave and hip-hop. Get on the floor, or head to the balcony and just take it…all…in.
Check out places of interest near After Dark: Chicago Blues Bars:
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.
P.J. Clarke's
1204 N. State Pkwy.,
Chicago, IL 60610
This neighborhood spot features two facets, a long wooden bar filled with revelers and a more secluded rear dining area with tables decked with checkerboard tablecloths.
Salud Tequila Lounge
1471 N. Milwaukee Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60622
Chic Bucktown nightspot Salud features authentic Mexican fare and an extensive selection of premium tequilas.
Alumni Club
871 E. Algonquin Rd.,
Schaumburg, IL 60173
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.
Buddy Guy's Legends
754 S. Wabash Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60605
World-renowned and local Chicago blues artists are the draw at this club owned by blues legend, Buddy Guy, as is the soul-ful Cajun food and major music paraphenalia also on display here.
Casey Moran's
3660 N. Clark St.,
Chicago, IL 60613
This top Wrigleyville-area sports bar is a no-brainer to visit if you're visiting the home of the Chicago Cubs, but is a year-round home to sports fanatics and just fans, too.
Club 720
720 N. Wells St.,
Chicago, IL 60610
Five floors of premier entertainment and music.
Crobar
1543 N. Kingsbury St.,
Chicago, IL 60622
Internationally renowned dance club. High-end, glamorous nightlife scene. Heavy on beautiful people-watching, celebrity sight-seeing, and aggressive partying.
Double Door
1572 N. Milwaukee Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60622
Wicker Park's premier live music venue. Cover varies.
English
444 N. LaSalle St.,
Chicago, IL 60610
From the Eat Well, Drink Better group, comes a new gastropub known as English. Located in the beautiful River North area, English serves good food and offers a wide variety of liquor choices as well as the favored beers and ales.
Kingston Mines
2548 N. Halsted St.,
Chicago, IL 60614
Louisiana cooking and two blues bands on two stages every night. Cover $12-$15.
Has been designated a:
Concierge favorite
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.
Moonshine
1824 W. Division St.,
Chicago, IL 60622
This popular Chicago bar and restaurant kicks off the West Division Street strip with a simple, but everything's there bar menu and good, Southern-leaning menu fare.
NV Penthouse Lounge
116 W. Hubbard St.,
Chicago, IL 60610
This ultra-hip modern lounge sits atop 7 floors and serves an exclusive crowd. Take in the sweeping views of the Chicago skyline while the new-wave DJs keep the pop music thumping in the background. The outdoor terrace is a popular place to imbibe a pricy, but well-made drink.
P.J. Clarke's
1204 N. State Pkwy.,
Chicago, IL 60610
This neighborhood spot features two facets, a long wooden bar filled with revelers and a more secluded rear dining area with tables decked with checkerboard tablecloths.
Religion
720 N. Wells St.,
Chicago, IL 60610
This reinvented Chicago club is now Religion and was part of Club 720, a top Latin dance spot. The new space rocks more of a DJ-induced sound, dancing and a cosmopolitan club experience without the pretensions.
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
Chic Bucktown nightspot Salud features authentic Mexican fare and an extensive selection of premium tequilas.
Sonotheque
1444 W. Chicago Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60622
No one comes to Sonotheque to sit and take in the scene; they (and you) are the scene--along with the music.
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.
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.
Has been designated a:
Concierge favorite>
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
220 S. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago, IL 60604
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is the heartbeat of Chicago. The CSO has numerous concerts and special events throughout the year. See the full list at their website. Tickets range from $10 to $200.
