Chicago Nightlife Tips by yooperprof Top 5 Page for this destination

Rock Bottom Brewery: National chain but with a local expert brewmaster

Sometimes wildly busy - but deservedly so - the Rock Bottom Brewery is a national chain but its brewmasters are local, and the River North location has an excellent reputation for producing interesting and tasty variants. I had never been to this location before, but on a hot July day in 2008, I stopped in here for a cooling bevy and was pleased with the atmosphere (not too generic) and with the ales that I sampled.

"Serious about our food. Crazy about our beer" is their motto. I won't say anything about the food, but certainly the bartender who served me was knowledgeable about his beers - as well as quite friendly.

Address: 1 West Grand Ave

Directions: River North

Phone: 312-755-9339

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Ralph Lauren's: Polo Bar? Bars/Nightclubs Review

Ralph Lauren does bars? Well, he's giving it a go. Apparently this is a prototype for what could be a nationwide chain. (Oh, great, just what we need!)

This is actually a small restaurant/bar which serves the classic Americana food items all gussied up and prettified, in much the same way that Ralph Lauren clothes do. But I really did like the small size of the bar - only about 20 seats! Of course, you'll pay for the luxury of intimacy - it's just off tourist laden Michigan Avenue, and they don't want to make this place into a substitute for those who couldn't get into the Cheesecake Factory, say.

Expensive! Oh my. It can be fun if you want to hob-nob with the G & G set. But bring your Visa!

Dress Code: Ralph Lauren label, preferably

Address: 115 E. Chicago (at Michigan Ave.)

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Su Casa: Cheesy, cheery Cantina in River North Bars/Nightclubs Review

This would be a respectable establishment anywhere else perhaps, but in the context of River North - and only a block away from the tony Michigan Ave., "Su Casa" classifies as a bit of a dive. My friends and I enjoy it as a convenient pre-dinner or pre-theatre meeting place - drinks are relatively inexpensive (considering the neighborhood), -- and it's very hard to miss the bright yellow exterior walls!

Address: 49 E. Ontario

Phone: 312-943-4041

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Lucky Strike Lanes: Commerical, slick bowling alley bar for Yuppies Bars/Nightclubs Review

It's commercial, it's slick, and it's definitely for River North or Michigan Avenue yuppies, but the Lucky Strike is still an entertaining and efficient place for a meet-up, an after-movie drink, or a quick few strikes and spares on a dull Wednesday. Good bar menu: really excellent macaroni and cheese. Of course, it has as much Chicago feel to it as your average Bennigan's or Applebees, and it comes with the same corporate cookie-cutter mentality. But - and it's definitely true - sometimes in Chicago you will find yourself looking for a place to go before a film or after the Art Institute, and you won't want to go all the way back to one of the neighborhoods, and you'll be with a big group of people, and some of you will want to drink beer, and some of you will want to eat hamburgers, and some of you will want to people-watch, and you will end up here. Trust me.

(Note: when I was here in July 2008, I was quite disappointed in the beer selection. No local or regional beers on tap, and really, quite a standard range of bottled beers as well. This is not the place to go if you are interested in _quality_ beer drinking!)

Address: 322 E. Illinois St

Directions: Streeterville, in the same building as the big 21-plex River East AMC cinemas - so it's good before or after the show (several other locations across the city)

Phone: 312-245-8331

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Sidetrack: Boyztown Staple Bars/Nightclubs Review

It might not be the "hippest" place in Chicago's gay village, and you might not find the pretty boyz here, but Sidetrack has a deservedly great reputation as one of the most friendly and welcoming of all gay taverns on Halstead. It's big - with several separate bars and bar-areas, and well-run, but it's not too large so as to feel like a shopping mall. They guys who own this place have really put a lot of time and energy into updating it over the last few years. I like it because it's not as crazy as some of the throng-ier (or thong-ier) places nearby.

Address: 3349 N. Halsted

Phone: 773-477-9189

Theme: People Watching

Website: http://www.sidetrackchicago.com/

Clark Street Ale House: Essential River North Tavern Bars/Nightclubs Review

It's good to know about this River North tavern - non-chain, non-scene, non-yuppie. It has a very good beer selection (25 on tap) as well as generous number of wines by the glass. It's also home to some serious drinkers - not the touristy type of Michigan Avenue, but the real "pros" who take advantage of the Ale House's late license. (They are open till 4 on weeknights and until 5 on weekends.)

Yes, it can be loud and raucous: but this is Chicago, remember!

Address: 742 N. Clark

Phone: 312-642-9253

Theme: People Watching

16 at the Trump International Hotel: Room with a View Bars/Nightclubs Review

Great views of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan are the big attraction at "16," the bar-restaurant on the 16th floor of the Trump Behemoth. High speed elevators whisk patrons immediately to the hushed comfort of an airy and well-appointed lounge - with commanding floor to ceiling windows that offer startlingly new perspectives on familiar landmarks like the Wrigley Building and the Tribune Tower.

The restaurant appeared to be ritzy and expensive. I went for a drink in the bar area and was given a table with a good view of the city. A small bar menu is available throughout the day. My waiter told me that an outdoor patio will be opening next summer, when construction on the Tower is actually complete. When I visited 16 for the first time in March 2008, the hotel was opening but construction was continuing on the top floors.

Dress Code: casual dressy

Address: 401 N. Wabash

Directions: just north of the Chicago River - where the Sun-Times building used to be!

Theme: Eating and Drinking

NoMI Lounge: North Michigan Ave splurge Bars/Nightclubs Review

Nice place for a deluxe cocktail in the midst of North Michigan Avenue shops - up on the Sixth floor of the Park Hyatt. Lovely summertime patio. My friend Janet loves this place!

Dress Code: Nothing too informal here - you'd feel out of place

Address: 800 N. Michigan Ave.

Directions: The entrance is actually on Chicago Avenue, across from "Ralph Lauren" and the "American Girls Place". Enter the hotel lobby then take the NoMI elevator to the 6th floor.

Theme: People Watching

Website: http://parkchicago.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/entertainment/lounges/index.jsp

Encore Liquid Lounge: Loop Convenience for Theatre District Bars/Nightclubs Review

Great little tavern in the loop, adjacent to the Hotel Allegro on Randolph Street, and very convenient for pre/post theatre rendezvous.

Retro-cool without having to try too hard!

Address: 171 W. Randolph

Phone: 312-338-3788

Theme: People Watching

Website: http://www.encorechicago.com/

John Barleycorn: Popular & Historic Tavern in Lincoln Park Bars/Nightclubs Review

Classic Northside Chicago Irish Tavern, close to DePaul University, Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville. The building dates to 1890 and retains many interesting features of its time. Handsome bar and a decent pubfood menu. Bills itself as a "Michigan State" Bar, so if you are a Spartan fan this is the place for you!

Address: 658 W. Belden

Phone: 7730348-8899

Theme: Eating and Drinking