Kumiko
Japanese drinks and small plates in the West Loop. Bar service and the weekend daytime café are separate visits; choose the room and menu when booking.
Hopleaf
Belgian beer and a meal in Andersonville. Everyone entering must be 21 or older, so this is an adults’ outing rather than a family stop.
Map Room
A Bucktown beer bar built around maps and a changing draft list. There is morning coffee service too; choose the time of day for the visit you want.
Three Dots and a Dash
A tropical cocktail bar entered from the alley in River North. The Bamboo Room is a separate booking within the venue. Both rooms open late at 7 PM on October 24, 2026.
BellyUp! to Chicago’s Best Bars
Bar specials & what’s not on the bar menu
16 spots
AJ Hudson’s Public House
Soccer, pub food and a neighborhood table on Ashland Avenue. The posted sports calendar is the useful starting point when an early match is the whole reason to go.
Carol’s Pub
A country band and a bar room in Uptown. Most listed nights are 21+; a specific all-ages show does not change the ordinary event policy.
Delilah’s
Whiskey and a rock-and-roll bar room on Lincoln Avenue. DJs and special events shape the night; it is a different evening from a seated jazz show.
Empty Bottle
An independent band and a close-up room on Western Avenue. Shows at the Empty Bottle itself are 21+; off-site Empty Bottle Presents events set their own age rules.
Green Mill
A jazz room in Uptown where the performance is the reason to go. Read the set and admission details before arriving; the room’s late-night programs vary by day.
Green Street Smoked Meats
Central Texas-inspired smoked meats and a drink in a warehouse-style West Loop room. The entrance is down the brick alley; choose the tray from the current menu.
Handlebar
Vegan comfort food, a full bar and a beer garden on North Avenue. The whole menu is not vegan: choose the marked dishes. The published weekly menu includes Sunday tacos with a beer and tequila shot.
Hopleaf
Belgian beer and a meal in Andersonville. Everyone entering must be 21 or older, so this is an adults’ outing rather than a family stop.
Kingston Mines
A blues night with bands trading sets between two stages. Pick the night’s lineup first, then decide how late you want the evening to run.
Map Room
A Bucktown beer bar built around maps and a changing draft list. There is morning coffee service too; choose the time of day for the visit you want.
Off Color Brewing ... Mousetrap
Off Color beer in the Mousetrap taproom, with indoor seating and a dog-friendly patio. This is the Kingsbury taproom rather than a restaurant with a full kitchen.
Schubas Tavern
A live set at the Southport tavern. Schubas and Lincoln Hall share a booking website but have different addresses; read the room name on the ticket.
Smoke Daddy ... Wrigleyville
Smoked meats beside Wrigley Field, with published Bears and Cowboys watch parties. This is the Wrigleyville restaurant; the former Wicker Park branch is closed.
The Globe Pub
An international-sports pub in North Center with its own match schedule. Early opening depends on the fixture; use the current calendar rather than assuming every morning is the same.
The Tonk ... Honky Tonk BBQ
A Memphis-style barbecue meal with a band in Pilsen. The former Honky Tonk BBQ now uses The Tonk name; the current restaurant address is on Racine Avenue.
Timothy O’Toole’s ... Chicago
A Streeterville pub with published game viewing. This is the Fairbanks Court location; suburban branches have their own calendars and should not be mixed into a Chicago visit.
What these spots are known for
The same bars spots, sorted by the reasons people actually pick them.
Live Music
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Sports on TV
Where can I watch the game with food and drinks?
BBQ and Smokehouses
Who is actually running a pit?
Rooftops and Patios
Can we sit outside?
Craft Cocktail Programs
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Dance Floors
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Sushi
Who is behind the counter?
Vegan and Plant-Based
Where can I eat with no asterisks?
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