The 10 Best Themed Bars Near Chicago, Illinois; The Pink Squirrel. This legendary venue is one of the oldest nightclubs in Chicago and one of Al Capone's favorite spots. First opened in 1907, the Green Mill became a speakeasy during Prohibition. Nowadays, it hasn't lost any of its vintage charm, you can even sit at Capone's favorite booth!.
But the main attraction is the live music, with nightly jazz performances by renowned artists and local artists until the wee hours of the morning. Broadway Street. They'll take you to a sophisticated and inviting space that's inspired by the 1920s and '30s. Coco Club features a variety of live talent spanning genres, including dueling pianos, comedians, and ballroom singers.
The drink menu expands on the Prohibition-era theme, with classic cocktails using quality ingredients. Come and enjoy a drink in the lounge during happy hour, dinner by the cozy fireplace or live jazz on the grand piano every weekend. While the first floor of the Tao Chicago functions as an Asian-inspired restaurant, serving dishes such as Pekingese duck and lobster wontons, the second floor of the venue is one of the most popular nightclubs in the city. The space, with capacity for 1000 people, has impressive murals and a disco ball mounted under a 10-foot-high Japanese bell, setting the stage for crowded parties with the soundtrack of some of the best DJs in the world (Deadmau5 and Afrojack performed during the club's opening weeks).
Coverage costs are often expensive and reservations are almost essential for the most important events, but if you have money to spend, this is one of the glitziest nightlife spots in Chicago. The kitschy concept of Beauty Bar, in Chicago, aligns with the New York and San Francisco versions, with shiny walls and salon furniture from the 60s. Hang out under the disco ball at popular and recurring parties like Emo vs. Pop-Punk or show up for happy hours on Friday night.
And if your nails need a little work, you can often get a manicure and martini in the main room. A relatively new addition to Chicago's nightlife, Le Nocturne channels the more casual atmosphere of a French nightclub, with a relaxed and elegant dress code. Residents include prominent Chicago house DJs such as Ron Carrol and Paul Johnson, exemplifying the club's reverence for local talent. Inside, you'll find a dance floor flanked by a 25,000-watt European audio system and a set of nearly 100 pieces of intelligent lighting that move and change color in response to whatever is spinning.
And if you need a break from the beat, there's a small patio on the sidewalk where you can refuel before seeing the crowd inside again. The Lakeview club, a favorite hideaway for local weirdos since the 80s, once lived up to its name by regularly presenting German new-wave music and art installations. Nowadays, Berlin is best known for its weekly drag shows and nighttime dance parties that keep the music going until 4 in the morning or later. This huge Northalsted club has been serving the LGBTQIA+ community for more than four decades.
With multiple levels, rooms, and even a rooftop terrace, the space can accommodate more than 1,000 people at a time. Start the week off right by singing your favorite songs from Musical Mondays or take your best steps during Friday night's dance party. When you need to refill, order one of the signature frozen cocktails. An elegant, modern destination with several levels of European style in the busy club scene of River North, this venue has kept clubbers busy since its opening in 2004, with progressive house and techno DJs touring on a regular basis.
With a solid line-up of resident DJs, seven bars scattered throughout the space and a powerful sound system, the different dance floors of this club always seem to show off a spectacular scene. Not much has changed at Underground, Billy Dec's former River North nightclub, which was once bunker-themed (it now looks like most contemporary clubs, with lots of lasers, blinking lights, and LED panels). It's a reliable place to see sets of touring DJs and potentially see some local baseball, basketball and football players spending money on bottle service. Do you need a way to pass the time before the doors open? The 1920s-themed Underground Cocktail Club serves elegant mixed drinks in a space inspired by speakeasies located just above the underground club.
Located above Celeste, in River North, Disco takes its retro aspirations to the surface, with a gigantic illuminated dance floor and lots of huge mirror balls. The playlists are also a conscious throwback to the 70s, full of key disco (duh), funk, soul and house music tracks. Show up Friday and Saturday nights for champagne and dancing at this Instagram-worthy club. Founded in 1995, this 300-person club in River North transmits its global atmosphere and invites underground techno and electronic artists from all over the world to perform.
The narrow confines make this one of the most exclusive dance floors in the area, so you'll need to arrive early (or book a table) if you want to secure a spot at the party. Do you miss the days when you drank boxes of juice with your friends? This spacious River North club serves many of its cocktails in plastic boxes, allowing guests to safely drink alcoholic beverages as they explore the enormous three-level space. Neon lights, graffiti and bright sculptures decorate the long corridors, where you're likely to see groups taking pictures of a miniature slot machine. People who go to bed early don't need to apply it.
LiqrBox doesn't open until 11 at night and keeps rocking until 4 in the morning (5 in the morning on Saturdays). You'll feel like you're in a private club when you enter Coq d'Or, The Drake's historic cocktail lounge. Tortoise Supper Club is an elegant jazz-era dinner club in River North that serves fresh steaks, chops and seafood in an exclusive setting. Unfortunately, you can't miss the chance to enter Chicago's most legendary nightclubs of the time (RIP The Warehouse), but a new generation of nightlife destinations has stepped in to ensure that the pace continues.
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