15 Best Nightclubs in Chicago to Enjoy its Nightlife
A famous quote says, “Nobody remembers the nights they slept peacefully.”
Perhaps that is the magic of nightlife. Moreover, if you want to experience a city truly, you must live its nightlife.
On that note, we will be discussing the third-largest city in the United States, Chicago. This stunning city in Illinois is famous for many things, especially its vibrant music, delicious food, astonishing architecture, and iconic neighborhoods.
However, if you want to experience Chicago at its best, you must experience the nightlife and what better way to explore the nightlife than by visiting Chicago’s top 15 best night bars?
Smartbar
A one-of-a-kind, the underground club, is located just around the Wrigley Field and is located right below the Metro Rock venue. You will often find star DJs from around the world crafting their magic and making the crowd rejuvenate and dance all night.
International DJs like Derrick Carter, Black Madonna, and Mark Farina are some of the familiar faces you will often find in this Wrigleyville venue. Serving as the backbone of the nightlife in Chicago, the Smartbar is the home of electro and techno music. Also, it sports one of the best sound systems globally, paired with a rotating lineup of international DJs.
Berlin
At nearly four decades old, Lake View’s Berlin is one of the most diverse bars in Chicago. It is widely considered the best gay bar in Windy City.
What makes the club stand apart is that you can see the interiors and architecture being inspired by Chicago’s art and culture when you enter.
The music ranges from house to new wave, and you will often be mesmerized by the theme nights such as MadonnaRama and Stardust, which Berlin usually hosts.
Beauty Bar
The Chicago Beauty Bar is just as famous as the ones in New York, Austin, and San Francisco. As you step in, you will see the interiors inspired by the 60s beauty salon. The sparkling walls complement the disco ball and make you want to dance as soon as you enter.
Some of the recurring party themes include Emo vs. Pop-Punk, Timehop Thursdays, or you could simply walk in and enjoy the evening happy hours on Fridays. The front room also sports manicures, which you can enjoy with the Martini.
TAO Chicago
The forte of TAO Chicago is that the second floor is home to one of the windy city’s hottest nightclubs, whereas the first floor features one of the best Asian restaurants in the city.
Hence, once you’ve danced your heart out, you can simply walk down and enjoy the best Asian cuisine in Chicago, which serves lobster wontons and Peking duck, among other famous dishes. The children’s nightclub features a 1000-capacity space, a disco ball, and towering murals. One striking feature that will catch your eyes is the 10-foot-tall Japanese bell.
You will often see some of the biggest names in the DJ industry setting the tune. To give you an idea, Afrojack and Deadmau5 performed in the opening weeks of the nightclub.
Joy District
The Joy District, located on the second floor, is one of Chicago’s best dance clubs, with a multilevel dining and drinking structure.
It’s one of the hottest nightclubs in Chicago that you must visit, especially if you are a river regular or genuinely want to experience the nightlife of Chicago.
You can guess how huge the party is when you realize star celebrities like Demi Lovato, Louis the Child, Ludacris, Travis Scott, and other big names have performed at this club.
Disco
The disco nightclub is located above Celeste in River North. It boasts massive mirror balls, gigantic light dance floors, and an overall retro aesthetic.
The best part about this nightclub is that you’ll get the best music of today as well as stay true to its retro theme. Disco occasionally brings the nostalgic 70s disco, soul, funk, and other music that will take you back in time but keep you dancing on the lighted floors.
Visit the nightclub during the weekends to experience fine champagne and dance your heart out in this exquisite nightclub, which is 100% Instagram-worthy.
The Green Mill
Arguably one of the most prominent and ancient nightclubs is the Green Mill, which has embellished the nightlife of Chicago for over a century.
Because of its rich heritage, the Uptown club attracts a crowd of all ages who come to enjoy the jazz performance, which complements some of the best cocktails in Chicago. This long Art Deco bar is also famous for hosting Hollywood movie stars and celebrities.
LiqrBox
This lively bar, located in Chicago’s Right-North neighborhood, opened in 2018. It is highly recognized for its electrifying ambiance and has a 7,500-square-foot space. This three-level building pulses with custom street-art decor along with rhythmic lighting.
LiqrBox is also famous for its prominent “adult” juice box cocktails, enthralling you and making you want to dance all night. The whimsical drink menu, coupled with the food, gives you plenty of options to try.
In terms of music, you would often hear live entertainers and international DJs playing EDM music, hip-hop, and the top 40. However, it’s the serving style of drinks that will mesmerize you! Liqrbox is a nightclub you must experience!
Electric Hotel
The Electric Hotel was electrifying the city! Oh, no, I’m not kidding. The name comes from its origin: a warehouse that used to operate as an electrical supply company.
Perhaps this is why, as soon as you enter this nightclub, the steady beats electrify your body and compel you to join the mesmerized souls dancing on the dancefloor.
With its Instagram-apt neon signs, exposed brick walls, and a disco ball that finishes the decor, you can dance in the Electric Hotel till 3 a.m. The party goes on till 5 a.m. on Saturdays, making it an ideal spot for afterparties.
Cuvee
Cuvee Chicago is believed to light up when the rest of the town goes to sleep. This is precisely correct since Cuvee is one of the most elite nightclubs in the city, best experienced late at night. The surreal party of Cuvee begins after 11 p.m. and goes on until 4 a.m.
This upscale nightclub is known for offering an exquisite experience. Hence, if you want to feel like an elite, you must visit this luxury nightclub.
Spybar
With a 300-capacity, the Spy Bar is arguably one of the most uber-cool nightclubs in the River North neighborhood. Because of its “global vibe,” Spy Bar attracts several international electro and underground techno artists to mesmerize its crowd.
This opulent nightclub has served as one of the favorite party spots in Chicago since 1995. Because of its exclusivity, it is recommended to book a table early to have the best experience and ultimately enjoy a seamless party.
Prysm
Located just outside downtown Chicago in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Prysm is one of the highest-rated hybrid venues. Whether you want to experience live music performances, special events, or lose yourself in the nightclub, Prysm offers all of them with its massive venue of 10,000 sq. ft.
The Underground
Would you miss the chance to visit the “sexiest places in the world?” Oh, no! That’s not what I’m saying. It’s how the prestigious Cosmopolitan Magazine has honored the Underground.
This clandestine nightclub is conveniently located in the River North neighborhood. The Underground is also famous for bringing in the hottest DJs, making the audience experience wicked and wild fun all night long!
Tunnel
The Tunnel, located directly above the Old Crow Smokehouse in River North, is one of Chicago’s top lounges. As the name suggests, it is a subterranean nightclub inspired by London’s famed metropolitan tunnels.
The Tunnel has been a favorite since its inception in 2015 for many reasons! One of the obvious ones is the high-energy nightlife experience combined with the VIP treatment.
From EDM, hip-hop, and pop to the 2000s classics, you can groove around to a vast variety of music performed by a roster of international DJs. Whether you visit the Tunnel for the first time or are a regular, the interiors will always make you feel in awe.
Debonair Social Club
Debonair Social Club, located on Milwaukee Avenue and is the area’s exclusive nightclub, might become your favorite dancing club due to its world-class sound system and skilled DJs. This two-story club, run by Wicker Park, is one of the area’s oldest nightlife venues.
The bottle service elevates the nightlife experience. Weekends are recommended for visiting this two-floor nightclub, and don’t forget to experience both the floors since they both hold multiple parties on their vast dance floor.
Final Words
That concludes my list of the 15 best nightclubs in Chicago. Please do visit them and let me know if you have any suggestions.
