Bars & Clubs in Chicago
The key addresses in Chicago — verified and regularly updated. Clicking takes you straight to the location page.
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Atmosphere Andersonville
The Atmosphere Andersonville is a gay bar in the Chicago neighborhood of the same name and a popular meeting place for the LGBTQ+ community. There is daily live entertainment with go-go dancers and DJ music, from flashback dance parties to RuPaul's drag race viewing parties. Cocktails with specials and a friendly team characterize the casual atmosphere, which becomes especially lively on weekends.
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Big Chicks
Big Chicks is a café-style bar in Chicago's uptown neighborhood, where a diverse community gathers. Food comes from the neighboring Tweet restaurant, which often uses organic ingredients; the weekend brunches and the free BBQ on Sundays are popular. Art by Diane Arbus and Leon Golub hangs on the walls, and there are dance parties and sports evenings.
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Club Escape
Located on Chicago's South Side, Club Escape attracts a mixed LGBTQ+ community. On the dance floor, DJs play hip-hop, R&B and house. The program includes regular drag shows, karaoke nights, and vogueing competitions in the style of classic ballrooms. Cheap drink specials and a friendly team round off the evenings.
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Hydrate
The Hydrate is located in the Northalsted neighborhood, the center of Chicago's LGBTQ+ scene. DJs play on the dance floor, plus drag shows and theme nights such as 'Sunday After Dark' or 'Mondays are Ruff'. The bar serves cocktails and craft beers. The party runs here until the early hours of the morning.
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Jeffery Pub
The Jeffery Pub on Chicago's South Shore is one of the oldest black-owned LGBTQ+ bars in the city. Hip-hop, house and pop are played at the DJ nights, and drag shows are added on weekends. The programme also includes karaoke evenings and events such as the Silky Soul Sundays. The dance floor and stage make the pub a meeting place for the Black LGBTQ+ community.
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Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club
Located in Lake View, Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club features Art Deco décor with velvet curtains, brass bars and chandeliers, complemented by LED projections. The menu includes dishes such as truffle mac and cheese and steak frites, as well as over 200 cocktails. The Kit Kat Divas provide entertainment with drag shows, live cabaret and go-go dances; a terrace completes the offer.
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Marty's Martini Bar
In the Andersonville neighborhood, Marty's Martini Bar is known for martinis and classic cocktails. Gilded mirrors and stylish posters create an intimate atmosphere with a Parisian appeal. The martinis come in two sizes, including variants like Black Velvet or Pineapple Upside-Down, plus spirits, wines, and non-alcoholic options. In the evening, the bar becomes a meeting place for the queer community.
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Moody Tongue Brewery
Chicago's Moody Tongue Brewery blends home-brewed craft beer with fine dining. In an intimate atmosphere with a dark design, cosy seating areas and a bar invite you to linger. The offer ranges from fruity ales to complex lagers, plus a seasonal menu with targeted beer pairings.
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Progress Bar
The Progress Bar is located in the middle of Boystown and stands out with its decoration with a large blanket of clouds. 16 beers on tap will be on tap, plus cocktails and daily specials such as Industry Night or free tacos on Tuesdays. Resident and guest DJs, music videos and drag shows make the bar a dance hall of the Northalsted scene.
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REPLAY Andersonville
REPLAY Andersonville combines sports bar and arcade game area: large screens show sporting events, classic video games provide variety. The menu includes American dishes such as burgers and salads as well as weekend brunch, plus craft beers, cocktails, bourbon and whiskey. Family-friendly at certain times, the LGBTQI+-friendly spot attracts a mixed crowd.
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Roscoe's Tavern
In the middle of Chicago's Boystown lies Roscoe's Tavern, a meeting place for the LGBTQ+ community. The cocktail menu complements an à la carte selection for the small appetite. The place is known for its drag shows, and on Fridays the stage is the center of attention. Reservations are made via OpenTable, walk-ins are welcome. Admission from 21 years.
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Scarlet Bar
The Scarlet Bar in the Northalsted district offers theme nights with DJ music from pop, hip-hop and throwback classics, as well as a dance floor. The bar offers cocktails, beers and standard drinks, plus a self-service water dispenser. The compact location is perfect for happy hour, an after-work drink or a long night out; on Sundays it is suitable for meetings after brunch.
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Second Story Bar
Tucked away on the second floor above Ohio Street is the Second Story Bar, a classic gay dive bar. A maze-like counter and dim lighting create an intimate atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle. There are strong, cheap drinks in generous portions, and you only pay in cash. The audience is mixed, and surveillance screens on the stairs provide security.
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Sidetrack
Sidetrack is one of Chicago's largest gay bars and is located in the Northalsted neighborhood. There are several bars with their own flair under one roof, from the main bar with large screens for music videos to the rooftop terrace. Strong, inexpensive drinks such as frozen cocktails and slushies are offered, as well as showtune singalongs and drag shows. Admission is not charged.
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The Closet
In the Lakeview neighborhood, The Closet is a neighborhood bar with colorful, eclectic décor and music videos. As a cozy meeting place for the LGBTQ+ community, it is open to everyone, regardless of gender or orientation. In addition to cocktails and beers, there are darts, karaoke nights, and the occasional dance event. The dive bar charm attracts regulars in particular.
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The Elixir Lounge
In Northalsted, The Elixir Lounge specialises in artisanal cocktails, such as mint, basil or cucumber. Dim lighting and a relaxed mood are suitable for dates or meetings with friends. In addition to the drinks, there are craft beers and wines. Located right next door to sister club Hydrate, they praise the friendly bartenders and the music that doesn't drown out conversations.
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The Glenwood
Located in the Rogers Park neighborhood, The Glenwood is a bar-café and gathering place for a mixed community of LGBTQ+ guests and residents. There is a wide selection of beers, classic cocktails and light dishes for lunch or dinner. The mixture of gay and heterosexual guests is characteristic. The bar is wheelchair accessible and open around the clock.
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The North End
In Northalsted, The North End is a laid-back bar with a focus on sports broadcasts on big screens. In addition to beers and cocktails, the Bloody Mary is popular. There is no separate kitchen, but you can bring food. Pool tables, dartboards and karaoke evenings provide entertainment, while gender-neutral toilets underline the open character.
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Wang's
In Boystown, Wang's combines the bar and lounge with a Shanghai-style décor of floral wallpaper and woodwork. The restaurant is known for artisanal cocktails, especially the pear martinis, often served with floating orchids. There is also sushi and Asian cuisine. The LGBTQ+ friendly place attracts locals and visitors alike.
Gay Bars in Chicago liegen vor allem in Northalsted, dem Viertel, das viele weiterhin Boystown nennen und das als die älteste offiziell ausgewiesene schwule Nachbarschaft der USA gilt. Entlang der North Halsted Street zwischen Belmont und Addison im Stadtteil Lakeview konzentriert sich die Szene, erkennbar an den hohen Regenbogen-Pylonen, die die Straße säumen. Eine feste Größe ist das Sidetrack. Seit 1982 existiert das Lokal und reicht über mehrere Räume und Ebenen, mit großen Videoleinwänden und Abenden wie den bekannten Musical Mondays. Gegenüber liegt das Roscoe's Tavern, das für seine wöchentliche Drag-Show steht und eine Außenterrasse hat. Wer tanzen will, geht ins Hydrate, das am Wochenende bis in die frühen Morgenstunden läuft. Eines der wenigen verbliebenen Lokale mit lesbischem Schwerpunkt ist das Closet, seit 1978 geöffnet, in dem aber alle willkommen sind.
Am einfachsten kommst du mit der CTA Red Line ins Viertel: Die Haltestelle Belmont bringt dich ans südliche Ende der Bar-Meile, Addison ans nördliche. Traditionell ist der Samstag der stärkste Abend. Unter der Woche ist aber ebenfalls einiges los, von Drag-Shows bis zu Themenabenden. Wer es ruhiger und weniger touristisch mag, fährt nach Andersonville im Norden der Stadt, Chicagos zweites queeres Zentrum mit eher nachbarschaftlich geprägten Bars. Die folgenden Adressen helfen dir, je nach Stimmung das passende Lokal zu finden.