BARTENDERS' GUIDE
“Experience a bar at 4am (and 5am on the weekends). Not many cities have a late license to serve alcohol and it’s some of the best people watching.”
Photograph courtesy of Avec
EAT & DRINK
Clark Street Ale House
"I love coming here for drink after 2am. A lot of late night bars succeed merely based on the fact that they are open. Not Clark Street -- it's just a great bar where fine scotches and rare beers abound, and there's usually some dogs hanging out."
FED Pro > Bartender Graham Heubach of Sportsman Club
Open until 4am, 5am on weekends
742 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654
T: 312.642.9253 | clarkstreetalehouse.com
Photograph courtesy of Celeste
Celeste
"Because you can get something a little more sophisticated here in the late hour."
FED Pro > Freddie Sarkis of Broken Shaker Chicago
Open until 4am, 5am on weekends
111 West Hubbard Street, Chicago, IL 60654
T: 312.828.9000 | www.celestechicago.com
Bijan's Bistro
"They serve until 4am and are putting out awesome quality stuff all night long."
FED Pro > Bartender Dustin Drankiewicz of the Tack Room
Open until 4am, 5am on Saturday
663 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60610
T: 312.202.1904 | www.bijansbistrochicago.com
"Like being inside a well-lit wine box." | Photograph courtesy of Avec
Avec
"They go pretty late serving some of the best food available at any hour. It's like being inside a well-lit wine box. The food is pan-Mediterranean, as are the wines. It's hard to beat the value."
FED Pro > Bartender Graham Heubach of Sportsman Club
Open until 12am, 2am on weekends
615 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL 60661
T: 312.377.2002 | avecrestaurant.com
Dublin Bar & Grill
"This spot is such a late night gem. The kitchen cranks until the last possible minute and they feed you for sure. I've spent many nights here and it's always a blast."
FED Pro > Bartender Graham Heubach of Sportsman Club
Open until 4am, 5am on Saturday
1050 N State Street, Chicago, IL 60610
T: 312.266.6340
Photographs courtesy of Arturo's Tacos
Arturo's Tacos
"What a scene, especially if you go late. I mean, fights, sloppy make-out sessions, feasting - this place has it all. Great people watching too."
FED Pro > Bartender Danny Shapiro of Scofflaw
"I very much live the vampire life and have spent plenty of time eating at Arturo's."
FED Pro > Bartender Patrick Smith of The Violet Hour
Open 24 Hours
2001 N Western Avenue, Chicago, IL
T: 773.772.4944 | www.arturos-tacos.com
EAT
Coyote
"Coyote is open all night and is for great Mexican food. After a long Saturday night shift, I'll end up here grabbing a chicharón huarache on the way home."
FED Pro > Bartender Graham Heubach of Sportsman Club
Open 24 hours
1451 West 18th Street, Chicago, IL 60608
T: 312.243.8550
Photograph courtesy of Hollywood Gril
Hollywood Grill
"I'm all about the diners at this hour. Usually people are on their worst behavior and you won't be judged. This is great late night spot and they do breakfast like nobody's business."
FED Pro > Bartender Dustin Drankiewicz of the Tack Room
Open 24 Hours
601 West North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622
T: 773.395.1818 | www.hollywood-grill.com
Late Night Thai
"This is always great, but don't go too spicy. The next morning you will thank me for that."
FED Pro > Bartender Dustin Drankiewicz of the Tack Room
Open until 4am
1624 West Belmont Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
T: 773.327.9945 | www.latenightthai.net
Diner Grill
"My ultimate guilty pleasure is the 24-hour Diner Grill. Ordering the Slinger (their famed dish of hash browns, two cheeseburger patties, grilled onions, covered with chili, topped with two sunny-side up eggs, and served with a side of toast) after a long night of work or drinking is high on my list of favorite things."
FED Pro > Bartender Patrick Smith of The Violet Hour
Open 24 Hours
1635 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60613
T: 773.248.2030
DRINK
"Experience a bar at 4am (and 5am on the weekends). Not many cities have a late license to serve alcohol and it's some of the best people watching happens at these hours. These are my top five."
FED Pro > Bartender Dustin Drankiewicz of the Tack Room
Photograph courtesy of Estelle's
Estelle's
Open until 4am, 5am on Saturday
2013 W North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
T: 773.782.0450 | estelleschicago.com
Exit
Open until 4am, 5am on Saturdays
1315 W. North Avenue, Chicago, IL 60642
T: 773.395.7250 | www.exit-chicago.com
The Flat Iron
Open until 4am, 5am on Saturdays
1565 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622
T: 773.365.9000 | theflatironchicago.com
Continental Lounge
Open until 4am, 5am on Saturday
2801 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622
T: 773.292.1200
The Owl
Open until 4am, 5am on Saturday
2521 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
T: 773.235.5300 | owlbarchicago.com
Bartender Dustin Drankiewicz of The Tack Room
ABOUT THE TACK ROOM: "We are located inside the historic Thalia Hall property in the Pilsen neighborhood. This space was John Duseks' old house stable. We have cleaned it up and put in a bar, a piano, and a killer cocktail menu."
WHAT TO ORDER: "Pony up to the bar (see what I did there?) and order a Tack Room Buck made with bourbon, carrot ginger beer, lemon, and mint over crushed ice."
Open until 2am
1227 West 18th Street, Chicago, IL 60608
T: 312.526.3851 | dusekschicago.com/tack-room
Bartender Dustin Drankiewicz of the Tack Room
Bartender Graham Heubach of Sportsman Club
ON SPORTSMAN CLUB: "We are a neighborhood bar in every sense of the word. The 'original' Sportsman's Club occupied this space for decades, becoming the sort of dark & dive-y bar you walk past, but never go in. We've kept the familiar corner bar vibe but added modern comforts and amenities."
WHAT TO ORDER: "Start with a shot from the Amaro Machine, a pseudo-Solera system of any number of bitter old-world liqueurs. It's always changing, but it's a great aperitivo or digestivo. Enjoy it with an ice-cold can of Hamm's."
Open until 2am
948 North Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622
T: 872.206.8054 | drinkingandgathering.com
Bartender Danny Shapiro of Scofflaw
Danny Shapiro of Scofflaw
ABOUT SCOFFLAW: "We take inspiration from the classics, but adapt to the demands of the modern palate. The bar itself can get pretty busy and loud, but there are various nooks you can escape to."
WHAT TO ORDER: "Start with a gin cocktail, order a side of fries and maybe a shot of Malort. If you can time your night right, you'll be lucky enough to enjoy a warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookie at midnight."
Open until 2am
3201 West Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647
T: 773.252.9700 | www.scofflawchicago.com
Freddie Sarkis of Broken Shaker Chicago
ABOUT BROKEN SHAKER: "We use preserved fruit by way of shrubs and tinctures, keep our flavors darker and serve warm drinks in the winter."
WHAT TO ORDER: "Try something that might seem adventurous. Artichoke-infused gins, fish sauce, or beef-infused bitters. Take a bit of a risk with us and we'll show you something amazing."
Open until 2am
19 E Ohio Street, Chicago, IL 60611
T: 312.940.3699 | thefreehand.com/chicago
Patrick Smith of The Violet Hour
ABOUT THE VIOLE HOUR: "This James Beard Award-wining cocktail bar is the first in Chicago to really set the par for great cocktails."
WHAT TO ORDER: "An Old Fashioned -- despite the fact that it's many bartenders drink of choice, it's the truest to form example of a cocktail."
Open until 2am, 3am on Saturdays
1520 N Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622
PT: 773.252.1500 | theviolethour.com
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