Apogee
Near North Side
Trendsetters hit the scene on the 26th floor of the Dana Hotel and Spa for cocktails with penthouse views or gravitate toward the fire pit on the patio.
9 Best Nightlife in Near North and River North, Chicago
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Rush Street may have lost its former glory, but the bars along Division Street still attract rowdy singles. Reprieve from the bustling Division Street scene is only a few blocks south, in the Near North and River North neighborhoods. Hunker down in a low-key lounge or sip a hearty pint of Guinness at an authentic Irish pub. At the southern edge of River North, waterfront lounges popular with the after-work crowd line the Chicago Riverwalk.
Booth One
Old Town
While new ownership restored the Ambassador name to this storied Gold Coast hotel in 2017, they lost the rights to call its historic restaurant the Pump Room. So they renamed the space in honor of its most coveted table, where celebrities and other VIPs have held court since the 1930s. The updated decor features numerous black-and-white photos of those famous faces, while the bar's classic cocktail and wine lists hope to lure a new generation of A-listers.
Bridge House Tavern
River North
With an enormous patio overlooking the Chicago River, this bar attracts both the after-work crowd and tourists searching for the quintessential city view. Order a burger or bratwurst and watch the boats docking barside. Off-season visitors can take refuge inside the cozy lounge with stone walls and wood paneling.
Recommended Fodor's Video
Bull & Bear
River North
Bull & Bear amps up the testosterone, with a dual focus on sports—the bar's name references two Chicago sports teams—and the stock market. Reserve one of five booths with built-in beer taps (you pay by the ounce), or grab a seat at the bar and catch the game on one of several flat-screen TVs.
Citizen Bar
River North
Everyone's welcome at Citizen Bar, a sleek space with exposed brick walls and traditional bar fare. But the real draw is the huge, multilevel outdoor area—it's one of the city's most coveted spots come summer.
Division Street
For vestiges of the old Rush Street, continue north to Division Street, between Clark and State. The watering holes here are crowded and noisy, and the clientele consists mostly of suburbanites and out-of-towners on the make. Among the better-known singles' bars are Butch McGuire's, the Lodge, and Original Mother's.
Rockit Bar & Grill
River North
Designer Nate Berkus assembled Rockit's hunter-lodge look: picture wood-plank-framed plasma TVs, antler chandeliers, and brown-leather booths. The crowd, much like the beer list, is diverse and tasteful, and there's a good mix of men and women despite the masculine vibe. Dress to impress.
Rush Street
The famous Chicago bar scene known as Rush Street has faded into the mists of time, although the street has found resurgent energy with the opening of a string of upscale restaurants and outdoor cafés.
The Motel Bar
River North
The Motel Bar has all the comforts of a real, honest-to-goodness motel bar (TVs tuned to sports, classic cocktails, and a retro color scheme), but the atmosphere is amped-up with sexy, low-rise furniture and a "room service" menu of upscale bites.
