Who says you have to go home after the bars start to close? A Chicago all-nighter is kind of a rite of passage.
Sometimes the best nights are the ones that only end when the sun comes up, and in this city, there are plenty of late-night and 24-hour spots to keep you occupied all night long. After all, sleep is for the weak.
Here’s your official Chicago all-nighter itinerary, from sundown to sunrise.
Dinner – Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!
2024 N Halsted St
Making it through the night ain’t gonna be easy, but if there is anything that will help, it’s booze. Lucky for you, this late night bar near you in Chicago serves up a mean carafe of sangria that’ll start off your night juuust right. Round up your motley crew of all-night-attempters and settle into this joint’s lively atmosphere and you’ll be half-way to sunrise before you know it. Oh, and don’t forget to fill up on paella; you’re gonna need it.
Pregame – Joe’s on Weed
940 W Weed St
If you’re looking for a bar open late near you in Chicago to fend off that post-dinner hangover, we recommend stopping by Joe’s. Live music usually starts late at this honky-tonk-like spot, giving you plenty of time to make the trek from Lincoln Park. With great deals on beer and what’s usually a pretty rowdy crowd, you’re gonna have to fight the urge to stay at this late-night spot for the rest of the evening.
Bars – Emporium Arcade Bar
1366 N Milwaukee Ave
So you could, theoretically, go to an average bar on your all-nighter. But honestly, is average really worth losing a whole night of sleep? The correct answer, of course, is no. Thus the next stop on the Chicago all-nighter train is Emporium, the arcade-music venue-tap room hybrid taking over the city. This Wicker Park haunt is usually bumping into the wee hours of the morning, making it the perfect spot to stay up all night for.
Postgame – The Flat Iron
1565 N Milwaukee Ave
If you’re looking for another late night bar near you that is still open after Emporium shuts things down at 2 am, make your way down the street and around the corner to The Flat Iron. This is Wicker Park’s premier late-night watering hole. In what could be described as a slightly tamer version of Emporium itself, The Flat Iron offers pool, ski ball, and plenty of booze until 4 am every weekend. Drink up, kiddos—the night isn’t over yet.
Snack – Dimo’s Pizza
1615 N Damen Ave
Riddle me this: what do you do when it’s 3:45 am, you’ve been drinking for hours, and you know you’ve gotta make it a couple more?
That’s right—you get pizza.
Dimo’s Pizza, whose hours are listed only as 11 am ’till “late”, is literally just steps away from your last stop. And damn, is it good. Offering up delicacies like Jalapeno Bacon Pineapple or Chicken and Waffles pizza, this late-night joint is sure to satisfy whatever weird craving drunk you is having.
Re-up – Exit
1315 W North Ave
The second (third? fourth?) wave of energy brought on by that greasy slice of Dimo’s will carry you over to another bar that is open late near you in Chicago called Exit. This is Chicago’s infamous punk bar that often hosts karaoke, live music, a DJ, or any number of other events. Exit is just the right amount of weird to keep you going on this up-all-night journey. Plus, it’s open until 5 am on Saturdays, making this bar one of the latest late-night joints in the whole city. Grab a PBR and you’ll fit right in.
Sunrise – North Ave Beach
1600 N Lake Shore Dr
Yeah, yeah, we know—watching the sunrise is cheesy as hell. But with the long night you’ve had, we promise you’ll love having a second to sit down. Note that North Ave Beach technically doesn’t open until the sun has already risen, so time carefully and enjoy.
Breakfast – Griddle 24
334 W Chicago Ave
For the last stop on your ultimate all-nighter journey, we suggest that you drag your hungover ass to River North and check out Griddle 24, Chicago’s swankiest 24-hour breakfast spot. Fill up on coffee, pancakes, or an omelet. This un-traditional traditional diner also serves up boozy milkshakes, mimosas, and Bloody Mary’s to cure your raging headache after last night’s festivities.
Now get some shut-eye all-nighters, you’ve earned it.
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