Replay and Elixir both have locations in Andersonville.
Some possibilities outside of Boystown (again, definitely can't list all of them): Little Jim's is similar, but I don't think I've ever seen more than like three people inside. Very, very chill vibe and a good spot to go if you just want to sit and a have a drink. Town Hall Pub is possibly the most low-key and bar-like spot. Manhole is a shirtless bar with a cover, but fairly tame all things considered. North End is a pretty typical sports bar.īerlin is another club-type setting, but has a good amount of space and generally runs specialty events.
Free arcade machines and a nice backyard area with a great beer selection.Ĭellblock caters more to the leather crowd, but is a cool space even if you're not into that. Generally it's not too crowded and has a pretty relaxed air about it. Has a cover too but you get a free shot so it works out.Ĭharlie's is a country themed bar that turns into more of a club after 2am.Įlixir has some great specialty cocktails and is also open until 4am. Scarlet is another dance one that can be fun, but it gets ridiculously packed and it's not a huge space. One exception I'll make is for Dueling Pianos on Thursdays which is actually a lot of fun. I don't see the appeal myself but others enjoy themselves. Almost always has a cover even though almost none of the others do, the drinks are watered down, the music isn't great, and there's always a good amount of straight people. Roscoe's is another one I'm not really a fan of. Lots of dancing and after 2am it turns into a shirtless mess of humidity which is fun for some. Hydrate is one I'm not a huge fan of personally. Definitely a good choice if you're just looking for a generic sort of bar.
Sidetrack tends to draw a slightly older crowd, but it's easily the largest (two floors with like 6 bars and an outdoor area) and most "vanilla" of the bars so to speak. I'd have to hear more about what you're looking for to give a serious recommendation, but here's a quick overview of the ones that people usually mention and I'm familiar with (following are all in Boystown, and I'll probably forget a few because of how many there are):
Also take a look at the Chicago Gay Bathhouse and Sex Club Guide, which has plenty of advice on where to meet guys looking to hookup around Chicago."Best" is a pretty subjective term. Here's a more in-depth look at these Downtown and South Side Chicago gay social establishments. It's also a bit of a distance to reach these bars, but they're both legendary nightspots that are well-worth checking out, especially given that many of the nation's gay African-American hangouts have steadily disappeared over the years. Additionally, on the city's South Side, you'll find a pair of gay bars that cater predominantly to African-American patrons, Club Escape and Jeffery Pub. You can find extensive lists of establishments in the Chicago Lakeview Gay Nightlife Guide and the Chicago Andersonville Gay Nightlife Guide. These neighborhoods are a lot of fun, but they're also a bit of a haul - by cab or public transit - from downtown Chicago, which is where most of the city's hotels are.įortunately, there are a couple of very fun gay nightspots right in the heart of downtown, not to mention an almost endless supply of terrific restaurants, many of them with mixed gay/straight followings.
Although Chicago has among the greatest selection of gay nightspots in the country, the majority of these hangouts - from bars and discos to LGBT-popular restaurants - are in popular mixed residential-commercial neighborhoods on the north side of the city.