“You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here.”
It's a phrase we’ve heard all too often at 1:54 a.m. In fact, we laugh in the face of an early bedtime. Some nights are too fun to put a cap on. Enter Chicago’s limited, but still plentiful 4 a.m. liquor licenses. They’re a beautiful thing. These bars all pour until 4 a.m. every night of the week (5 a.m. on Saturdays) and are frequent hangouts for local legends, night owls, service industry workers, and other characters you’d never meet in the daylight.
Enter For A Chance To Win Some Local Legends Merch From Old Style
Updated May 2025
Photo via Facebook/Primary Night Club
5 W. Division St. - Gold Coast
After four years, Primary Night Club is back and more bass-y than ever! The house and techno haven in Gold Coast hosts nightly DJs.
Photo Via Cleo's
1935 W Chicago Ave - Ukrainian Village
The versatile Cleo's is the place to watch your favorite sports team, or just to party and drink! The colorful and vibrant atmosphere is perfect for whatever occasion. So grab an Old Style and keep the night going on and on and on.
3714 N Clark St - Wrigleyville
After over 20 years Trace is still the place to find the local legends of Wrigleyville. Trace's is a sports bar, yes, but the vibe here can be considered much more "rock-n-roll" than "games-n-grub". A place to socialize, drink Old Style, and lean into the grunge of late-night life.
Photo Via Oakwood 83
1959 W Montrose Ave - Ravenswood
Looking for a more relaxed after-after-hours vibe? Check out this neighborhood spot, Oakwood 83. They've got darts, a piano, and the best late-night Greek menu.
Photo via Facebook/The Original Mothers
26 W. Division St. - Gold Coast
A late night at The Original Mother’s is a right of passage for any Chicago twenty-something-year-old. This Gold Coast classic has been a staple since its opening in 1968. It’s also a source of live music and relatively cheap drinks for the neighborhood.
2801 W. Chicago Ave. - Humboldt Park
Need an afterhours bar? Come to The Continental! The Humboldt Park spots serves up a very chill atmosphere. If you're lucky, you might be able to catch the evening tamale vendor who makes his way through different bars at later hours.
photo via facebook/bourbon on division
2050 W. Division St. - Wicker Park
Both the name of the bar and what you’ll be drinking until the wee hours of the morning, Bourbon On Division is a fan-favorite multi-level venue. Start off the night on their second floor, a great source of live music, and continue the rest of the night with DJs and drinks on their main dance floor and bar.
photo via facebook/sound-bar
226 W. Ontario St. - River North
Sound Bar is where you can catch internationally touring dance music acts and DJs right in River North. They're reading up for a grand re-opening in July followed by five Lollapalooza Official Afterparties - so you know it's going to be a good time.
1534 N. Kingsbury Ave. - Lincoln Park
Do those bottle service sparklers mesmerize you? Do you love EDM? Looking to sleep through Sunday morning? Here’s your spot. PRYSM delivers the classic nightclub experience along with some of the top names in electronic and hip-hop music to get you pumped on their two dance floors. Dillon Francis, Tiësto, and Migos are just a few of the past guests.
photo via Facebook/kingston mines
2548 N. Halsted St. - Lincoln Park
People generally associate bass-heavy beats with late-night bar soundtracks, but not in Chicago. Our blues music heritage shines through at Kingston Mines where the performances keep coming all night and so do the drinks. Legends have performed here, and you can still find many in the crowd. Buy them a Old Style and start up a convo and let the night take you.
Photo via Facebook/The Lodge Tavern
21 W. Division St. - Gold Coast
The Lodge celebrates over 65 years of late-night drinking! A longtime Gold Coast favorite, The Lodge is your spot when the A.M. hours hit and you need A cold beer, Chicago sports fandom, and peanut-shell-covered floors!
photo via faceook/she-nannigans
16 W. Division St. - Gold Coast
You know what to expect here after 2 a.m. just from looking at the name of the bar! Between beer pong, karaoke, and pool tables, there are plenty of ways to entertain yourself late into the night. And a little bit of Chicago history - She-nannigans gets its name from being the first bar in Chicago to employ all-female bartenders at a time it was considered illegal.
646 N. Franklin St. - River North
Spybar is the only move if you're looking to bump to techno and house music 4 (or 5) in the morning here on weekends. DJs from all over the world have played at this iconic high-energy club.
photo via facebook/streeter's tavern
50 E. Chicago Ave. - Gold Coast
Streeter's Tavern is literally an underground Chicago experience! Start playing one of the many bar games that inhabit this bar (pool, Jenga, etc.) and before you know it, you’ll only have a few hours left before the sun comes up.
photo via facebook/the hangge-uppe
14 W. Elm St. - Gold Coast
It’s all about the music at this lovable divey dance club. The first floor is always a source of Top 40 hits, but the basement gets extra groovy with the '70s and '80s throwback tunes playing all night.
Photo Via Facebook/Never Have I Ever
2247 N Lincoln Ave - Lincoln Park
A recent addition to the Lincoln Park scene, Never Have I Ever is known for its creative events, unique dance floor, and stellar entertainment. They frequently host burlesque events and parties with drag performers as hosts. Walking into Never Have I Ever can be an incredibly immersive experience if you let the atmosphere take you in!
photo via facebook/the owl
2521 N. Milwaukee Ave. - Logan Square
The Owl is a longtime source of late-night fun in Logan Square. There’s generally a DJ spinning or local bands playing on the small stage in the back, but it’s the post-2 a.m. crowd that provides the real “entertainment” here.
20 W. Division St. - Gold Coast
The corner of Division and State Streets is a good place to find yourself if you’re in need of late-night bar options. Butch Mcguire’s has been pleasing its night owl patrons since the 1960s. The spot is open till 5 a.m. on Saturdays and 4 a.m. on Fridays.
Photo Via Facebook/Electric Hotel chicago
222 W. Ontario St. - River North
Taking over the former Shay Nightclub space, Electric Hotel brings top DJ talent through its doors. Their state-of-the-art technology paired with the venue's electric supply warehouse origins, makes this one of the hottest dance floors to party night and stay till close.
3759 N. Kedzie Ave. - Irving Park
This corner neighborhood bar has all the makings of a classic 4 a.m. dive: pool, a lack of natural lighting, and friendly, welcoming bartenders to keep you company and make you feel at home.
3730 N. Clark St. - Lakeview
Wrigleyville has changed a lot over the years, but Smartbar always stays the same. Visit this subterranean dance floor and find the world’s top electronic and house DJs behind the decks. Reoccurring parties like house music and LGBTQ+ night Queen! are known to attract lines down the block well past 2 a.m.
1136 W. Lawrence Ave. - Uptown
The next time you find yourself getting out of a show at The Riviera Theater or Aragon Ballroom and think the night is over, think again! Keep the good times rolling at this classic craft beer and cocktail bar. You might even find yourself inspired enough to take the stage yourself for a round of karaoke. Everyone who has lingered in Uptown has found themselves here at one point or another.
image via Facebook/celeste
111 W. Hubbard St. - River North
We admit it’s tough to stay classy past 2 a.m., but Celeste offers that opportunity in central River North. Enjoy delicious food and cocktails into the late-night at this three-story chic bar, housed in a historic Louis Sullivan building.
2013 W. North Ave. - Wicker Park
Between the cozy candle-lit high-top tables, an excellent jukebox, and diner-style eats, it’s hard not to lose a few hours (in the a.m. or p.m.) at Estelle’s, famous as the spot in Six Corners.
photo via facebook/mother hubbard's sports pub
5 W. Hubbard St. - River North
If you follow a sports team, Mother Hubbard’s is probably streaming their game on one of the bar’s 45 televisions with 28 satellite feeds! Stop by to support your team and then stay late to celebrate or commiserate over the outcome.
photo via facebook/alice's lounge
3556 W. Belmont Ave. - Avondale
You know you’re in a serious late-night karaoke spot when the performances don’t even start until 11 p.m. Alice’s is a stomping ground for Chicago’s most serious of karaoke singers four nights a week (Wednesday through Saturday). We promise there’s not much more entertaining than watching a vodka-soaked rendition of Phil Collins’s “In The Air Tonight” at 4:15 a.m. (We'll take an Old Style over a Vodka-soda any day).
1010 W. Belmont Ave. - Lakeview
Affectionately nicknamed “Big Sh*tty,” this Lakeview dive bar offers everything you’ll need to make tomorrow fuzzy including Jell-O shots, a dancefloor, pool tables and an adjacent liquor store also selling until at least 4 a.m.
photo via facebook/bluelight
3251 N. Western Ave. - Roscoe Village
One thing you’ll notice about 4 a.m. bars: There are more old ones than there are new ones. BlueLight has been around since the early 1970s and has worked to create an environment that always has something going on, from dusk 'til dawn.
3726 N. Broadway - Lakeview
Charlie’s is a well-known, LGBTQ+, Western-themed offshoot of Northalsted for cowboys looking to pack a couple more hours of fun into their nights. There's a drag show every night and late-night karaoke and bingo to keep you going. Plus, they just re-opened with a full renovation!
3325 N. Broadway - Lakeview
The Closet is one of Chicago's few lesbian-owned bars and stands proud (and late) right in the middle of the gayborhood. With a charming bar staff who'll keep pouring your drinks and pop-up events, this is a special spot you can't miss. After sipping cocktails on the strip all night, The Closet a perfect wind-down (or wind-up?) to close your night out with an Old Style and a game of darts that you'll totally not cheat on.
3458 N. Halsted St. - Lakeview
Hydrate is here to quench your thirst for a late-night LGBTQ+ dance party in Northalsted. Swing by early for drag shows and viewing parties, and stick around on their huge dance floor with resident DJs and special guests from across the globe.
photo via facebook/ spectrum bar & grill
233 S. Halsted St. - Greektown
Find a window seat and enjoy some entertaining people-watching while staring out at the streets of Greektown. The kitchen is open until at least 3 a.m. every night for the past 30 years!
photo via facebook/o'callaghans
29 W. Hubbard St. - River North
This Irish pub provides a slightly tamer (emphasis on “slightly”) atmosphere than Hubbard Street’s surrounding bars. Come on in and have a breather (and a Guinness) along with late-night dining.
photo via facebook/redhead piano bar
16 W. Ontario St. - River North
A true Chicago hidden treasure, step down into this basement-level piano bar for a taste of the classic. Enjoy cozy booths, the conversational bar, and even a cigar club with a covered outdoor smoking area!
photo via facebook/nick's beer garden
1516 N. Milwaukee Ave. - Wicker Park
Nick’s Beer Garden is a staple in Wicker Park, offering its patrons live music, DJ sets, sports, and all sorts of revelry late into the night.
Old Town Ale House219 W. North Ave. - Old Town
Often considered to be the greatest dive bar in Chicago, Old Town Ale House is a frequent hangout for comedy performers after a show at Second City across the street. They are the closest to offering a taste of Old Town in the 60s and 70s, with even legends like John Belushi and Dan Akroyd as popular patrons.
1447 N. Wells St. - Old Town
Burton Place is a neighborhood staple that offers 24 different draft beers and three floors of fun in the heart of Old Town. They're open 365 days a year with a kitchen that stays up with you late into the night.
photo via facebook/remedy
1910 N. Milwaukee Ave. - Bucktown
Remedy skips the usual “hole in the wall” 4 a.m. bar schtick and provides a classier hang for industry folks just getting off work and other lingering drinkers. Its fireplace, massive fish tank, and other quirky elements give Remedy extra cozy points!
7041 S. Jeffery Ave. - Jackson Park
The Jeffery Pub may be one of the few LGBTQ+ clubs on the South Side of Chicago, but it is definitely home to some of the hottest DJs, drag queens, and parties in the city. Stop by 7 days a week for hip-hop, house, R&B, and more!
3452 N Halsted St. - Lakeview East
This cocktail-forward lounge in the heart of Boystown makes for a pretty good date spot — with sophisticated cocktails, unique flavor combinations, and premium wines. They're open late into the night every Friday and Saturday, so stop by for an enhanced experience.
photo via facebook/tao chicago
632 N. Dearborn St. - River North
Considering Tao has locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York, you know to expect a premier experience from this nightclub. Catch shows from world-class DJs like Kaskade, Armin Van Buuren, Showtek, and more into the wee hours of the morning every Friday and Saturday.
6809 N. Sheridan Rd. - Rogers Park
Rogers Park’s go-to dive bar also just happens to have a 4 a.m. license. Enjoy darts, pool, and karaoke at this Northside no-frills institution.
Late Bar3534 W Belmont Ave - Avonsdale
Cheers to the night, where craft brews and late-night spirits meet in harmony! Join Late Bar until 4 a.m. for music, videos, and expertly crafted cocktails at their iconic vintage bar.
Image Via Caitlin McCarthy
15 W. Division St. - Gold Coast
Hopsmith is a two-story late-night bar on Division with 30 rotating taps (served from a vintage VW bus), DJs every weekend, and a late night food menu that goes till 3 A.M.
Did we miss your favorite 4 a.m. bar?
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