Fun and entertainment Chicago

A long table welcomes the colourful crowd of Wicker Park, in a debonair atmosphere. "Bangers" means sausage and "Lace" is the layer of foam that must be obtained on a pint. You have understood the motto: beer and hot dogs. The atmosphere is good-natured. A purely chicagoan evening in perspective under the golden ceiling and between the brick walls of this superb hangar, tastefully and eclectically renovated (just look at the deer heads hanging on the wall).

At Whistler, the people are handsome, the waiters are pleasant, the DJs are talented and the cocktails are evil! Certainly one of the best bars in Chicago, located in a rather quiet area and frequented mainly by locals. Free and good quality live music concerts are organised on a regular basis, and we enjoy attending them in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, with a cheap but tasty beer in our hands. There is an inner courtyard, which can be enjoyed during the summer months. Whistler is definitely our little favorite.

Really a place like no other! To get there you have to go to a laundry and nothing, absolutely nothing else, indicates that you are at the right address. You really have to go into the laundry and push the back door and here you are at the entrance of a magic show room... And it's indeed magical from the moment you enter: dimmed lights, cosy room and stage with a big red curtain do the rest. Various magicians will parade by while you dine comfortably seated. Between two shows, artists play live. A superb address!

Located in the chic Peninsula Hotel, this bar is one of Chicago's trendiest. It overlooks the famous Michigan Avenue, and its superb rooftop is perfect for sunny days. Inside, the lights are subdued, the decor is uncluttered, and you can enjoy excellent cocktails prepared by real pros, along with stylish tapas and delicious sushi. The clientele is made up of young forty-somethings from Chicago, as well as posh people who stay at the Peninsula, where rooms are priced to the eye... A great place for a drink and a snack!

Federales, also present in Dallas and Denver, showcases Mexican cocktails and cuisine. Don't be fooled by its subdued street art ambience, this place will turn up the heat as soon as the DJ takes over the decks. There are plenty of tables to sit around, and a central bar, making for an open, unpretentious space - as evidenced by the humorous phrases about our relationship with alcohol. Self-service fresh water, draught beers... And excellent mango margaritas. The terrace closes around midnight.

The best bowling alley in town! In fact, it's much more than just a bowling alley, it's an institution in its own right: thirty-six lanes, a high-tech system of baffles, smoking machines... Groups come here to throw the balls along the gutters and hit the strike, and to enjoy the overexcited atmosphere of the crowd. On Friday and Saturday nights, the place is full, but you can reserve your place by phone (but you'll be charged extra). Don't forget that Diversey River Bowl's other name is "Rock'n Bowl"!

The Gene Siskel Film Center is part of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and as such has been presenting a nonprofit program of independent and international films since 1972. Recognized as the best independent cinema in Chicago, it often screens French films. Note that to the right of the Gene Siskel Film Center are the ABC Chicago studios. You can see, through the glass windows, the set of the newspaper. Stop by during news time if you want to catch a glimpse of the Windy City's star anchors.

A large dark room and a large stage for the musicians, a beautiful bar, a space to dance, a calm and relaxed crowd, there is everything you need to spend a good evening at Martyr's. Bands can play rockabilly, blues, swing, funk or rock... Opening onto the street, bay windows create a neighbourhood bar atmosphere. Martyr's is also a restaurant, where sandwiches, pizzas, salads, etc. are served on tables decorated in memory of great musicians like Jim Morrison. A very good address to discover.

Still relatively unknown to tourists, Rosa's Lounge is reputed to be one of the most pleasant places to listen to good music, played by local artists. This small venue was opened by Tony Mangiullo, an Italian who dreamed of opening his own blues club, until his mother, Mama Rosa, who runs the bar, moved to Chicago. You have to come as soon as it opens if you want to get seats opposite the musicians. In our opinion, this is one of the best places to hear real blues.

Pops for Champagne is one of Chicago's newest and most elegant jazz clubs. It is located in the heart of the city, which does not spoil anything. The first floor with its bar in the centre and its large windows become the place of meeting "after work" where you start with a champagne cup or a glass of wine. A little later (five times a week), we go to the basement from 21 h to attend a jazz concert. The room is rather intimate and is in the spirit of the old clubs of Saint-Germain-des-Près.

This independent cinema, which opened its doors in 1929, presents foreign and independent films, silent films as well as great films from the 1980s. The place: an old theatre that has undergone few changes since its creation. It is framed by red velvet curtains in accordance with tradition. Its dark blue ceiling and its eight hundred seat hall are worth the detour... It is also famous for its organ that resounds on weekends. It is said that this cinema is haunted by Whitey, the first owner of the place...

This outdoor theatre is located in Lincoln Park, a stone's throw from Lake Michigan. It presents, at affordable prices, shows as varied as musicals, one-man shows... Most events take place in the summer. The Chicago Summer Theatre is organized there and, in 2019, all performances were free. You can also dine there, all year round! The site celebrated its sixty-third season in 2015. Built in 1913 in the Prairie style, it offers a unique setting with majestic views of Lake Michigan.

More than the establishments in the Loop district, it's Steppenwolf that gives Chicago its reputation as a city of theaters. Founded in 1974 by actors Terry Kinney, Jeff Perry and Gary Sinise in a Highland Park church basement, the group has welcomed newcomers from the University of Illinois to become today a company of thirty-six actors, directors, scriptwriters and adapters. John Malkovich is one of the theater's permanent members and has directed many of the plays performed there.

Hopleaf is known throughout Chicago for its wide selection of beers: nearly seventy varieties of local or international, blond or brown, strong or light beers. Belgian beers are the best represented on the international map, and in particular the famous Chimay in small blue bottles. And for a beer bar, their dishes, especially sandwiches, are excellent, such as the one with duck, or the plate of mussels for two or the steak and chips. On sunny days, the terrace is particularly pleasant.

Cubby Bear is the fan bar for the Chicago Cubs baseball team, which plays at Wrigley Field across the street. A large tableless room on the ground floor has rows of flat screens where all matches are broadcast live. As soon as the crowd screams or roars in the stadium, the sound comes in stereo, from the TV and directly from the stands through the windows. A first and second floor welcome thirsty people before, during and after the match, who share their impressions of the day's possible home runs.

Despite what its name suggests, Cafe Brauer is more of a reception hall, which hosts all kinds of events, than a café. Its Prairie-style architecture is something to behold. It was built in 1911 by Dwight Perkins, who was influenced by the work of the master of the genre, Frank Lloyd Wright. Situated on a small lake, it lends itself to walking and photography, facing the Chicago skyline and the dark mass of the Hancock Center in the distance. The outdoor "biergarten" is surrounded by flowers, shaded by tall trees.

We won't lie to you, Butch is the last place where party people meet after all the other bars close. An atmosphere that is frankly degraded, where everyone can breathe the alcohol vapours that emanate from their neighbour. An atmosphere a little late in the century, but a typical address. At least you can say you tested the real American dive bar! The establishment also offers a fairly complete menu, which allows you to settle down before having another small beer. A real local address.