Top 10 dance clubs
Smart Bar
Bars
Wed–Fri 10pm–4am; Sat 10pm–5am; Sun 10pm–4am (closed Mon, Tue)
Smart Bar
This venerated dance club housed in Metro’s basement received a makeover in 2006, slicking up the looks significantly and bringing back a vibrant crowd…
- Critics' pick
The Mid
Clubs
Mon, Wed, Fri 9pm–4am; Sat 9pm–5am (closed Tue, Sun)
The Mid
One of the most versatile venues in town, the Mid combines traditional venue options with the bottle-popping club world. Two stories allow for dancing and drinking on weekends, but smaller nights see just the main floor used for everything from indie bands to up-and-coming DJ talent…
- Updated
Spy Bar
Bars
Sun, Wed–Fri 10pm–4am; Sat 10pm–5am (closed Mon, Tue)
Spy Bar
This basement club in the River North gallery district has had the deep, underground techno sound on lock for some time now. It still has the illicit feel of an after-hours spot and premium sound for the big-name house, techno and electro DJs who visit weekly…
Primary
Clubs
Wed–Fri 10pm–4am; Sat 10pm–5am; closed Sun–Tue
Primary
Between its oversize dance floor, massive LED wall, 30-foot bar and craft cocktail program, Primary is sure to become the envy of its Gold Coast neighbors, and fast…
The Shrine
Clubs
Tue–Fri, Sun 9pm–2am; Sat 9pm–3am (closed Mon)
The Shrine
Channeling the spirit of the late, great Fela Kuti, this South Loop night spot serves as an ideal place of worship for music heads and lovers of everything from house to hip-hop and soul to Afrobeat…
- Updated
Beauty Bar
Clubs
Mon–Fri 5pm–2am; Sat 5pm–3am; Sun 5pm–2am
Beauty Bar
With outposts in New York, San Francisco, Austin and Portland, Chicago seemed like the next logical location for the kitsch-happy Beauty Bar concept. Retrofitted into the old Sonotheque, the bar carried over the sound system but otherwise got a complete face-lift…
Dolphin
Clubs
Dolphin
After a recent remodel, the one-time jazz club Green Dolphin Street has been reimagined as posh Sin City hang out with 100% dance music all weekend, multiple rooms of DJs, and an opulent outdoor patio complete with cabanas…
Studio Paris
Bars
Wed–Fri 9pm–2am; Sat 9pm–3am
Studio Paris
Second-generation restaurateurs R.J. and Jerrod Melman raised the bar with the opening of this second-floor nightclub above their French restaurant, Paris Club…
Berlin
Clubs
Tue, Sun 10pm–4am; Wed–Fri 5pm–4am; Sat 5pm–5am (closed Mon)
Berlin
This freak-friendly dance destination in Lakeview built its reputation back in the mid-’80s as a place where you could let your hair—fun wig, neon-dyed or natural—down. These days, it’s still quirky but more retro, with Madonna-tribute, ’80s and ’90s nostalgia nights…
- Critics' pick
Evil Olive
Clubs
Mon, Wed–Fri, Sun 9pm–4am; Sat 9pm–5am (closed Tue)
Evil Olive
This spot may have changed names more than any other venue in the 'hood, but it’s become an unlikely young hipster hangout thanks to long-standing weekend dance parties hosted by local jocks Zebo, Marco Morales, Johnny Walker, and the Porn and Chicken posse…
- Critics' pick
