Up all night

We list a few of our favorites when a 2 a.m. last call just isn’t going to cut it

By Megan Green

When you are truly out for a night on the town, a bar closing at 2:00 in the morning can seem way too early. You need a place where everybody might not know your name, but everybody will stay up way past 2:00.

In Chicago, there are some places that are known for being “4 a.m. bars.” They are part of the few and proud that keep the festivities going until 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning. These bars keep the liquor flowing and the lights down until just before the sun starts to rise.

Here are a few notables.

Green Mill Jazz Club
4802 N. Broadway Ave.
773-878-5552
www.greenmilljazz.com

People flock to this bar for many reasons. It is known for its history with speakeasy-era gangsters, especially Al Capone. It is also known for its nightly music. Whether it’s the rich history, its décor or something else, crowds have been coming to the Green Mill since the early 1900s.

“We are multi-faceted — we get people in here for different reasons,” said Dave Jemillo, owner of the Green Mill.

And a big reason people flock to this bar is for its late hours. Monday through Friday nights the bar stays open until 4 a.m. If you cannot make it until Saturday night, don’t worry. The bar stays open until 5 a.m.

Along with simply enjoying the full bar and softly lit decor, the Green Mill offers many different forms of entertainment through the week. From Sunday’s Uptown Poetry Slam to Saturday’s After Hours Jazz Party with Sabertooth, the Green Mill has something for everyone. And if you are at the Green Mill within a couple of hours of closing time, you can enjoy everything the bar has to offer with no cover charge.

For more information on the various events at the Green Mill, you can check out the calendar page on their website.

Nick’s Uptown
4015 N. Sheridan
773-975-1155
www.nicksuptown.com

Nick’s Uptown is part of the series of late-night bars owned by Nick Mavich. This establishment has been serving the crowds since 2000. It has been a late-night establishment since it opened. Nick’s Uptown — located just a few short blocks from Wrigley Field for all the Cubs fans — is open until 4 a.m. Sunday through Friday and until 5a.m. on Saturday.

Mavich recognizes that it is important to give people a place to keep the party going after the other bars close at 2 a.m. Beyond that, Mavich knows the importance of giving those who work late at night a place to go as well.

“There is an entire segment of society that lives and works different hours,” Mavich said. “In a city the size of Chicago, there are people living by a different clock.”

And Nick’s Uptown doesn’t just serve up the drinks until the wee hours of the morning. On Friday and Saturday, this bar serves up live music with no cover charge.

When you are not drinking or listening to music, take a moment and soak in the atmosphere. The building used to house the Cairo Club, which was a popular nightclub in the 1930s. Nick’s Uptown’s architecture is mixed with contemporary updates, but it still reflects the structure of the Cairo Club.

If you don’t find yourself near Nick’s Uptown on a night out, check out the other late-night bars owned by Mavich. All of these are also open until 4 a.m.

Nick’s Beer Garden
www.nicksbeergarden.com
The Flat Iron
www.theflatironchicago.com
Nick’s on Wilson
www.nicksonwilson.com

Big City Tap
1010 W. Belmont Ave.
773-935-9229
www.bigcitytap.com

Big City Tap follows the tradition of the anti-2 a.m. closing time bars in that it is open until 4 a.m. Sunday through Friday, and it doesn’t close until 5 a.m. on Saturdays. However, the Big City Tap sets itself apart from other late-night bars in that it quenches your thirst and your appetite through the night.

According to Joe Plewa, a manager, the kitchen doesn’t stop serving until 3:30 a.m. Sunday-Thursday. On Saturday, they keep the stove on a little later — until 4:30 a.m.

This bar has a DJ on Wednesday through Saturday, playing until close. As an added bonus for music enthusiasts, you have the option to bring your iPod and plug it into Big City Tap’s sound system. And, if your body feels the need to start moving while the music is playing, this bar will let you. Big City Tap clears out the dining room each night to make room for a dance floor.

Big City Tap is also known for its daily specials. On Tuesday and Thursday, they have $1 beer of the day. If you go on Friday or Saturday, you can take advantage of the $1 Apple Pucker or Jell-O shots. The website has a complete listing of all the daily specials.

This late-night locale has been around for a number of years. Big City Tap continues to pack in a mix of its loyal customers and those who are there for the first time. There is never a cover charge.

Carol’s Pub
4659 N. Clark
773-334-2402
www.carols-pub.com (Under Construction)

Since the early 1970s, Carol’s Pub has been known as a honky tonk spot, and it shows no signs of changing that.

According to owner Carol Harris, “We have country western music. This has always been a country western bar.”

This late-night favorite has live music several nights a week. Patrons flock to the dance floor while the music plays. And, if you are nice, the band may even play your request.

If you prefer to make your own music, every Thursday is karaoke night at Carol’s. This popular event is always packed with people of all different ages, belting out mostly country western music.

Along with being known for its music, Carol’s Pub has also always been known for being a bar that opens early and closes late.

On Mondays and Tuesdays, Carol’s Pub is open from 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. On Wednesday through Friday and Sunday, Carol’s is open 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. If you need an extra hour on the weekends, it stays open until 5 a.m. on Saturdays.

This is not the bar to order an appletini. The honky-tonk tradition at Carol’s Pub is best celebrated with a beer or a stiff drink.

Blue Light
3251 N. Western Ave.
(773) 755-5875
www.bluelightchicago.com

We’d be kicking ourselves if we forgot one of our favorite late-night bars in all of Chicago, Blue Light, operated by the fine folks who own the popular Waterhouse and Rebel.

For more on Blue Light, click here — www.therealchicago.org/0203bar.htm

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