Bars & Clubs... Chicago Nightclub & Bar alternatives by www.chicagonightlife.com Whether you're in the mood for a lounge, or you've strapped on your dancing shoes, We've got the answer to your nightlife needs. Check out our list of Chicago's newest and most popular nightclubs and bars.
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Funky Buddha Lounge Located a bit off the beaten path, west of the River North gallery district, this club blends in with its industrial surroundings -- even the whimsical Buddha sculpture on the heavy steel front door is a rusted husk. Inside is a different scene altogether: low red lighting, seductive dens with black-leather and faux leopard-skin sofas, lots of candles, and antique light fixtures salvaged from an old church. The DJs are among the best in the city, flooding the nice-size dance floor with hip-hop to bhangra, funk to African, and soul to underground house. Recently, the club's original fan base of yuppies and after-dinner hipsters has been shaken as attractively as its signature martinis: hugely popular Thursday nights pack in the young club kids, but Fridays and Saturdays feature a cool, eclectic crowd decked out in funky gear.
| 728 W. Grand Ave. | Phone: 312/666-1695.| Cover $15-$20. Le Passage The Gold Coast's swankiest nightclub fits all the prerequisites for chic exclusivity, starting with the semihidden entrance at the end of a narrow (but well-lit) alleyway just steps from Oak Street's Prada and Barneys New York stores. You descend down a long flight of stairs into an environment filled with expensive, gilded furnishings and exquisite decor imported from France; to gain access you must first pass muster with the gatekeepers manning the velvet rope. The beautiful, the rich, and the designer-suited come here for the loungy aesthetic. The soundtrack mixes R&B, soul, hip-hop, house, funk, and acid jazz. Another highlight is the stellar French fusion menu. The place teems on Friday and Saturday nights, but Wednesday night caters to local fashion-industry folk, with occasional runway fashion shows. Stop by the Yow Bar -- named for Yow Low, a legendary local bartender who was snagged from Trader Vic's -- and hopefully you'll get Yow himself to spill some of his late-night tales.
|1 Oak Place. |Phone: 312/255-0022. |Cover $15-$20. Signature Lounge The drinks here are pricey, but here you can get a drink and a fabulous view. It's open until 1am Sunday through Thursday and until 2am on the weekends.
|875 N. Michigan Ave. |Phone: 312/787-7230. Spoon The closest Old Town has to a trendy nightspot, this combination bar/restaurant pulls in an attractive, professional crowd on weekend evenings. The modern, loftlike space would be right at home in the River North neighborhood, but it's a novelty in tradition-bound Old Town. Weeknights are a little less frenzied, when locals are able to sip their Mucho Mango martinis in peace.
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