Best Bars in Chicago?

09/04/2005 Ellen "your Velouria" M. says:

Where to start?  There are so many great ones - where in Chicago do you stay and what profile of clientele do you prefer?

09/13/2005 Ellen "your Velouria" M. says:

Gotta try Schuba's, knowing what awesome taste you have in music.  HEY CHICAGO YELPERS, Nish needs us!  What do you think?

09/21/2005 Nish N. says:

I could go anywhere, the last time I was there I stayed I guess downtown. Seemed like I could walk fairly quickly to shopping and restaurants. I think it was near the now closed Pili Pili?

09/27/2005 Ellen "your Velouria" M. says:

I've decided - don't mess around with downtown, you're not the average tourists.  The bon vivant guys should just head out to the neighborhoods and get some real Chicago scenery.  Head over to Southport and explore, you guys will love it.  Places like Cullens and Mystic Celt.

If you want to drive way the hell out to Naperville, I'll buy all of you fish & chips at Quigley's.  You like Irish gals in short tartan skirts, right?

10/14/2005 Dan B. says:

Elm St. Liquors.  It's near Rush and Division but not as lame as the Rush and Division Bars.  The name doesn't sound great but it's a cool lounge bar.

10/19/2005 Sarah "It's Not Lupus" B. says:

Agree with Elm St. Liquors.  Also recommend Hop Leaf  (frequented by Dan Savage) and Blue Fin (sushi restaurant that feels like a lounge).

10/28/2005 Sarah F. says:

Quenchers is good if you want a really chill place with an amazing beer selection. I agree with Ellen that Schuba's is great for live music, as is Martyrs, the Kingston Mines, the Wild Hare (mostly reggae) and Abbey Pub.  If you want something a bit different, Neon (goth) and Exit (punk/biker bar with a lively dance floor) are some interesting options.

10/31/2005 Sarah F. says:

I'll have to add the Funky Buddha Lounge to the list.

11/02/2005 Christine "The Strawberry Girl" R. says:

i agree to stay away from downtown... though, if you want to see a crazy rock show --- friday and saturday's there is this tiny bar, Cal's on 400 S Wells, they have some pretty crazy shows there...
I'm not sure what you like so here are some places I like to go to --- i also work pretty late, so most of these places I usually don't hit till like midnight:
On Thursdays Neo is great for dancing. It's Planet Earth night and they play 80's new wave and stuff like that (which is what I like to dance to). Five bucks cover and they're open till 4am.
The Exit is pretty fun on Thursdays too --- upstairs is bondage night, but I like to stick to the main floor because they play some pretty good rockabilly and everyone is pretty nice - drink specials rule too.
If you're all about the dancing alot of my friends like to go to Crobar because they have a couple different rooms (my favorite would be the chillout room, because the music they play isn't my cup of tea).
For some good shows, you could try Schubas, The Abbey Pub, Double Door and lately The Darkroom have had some pretty cool bands. As far as finding good shows, what I do is go to the reader (www.chireader.com) see what's playing the day I want to go out and then head over to the band's websites and download some songs and which ever band I dig the most, I go and check them out...
there's so many good bars in chicago, that it's hard to just name a few without expanding as much as I did...
sorry!!!