New Year's Eve in Chicago, IL
New Year's Eve in Chicago, IL means fireworks, late-night parties, and restaurant galas. Venues like Andy's Jazz Club and Restaurant ($10-15), Brooklyn Boulders ($35), Buddy Guy's Legends ($20-30), Buzzed by Zea ($12-18), and Chicago Park District - Montrose Beach (Free) host NYE events — expect $50-200 cover charges. Family-friendly countdowns typically start at 6pm in parks and museums.
Free to walk around. Free fountain for kids. Fireworks Wed + Sat nights in summer.
600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611 · Sun-Thu 10am-8pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm (seasonal)
$35 day pass. Climbing, yoga, fitness, and a coworking lounge. West Loop.
100 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60607 · Mon-Fri 6am-11pm, Sat-Sun 8am-10pm
Tennis, pools, basketball, squash, gym, spa -- all under one roof. $50 day pass.
2444 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 · Mon-Fri 5am-10pm, Sat-Sun 6am-9pm
Free beach, bird sanctuary, dog beach, kayak rentals. Less touristy than North Ave.
4400 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60640 · Beach: Memorial Day-Labor Day 11am-7pm
Tina Fey, Steve Carell, and dozens more started here. $10 shows available nightly.
1616 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60614 · Shows nightly, box office opens at noon
Al Capone's hangout. Jazz 7 nights. Cash only. No talking during sets.
4802 N Broadway Ave, Chicago, IL 60640 · Daily 4pm-4am (5am on Sat)
The marquee sign. The grand staircase. $32 tour takes you backstage.
175 N State St, Chicago, IL 60601 · Tour at 12pm, show times vary
Free concerts all summer. Frank Gehry bandshell. Bring a blanket and a picnic.
201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 · Park open daily 6am-11pm, concerts typically 6:30pm-9pm
Two stages, simultaneous blues bands, until 5am Saturdays. Open since 1968.
2548 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614 · Mon-Thu 7pm-4am, Fri 7pm-5am, Sat 7pm-5am, Sun 7pm-4am
Two doors from Second City. Touring headliners. Two-drink minimum. Thu-Sun.
1548 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610 · Shows Thu-Sun, doors open 1 hour before show
Improvised Shakespeare Company performs here. Cheaper and weirder than Second City.
1501 N Kingsbury St, Chicago, IL 60642 · Shows nightly, schedule varies
311 seats, full bar, $16 tickets. Touring headliners most nights.
3175 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657 · Show times vary, check schedule
Free Monday shows. Dive bar vibe. The underground music scene runs through here since 1992.
1035 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 · Mon-Sat 5pm-2am, Sun varies
100 capacity. Prohibition-era bar. Shows sell out fast. Regulars are fiercely loyal.
1354 W Wabansia Ave, Chicago, IL 60642 · Wed-Sat shows, doors vary
In the Second City building. Stand-up format. $15-40. Zanies is next door.
1608 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60614 · Show times vary, check schedule
Buddy Guy's own club. Live blues nightly. The man himself plays every January.
700 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60605 · Mon-Thu 11am-2am, Fri-Sat 11am-3am, Sun 12pm-2am
500 capacity. Sister venue to Schubas. Best mid-size room on the North Side.
2424 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 · Show nights, doors vary
165 capacity. The room where everyone plays before they blow up. $10-20.
3159 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657 · Show nights, doors vary
Smashing Pumpkins played their first big shows here. 1,100 capacity. Still going since 1982.
3730 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613 · Show nights, doors vary
Live jazz since 1951. Two sets nightly. $10-15 cover. Downtown location.
11 E Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60611 · Mon-Sat 5pm-1am, Sun 5pm-12am
1892 opera house turned concert hall. Ornate interior. Czech and Mexican neighborhood heritage.
1807 S Allport St, Chicago, IL 60608 · Show nights, doors vary
$2 tacos from sidewalk stands — best Mexican food neighborhood in Chicago.
18th St between Ashland and Western, Chicago, IL 60608 · Varies by vendor, most active lunch through dinner
Cocktail bar hidden inside a hair salon — you have to know it's there.
3462 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60657 · Check social media for hours
Lakeview dry cleaner on Broadway. Suits, shirts, dresses, comforters. Same-day if you drop off before 10am. $5-8 per garment. Also does minor alterations.
3000 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657 · Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 8am-5pm
Full-service dog grooming salon near Wrigley Field offering baths, breed-specific cuts, nail trimming, ear cleaning, teeth brushing, and de-shedding treatments. Small dogs from $55, large dogs from $90. Also offers daycare and boarding. Appointments required -- this place stays booked, especially on weekends.
3740 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613 · Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5pm