Best Bars, Restaurants, and Nightclubs for the Over Thirty Crowd in Chicago

One of the best things about Chicago is the nightlife. There are so many options available, but that does not always mean it will be easy to find the scene you are comfortable with. If you are looking for bars, restaurants and nightclubs in Chicago that attract a sophisticated and mature crowd the following list has you covered.

Here are five of my favorite bars, restaurants, and nightclubs that cater to the over thirty crowd in Chicago.

Room 21
2110 South Wabash Avenue
Decorated like a bordello, Room 21, serves contemporary American food in a Prohibition era brewery where Capone once worked. I like this spot for the mature atmosphere and crowd, dining in this haven is a very intimate and private experience so it is a great date spot.

Reservations are required. The only time I do worry about the crowd is during the summer when there always seems to be more tourists around on the Capone trail. Hours are Sunday to Thursday from 5:30 to 10; Friday and Saturday from 5:30 to 11. Entrees average $30.

Green Dolphin Street
2200 North Ashland Avenue
Green Dolphin is the perfect spot for dinner and dancing in Chicago. A smooth jazz club, Green Dolphin has a live show every night of the week, except for Mondays, featuring old favorites in Chicago and new talent. The dinner menu serves up Contemporary American with an International twist- different, I know.

Expect the crowd to be over thirty every night with a very mature mix of twenty somethings on the weekends, when a salsa band is brought in. Reservations are accepted.

Sushi Samba Rio
504 North Wells Street
Latin cuisine and sushi might not sound like it will work, but it does. Sushi Samba is a very popular downtown sushi spot serving up Latin and Asian fare. Because of its location, and prices, the crowd is a mix of business types coming in after work, or bringing their work out with them, and locals. Wednesday nights are very popular at Sushi Samba, when it hosts a Brazilian band, don't go without reservations.

Hours are 11:45 a.m. to midnight, Monday-Wednesday; 11:45 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursday and Friday; 11:45 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday; and 11:45 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.

The Leg Room
7 West Division Street
Leg Room is one of the few lounges in downtown Chicago worth going to, especially if you want to really go to a lounge and not another club that calls itself a lounge. Head to The Leg Room to grab after dinner martinis, or just to catch up with a good group of friends. You can head to the dance floor for a while, or just check out who is new in town. Leg Room is open Saturday from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. Sunday to Friday.

Smart Bar
3730 North Clark
For the North side crowd, Smart Bar offers a very different scene. If you want to go out, have a good time and meet people this is the place for you. There are no bleach blondes with fake body parts, who only know how to grind parts of their bodies that should be covered up on other people or foreign objects. Good music, good dancing, and a great crowd.
There is cover charge that varies by night and the time you go in, and the drinks are a little higher priced than other places in the area.