The Hottest Nightclubs and Bars in Chicago - River North

Well, when it comes to Chicago nightlife, all roads lead to the electric River North Entertainment District. River North is identified by its flashy neon lights, high-end Michigan Avenue shopping, and trendy hipsters that gravitate toward the area to hit the night time bar and club scene. River North is roughly bounded by the Chicago River to the south and west, Lake Michigan to the east, and Chicago Avenue to the north. For clubbing, you will find that the hottest clubs proliferate alongside Ontario Street as the main drag.

Enclave Night Club

The Enclave is a high-powered dance club off Chicago Avenue, which is somewhat tucked away from the tourist haunts of River North. Inside, The Enclave's architecture may be described as industrial chic, which is in a similar vein to the City of Chicago mindset. The décor juxtaposes hardwood floors, LED lighting, and minimalist furnishings against exposed brick, steel beams, and metallic piping. In a place to see and be seen, The Enclave does provide table service for its elite clientele. As of 2010, your party may order one bottle of Hennessy Richard cognac - for $3,500 at Enclave Night Club.

Enclave Night Club
220 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 654-0234
enclavechicago.com

Excalibur (Vision)

Excalibur looms large over Dearborn Street as a medieval castle and historical landmark. Excalibur is a mega-club, as it features Chicago's largest dance floor as the focal point of multiple floors, rooms, and lounge spaces. In separate rooms, you may be treated to live music, comedy shows, or world-class deejays spinning on the ones and twos. Excalibur is also attached to sister club Vision, which occupies its own entrance that fronts to the north. Excalibur is a favorite of tourists and conventioneers, because of its sheer size, central location, and established history of award-winning service. Excalibur has opened its doors nightly to Chicago partygoers since 1989.

Excalibur (Vision)
632 N. Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 266-1944
excaliburchicago.com

Red Head Piano Bar

Red Head Piano Bar fronts Ontario Street with its classic awning and marquee that management describes as "a flirtatious redhead looking fetchingly over her shoulder and luring you into her chamber." As a piano bar, the Red Head is suitable for a more mature clientele of partygoers. The entertainment schedule features live music nightly, where the crowd is encouraged to participate and sing along. Besides the live music, Red Head is known for its extensive wine and cigar menu. In the summertime, Aficionados will enjoy taking a few puffs outside of an aged Hemingway Signature, while also sipping on a glass of Roze.

Red Head Piano Bar
16 W. Ontario St.
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 640-1000
redheadpianobar.com

Spy Bar

Spy Bar is a sleek dance club located one block north of Ontario Street - at the corner of Franklin and Eerie. Spy Bar presents a vibe that is more so collegial, as it caters to the hip 21 to 25-year old set. For this club, think of dressed-up jeans, form-fitting skirts, attention-grabbing accessories, and pulsating trance music. Inside, patrons are often shoulder-to-shoulder in a virtual mosh pit beneath the laser lights. The hard charging Spy Bar is for a special type of partygoer.

Spy Bar
646 N. Franklin St.
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 337-2191
spybarchicago.com

The Underground Chicago

The Underground Chicago is the brainchild of nightclub impresario Billy Dec. Billy Dec and his Rockit Ranch Productions own the Chicago night scene - with Rockit River North, Rockit Wrigley, and Sunda New Asian also in the fold. As for The Underground, the motif revolves around a bomb shelter. With this theme, you will be sitting on virtual crates and ordering rations from servers in military garb. Despite the industrial setting, it is important that you arrive to The Underground dressed to impress and ready for a celebrity sighting. At this exclusive club, management reserves the right to turn away guests who lack the je ne sais quoi Chicago chic.

The Underground Chicago
56 W. Illinois
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 644-7600
theundergroundchicago.com

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