Lula Cafe
A Logan Square café for brunch or a seasonal dinner. The current restaurant schedule separates afternoon service from dinner and keeps Tuesdays closed.
Hopleaf
Belgian beer and a meal in Andersonville. Everyone entering must be 21 or older, so this is an adults’ outing rather than a family stop.
Green Mill
A jazz room in Uptown where the performance is the reason to go. Read the set and admission details before arriving; the room’s late-night programs vary by day.
A live band is part of the room. Choose the current set and seating for the evening you want.
Kumiko
Japanese drinks and small plates in the West Loop. Bar service and the weekend daytime café are separate visits; choose the room and menu when booking.
Chicago Over 50
Over 50 Chicago
A good meal, a favorite band or a neighborhood bar. Find an evening that feels like yours.
16 spots
AJ Hudson’s Public House
Soccer, pub food and a neighborhood table on Ashland Avenue. The posted sports calendar is the useful starting point when an early match is the whole reason to go.
Carol’s Pub
A country band and a bar room in Uptown. Most listed nights are 21+; a specific all-ages show does not change the ordinary event policy.
A live band is part of the room. Choose the current set and seating for the evening you want.
Delilah’s
Whiskey and a rock-and-roll bar room on Lincoln Avenue. DJs and special events shape the night; it is a different evening from a seated jazz show.
Go early. It turns into a late-night spot later in the evening.
Empty Bottle
An independent band and a close-up room on Western Avenue. Shows at the Empty Bottle itself are 21+; off-site Empty Bottle Presents events set their own age rules.
This is a music venue. It is loud when a show is on.
Green Mill
A jazz room in Uptown where the performance is the reason to go. Read the set and admission details before arriving; the room’s late-night programs vary by day.
A live band is part of the room. Choose the current set and seating for the evening you want.
Green Street Smoked Meats
Central Texas-inspired smoked meats and a drink in a warehouse-style West Loop room. The entrance is down the brick alley; choose the tray from the current menu.
Handlebar
Vegan comfort food, a full bar and a beer garden on North Avenue. The whole menu is not vegan: choose the marked dishes. The published weekly menu includes Sunday tacos with a beer and tequila shot.
Hopleaf
Belgian beer and a meal in Andersonville. Everyone entering must be 21 or older, so this is an adults’ outing rather than a family stop.
Kingston Mines
A blues night with bands trading sets between two stages. Pick the night’s lineup first, then decide how late you want the evening to run.
A live band is part of the room. Choose the current set and seating for the evening you want.
Map Room
A Bucktown beer bar built around maps and a changing draft list. There is morning coffee service too; choose the time of day for the visit you want.
Off Color Brewing ... Mousetrap
Off Color beer in the Mousetrap taproom, with indoor seating and a dog-friendly patio. This is the Kingsbury taproom rather than a restaurant with a full kitchen.
Schubas Tavern
A live set at the Southport tavern. Schubas and Lincoln Hall share a booking website but have different addresses; read the room name on the ticket.
This is a music venue. It is loud when a show is on.
Smoke Daddy ... Wrigleyville
Smoked meats beside Wrigley Field, with published Bears and Cowboys watch parties. This is the Wrigleyville restaurant; the former Wicker Park branch is closed.
The Globe Pub
An international-sports pub in North Center with its own match schedule. Early opening depends on the fixture; use the current calendar rather than assuming every morning is the same.
The Tonk ... Honky Tonk BBQ
A Memphis-style barbecue meal with a band in Pilsen. The former Honky Tonk BBQ now uses The Tonk name; the current restaurant address is on Racine Avenue.
A live band is part of the room. Choose the current set and seating for the evening you want.
Timothy O’Toole’s ... Chicago
A Streeterville pub with published game viewing. This is the Fairbanks Court location; suburban branches have their own calendars and should not be mixed into a Chicago visit.
What these spots are known for
The same over 50 spots, sorted by the reasons people actually pick them.
Live Music
Where can I eat and hear a real band?
BBQ and Smokehouses
Who is actually running a pit?
Sports on TV
Where can I watch the game with food and drinks?
Rooftops and Patios
Can we sit outside?
In the MICHELIN Guide
Who has the inspectors paying attention?
Brunch
Where is brunch worth the wait?
Craft Cocktail Programs
Who is taking the bar seriously?
Vegan and Plant-Based
Where can I eat with no asterisks?
Community Quotes
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