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Bars in the Gold Coast, Chicago, IL

The Cedar Hotel

Bar / Bar Food / Baseball Caps / DJ

Party Earth Review Set between the swanky shops of Rush Street and the wild bar scene of Division Street, The Cedar Hotel – a crime-riddled boarding house in the 1920s – now provides a bit of both worlds with its unique combination of historical architecture and energetic sports vibe. Popular with a party crowd of post-grads and sports fans ... more

1112 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60610

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Gibson's Bar & Steakhouse

30s / 40s / Affluent / After Work

Party Earth Review Located at the north end of the swanky Rush Street shopping district, Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse is a Gold Coast neighborhood institution that has been alienating the basic tenets of vegetarianism – and recommended portion size – since 1989. Boasting ice-cold martinis, massive cuts of beef, and desserts that could double ... more

1028 North Rush Street
Chicago, IL 60611

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P.J. Clarke's

20s / 30s / 40s / Affluent / Ambient

Party Earth Review A classic tavern where the typical dad would hang out with his buds to watch the Bears, P.J. Clarke’s offers a chill vibe and plentiful comfort food, two ingredients that have made it a casual mainstay in the competitive – and ritzy – Gold Coast neighborhood. A halo of neon over large open windows lights up the front door ... more

1204 North State Parkway
Chicago, IL 60610

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The Lodge Tavern

30s / ATM / After Work / Blouses / Pub

Party Earth Review Opened in 1957, The Lodge Tavern is the oldest purveyor of drunken revelry on the infamous Rush and Division strip, and late-night hours ensure that anyone in the market for a rowdy 3am booze fest need look no further than this venue’s shingled façade and peanut-encrusted floors. Reminiscent of an old English pub, the ... more

21 West Division Street
Chicago, IL 60610

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Le Bar

30s / Absinthe / Ambient / Blazers

Party Earth Review Tucked inside the ultramodern Sofitel Hotel, Le Bar is a stylish and intimate lounge best known for its French fusion snacks, intricate cocktails, and assortment of gourmet cheeses. Early in the evening, upscale hotel guests and fashion-conscious couples sink into warm velvet chairs by a roaring fire to work their way through ... more

Sofitel Chicago Water Tower
20 East Chestnut Street
Chicago, IL 60611

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NoMI

30s / Breakfast / Date Place

Reviewed by Lauren M.

"My boyfriend and I dined at NoMI this past weekend and we were beyond impressed! Our waiter was extremely helpful and provided many suggestions, the o ..." more

Park Hyatt Chicago
800 North Michigan Avenue, 7th Floor
Chicago, IL 60611

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McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon

ATM / Bar Food / Brunch / Burgers / DJ

Reviewed by Sarah N.

"The Chicago edition of New York McFadden’s, it offers all the comforts of an Irish bar within the convenience of a Gold Coast location. Perfect for s ..." more

1206 North State Parkway
Chicago, IL 60610

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The Hangge-Uppe

30s / 40s / 50s Music / 80s Music

Party Earth Review Marked by a sign with the image of a happy man hugging records and a tagline promising “the most fun you won’t remember,” The Hangge Uppe has been a prime Gold Coast spot for drinking, dancing – and more drinking – since 1973. A few stumbling steps from the wild bar scene of Division Street, the mostly 80s-themed bi-level ... more

14 West Elm Street
Chicago, IL 60611

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Pippin's Tavern

30s / 40s / After Work / Bar / Casual

Party Earth Review Despite its proximity to the lavish shops and restaurants of the Magnificent Mile, Pippin’s Tavern has been drawing in one of the most eclectic and diverse crowds in Chicago since 1973 from wealthy shoppers and young businessmen to college students and foreign tourists. The weathered façade, which looks like a gingerbread ... more

806 North Rush Street
Chicago, IL 60611

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Map of Gold Coast Bars

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Bars in the Gold Coast Overview

McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon - Irish Pub | Irish Restaurant | Sports Bar in Gold Coast, Chicago

Gold Coast bars embody two of the most diverse and yet oddly compatible sides of Chicago nightlife. From the swanky hotels with classy cocktails and strict dress codes, to the seedy dives with beer-stained floors and a lot of “Journey” on the jukebox, the Gold Coast offers a multitude of drinking options.

For those looking for a truly upscale Chicago experience, the Gold Coast bar scene will not disappoint. Inviting the crème-de-la-crème of Chicago’s elite, swanky spots like Gibson’s Steakhouse, NoMi, and Le Bar in the Sofitel Hotel offer exquisite cocktails, stellar wine lists, and are often spots where the wealthy go to see and be seen.

On the other side of the coin, however, is the debaucherous underbelly of Chicago’s bar scene. Imagine a place where bros can stumble half-heartedly from bar to bar, constantly singing their favorite ballads, while dressed up ladies discard their heels and dance energetically to 90s pop songs. This place is real, and it is in Chicago’s Gold Coast. Whether it’s avoiding the bowls of peanuts at The Lodge or trying to find room to stand at Pippin’s Tavern, spending late nights in the Gold Coast is a fan favorite.

And of course, the best part of it all is the crowds at both bars can often be one and the same. It’s not unusual for classy couples to sip expensive wine and eat steaks at Gibson’s and then loosen their ties and let down their hair for some wild debauchery on Division Street later on.