13 Chicago bars with a great jukebox

Patrons love aliveOne largely because it hosts so much live music, so it should be no surprise that its great jukebox is stocked with only live-music albums. 

Archie’s old-school jukebox is stocked with bands that provide a great soundtrack to eating free cheeseballs and hanging out with dogs: Tom Waits, Styx and the Village People. 

California Clipper’s jukebox is an old-school treasure that’s in the running for coolest in town. It glows with red light like a demonic menace, and features classics from bands such as the Animals, Alice Cooper and Warren Zevon. 

Tucked away on the west side of Logan Square, the Double is a great spot for jukebox aficionados. Flip through albums by Dire Straits, the White Stripes and Rolling Stones, and sidle up to the bar for a cold brew. 

Whether you’re looking to throw on a song that will help wash your craft beer down or get the party started, Estelle’s jukebox has you covered with songs from bands such as Band of Gypsys (featuring a guy named  Jimi Hendrix) and LCD Soundsystem. 

While the new sign outside now reads “GMan Tavern,” this Wrigley bar remains the Gingerman Tavern in our hearts. It attracts many more Metro-loving rockers than cargo shorts–wearing bros, and the jukebox reflects the clientele with selections from bands such as Broken Social Scene and the Strokes.

This beer-and-shot hangout remains one of the diviest dives in Chicago, and visitors love coming here to hang out on lawn furniture while munching on free popcorn and listening to T. Rex and Black Flag on the jukebox. 

Even if you’re creeped out by L&L’s nose-singeing smells and its claimed ties to serial killers, you’ll still stay for the cheap beers and free jukebox, which features a good mix of hits from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s.