Chicago named one of the best nightlife cities in America, beating NYC and LA

When you have the kind of winters Chicago has, you understand how to have a good time, no matter the weather. Now we’re getting the recognition we deserve as the second-plash finisher on Time Out’s ranking of best cities for nightlife in North America, after Sin City itself, Las Vegas. Yes, that means the Windy City beat out on nightlife powerhouses like New York City, Los Angeles and Miami. But that’s not exactly a surprise to anyone who knows that a Tuesday night can be just as wild as Saturday when the vibe is right and the DJ knows what they’re doing.

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What a change from a few years ago, though—the COVID-era shutdowns took us from barhopping on Clark Street to sipping Malört alone in our apartments in sweatpants. Restaurants and bars got creative with to-go drinks and patio heaters, but nothing will ever beat the buzz of a crowded bar on a hot summer night.

But now we’re living in a nightlife renaissance. You can feel it everywhere, from the new wave of cocktail bars tucked into historic buildings to the underground raves happening in lofts that may or may not be technically legal. There’s an energy in the air again, and it’s got nothing to do with the weather.

Time Out polled thousands of people in hundreds of the world’s best cities on both the quality and affordability of their city’s nightlife scene, from clubbing to bars, pubs and nighttime entertainment. After crunching the data, a panel of nightlife experts, including Time Out’s city editors and arts-and-culture writers, voted on their faves for the final rankings.

Need proof that Chicago is killing it on the bar scene? Look no further than local favorites like Kumiko, where cocktails are treated like tiny, edible poems, or The Green Mill, which still feels cool after all these decades. There’s late-night dancing at Smartbar, intimate wine bars in Logan Square and queer joy radiating out of Sidetrack. We’ve got dive bars, rooftop lounges, jazz joints, and anywhere else you might want to end up at 2am. In this city, “last call” just means “see you at the after party.”

Best cities for nightlife in the U.S., according to Time Out

1. Las Vegas
2. Chicago
3. New Orleans
4. Miami
5. New York
6. Los Angeles
7. Austin
8. San Diego
9. Orlando
10. Dallas