Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
mostly Top-40 hip-hop and Euro dance hits. White Star does seem to attract a
high percentage of attractive young women, although those ladies sometimes
complain about a certain “cheesy” element among the slick male clientele. Fans
say that White Star is the place to make the scene; detractors point out the
superficial attitude and tiny dance floor. Judge for yourself, but don't forget to
wear your best.
225 W. Ontario St. (at Wells St.)
&
312/440-3223.
Cover: $20 on weekends.
Subway/El: Red Line to Grand/State.
Zentra
Club hoppers often make the Middle Eastern/Moroccan-flavored
Zentra, which stays open into the wee hours, their last stop of the night. Plugged
into a large four-room space, Zentra is riding the current trend wave of East
meets West, with exotic Moroccan textiles, thick drapes, Indian silks, red lanterns
and funky chrome fixtures, and even “Hookah Girls” proffering hits on hookah
pipes packed with fruity tobacco blends. There are two floors, each catering to
different sounds of both resident and guest DJs. Upstairs caters to those who
want to dance to progressive dance and techno sounds, while downstairs has DJs
spinning mostly house and hip-hop. Zentra attracts an eclectic mix of people who
come to soak in exotic vibes, do some people-watching, and simply have fun
dancing. In the summer, an outdoor deck lit by red lights puts a funky spin on
the beer-garden concept. There is no dress code, but feel free to dress up—you'll
see a little bit of everything here.
923 W. Weed St. (just south of North Ave. at Clybourn Ave.).
&
312/787-0400.
Cover $15-$20. Subway/El: Red Line to North/Clybourn.
5 The Bar & Cafe Scene
If you want to soak up the atmosphere of a neighborhood tavern or sports bar,
it's best to venture beyond downtown into the surrounding neighborhoods. Lin-
coln Park, Wrigleyville, and Bucktown/Wicker Park have well-established
nightlife zones that are saturated with bright, upscale neighborhood bars. But
you'll also find numerous dives and no-frills “corner taps” in the blue-collar
neighborhoods.
As for hotel nightlife, virtually every hotel in Chicago has a cocktail lounge or
piano bar and, in some cases, more than one distinct environment where you
can take an aperitif before dinner or watch an evening of entertainment. The
piano bars at the Drake and in the Omni Ambassador East Hotel's Pump Room
are standouts.
BARS
THE LOOP & VICINITY
The Berghoff
Women weren't admitted to the stand-up bar at The
Berghoff—a Chicago institution with claim to the city's post-Prohibition liquor
license no. 1—until they protested their way in the door in 1969. The only
women's bathroom is in the dining room, but today Loop business types of both
genders gather after work in the dark oak-paneled bar for one of The Berghoff 's
own drafts and a roast-beef sandwich.
17 W. Adams St. (between Dearborn and State sts.).
&
312/427-3170.
Subway/El: Red Line to Jackson.
Miller's Pub
A true Loop landmark, Miller's has been serving up after-work
cocktails to downtown office workers for more than 50 years; it's one of the few
places in the area that offers bar service until the early morning hours. There's a
full dinner menu, too, in case you get the munchies. The walls are covered with
autographed photos of movie stars and sports figures; while some might be unrec-
ognizable to younger patrons, they testify to Miller's long-standing tradition of
