Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
crobar
A veteran of Chicago's late-night scene, crobar has man-
aged to stay hip since 1991; it's even expanded to locations in New
York City and Miami. The warehouse-gone-glam look and thump-
ing sound system give the space a quintessential dance-club feel, and
the booth-lined balcony overlooking the huge dance floor is a good
spot for people-watching. If you're especially gorgeous—or free-
spending—you might make it into the glass-encased VIP room. The
soundtrack is mostly hip-hop and house, and the weekend DJs have
a strong local following, so you might be fighting for prime dance
space.
1543 N. Kingsbury St. (at North Ave.).
&
312/266
-
1900.
www.crobar.com.
Cover $20 on weekends. Subway/El: Red Line to North/Clybourn.
Le Passage
The Gold Coast's swankiest nightclub fits all the pre-
requisites for chic exclusivity, starting with the semihidden entrance
at the end of a narrow (but well-lit) alleyway just steps from Oak
Street's Prada and Barneys New York stores. The beautiful, the rich,
and the designer-suited come here for the loungy aesthetic. The
soundtrack mixes R&B, soul, hip-hop, house, funk, and acid jazz.
Another highlight is the stellar French fusion menu and the late-
night eats such as mini-cheeseburgers and fries, served well into the
wee hours.
1 Oak Place (between Rush and State sts).
&
312/255
-
0022.
www.lepassage.tv. Cover $20. Subway/El: Red Line to Chicago.
Reserve
No longer just a neighborhood rife with restaurants, the
West Loop has also become a hot nightlife destination, thanks to its
anchor, Reserve nightclub. The bi-level club became so popular for
its ultra-exclusive VIP offerings that it took over as
the
place to rub
elbows with visiting celebs, music artists, and athletes alike. Even
under-the-radar high rollers splurge here on the bottle service (call
ahead to book a table, as they often fill up on weekends.) You can
settle in downstairs for a more low-key lounge vibe, or head up to
the 5,000-square-foot club to join the throngs of scenesters who can't
seem to get enough of the mashed-up music spun nightly.
858 W. Lake
St. (at Green St.).
&
312/455
-
1111.
www.reserve-chicago.com. Cover $20 on
weekends. Subway/El: Green Line to Clinton.
Zentra
Club-hoppers often make Middle Eastern and Moroccan-
flavored Zentra, which stays open into the wee hours, their last stop
of the night. A large four-room space, Zentra banks on the current
trend of East meets West, with exotic Moroccan textiles, thick
drapes, Indian silks, red lanterns, funky chrome fixtures, and even
“Hookah Girls” proffering hits on pipes packed with fruity tobacco
blends. Upstairs entertains those who want to move to progressive
