Cocktail bar$$Tue-Thu 17:00-23:00; Fri 17:00-01:00; Sat 16:30-01:00; Sun-Mon closedUntil Wed-Sun until 23:00 (last seating 21:30)
The Aviary in Chicago is the Achatz-Kokonas modernist cocktail bar on Fulton Market with a 21:30 late seating, edible-ice cocktails and the Office speakeasy.
Try: Modernist cocktails
Tip: Book the 21:30 Wednesday or Thursday seating; the room is at half capacity, the cocktails come faster.
Japanese ramen$$Mon-Wed 11:00-23:00; Thu 11:00-00:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-01:00; Sun 11:00-23:00Until Thu-Sat until 02:00
Ramen-san in Chicago is Lettuce Entertain You's River North ramen room on Hubbard, open Thursday to Saturday until 02:00, with tonkotsu and the spicy garlic.
Try: Spicy garlic ramen
Tip: The spicy garlic ramen at 01:30 is the call after a Loop show. The pork bun on the side is the wing.
Cocktail bar$$Mon-Fri 15:00-02:00; Sat 15:00-03:00; Sun 15:00-02:00Until Daily until 02:00Cash only
Matchbox in Chicago is the four-foot-wide West Town cocktail bar on Milwaukee serving stiff classic cocktails until 02:00, a 30-seat triangle since 1995.
Try: Old Fashioned, Gimlet
Tip: Cash and glass only. Order an Old Fashioned; the slim bartender pour is the house standard you do not modify.
New American$$Mon-Sat 10:00-23:15, Sun 10:00-22:15Until Daily until 02:00
Au Cheval in Chicago is the West Loop diner-bar on Randolph that runs the full menu until 02:00 nightly, with the country-famous single-with-egg cheeseburger.
Try: Single cheeseburger with egg
Tip: Sit at the bar past midnight; the queue clears at 23:30 and the kitchen runs the same menu without the dinner wait.
American diner$$Sun-Thu 11:00-02:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-04:00Until Fri-Sat until 04:00
The Wieners Circle in Chicago is the Lincoln Park late-night hot dog counter on Clark, with char dogs, cheese fries and staff-customer banter past 02:00.
Try: Char dog with everything, cheese fries
Tip: Char dog with everything; the chocolate milkshake is the closing order for the walk back up Clark.