Things to Do in Chicago at Night: Evening Plans to Share

Museums after hours

Adler Planetarium

Neighborhood: Museum Campus · Cost: see the ticket options page · When: Wednesdays 4pm–10pm with timed entry; last admission an hour before closing

Wednesday is the Adler's late night, and looking at the stars after dark just makes sense. The Cosmic Cafe stays open until 9pm on Wednesdays, so you can make a whole evening of it. Tip: book a timed ticket in advance online.

Museum of Contemporary Art

Neighborhood: Streeterville (220 E. Chicago Ave.) · Cost: $19 adults for Chicago residents, $22 for non-residents; Illinois residents have no admission charge Tuesdays 5pm–9pm · When: Tuesdays 10am–9pm; closed Mondays

A Tuesday after-work visit is an easy plan: an hour with whatever's on, then dinner nearby. Tip: bring an ID with your Illinois address for the Tuesday evening rate.

Art Institute of Chicago

Neighborhood: the Loop (111 S. Michigan Ave.) · Cost: $32 adults, $20 for Chicago residents · When: Thursdays until 8pm; closed Tuesdays

Thursday is the late night here. On the third Thursday of each month, Illinois residents have no admission charge from 5pm to 8pm. Tip: pick one wing rather than trying to see it all before closing.

Walks and views after dark

The Chicago Riverwalk and Millennium Park

Neighborhood: the Loop · Cost: no admission · When: both open daily, 6am–11pm

Chicago at night is at its best along the river, with the towers lit on both banks. Walk the Riverwalk at dusk, then head south to Millennium Park, which keeps the same hours. Tip: on Friday to Sunday evenings, only certain Millennium Park entrances are open after 4pm, so check the park's entrance map.

360 Chicago

Neighborhood: the Magnificent Mile (875 N. Michigan Ave., 94th floor) · Cost: general admission from $27 for adults online · When: daily, 9am–11pm

The view of the lit-up grid from the 94th floor is hard to beat, and the CloudBar on the same floor serves cocktails and mocktails. Tip: tickets are cheaper online than at the gate.

Skydeck Chicago

Neighborhood: the Loop (233 S. Wacker Dr.) · Cost: see the ticket page · When: October 1–February 28, 9am–8pm, until 9pm on Saturdays

The Willis Tower deck, with The Ledge for looking straight down at the streets. In winter it closes earlier than 360 Chicago, so it's better for a sunset than a late visit. Tip: last entry is 30 minutes before closing.

Music and laughs

Green Mill Jazz Club

Neighborhood: Uptown (4802 N. Broadway) · Cost: $5 cover for the late-night sessions from 1am; other covers vary · When: music every night

At Lawrence and Broadway, a block from the Red Line's Lawrence stop. The calendar runs from early-evening sets to the Friday and Saturday late-night sessions, which go from 1am to 3:30 or 4am. Tip: if you're not a night owl, the 8pm-to-midnight sets are a gentler start.

Kingston Mines

Neighborhood: Lincoln Park (2548 N. Halsted St.) · Cost: varies; some groups get reduced entry · When: usually Thursday to Sunday evenings, until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays; check the calendar

Blues on two stages, the North Stage and the Main Stage, so the music keeps going. Tip: shows are subject to change, so check the calendar the day you go.

iO Theater

Neighborhood: near North and Clybourn (1501 N. Kingsbury St.) · Cost: tickets vary by show · When: shows six nights a week; bar and kitchen closed Tuesdays

Improv, sketch and stand-up, with a bar that's open to all ages and doesn't need a ticket. Tip: the bar and kitchen stay open until 10:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, so you can eat there after an early show.

Late eats

Pequod's Pizza

Neighborhood: Lincoln Park (2207 N. Clybourn Ave.) · Cost: menu prices · When: Monday–Saturday 11am–2am, Sunday 11am–midnight

A pan pizza with a ring of mozzarella around the edge that caramelizes into a dark, crispy, chewy rim. Tip: it's a short ride from Kingston Mines, which makes the two an easy pair.

A few things to plan around

• Late nights move around. The Adler is late on Wednesdays, the MCA on Tuesdays and the Art Institute on Thursdays.
• Closed days. The MCA is closed Mondays, the Art Institute Tuesdays, and Kingston Mines is closed early in the week.
• New Year's Eve. Navy Pier sets off fireworks over the lake at 11:59pm on December 31; check its fireworks page for the year's details.
• Getting home. Check the last train or bus before a late set, or plan a ride.

Three easy plans to suggest

Each one is a full evening:

1. Stars and a late dinner. A Wednesday at the Adler, then dinner somewhere on the way home.
2. A Riverwalk walk and a view. Walk the river at dusk, then go up 360 Chicago before 11pm.
3. Blues, then pizza. A set at Kingston Mines, then a pan pizza at Pequod's.

For more evening ideas, see our guides to things to do in Chicago for couples and indoor activities in Chicago.

Make it a plan with someone nearby

Evening plans are easy to share: a jazz set, a late museum, a walk by the river. Lighthouse is a social app for meeting people nearby who share your interests. You can see who's around and what you have in common, start an activity for the night you have in mind, or join one someone in your neighborhood has posted. Each activity has its own group chat, so you can say hi and agree on where to meet.

Good to know

• Check before you go: late hours and show times change, especially around holidays. That goes for anything in this post, too. Each listing links to its official source below.
• Ages: many music rooms and bars set age limits at night. Check each venue first.
• Getting there: the Green Mill is a block from the Red Line, and iO is about a five-minute walk from the North/Clybourn Red Line stop.