Boys' Town is the heart of the city's gay-male nightlife scene. The guppie
bar Roscoe's is practically a Chicago institution, fun for dancing and
cruising any night of the week. A guy guzzling Bud longnecks and another
sipping cosmos can feel right at home together at Cocktail, an intimate
storefront bar where friends often meet up before heading out to larger
clubs. Chicago's classic stand-and-model video bar, SideTrack has plenty
of rooms for mingling. Hydrate is one of the hippest gay bars in town,
great for after-work cocktails or late-night dancing and cruising. A
swank, smoke-free lounge known for its colorful cocktails and slick crowd,
Minibar opened in fall 2005 and has become a favorite after-work spot. A
circuit-boy favorite on weekends, Circuit pulses with a feverish
late-night dance crowd even at midweek, when Latin nights are a hit. The
stylish Berlin disco draws a decidedly funkier and more alternative crowd
than most of the preppy haunts in Lakeview. Nearby Spin is an eclectic gay
club with an all-ages crowd and fun dance music.
Charlie's brings in fans of country-western music, while the Gentry on
Halsted is a Boys' Town branch of downtown's popular piano bar. (The
original is called Gentry on State, and if you think the trading is heavy
at Chicago's Commodities Exchange, check out the cologne-dipped suits
milling about this dressy cabaret.) Leather-and-Levi's types cruise the
Cell Block. North of Boys' Town you'll find one of Chicago's friendliest
and most diverse bars, Big Chicks, which draws an eclectic mix of
hipsters, artistes, and jocks - devotees flock here from all over the city
to soak up its inviting atmosphere. Next door, the same owners run the
fabulous and hip restaurant, Tweet, which is known for its festive brunch
and for tasty organic fare. Another fun Uptown hangout is the Crew Bar,
which draws sports fans (there are 16 televisions airing big games) and
serves delicious food, too.
One of the granddaddies of Chicago clubs, the Jeffrey Pub anchors the
South Shore African-American gay community. In the artsy, alternative
Bucktown and Wicker Park neighborhoods, virtually all of the area's smoky,
hipster-infested bars draw a share of the lavender set, especially the
Rainbo Club, a favorite of art students, rockers, and slackers. Cafe
Absinthe draws a grunge-y bunch but ranks among Chicago's most esteemed
neighborhood eateries. Francophiles swear that Le Bouchon cooks up the
most authentic French bistro fare this side of the Atlantic. For delicious
Cuban and Latin American food, book a table at kicky and gay-popular Cafe
Bolero. And head to hip del Toro for tasty, relatively affordable Spanish
tapas in an snazzy space with Art Nouveau-inspired decor. Continue to page
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The Hunk
