Top Music Venues in West Loop, Chicago

Being a former industrial hotspot, West Loop is home to many of the best hip music halls, eclectic venues, and intimate lounges the city has to offer. 

Unearth Some of West Loop’s Best Music Venues

Bottom Lounge – This dual-level laidback venue is the spot for quick bites and good times. Grab a beer, chill out on the rooftop patio, and admire the perfect ambiance with exposed brick walls and dim lighting. With underground music, great sound quality, and American comfort food you surely won’t regret this pick. 

The Bassment – If you’re into the speakeasy feels, this West Loop venue is the place for you. The Bassment’s entrance is hidden behind a bookshelf and gives off all of the low-key club vibes. This personal venue really minimizes the separation between the artist and audience too, making the space feel as intimate as ever. 

Cobra Lounge – A must try for craft beer lovers, this microbrewery is another one of the best spots to see a show in West Loop. This classic Chicago staple has one of the coolest environments, incredible sound and light setups, and plenty of room for all the dancing.

City Winery – Dine-in at the restaurant, grab a drink at the cocktail bar, or just lounge and enjoy the live entertainment. City Winery boasts a great wine selection with intimate shows hosting both national and international entertainment.

The Darling – With nightly entertainment, this speakeasy-type bar has such a charming ambiance with an array of delicious cocktails. The entertainment here is some that you won’t find anywhere else in the city; and don’t forget to reserve a table downstairs at “The Library” for the most breathtaking experience. 

Lazy Bird – Full of calm and cozy vibes, this cocktail music lounge is chock-full of delectable drinks and modern decor. Lazy Bird is such a cool hidden gem, says locals, and the live music here is just the cherry on top to this eclectic atmosphere.

Ready to enjoy some live music in West Loop? Be sure to check out these unbeatable venues.

The Best West Loop Cocktail Bars

With West Loop’s prime location to downtown and a plethora of delicious restaurants, it makes sense that this happening spot is the place to be when looking to drink! This Chicago hot-spot is full of some of the best cocktail bars, upscale lounges, and speakeasies in the city. Here are the top 5 cocktail bars in West Loop:

Top Cocktail Bars in West Loop

Lazy Bird – Tucked away underneath a hotel, Lazy Bird is an upscale cocktail bar with live jazz performances and the perfect evening ambiance. Their drink menu offers 52 different classic cocktails, each with a bit of history behind it. One of their famous drinks, the Grasshopper, tastes exactly like a Thin Mint cookie and you absolutely have to try it.

The Aviary – This redefined cocktail bar features drinks that feel like they are straight out of a chemistry lab. These creative presentations will surely blow your mind, just try out the Dip n Dots Style Flavored Ice or a Fish Tank! The Aviary sports a trendy crowd, making it the perfect spot to take your special someone on date night. 

Moneygun – Full of energetic vibes in this neighborhood dive. This unique spot has the dark and classic lounge feel, making it the go-to spot for a date or night out with friends. Their White Russian is truly on another level, and their presentation says it all with fresh coffee beans floating along the top.

CH Distillery – This industrial chic lounge has an impressive list of inventive cocktails and is the perfect spot if you like hard drinks. Enjoy their classic Old Fashioned or try one of their other inventive cocktails in the current rotation. With a great atmosphere and welcoming ambiance, CH Distillery is the perfect escape from the city.

Blind Barber – Walk into a barber shop to find this speakeasy-type cocktail bar. This is one of the hidden gems of West Loop and full of swanky vintage vibes. Enjoy the old and new school music, retro feel, and nice selection of cocktails. This is the ultimate lowkey spot for anyone, and if you’re ever torn on a drink, we suggest the Strawberry Field!

Where to Live if You Want to Be Close to All the Action

The West Loop area is a booming spot for all things live, work, and play. 

When looking for a West Loop home close to all the fun to be had, check out Fulton Market or Restaurant Row. These areas are jam-packed with top-rated restaurants, bars, and boutique shops

If you’re looking to wind down a bit more but still be within walking distance of all the commotion, head to the far left end of Restaurant Row on Randolph. This area hosts Union Park, the neighborhood’s largest park. Union Park is full of green space for your pups, basketball and tennis courts, and plenty of other space for children’s summer camps, music festivals and even concerts. 

Just a tad south of Union Park sits Skinner Bark Park, your pet’s favorite spot to be. This park has Astroturf, water bowls, a doggie pool, and lots of free parking around too. Don’t worry, that’s not the only dog friendly spot in the area. West Loop has plenty of other dog-friendly restaurants for your furry BFF to come join you as well.

Ready to make the move and be close to all of the fun to be had in the West Loop? Contact our experienced team today!

Where to Find West Loop Art Galleries

The trendy West Loop neighborhood is scattered with impressive spots to find artwork.

Whether you’re interested in just browsing, or you’re in the market for some new creative pieces, be sure to check out the many West Loop art galleries.

McCormick Gallery– 835 W Washington Blvd- Located in the heart of West Loop, this contemporary and modern art gallery boasts an incredible selection of paintings, works on paper, and sculptures. For two decades, Thomas McCormick’s gallery has featured a wide array of artwork, many from Chicago-based artists. The next upcoming exhibit, John Santoro: Let’s Talk About the Weather, is open March 21 to May 2.

Carrie Secrist Gallery– 835 W Washington Blvd- Situated in the same building as the McCormick Gallery, you’ll find another popular art gallery specializing in contemporary artwork in all mediums from established and emerging artists. For over a quarter of a century, this gallery has remained a coveted spot among many art aficionados. You can stop by to admire the End of Line solo exhibition by Berlin-based gallery artist Shannon Finle until March 7. 

Kavi Gupta – 835 W Washington Blvd- Also located in the same building in the center of West Loop, this world-renowned gallery has gained quite the attention over the years. Some of the best artists in the world are represented within this space, with a focus on exhibiting mid-career artists in all medias. Gupta has expanded his galleries overseas to a branch in Berlin, as well as two satellite locations in Chicago. One of those satellite locations is also located in West Loop at 219 N Elizabeth St. Visit Gupta’s website to learn more about the multiple exhibitions that are currently open to the public.

Sarah Raskey Fine Art– 17 N Elizabeth St- This luxury West Loop gallery exhibits the diverse and dynamic artwork of Sarah Raskey exclusively. Here you can find a wide range of pieces in various styles and sizing, including paintings, sculptures, and photography. Raskey’s work often includes combinations of light, natural crystals, textiles, glass, metal, and stone to create glamorous masterpieces. Over the years she has created a prolific volume of work in both residential and commercial settings.

Frederick Baker Inc– 1230 W Jackson Blvd-As the Midwest’s largest gallery devoted to works on Paper, American and European fine prints, drawings and watercolors

Chicago Mural Paintings, this spot won’t disappoint. The 800 square foot gallery has been in business for over 35 years and regularly receives exciting and new acquisitions. 

Don’t miss out on the West Loop art galleries and the incredible works of art that these locations offer! For more tips about West Loop, check out our West Loop neighborhood blog post

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