University of Chicago - Nightlife

B-

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Quick Stats

Primary Areas with Nightlife		Near DePaul University One of the on-campus areas densely populated by students, like 54th and Woodlawn South Loop
Student Favorites		Bar Louie The Cove The Pub (on campus) Woodlawn Tap (“Jimmy’s”)
Other Places to Check Out		Café Ba Ba Reeba HotHouse Joe's Bar McFadden's The Underground Chicago The Violet Hour Wrightwood Tap
Local Specialties		Goose Island Brew Pub: Try 312's urban wheat ale, which is inspired by the city of Chicago
Favorite Drinking Games		Beer pong Flip cup Kings Power hour
Useful Resources for Nightlife		chicago.metromix.com

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

The nightlife at the University of Chicago isn’t as wild and crazy as "Animal House." However, you’ll never have a night where there isn’t something to do. You can usually find something going on in Hyde Park. The main social scene takes place at fraternities and apartment parties. While they aren’t parties that are going to be talked about for decades to come, they are a ton of fun and a lot of people go. Individuals, organizations, or even entire buildings host apartment parties. There are also some official events hosted by the University, like "Blues 'N' Ribs" and "Summer Breeze," which are very popular. You can also head into the city to see a show, go to a nice dinner, catch a movie, or basically anything you can think of. All of these are great options for underage students, but you’ll find people in all years staying on campus for a weekend night.

If you’re 21 (or have some kind of identification that says you are), you’ll never run out of bars to visit. You can stay in Hyde Park and go to some of the campus bars, like Jimmy’s or the Pub. Neither is very upscale, but they have a great college bar-vibe and are super cheap. If you’re bored in Hyde Park, you have the entire city of Chicago at your disposal. There are great bars in the South Loop and on the North Side by DePaul’s campus. You can usually find a place with a good deal, so you’re not spending too much money. If you want to drop some big bucks, any of the clubs in the city are fantastic. Basically, you’ll never use the excuse “I couldn’t find anything to do” as a reason for staying in on a Friday night.

Chicago Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Nightlife at University of Chicago

Robbins0350

'14

Astrophysics

C

You Didn't Come for the Nightlife

Straight and simple, this is not a place of raging parties. Most are content with sitting in the library discussing Marx, and maybe enjoying a drink they have smuggled in. Either that or they study in the library, go to bar night for an hour, and then come back.

Dec 12, 2011

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Nightlife at University of Chicago

DonnyChi

'12

Mathematics

B+

Drugs

I don't know what to think about the drug scene here. As a moderate user of moderate drugs, it's been difficult for me to get a hold of LSD this school year. I'm assuming it's been a drought. Other than that, getting drugs hasn't been a problem. When it gets to rarer stuff (heroin, opium, weird hallucinogens) people don't really share, but it definitely exists in big pockets around campus. Coke and E are easier to get, pretty widespread, but, then again, not really. If I was to label the big drugs on our campus it would be: Weed, Alcohol, Hallucinogens, Cocaine in that order. Study drugs are big, but they're no way near as big as people hype them up to be here.

Jul 25, 2011

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Nightlife at University of Chicago

Ranne236

'10

Anthropology and Archaeology

B

Not What You Expect

The leading characteristic of UChicago nightlife is that it's not always just a party with alcohol or a bar. People here like to get together and play board games, watch movies, or play midnight soccer just as much as go to an apartment party. Generally, it is possible to find at least one party at a fraternity or apartment four nights out of the week, but there are SO many other kinds of gatherings that happen in addition. Fun comes in other forms, I guess I mean to say. In terms of bars and clubs, there are three to four bars in Hyde Park, and the university pub as well. They're very nice, but nothing to write home about.

Jul 22, 2011

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First

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the off-campus bar and club scene on the following topics

What is the party scene like on campus?

What’s the best way to get to the popular nightlife spots?

Facts

Club Crawler

Chicago has one of the hottest club scenes in the United States. Hot clubs card hard, so don’t even try to get in if you’re not 21 or dressed to the nines with a premium fake. For those looking for a decent watering hole, there are plenty right in the neighborhood.

Closing Time

Depending on whether it's a weeknight or weekend, bars close anywhere from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m.

Cheapest Place to Get a Drink

The Cove or Jimmy's

Organization Parties

There are a couple of RSO-sponsored parties during the year (recognized student organizations). "Blues 'N' Ribs" is a big one during fall quarter, and "Summer Breeze" is the highlight of the spring. Some apartments will throw parties under the heading of a certain organization, like a Frisbee party or a rugby party. The fraternities throw a lot of parties throughout the year. Each one normally has a theme, and some get incredibly creative.

Did You Know?

The Chicago Theatre has been open since 1921 and is referred to as "the Wonder Theater of the World."
There are more than 1,800 bars in Chicago. You can find reviews and suggestions from the Chicago Bar Project at http://www.chibarproject.com/.

Club ListingsWhat's This?

Underground

The interior of the Underground looks like a military hideaway, featuring artillery cases as tables.

56 W. Illinois St.

Chicago

(312) 644-7600

www.theundergroundchicago.com

Enclave

This club is just minutes from the Magnificent Mile (shopping destination) and has had artists such as Lady Gaga and the Black Eyed Peas perform on stage.

220 W. Chicago Ave.

Chicago

(312) 654-0234

www.enclavechicago.com

Bar ListingsWhat's This?

Lucky Strike

The Lucky Strike is a swank bowling alley, billiard hall, restaurant, and pub located on the second floor of the AMC movie complex.

322 E. Illinois St.

Chicago

(312) 245-8331

www.bowlluckystrike.com

Goose Island Brew Pub

The best place for home-brewed beer is Goose Island. Every day, there are more than 10 local brews on tap, and they sell five-gallon kegs of a specific beer. You can rent out deluxe party rooms for group events, too.

3535 N. Clark St.

Chicago

(773) 832-9040

www.gooseisland.com

Woodlawn Tap (aka “Jimmy’s”)

This is probably the only bar in the world that can claim that it once had five Ph.D. students tending bar. Despite being described as “a scruffy place,” Jimmy’s has the kind of allure that only the most intellectual university would have—encyclopedias and the complete works of Shakespeare adorn the walls so patrons can use them to settle disputes.

1172 E. 55th St.

Chicago

(773) 643-5516

www.josephsittler.org/jimmys

The Pub

The Pub is University of Chicago's private club.

Ida Noyes, lower level

Chicago

(773) 702-9737

studentactivities.uchicago.edu/services/pub.shtml

Bootleggers

Known for its refreshingly unpretentious atmosphere and its so-loud-you-can’t-hear-yourself-think music, Bootleggers serves as a great oasis for escaping academia and forgetting a plummeting GPA.

11 W. Division St.

Chicago

(312) 266-0944

Bar Louie

The most upscale of the three Hyde Park watering holes, Bar Louie offers great martinis, a wide bar, good food (tacos), and a quieter setting than Jimmy’s and the Cove. There is outdoor seating in season. Bar Louie is located directly across from the Point.

5500 S. Shore Dr.

Chicago

(773) 363-5300

www.barlouieamerica.com

Falcon Inn

The Falcon Inn is a neighborhood bar, a good place to stop for pitchers of beer with a group of friends.

1601 E. 53rd St.

Chicago

(773) 363-3793

The Cove

Located near the lake, the Cove offers a relaxing atmosphere to the South Side crowd. Students go Tuesdays for the cheap pitchers. Nobody really understands why the owners went for the nautical motif, since sailors haven’t really walked the streets of Hyde Park since well, ever. Regardless, ship models, pictures of Moby Dick, and ship wheels adorn the walls of this cozy little bar.

1750 E. 55th St.

Chicago

(773) 684-1013

www.thecovelounge.com

What to Do if You're Not 21What's This?

Seven Ten Bowling Alley

1055 E. 55th St.

Chicago

(773) 347-2695

www.bowlluckystrike.com

Apartment and fraternity parties

There are parties all around campus every weekend.

On campus

Chicago

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Chicago

Name: Liane Rousseau

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

Major: English Language and Literature

Grad Year: 2012

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Rate the off-campus bar and club scene on the following topics

What is the party scene like on campus?

What’s the best way to get to the popular nightlife spots?

Facts

Club Crawler

Closing Time

Cheapest Place to Get a Drink

Organization Parties

Club ListingsWhat's This?

Bar ListingsWhat's This?

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Sort by:

Nightlife at University of Chicago

Nightlife at University of Chicago

Nightlife at University of Chicago

Rate the off-campus bar and club scene on the following topics

What is the party scene like on campus?

What’s the best way to get to the popular nightlife spots?

Facts

Club Crawler

Closing Time

Cheapest Place to Get a Drink

Organization Parties

Buy The Guidebook

Most Recent Student Author

Find a college

Find a major

Scholarships

Reviews

You are a . . .

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University of Chicago
- Nightlife

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

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