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Chicago Clubs-Top DJ Spots

Author: Audarshia Townsend

The birthplace of House music, Chicago clubs are part of a vibrant nightlife scene, full of progressive deejays who will keep the beats pounding and your body moving well into the wee hours.

In neighborhoods across the city you'll find a lineup of deejays that will keep you guessing, from local Chicago DJs working their way to the top of the music scene to celeb deejays who always find time for a night at any one of these Chicago clubs.

Chicago Clubs: Top DJ Spots

Chicago’s been dubbed the “home of House music” thanks to Godfather of House Music deejay/producer Frankie Knuckles laying down the foundation in the late 1970s. He paved the way for a number of many of today’s most successful deejays in Chicago, and helped set the standard for the spin masters in the city’s hottest nightclubs.

Favorite Chicago Clubs

Even though many clubs have shifted from the house and dance music-only format, you’ll still find a number of spots specializing in the music that put Chicago on the map for nightlife. Smart Bar - only steps away from the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field - hosts local, national and international deejays seven nights a week. Genres range from garage to Goth, but house music is what truly draws crowds to Smart Bar since it opened in the late 1980s. The little subterranean spot has undergone many renovations over the years, but it’s still managed to maintain its original vibe.

Another house music-centric club is Ohm, the alley entrance venue in Wicker Park that made its mark as Red Dog and catapulted deejays like Derrick Carter, DJ Heather and Lego to international stardom. Today, lesser-known turntablists spin here, but the multi-level lounge is still all about house music.

Sound-Bar and Vision cater to electro house heads, and the music is at a faster pace and the atmosphere is sceney. Considered mega-clubs, the two River North spots play to large crowds with international stars like John Digweed and Deep Dish as the main attractions.

Celeb DJs in Chicago

There’s a lot of controversy about the popularity of the “celebrity deejay,” or the performers who have made their name playing for Hollywood and NYC A-List crowds. Typically based on either coast, in recent years they’ve been coming to Chicago’s trendiest spots to play for our A-List loungers. These deejays are mostly known for spinning mashups, which consist of just about every genre, from rock ‘n’ roll to hip-hop to pop.

The most well-known stars hit the bars where there’s usually a hefty entrance fee and recommended bottle service if you want to sit down. Steve Aoki a.k.a. DJ Kid Millionaire, Samantha Ronson, DJ Mompants and DJ Kiss have played the likes of Underground, Manor, Crimson, Le Passage, and Enclave.

Alternative Chicago Clubs

And we would be remiss if we left out Chicago’s alternative night spots, where deejays spin more offbeat flavor for your ears. Wicker Park’s Lava Lounge is more than just a hipster neighborhood bar, as local deejays spin cool beats of dub, reggae and liquidy rock nuggets you won’t find elsewhere.

Delilah’s - best known for the most extensive bourbon selection in the Midwest - hits a high note with fans for insurgent country music, Rockabilly and Brit pop. And Neo has been around since 1979, but it seems as though nothing has changed inside this Lincoln Park labyrinth. The punks still come for the industrial and Goth scene seven nights a week.

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nearby places of interest

People Lounge
1560 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60622

This Spanish tapas restaurant and music lounge also has a happening bar scene.

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
1 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60610

This Chicago brewpub is an outpost of the nationwide chain; the top draw here is the rotating selection of handcrafted beers brewed on-site.

Rockit Bar & Grill
22 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60610

Stylish yet comfortable, this River North bar and grill puts a twist on American favorites. Expect to hear some classic rock music as the name implies and take in the old album cover-jacketed menus.

Schoolyard Tavern & Grill
3258 N. Southport, Chicago, IL 60657

A fun beer-and-a-shot spot on the city's North Side, Schoolyard is a good bar to begin your North Side evening...not far from Wrigley Field!

Drinks Over Dearborn
650 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60654

This boutique beer, wine and spirits shop carries an inventory carefully selected by Kyle McHugh, a food and wine professional with years of experience in the restaurant and nightlife industries. Not just a shop, Drinks Over Dearborn will also offer a wide range of special events and tastings, including the "Rare & Luxurious Room." Sounds fun.

Big Chicks
5024 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60640

The colorful Uptown bar caters to a mostly lesbian and gay clientele but is very straight-friendly.

Casey Moran's
3660 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60613

This top Wrigleyville-area sports bar is a no-brainer to visit if you're visiting the home of the Chicago Cubs, but is a year-round home to sports fanatics and just fans, too.

Chi Bar
301 East North Water Street, Chicago, IL 60611

Created by renowned designer, Jeffrey Beers, Chi Bar boasts innovative cocktails, shareabledelights, and sleek ambiance.

English
444 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60610

From the Eat Well, Drink Better group, comes a new gastropub known as English. Located in the beautiful River North area, English serves good food and offers a wide variety of liquor choices as well as the favored beers and ales.

Faith and Whiskey
1365 W Fullerton Ave., Chicago, IL 60614

Faith & Whiskey features more than 100 whiskys, bourbons and scotches.

Fizz Bar & Grill
3220 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60657

Enjoy any of the multiple Chicago nightlife scenes available at this popular North Side bar. The basics are all in place here and it's good for a solo night at the bar or any kind of group event you can dream up

Flat Iron
1565 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60622

Located in the Flat Iron Arts Building in Wicker Park, this late night tavern offers a full bar, three pool tables and a jukebox for a low key feel. To add some flair, local artists have covered the walls with urban artwork and funky graffiti-style murals.

Le Passage
937 N. Rush St., Chicago, IL 60610

A top Chicago nightclub for going on a decade, this Gold Coast neighborhood nightlife haven attracts a high-profile crowd. It seems likely that this will be a club destination in Chicago for years to come.

Lumen
839 W. Fulton Market , Chicago, IL 60607

Lumen is a contemporary lounge and bar environment designed with Chicago's sophisticated urban crowd in mind. With postmodern ambiance and local and international deejay talent, Lumen is an innovative socializing hot-spot.

NV Penthouse Lounge
116 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60610

This ultra-hip modern lounge sits atop 7 floors and serves an exclusive crowd. Take in the sweeping views of the Chicago skyline while the new-wave DJs keep the pop music thumping in the background. The outdoor terrace is a popular place to imbibe a pricy, but well-made drink.

Ohm
1958 W. North Ave., Chicago , IL 60160

Ohm nightclub has a solid roster of guest deejays who mix electronic and Chicago house music for an authentic dance floor experience. The alley way entrance leads to a multi-level venue with a perfect after dark vibe.

Pops for Champagne
601 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60611

Live jazz, huge champagne list, and a fireplace create a memorable atmosphere.>

Redmoon
70 S. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60605

A sophisticated suburban Chicago night spot with guest DJs weekly, Redmoon delivers with a wide-ranging martini menu and other club features like the huge projection screens showing all kinds of footage.

Rednofive
440 N. Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60622

Dance club with funky atmosphere, intriguing lighting, and an upper VIP level that has been relevant for years now with constantly changing music line-ups and promotions.

Religion
720 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60610

This reinvented Chicago club is now Religion and was part of Club 720, a top Latin dance spot. The new space rocks more of a DJ-induced sound, dancing and a cosmopolitan club experience without the pretensions.

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
1 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60610

This Chicago brewpub is an outpost of the nationwide chain; the top draw here is the rotating selection of handcrafted beers brewed on-site.

Rockit Bar & Grill
22 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL 60610

Stylish yet comfortable, this River North bar and grill puts a twist on American favorites. Expect to hear some classic rock music as the name implies and take in the old album cover-jacketed menus.

Roscoe's Tavern
3356 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614

This popular gay and lesbian spot includes six bars and a large dance floor en route to one of the wilder nightlife experiences in all of Chicago.

Schoolyard Tavern & Grill
3258 N. Southport, Chicago, IL 60657

A fun beer-and-a-shot spot on the city's North Side, Schoolyard is a good bar to begin your North Side evening...not far from Wrigley Field!

Schuba's Tavern
3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, IL 60657

Intimate setting and great sound blend for great live music shows and a casual environment are all represented at this North Side bar.

Sidetrack
3349 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60657

This spacious club is appreciated for its highly social front piano and great people-watching that goes along with its location along one of the busiest boulevards in Boys Town.

Stone Lotus
873 N. Orleans St., Chicago, IL 60610

Asian "tranquility" meets posh, Chicago nighttime scene. Voted best new bar in the country.

The Underground
54 W Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60610

The Underground is late-night dance spot offering a constantly changing line-up of talent from DJ's to Hip Hop performers and you never know what. It's one of the likeliest spots to catch a high-toned celebrity in Chicago (from David Beckham to classic acts like the Sugar Hill Gang).The decor here recalls a futuristic underground bunker complex-like feel except that the steady wave of beautiful people lends a more positive note to the ambience.