Welcome to our Exploring Chicago Series where we cover the best places around Chi-Town to enjoy and bask in the culture of the Windy City—follow this series to stay up to date on the hottest spots in our magnificent city.
Fulton Market is making its mark in Chicago’s extensive food and drink scene! What used to be the warehouse district of Chicago has since transformed into one of the fastest-growing stretches in the city, even rivaling the bar scene in South Loop. Tucked away in the West Loop, Fulton Market is home to some of the best localities in Chicago.
You’ll find a myriad of entertainment options and trendy corporate headquarters (Google office anyone?), as well as convenient access to other Chicago neighborhoods. We’ve done the research and collaborated with our team of locals to give you the best bars in the Fulton Market! Read on to see what made the list.
If you stop by any of these spots and find that this incredible area resonates with you, we’ve got you covered when trying to find an apartment near Fulton Market! We can find your dream apartment within walking distance of any of these spectacular watering holes at no cost to you.
If you get hungry after grabbing a drink at one of these spots, check out our top picks of Fulton Market restaurants.
With our expert local knowledge and personalized recommendations based on your apartment criteria, you’ll have all the information you need to make a confident decision about moving into your next home. Reach out to get started here!
Top 5 Fulton Market Bars
Lazy Bird
Located: 200 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607
Located in the cellar level of The Hoxton Hotel, Lazy Bird invites you into a mysterious new world with its intimate, speakeasy vibe as soon as you walk in. Voted #6 out of the 20 best bars by the Chicago Magazine in 2019, Lazy Bird hit the ground running only two years ago and hasn’t stopped thriving since.
Boasting a quality drink list of 52 signature cocktails, the beverage director for this spot ‒ Lee Zaremba‒ is well known in Chicago for being a top-notch cocktail connoisseur. And the cherry on top? Lazy Bird has live music every week, Wednesday through Saturday. So stop by, grab an expertly crafted cocktail, and enjoy the underground show.
Our favorite drink: The Clover Club is a revamp of a traditional, pre-prohibition elixir. This cocktail features London Dry Gin, handmade raspberry syrup, lemon, and egg white.
PB&J: Pizza Beer and Jukebox
Located: 205 N Peoria St, Chicago, IL 60607
In the mood for a local dive-esque spot to grab a beer and catch up with friends? Invite the gang over to PB&J. They call themselves PB&J because they specialize in great pizza, a wide selection of beers on tap, and a rockin’ vintage jukebox. We’ve got plenty of recommendations for your first visit: for pizza, grab a slice of their Chicago Heat Wave, made with spicy pepperoni and capicola.
For beer, peruse their bountiful selection of local Chicago and Midwest brews. And for the Jukebox, enjoy the jams that they have playing just loud enough to lift your spirits after a stressful work week. Plus, if you’re in the nostalgic mood for an actual PB&J sandwich, they’ve got you covered there too. PB&J is the best local spot to kick it and unwind.
Our favorite drink: Not in the mood for a beer? Don’t worry, they’ve got cocktails too. Snag their cocktail named “Fight Club”: a concoction of Captain Morgan, Campari, and tropical red bull. *We’re breaking the first rule of Fight Club‒ that’s how good this drink is!*
Federales
Located: 180 N Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60607
An open-air tequila and taco bar is the best place to go when you’re feeling cooped up this winter and missing the sunshine. Federales is Fulton Market’s resident trendy taco joint, and their ambiance and plating is perfect for tasting and for Instagram (#foodie)! Drop-in on a Saturday night for some chilled shots of tequila served in a shot glass made from ice— and don’t forget to chuck the glass at a bell mounted on the wall afterward.
With big plans for expansion, Federales will soon be opening in Dallas and Denver as well, but Chicago locals know that this amazing spot started in the Windy City.
Our favorite drink: Obviously a spot like this has wicked margaritas— choose to make any of them classic, skinny, or spicy. We recommend that you try their cinnamon allspice margarita, it’s perfect for the cooler months to warm you right up!
Aba
Located: 302 N Green St 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60607
Want to step into a Balkan-esque nightlife with authentic Greek cuisine and ouzo? Look no further than Aba! Aba brings flavors from Israel, Lebanon, Greece, and Turkey to its food and beverage menu.
With an incredible rooftop bar boasting beautiful views and intimate seating, this space gives you the perfect opportunity to explore new flavors with close friends. Fun fact: Aba means father in Hebrew, and you can also check out its counterpart in River North, Ema, which means mother.
Our favorite drink: You have to grab a drink off their reserve cocktail list. We love the Cafe Colada, which features Bacardi Gran Reserva Limitada, coffee liquor, coconut, pineapple, and nutmeg. A winter warm-up worth its weight in gold!
Blind Barber
Located: 948 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607
Blind Barber is the ultimate pseudo-prohibition era watering hole located in the trendy Fulton Market area. With the front business operating as an actual barbershop that turns out stylish cuts during the day, Blind Barber deceives the majority of the usual sidewalk passerbys.
But by night, the back door opens up to an incredible 70’s themed bar with groovy cocktails and a highly coveted grilled cheese menu. We’re here to tell you that it is definitely worth the wait, even if you get people doing a double-take wondering why you’re waiting in line in front of a barber shop at 11:30 PM on a Thursday.
Our favorite drink: Be sure to order their White Ferrari‒ made with Banhez Mezcal, spiced pear syrup, and white port. You’ll feel like a true VIP with this cocktail.
Find Your Dream Chicago Apartment
Now that you’ve heard all about the best Fulton Market bars, you could live close enough to become a regular! All you have to do is reach out to AptAmigo, and we’ll set you up with an apartment expert who is dedicated to finding your next Fulton Market apartments.
With our local insight, apartment expertise, and access to the best deals on the market, apartment hunting has never been easier. We do all the hard work for you— from sifting through units that match your preferences to scheduling a full day of tours. Give Aptamigo a call for a full-service apartment hunting experience at no cost!
Rebecca is a freelance writer with eight years of journalism experience. She recently graduated with a BA in Communications and a minor in journalism. She currently bartends in downtown Chicago and spends her free time exploring the city and making connections.
