8. Berlin
“Rolling Stone” magazine once named it “Best Dance Club” in Chicago for good reason.
An intimate joint with two bars, a small dance floor with a tiny stage and bass cabinets that double as platforms for drag queens, exotic dancers, or fetish shows that perform on occasion.
This freak-friendly dance destination in Lakeview built its reputation back in the mid-’80s with a mix of German new-wave music, art installations and even transvestite shows. These days, it’s still quirky but more retro, with Prince-tribute, disco and ’80s nostalgia nights.
Regardless of your sexual orientation, all are welcome on the dance floor, as has been the case for 30 years, and the scene picks up significantly here after midnight, when the 24-hour party people converge to dance until the morning light.
