Restaurants With Excellent Live Music in Chicago, IL
Can your taste buds carry a tune? You’ll find out when you dine at one of Chicago’s best restaurants with live music. You simply have to experience jazz, the blues, or some rock ‘n roll live when spending time in this legendary music city. Check out this article for eight of the best restaurants with live music in Chicago!
Andy’s Jazz Club & Restaurant
11 East Hubbard Street, Chicago, IL
(312) 642-6805
Here’s where foodies and music lovers intersect. Andy’s Jazz Club & Restaurant offers an intimate, casual setting where you can chow down on great food while listening to great tunes. The appetizer menu hits all the right notes with empanadas, golden calamari, street corn, spinach artichoke dip, and other favorites. The main menu is stocked with New York strip, colossal baked prawns, braised beef short rib, homemade ravioli, kale salad, and much more!
Grapes & Grains
858 West Lake Street, Chicago, IL
(312) 776-6552
Grapes & Grains is widely regarded as the best spot for whiskeys and wines in Chicago. Located in West Loop, this bar and eatery showcases stunning brick walls, exposed wood beams, and romantic chandeliers. One glance at the baby grand piano located in the center of the dining room makes it clear that music lives here. Free live music at Grapes & Grains happens every Wednesday and Thursday from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. If you want to come for live performances on Fridays and Saturdays, there is an entry fee starting at 7 p.m.
Rosa’s Lounge
3420 West Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL
(773) 342-0452
Rosa’s Lounge is considered Chicago’s best blues lounge! In fact, it was named Chicago’s best blues club by the New York Times. For more than three decades, this spot has welcomed both legendary and up-and-coming performers. While there is a cover charge, the drinks at Rosa’s are reasonably priced. The old fashioned is especially good!
The Dearborn
145 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL
(312) 384-1242
The Dearborn wins hearts with Midwestern-style cooking in the heart of the Chicago Loop! While lunch here is for devouring meaty sandwiches and bountiful salads, the dinner menu is a medley of burrata, Midwest fried chicken, marinated short rib, bone marrow, duck breast, New York strip, burgers and more. The highlight of this restaurant is its Sunday brunches with live music! Dine from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday while enjoying a breezy, relaxing live performance. The Dearborn’s brunch menu tantalizes with eggs, burgers, BLTs, doughnuts, and fancy coffees.
Le Piano
6970 North Glenwood Avenue, Chicago, IL
(773) 209-7631
Le Piano has live shows starting at 7 p.m. every Tuesday through Sunday. This great restaurant in Roger’s Park also has a delicious dinner menu featuring steaks, lamb chops, penne-mushroom pasta, artichoke fritters with béarnaise, truffle fries, dessert beignets, and much more! A drink menu full of unique and strong concoctions is a highlight of the Le Piano experience. Consider this the best spot in Chicago to enjoy live jazz while sipping a pomegranate cosmopolitan.
Buddy Guy’s Legends
700 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL
(312) 427-1190
Buddy Guy’s Legends gives you a little taste of New Orleans right here in Chicago! This legendary blues joint in Chicago offers great food and drinks in a very approachable, welcoming atmosphere. You’ll be shocked by how generous the portions are for the price. The rich Louisiana-style gumbo featuring spicy sausage just cannot be beat! The Legends Chicken Sandwich is also a hit. Do leave room for the pecan pie.
Carnivale
702 West Fulton Market, Chicago, IL
(312) 850-5005
While live music isn’t always consistent at Carnivale, you can easily call ahead to see what the music schedule looks like for the weekend before planning a date. Carnivale serves up pan-Latin cuisine and craft cocktails. It has been a source of culinary and cultural inspiration since opening in the West Loop in 2005. Dine on seafood paella, steak and scallops, empanadas, lamb shank, coconut shrimp, and so many more flavorful treasures during your colorful experience here! There’s also an extensive wine list. While Carnivale is a lively spot for a date night, the brunch menu is designed to get you full with chicken and waffles, French toast, arepas de choclo, omelets, bacon dates, and vibrant midday cocktails.
Cabaret Zazou
32 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL
(312) 488-0900
Everyone needs to experience the food and fanfare of Chicago’s Cabaret Zazou! This restaurant is also a dinner theatre, jazz club, blues club, and comedy club. In addition to sparkling wines, cocktails, and beers, the menu features multiple courses of flavorful, satisfying favorites that honestly feel too classy to be served at a music or comedy venue. Of course, Cabaret Zazou is no ordinary venue! The full-course dinner here includes rolls, salad, your choice of main course, and dessert. Diners can choose from risotto, pan-seared salmon, lemon chicken breast, and filet mignon with jumbo shrimp when selecting their main courses.
For more recommendations on where to eat and drink in the city, check out our Chicago page, here!
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