Nightlife in Montgomery

Swig’s neon red sign draws adventurers into an intimate bar tucked away in one of Wicker Park's crannies. Cocktail artisans keep bar-crawlers fueled for the night’s endeavors with a fully stocked collection of liquors and brews, and the kitchen staff prepares such tasty American bar fare—including hummus platters, turkey burgers, and teriyaki-beef skewers—that mouths partaking of it will never utter another word about hunger. Let bodies groove to the bar’s music while gazing upon local artwork and metal embellishments dangling from exposed-brick walls, which enclose an atmosphere noted for its appeal by Centerstage Chicago.

Behind a trio of picture windows, peppy jukebox tunes ricochet across chalkboard menus and red damask walls in Millie’s Tavern, a neighborhood bar founded by Millie Wahlenfeld in 1975. Brown swivel chairs sidle up to the wood-topped counter, where barkeepers pour specialty cocktails and craft, imported, and retro beers, such as Old Style, to complement a spectrum of pizzas and snacks. Flat-screen televisions broadcast sports games and other programs while pool balls clatter and free games of steel-tipped darts test guests’ agility and Cupid understudy potential. Millie’s Tavern hosts periodic special events, such as ugly-sweater extravaganzas, Hall & Oates parties, and movie nights featuring Kingpin and other classics.

B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted welcomes lifelong blues aficionados and casual listeners alike to its daily performances primarily by local artists. Sets by groups such as Vance "Guitar" Kelly and the Backstreet Blues Band begin each night at 9:30 p.m., and patrons can linger as late as 3 a.m. to grab more drinks or wait for the band's bass to turn back into a pumpkin. The intimately sized venue clusters all of its tables near the stage, ensuring that the entire audience remains within earshot of the soulfully crooned melodies.

Mardi Gras lasts all year at Blue Bayou Bar & Grill. Strings of beads dangle everywhere, from the wooden rafters of the ceiling to the awning of the full bar. Live music performances fill the air with sounds from jazz and brass to rock. Perched atop red barstools, patrons toast Louisiana sports teams with sazeracs, hurricanes, and other classic Big Easy drinks. And servers with necks looped in yet more beads fuel festivities with jambalaya, alligator sausage, crawfish etouffée, and other meals with Cajun spice. Away from the action, on the quieter outdoor patio, diners can also dig into desserts such as bananas foster crowned with whipped cream and cinnamon-tabasco pecans.

With executive chef Matthew Dean at the helm, Bonsai Bar & Lounge’s chefs craft a menu of modern, Asian-influenced fare, served in an equally chic, contemporary space. In the kitchen, they turn to napkin-drawn blueprints to assemble thai lettuce wraps with chicken strips and sweet red-chili sauce, which servers deliver to diners seated beneath multicolored paper lamps. Behind the bar, mixologists concoct a host of martinis made up of infused Pinnacle vodka, fresh juices, and flavored liqueurs.