1. The Violet Hour
8.9
1520 N Damen Ave (at Pierce Ave), Chicago, IL
Speakeasy · Wicker Park · 255 tips and reviews
Ross Garner: Worth the wait. Unmatched cocktails served in an intimate atmosphere. Go during the week to avoid the long weekend lines.
Pocket Sun: Nice and intimate atmosphere, great for a cocktail date! The cocktails with egg white are interesting, but I prefer the sweeter ones. The entrance is very hidden so you gotta be looking for it.
Alex Pugh: Very intimate vibrant, great drinks and excellent staff
2. Lincoln Hall
9.1
2424 N Lincoln Ave (btwn W Montana St & W Fullerton Ave), Chicago, IL
Music Venue · North Side · 72 tips and reviews
Michael Moses: Similar feel to the Bowery in NYC, but much more intimate. Run, don't walk, to any concert here.
Kelly Canton: You cannot beat this place for intimate music good crowds and excellent sound.
Renae Mason: Gorgeous venue in an interesting part of town. Nice intimate size for smaller acts.
3. Beat Kitchen
8.4
2100 W Belmont Ave (at Hoyne Ave), Chicago, IL
Music Venue · Roscoe Village · 49 tips and reviews
Stacy Young: Awesome intimate venue, inexpensive drinks & great bands.
Sam M.: Great, intimate venue to see concerts. Fun comedy show every Tuesday at 9:30P. Only $5! EVERYTHING on the menu is delicious. One of the best places in the city.
Chicagoist: Shows here are intimate because they have to be, and some of my favorite moments soaking up the music have been here. Read more.
5. House of Blues
8.9
329 N Dearborn St (btwn Kinzie St & Wacker Dr), Chicago, IL
Music Venue · Near North Side · 197 tips and reviews
Tracy Crystal: Amazing venue for a concert! Small and intimate (at least compared to Northern California venues!) There's even a great view from the bar area!
Veronica Cervantes: Great venue, smaller and intimate.
Teresa: Great venue, smaller than expected, but that makes it an intimate concert setting.
7. Ella Elli
9.4
1349 w Cornelia (Southport), Chicago, IL
American Restaurant · Lakeview · 7 tips and reviews
Staff Picks: With an elevated take on Mediterranean fare, Ella Elli is a fine addition to busy Southport. And with an atmospheric nod to Art Deco, this spot is a good choice for intimate conviviality and wine.
Meghan Preuss: Such a cute wine bar!! Haven’t tried the food but perfect for a drink before or after dinner
Kate Richter: Love the cocktails
8. Broadway Playhouse
8.8
175 E Chestnut St (btwn Mies van der Rohe Way & Michigan Ave), Chicago, IL
Performing Arts Venue · Streeterville · 13 tips and reviews
FJ Bering: Nice, intimate venue. Potted Potter was hilarious!
Hannah Alkadi: We saw Stomp here. Nice and intimate theater.
Lucy Trevino: They have the best wheelchair accessible seats! Better than the Cadillac Palace, Oriental Theater, or Chicago Theater.
Samantha A.: Get there at least 10 mins early, grab a drink at their bar, and don't be the last in line to get in the theater. It's an intimate auditorium and usually open seating!
Jake Smith: Aside from stage productions, this theater also has intimate poetry or book readings. Check with the box office for more info on the variety of things you could potentially see.
Rachel Moseberry: Great small theater!!! ... Please support the arts!
14. Empty Bottle
8.7
1035 N Western Ave (at W Cortez St), Chicago, IL
Music Venue · Ukrainian Village · 84 tips and reviews
Brett Widmann: Small and intimate venue with very comforting and positive vibes. Worth checking out. Decent prices on drinks, too.
Todd Kuna: Great intimate club to catch a concert
keidra chaney: A place where you can check out really eclectic sounds for fairly cheap, with a great beer selection. Whoever books their shows has good taste in metal.
15. Boeufhaus
8.6
1012 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL
Steakhouse · Humboldt Park · 17 tips and reviews
GQ Magazine: Boeufhaus neatly takes all the clichés and satisfactions of a traditional Big Shoulders steak house and applies them to an intimate, almost feminine bistro setting. Read more.
Tasting Table: This French German steakhouse is a carnivore's dream come true. Go for their classic 55-day dry-aged rib eye and stay for the ingenious extras, like braised short rib beignets and leek spaetzle. Read more.
Chicagoist: From the copper-topped tables to the 11-day dry aged ribeye with bearnaise sauce and roast mushrooms, this is a restaurant to take seriously. Read more.