Hey there, I'm your go-to guy for all things dating and hooking up in the Windy City. Having lived in Chicago for several years, I've explored the dating scene extensively, making the most of the city's vibrant atmosphere. So, when it comes to Chicago hookups, you can trust that I've got the inside scoop. Let's dive into my personal guide, based on my experiences and successes.
Between the Midwestern charm and the year-round events, festivals and parties, there are ample opportunities to meet other singles and find Chicago hookups. However, when you're looking for friends with benefits, sometimes the options can be as bleak as our winters. No matter how many dive bars you visit, at times, you can't scratch your itch.
It's strange that in a city of 2.7 million people, getting laid in Chicago would ever be a challenge. Yet it can be, and the reason is simple: You're using the wrong methods or you're looking in the wrong places. It doesn't matter if you're in Viagra Triangle, Englewood or Boystown, if your only technique for getting laid is hitting up the same pickup bar night after night, you might as well be out in South Bend. You need to be making the most of your time and money!
Perk up, we're here to help. With the assistance of hookup experts and local guides, we've curated a list of the best hookup spots in the city where we've seen the best results at. Read them both below and let us know how our suggestions worked for you in the comments as well as suggestions for other great spots to find a hookup.
Table of Contents
Our favorite spots to find Chicago hook ups
As fun as our city is, sometimes you don’t feel like dealing with the elements to hit up a ton of bars and hope you strike gold. That’s why so many people are turning to these tried and tested spots:
Slippery Slope has to be one of the best options to find hookups in Chicago
A LOT of hookups in Chicago happen because of AFF (try it free)
With over 50 million active users, the best alternative to Tinder that I've tried is AFF. Honestly, it’s not even a competition, because for most of us, AFF is way more fun and the easiest way to find some action I've seen. It’s taken the top spot on our annual list of the best hookup methods online for three years straight, and I doubt that’s going to change anytime soon.
For most people out there (especially guys) it's going to give you the best results and is the first option you should try when looking for hookups. You really don’t have anything to lose by checking it out and could give yourself a lot of new options. We have seen the best response from the first messages from women using it and are pretty confident you will too.
There isn't an option out there making it easier for a guy, especially those who aren't super good looking
A big part of its appeal is that everyone who signs up knows what they’re in for. AFF is made for helping singles (and couples) get laid in Chicago. There is no other reason to sign up if you aren’t looking for some bedroom fun.
If you haven't checked out their free trial below yet there's a good chance you're leaving options on the table. It's hard enough for a guy without taking advantage of all your options!
How easy is it to get laid in Chicago?
Chicago, with nearly a million singles, offers a plethora of hookup opportunities. Trust me; I've been there. Whether you're a local or a tourist, there's an abundance of chances to have a fling with someone special. It might not be effortless, but with the right approach and the right spots, you can make it happen.
You need to be thankful for your luck every day you spend as a single in Chicago (even during the winter). There are a TON of singles in this city and more and more they are favoring casual relationships of hookups instead of the traditional boyfriend/girlfriend arrangement. When there are nearly a million singles in the city that means there are a LOT of options out there.
We also get a lot of tourists, bachelor/bachelorette parties, and other visitors looking for a good time. They can often be VERY willing to have a fling with a local.
Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that it's easy to get laid in Chicago but there are a lot more opportunities here than you will find in most other places, and most singles will be able to get lucky with a little effort and spending time with the right apps/spots.
How to get laid in Chicago
Try Hookup Apps: The digital age has transformed the dating scene. Spend a bit of time each week on apps like AFF – it can pay off big time. A huge number of hookups start online now. You don't have spend all day on the apps but spending 10-20 minutes a week sending messages can really pay off. These are the best hookup apps in Chicago right now:
| Site | Our Experience | Our Rating | Free Trial Link |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Hookup Site Right Now  | Experience Highlights
| 9 | Try AFF For Free |
Great If You're Handsome  | Tinder Highlights
| 8 | Try Tinder |
2nd Best For Most Guys  | Experience Highlights
| 8 | Try Passion |
Get Out and About: Hookup apps are fantastic, but don't forget the power of meeting people in person. I've compiled a list of my favorite hookup bars and clubs below.
Variety is Key: Different nights attract different crowds. Don't limit yourself; try out various places in one night and meet as many attractive singles as possible. Trust me; it's worth it.
The best Chicago pickup bars we've tried
I love a good drink, and I know many others do too. That's why I've got the scoop on the best places to pick up girls in Chicago.
The Sixth is one of the chillest cocktail lounges
@TheSixthBar
The Sixth in Lincoln Square is where sophistication meets a laid-back vibe. Their cocktails are second to none, and I've struck up many conversations over these artful drinks. Whether you're on a date or flying solo, this is a fantastic spot for Chicago hookups.
The Sixth has avoided that fate by being both cool and easygoing. Instead of trying to bury their customers in how sophisticated they are, this cocktail lounge is chill and friendly. It’s like your neighborhood bar, but it just happens to produce some of the most enticing cocktails in town. Even if you’re not a big drinker, the drink presentation alone is worth the visit. And yes, Milwaukee girls love this spot too!
In fact, the drinks are a big reason this is such a good place to meet girls. The cocktails are fun and charming to look at, but they’re also strong and well made. The Sixth’s drinks are the perfect conversation starter until the booze has helped you relax more. If you’re taking out a date or looking to meet someone new, try out the city's friendliest, most enjoyable cocktail lounge.
Kaiser Tiger livens up the city's social scene year-round
@kaisertigerchicago
Chicago winters can be brutal, but Kaiser Tiger keeps the city's social scene alive year-round. I've had my share of memorable nights here, and it's not just about the beer garden – it's the infinite possibilities it offers. For a lot of people, wintertime in our city means hibernation. Come mid-January, they’re happy to avoid the cold nights and weekends by getting through their Netflix queue on the couch. But, just because the wind is bitter, that doesn’t mean they don’t still get bit by the lonely bug. They’re not the only ones. That’s why, in the coldest months, Union Park’s Kaiser Tiger still packs in crowds. And that sometimes includes girls who have yet to find St. Paul hookups back home.
You might not immediately think of an outdoor beer garden as a wintertime draw for pretty girls. However, Kaiser Tiger is not just a beer garden. Sure, they have the requisite tasty selection of beers on tap and in bottles. And, yeah, they serve a selection of German-inspired comfort food. But every outing to this quintessentially Chicago beer garden is like walking into a house party with infinite possibilities.
Like many bars, Kaiser Tiger offers space to play bocce ball in the sunny months. They even bring out musicians to play some nights of the week. What really sets this spot apart, though, is the ice sheet curling lanes in the cold months. That isn’t something you’ll find anywhere else. And that’s the kind of novelty that brings in people – specifically attractive ladies – every month of the year.
Sakura Karaoke Bar can make finding Chicago hook ups simple
@SakuraKaraokeLounge
If your idea of a karaoke bar is a spot where a bunch of Iowa girls on a bachelorette weekend (terribly) sing Britney Spears, you need to check out Sakura Karaoke. There are a surprising number of local hookups that start off in places like this. Located in Chinatown, this bar is part dance club, part sports bar, and completely a good time. Plus, if karaoke is truly your jam, you can rent a private room, but it’s just as fun to hang out with the crowd and get close up with a lot of other singles. I'm no John Mayer, but trust me when I say that even if you’re not a singer, just that little display of skill (or confidence, in my case) can be enough to get you laid. Sakura has different themed karaoke nights and more than 100,000 songs in their library.
Getting laid at The Owl is pretty easy
If cocktail lounges seem a little stuffy for your tastes, try The Owl instead. This bar, which stays open until 4 in the morning every day, is a perfect, low-key place to meet some new friends and get a number or two. Located in Logan Square, lots of people make this their last stop of the night before they decide who they’re going home with. It’s definitely one of the best hookup spots in city if you're just looking for Chicago hookups. And if you can't find hookups in Minneapolis, you might as well go here.
In addition to being a fun spot for a drink, The Owl has events throughout the week including DJ sets and concerts which makes striking up a conversation with a woman easy. These musical nights bring out big crowds, which is perfect for finding yourself a dance partner, whether vertical or horizontal. Even if you come on the rare quiet night at The Owl, their jukebox always has a great selection of tunes.
210 Live is a different kind of music venue
There are tons of music venues in our city, but few are as conducive to meeting a beautiful stranger as 210 Live. Located in North Shore, 210 Live has live music five nights a week and gets busy (but not necessarily crowded) for basically every show. The crowds here are eclectic, and because the music tends to be more diverse than most clubs, you find more people in their 30s here looking for hookups, it will be hard to miss the signs they are sending you.
As opposed to a lot of the hipster music clubs where attendees are too cool to talk to each other, people actually interact here. That’s a big part of its appeal. Even if the music isn’t your favorite style, it generally doesn’t cost much to get in, and the live music makes for a more interesting backdrop than top 40 dance songs.
Music venues abound in Chicago, but 210 Live stands out. With diverse live music and a crowd that interacts, it's where I've met people who share my taste in tunes and interests. Don't miss out on this gem for hooking up in Chicago.
The best clubs for finding hookups in Chicago
The modern club scene is all about hot girls showing off their assets in tight dresses and short skirts. For a guy like me with simple tastes, this is more than enough to get me all dressed up to go clubbing. If you’re looking for single girls, you better believe they’re dancing at the clubs.
Smartbar has kept the nightlife lively for decades
@smartbarchicago
Few types of nightspots are more susceptible to trends than dance clubs. Think about how dance styles and music have changed so dramatically, even just in the last few years. A dance club that was wall-to-wall packed last summer could be a ghost town by Christmas. It takes something special to create and maintain a club where people come year after year, generation after generation. That is exactly what Smartbar has done, against all odds. If you can't get laid in Detroit, you can cross the lake and get lucky here!
Set in the shadow of Wrigley Field, Smartbar has been enticing asses onto the dance floor since the early 80s. It’s done so by evolving with the times and hiring some of the best DJs around to host their weekends. Their roster of DJs knows how to keep a night moving with a mix of modern hits and pure classics. They also bring in outside artists for lively events and concerts.
As a result, Smartbar is one of the best places to pick up girls. From Thursday to Sunday, the ladies come out in droves to dance and have a great time. Most of the people there weren’t even born when Smartbar first opened their doors. It doesn’t matter. A good time is a good time, and that’s something this landmark has always offered.
Bordel is the city's sexiest, most seductive lounge
@BordelChicago
We live in a time when sexuality is fluid and the line between eroticism and entertainment is being constantly blurred. The old-fashioned clubs with buxom cocktail waitresses and stone-faced bartenders just don’t have the seductive power they once had. If you want to get a girl’s engine revving, you need to explore a more sensual night out. That’s the kind of night out that I've experienced at Bordel time and time again.
This bordello-themed bar on the edge of Wicker Park always has sex on the mind. And we don’t just mean the absolutely stunning line-up of cabaret dancers. On some nights, you’ll see a band or singer performing. Others, you’ll experience the sensual entertainment of the aforementioned dancers. But the sexiness of Bordel isn’t just in the tantalizing and titillating performances.
Every aspect of the bar is designed to create an atmosphere that exudes sexual energy. This dimly lit club hums with red and gold hues, while the bartenders expertly craft intoxicating works of art. In Bordel, Chicago has a club that merges old-world eroticism with modern, uninhibited sexual freedom. The result is one of the sexiest spots in town and a surefire way to seduce hot girls.
Where to find a one night stand in Chicago
If you're not looking for any kind of relationship and want something SUPER casual we can help with that too. Finding a one night stand in Chicago is a lot easier than most places, especially if you live near downtown.
These are our favorite places that make finding one night of fun a lot easier:
- PRYSM - 1543 N Kingsbury St, Chicago, IL 60642
- LITE - 215 W Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60654
- Le Nocturne - 4810 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640
- Bluelight - 3251 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Best places to meet sexy Chicago girls during the day
Who says finding hookups in our city is easier at night? These daytime hotspots will prove them wrong!
Coffee Lab is a haven for Northwestern’s cutest girls
@Coffeelabevanston
We can’t be the only ones who have a thing for nerdy girls. The smart cuties up at Northwestern make it worth taking the train up to Evanston. While college girls go to plenty of bars, if you really want to find their go-to hangouts, think coffee not cocktails. If you matched with someone on the best hookups apps in Fort Wayne, why not invite her here?
Coffee Lab is one of the most consistently busy local spots in Evanston. It’s a hip, globally conscious coffee house that appeals perfectly to the coed crowd. They also happen to brew a decent cup of joe. If you’re a Northwestern student or just someone that’s regularly in Evanston, Coffee Lab should be a regular haunt. Who knows how many hookups in Chicago you'll find.
Dark Matter Coffee is the best place to pick up girls that isn’t a bar
@DarkMatterCoffee
We already recommended a great coffee shop for picking up college girls. But coffee shops aren’t just for nerds. These days, cool coffee shops give bars a run for their money in terms of serving the hottest girls. There are some great coffee bars in town, but Dark Matter Coffee bests them all.
Styled like a southwestern bar, this Belmont Avenue coffee shop has become the place to be while the sun is out. It’s grown into one of the city’s most reliable options for day dates, both because it’s convenient and hip. If you can’t wait until nightfall to pick up a girl, Dark Matter Coffee is your best bar alternative.
Other great hookup spots to get laid in Chicago
If you haven't found any hookups in Chicago at the spots above, then these other options will help you out.
Pitchfork Music Festival has all the hot indie girls
It may be sacrilegious to suggest there is a better music festival in town than Lollapalooza, but so be it. In terms of musical acts, your festival preferences are surely going to vary. But, if you’re talking about the hottest girls in Chicago, Pitchfork Music Festival is music to our ears. Girls from all the way in Indianapolis go here for a weekend of fun and music. I've even met (and maybe gotten a little frisky) with girls all the way from SoCal!
Year after year, all those indie music acts and hipster performers attract this city’s sexiest crowds. Frankly, I don’t even look at who’s playing, I just go to wherever the hot Chicago girls are standing. Ignore the travel guides. Come summertime, there is no better view in town than the crowds at Pitchfork Music Festival.
Tinder is where hot guys and gals get laid in Chicago
We’d be mightily surprised if there was anyone in Chicago who hasn’t used Tinder yet. Your grandmother has probably swiped through a few times. In terms of online platforms, there are few that have been downloaded more – and then deleted later out of frustration.
It’s quite simple: Tinder is how sexy Chicago girls and dudes arrange to meet each other. For the rest of us, it’s like looking through an impressive catalog of things we’ll never be able to afford. If you happen to be one of those Hemsworth-looking guys, you are going to love Tinder. If not, maybe work on creating a great Tinder bio and keep swiping. With so many girls on Tinder, you’re sure to match with a handful!
Arbella is a great pickup bar to start with
@thedrinkdesigner
We have a great cocktail scene right now, so we’ve got to start our list at Arbella. Just off the Grand/State red line stop, this beautiful cocktail bar and restaurant treats their customers right. That's why so many come back time after time. That includes many gorgeous women looking for casual sex, so if you’re interested in seducing older women, this is a must-make stop.
Men and women of all ages loves this bar, though, because Arbella serves fantastic drinks and delicious food, all in a sensuous atmosphere. This is a great place to impress someone you’ve met online, or to meet someone completely new. However your night started, if you come here, we’re pretty sure we know how it’s going to end since this is one of the better places to meet older women looking for hookups.
Map of the best hookup spots in Chicago
To make things a lot easier we've put together a map of the best hookup spots we covered above. This will make planning out your path a lot easier depending on where you are in the city. Try a few different spots a night if you really want to find great success:
Frequently Asked Questions on Chicago Hookups
Where to meet single girls in Chicago?
The best places to meet single girls in Chicago are local bars and clubs. Here's a small list of the top destinations:
- Slippery Slope
- The Sixth
- Kaiser Tiger
- Sakura Karaoke Bar
- The Owl
Alternatively, you can always try using dating apps like AFF and eHarmony to find single girls in the city if you don't like going out too much.
Is Chicago a good city for singles?
Chicago is one of the best cities to go on a date in the United States. The variety of places, as well as people, is spot on for any single man or woman.
If you liked this check out these other great spots for hookups:
