14 Chicago bars and lounges for singles

Located in the Chicago Athletic Association, the sprawling bar has pool tables, a poker table, chess boards and a full bocce court, so there’s plenty of ways to strike up a conversation between rounds of affordable, well-made drinks from Paul McGee (Lost Lake).

The Bucktown favorite has a line on Friday and Saturday nights that’s worth the wait. Half bar and half apartment, the space will make you nostalgic for the house parties of your college days, if you aren’t still living them. Grab a glass of whiskey or dirt-cheap PBR and elbow your way into the crowd packed wall-to-wall with hipsters. Rotating DJs play everything from throwback 80s hip-hop to Brazilian samba, and there are plenty of dark candlelit corners to canoodle in if you hit it off with someone on the dance floor.

A haven for craft beer geeks, the Map Room is not your typical singles bar (in fact, we’d guess most spots on this list would be appalled by the moniker). While it’s worth the visit just for the constantly rotating selection of local and imported drafts and mile-long bottle list, the decidedly uneven ratio of men to women on any given night means ladies have their pick of the bearded-and-flannel-clad litter. Bonus: free pretzel sticks.

The neighborhood bar attracts a crowd from far beyond Humboldt Park borders, thanks to a funky, taxidermy-filled interior; large backyard patio with a summer bar and string lights; and cheap beer and shots. The lowlife—a shot of whiskey or a pull from the amaro machine (like the old Jäger machines) plus a High Life—is just $5, and is more consistent than the ever-rotating list of cocktails.

Tucked inside the entertainment epicenter that is Thalia Hall, Tack Room is a hidden piano saloon that's decked out in equestrian-themed decor and wax-dripping candelabras. The menu here is a menagerie of expertly crafted cocktails, wine, bar snacks, entrees and desserts. Coordinate your visit with a rotating schedule of piano players, who take a seat every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 9pm. Have your requests ready and your falsetto in tune.

This popular, upscale Andersonville martini lounge serves up cocktails to a mixed straight and gay crowd, making it an equal opportunity meeting place.

The payoff from the nautical theme hinted at by this blue-collar hangout’s name is decidedly small. Aside from a light fixture made from a ship’s wheel and anchor-shaped coat hooks, this is your standard shot-and-a-beer dive. The crowd here is composed primarily of townies, with a bit of overflow from the U. of C. student-heavy crowd at nearby Jimmy’s.