There are so many things that can go wrong on a first date. You could approach the wrong person while searching for your Tinder match or accidentally bring up your ex or stumble over how to split the bill. Of course, the venue you select for a first date (a fancy fine dining restaurant vs. a cozy dive bar) says a lot about your personality and can potentially make or break a budding relationship. Hoping to make it to date number two? Here are 10 bars you should absolutely, positively never visit on a first date.
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Visit Exit on the wrong day (or right one, depending on your interests) and there’s a very good chance that you and your date may find yourselves in the middle of bondage night, which has the potential to be really awkward. Then again, your date might be into that.
Save it for: When it’s 2am and you want to keep the night going, but can’t stomach a bro bar.
Nothing says “romance” like a history of health code violations and portraits of Da May’r.
Save it for: When you and your coworkers want to drown your sorrows in vodka after a really, really bad day.
Do we even need to explain this one? Really?
Save it for: Friday night with your Alpha Fappa Deltoid brothers.
Okay, we admit: Moe’s Cantina River North isn’t so bad, but we can’t say the same for the Wrigleyville location. Unless you and your date are into subpar food and drunk, squealing patrons, steer clear.
Save it for: When you and your friends want to act like idiots without embarrassment, because you know everyone around you is way, way worse.
If the name alone wasn’t a dead giveaway, the sticky floors and the omnipresent scent of urine and vomit should be a pretty good indication that this is a pretty bad spot for a date.
Save it for: Before a Cub’s game. Maybe afterward, if you’re brave enough to face the sloppy drunk masses.
Unless a tightly packed venue, sweaty strangers and tinnitus are your idea of a perfect first date, then you’ll probably want to skip Evil Olive, particularly if you’re hoping to hold off on sweaty physical contact until after your third date.
Save it for: The next time you want to relive your youth by juking to DJ Funk at 4am.
If bars were people, then Nick’s would be Moe’s hipster wannabe cousin. It’s slightly more tolerable, but more appropriate for those times when you just don’t give a *bleep* about what anyone thinks of you.
Save it for: Those nights when you’ve officially stopped caring.
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Tavern on Rush has good food, a nice location and great outdoor seating. But it’s also the type of place that posts Agent Provocateur lingerie ads that say “For all the naughty girls in the neighborhood” during the holiday shopping season.
Save it for: When you’re 60 years old and ready to adopt your very first sugar baby.
Drunk tourists, bachelorette parties and drunk tourists in town for bachelorette parties. Need I say more?
Save it for: Your own bachelorette party.
By now, you’re probably noticing a theme: late night bars are generally bad date spots. Tai’s Til Four is no exception.
Save it for: After the 2am bars have closed, before you’re drunk enough to actually stomach Taco Bell.
Chicagoans don't discriminate when it comes to booze: We love guzzling craft beer, fancy cocktails, margaritas by the pitcher and interesting wines. No matter what neighborhood you find yourself in, there's sure to be a bartender waiting to fix you a drink. Consider this your exhaustive guide to Chicago's always-evolving bar scene.
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