Piano bars in Chicago?

March 2, 2008 3:14 PM

Where can I find a noirish or sleezeball lounge lizard style piano bar (or some approximation of one of these) in Chicago?

I'm not sure if "piano bar" is exactly the right term.

But I've been watching a lot of noir films lately and also reading up on lounge music (I'm aware that these are completely disparate sorts of scenes - but either one will do in this case), and I'm yearning for a glamorous-yet-shady place with a beautiful, smoky-voiced woman in a fancy gown at the piano playing some kind of vague jazz music and singing...

The music is probably the most important factor here.

posted by bubukaba to media & arts (7 comments total)

The Green Mill would probably work. The interior has a nice Al Copone vibe and the music is fantastic. I wouldn't call the jazz they have there lounge music, though.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 3:33 PM on March 2, 2008

Yeah, I'd second Green Mill. Awesome music and a 40s noir vibe. Get yer PBR on tap.
posted by Toekneesan at 4:49 PM on March 2, 2008

Yeah, lounge and jazz are actually two different sounds.
posted by miss lynnster at 7:56 PM on March 2, 2008

BTW, if you want old school piano bar, Jilly's was where Sinatra used to hang – he was close friends with the owner. Don't know what it's like now.
posted by miss lynnster at 8:07 PM on March 2, 2008

I like Jilly's--good bartenders, comfy stools, not too much of a crowd--but it's really just a bar on Rush Street. Less viagara triangle than most, but just a bar. I don't think there's even a place for a live musician to play.
posted by crush-onastick at 9:01 AM on March 3, 2008

me gusta el club de piano....
posted by locoindio at 7:40 PM on March 3, 2008

I like Jilly's--good bartenders, comfy stools, not too much of a crowd--but it's really just a bar on Rush Street. Less viagara triangle than most, but just a bar. I don't think there's even a place for a live musician to play.

There are three different pianists who play there during the week according to their website. It's called "Jilly's Piano Bar."
posted by miss lynnster at 8:21 AM on March 4, 2008