Compare Chinatown Craft Cocktails With South Loop DJ Sets in Chicago

Tucked behind Moon Palace Express at 216 W Cermak Rd, Nine Bar is Chinatown's first cocktail bar. Its industrial space draws on Tokyo and Hong Kong alleyways and the film Blade Runner. Asian-inspired craft cocktails use Asian liquors and ingredients, served beside American classics and a concise snack menu of vegan milk bread, McKatsu sandwiches and crab rangoons. Visitors also mention brûlée toast and strong drinks among its highlights. A small sign marks the entrance, and crowd sizes are controlled at the door. It holds a 4.5 rating from 469 reviews.

BASSLINE at 2239 S Michigan Ave is a narrow, brick-clad South Loop lounge that pairs specialty drinks with live music and DJ sets. It is popular for private events as well as evening sound sets. Seating is limited across the slender interior, and the room leans toward dancing and standing room over sitting. Parking nearby can be challenging. It opens at 5:00 PM every day and stays open until 3:00 AM on Friday and Saturday. It holds a 4.2 rating from 819 reviews.

These two late-night bars split along a simple line. Nine Bar is about the glass and the plate, with Asian-inspired cocktails, creative snacks and a cinematic room reached through an easy to miss entrance behind a fast-food spot. BASSLINE is about the music, with live sets and DJs filling a narrow brick room that leans toward standing and mingling. Choose Nine Bar for conversation over craft drinks, and BASSLINE for dancing with a group. Expect a short wait at Nine Bar and limited parking near BASSLINE.