You can’t help but feel the history in the air when you walk into The Green Mill. This jazz club and cocktail lounge takes you back to the 1930s and has actually been open for over 100 years. It’s known for hosting the likes of Al Capone and other Chicago gangsters who would use the bar as a hang out during the Prohibition Era. The bartenders might even point to the alleged tunnels the gangsters used to escape from police back in the day.
History isn’t the only reason to visit the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge though. I like this place because stiff drinks and top notch live jazz are as definitively Chicago as corrupt politicians and hot dogs. The club features all sorts of live jazz music every night of the week. You’ll find gritty jazz one night and a more classic big band the next. Bartenders know exactly how to make a perfectly fitting martini.
The Green Mill charges cover, only takes cash and doesn’t serve food. Those are all good things. You come here to listen to amazing live music and bask in the history of the club while enjoying strong drinks. During performances you might get hushed if you are talking too loud; the crowd takes the performances very seriously. You’ll spot people in t-shirts and torn jeans and others dressed to impress. All are welcome.
