The Green Mill
A legendary jazz club with Prohibition-era charm, once frequented by Al Capone, offering live music nightly.
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Must-see attractions
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The Green Mill
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A legendary jazz club with Prohibition-era charm, once frequented by Al Capone, offering live music nightly.
"Step back in time and experience the magic of Chicago's legendary jazz scene at The Green Mill."
Cash is King
Be prepared with cash for the cover charge and drinks, as this is a cash-only establishment.
Arrive Early for Seating
To secure a seat quickly, visit on less busy days or be prepared to stand initially.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Cocktail Bar, Jazz Club
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Historic Al Capone Haunt
Step back in time to a Prohibition-era speakeasy, once frequented by Al Capone himself.
Live Jazz Nightly
Immerse yourself in the swinging sounds of Chicago's legendary jazz scene, with top local and national acts.
Unique Cocktail Lounge
Enjoy satisfyingly stiff, old-school cocktails in a classic cash-only lounge with a vibrant atmosphere.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Cash is King
Be prepared with cash for the cover charge and drinks, as this is a cash-only establishment.
Arrive Early for Seating
To secure a seat quickly, visit on less busy days or be prepared to stand initially.
Book for Events
Register in advance for events like poetry slams to avoid disappointment.
Check the Schedule
Consult the website for the daily schedule and cover charge to plan your visit.
Tips
from all over the internet
Cash is King
Be prepared with cash for the cover charge and drinks, as this is a cash-only establishment.
Arrive Early for Seating
To secure a seat quickly, visit on less busy days or be prepared to stand initially.
Book for Events
Register in advance for events like poetry slams to avoid disappointment.
Check the Schedule
Consult the website for the daily schedule and cover charge to plan your visit.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
The Green Mill is lauded for its incredible historic ambiance, fantastic live jazz music, and strong cocktails, offering a true speakeasy experience reminiscent of the Prohibition era. While many praise the intimate atmosphere and talented performers, some find the venue overly crowded, particularly on busy nights, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite minor complaints about congestion, the overwhelming sentiment is one of delight for this iconic Chicago jazz club.
"Great venue! We arrived after the start of the 8pm show but the front door staff queued us in that seats usually open up just after intermission and we found a table soon after. The band was great and drinks were cheap. Service was prompt and friendly. Will definitely be coming back!
Cover was $20. Drinks $6-12."
Matt DeCesare
"The local is magic and has a great history. The unique weak pois is the bartender. His lack of communication seems like we are not well received, specially with tourist. The atmosphere is really good and de Andy’s Brown guitar performs was marvelous. In nutshell was and good moment."
Ruben Pereyra
"Went for the Uptown Poetry Slam and it is a unique experience not available anywhere in the world. Marc Smith is a Chicago institution and extraordinary host. Band was fantastic. Some poetry was good, some was…who cares really. Just a very memorable afternoon on an iconic venue (with a classic tunes jukebox even!)"
Michael
What People Like
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, The Green Mill is cash-only for both cover charges and drinks. There is an ATM inside.
The Green Mill is famous for its live jazz music, featuring a variety of styles including bebop, swing, and big band.
Reservations are not typically required, but it's advisable to check the schedule online. Arrive early for seating, especially on busy nights.
Cover charges vary, typically ranging from $10 on weekdays to $20 on weekends. Always check the website for the most current pricing.
There is no strict dress code, but patrons often dress in a style that complements the classic jazz club atmosphere.
Yes, you can participate in events like poetry slams, but it's recommended to register in advance.
Information on accessibility is limited, but the venue is an historic building and seating can be limited.
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A throwback cocktail lounge and swinging jazz club, with live music seven nights a week. Why we love it:In the 1920s, Al Capone and other nefarious gangsters used to sidle up to this very bar, but these days it’s all about the music (and the satisfyingly stiff, old-school cocktails). Owner Dave Jemilo, who returned the club to its original luster in the 1980s, books smart bebop, swing and free jazz every night of the week — local favorites like Andy Brown and Chris Foreman are on regular rotation throughout the year — so expect to pay a cover at the door.
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The Green Mill draws a lot of its fame from its historic past; it was frequented by the infamous Al Capone. For this reason, and because it is featured in nearly every Chicago tourist pamphlet, the Green Mill can perhaps be classified as ‘touristy.’ However, you absolutely cannot let that stop you from checking it out, as The Green Mill is possibly the crown jewel of Uptown. It hosts some of the best shows in the city, featuring the most talented comedians, poets, and musicians that Chicago has to offer.
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Hard to enter here for the first time, regardless of your generation or background and not think to yourself: "They just don't make 'em like they used to." Live jazz, cheap drinks, and loads of local history (Al Capone used to have a booth reserved here during Prohibition); what's not to love?. Don't come here expecting high-minded mixology—although the craft beer list has expanded commendably over the past few years. So grab yourself a cold one, or a whiskey soda and see where the night takes you.
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This cash-only, cocktail lounge used to be one of Al Capone’s favorite Uptown spots, complete with secret booze-smuggling tunnels. Unfortunately, those are no longer in commission (so you can’t use them to dodge the cover fee), but this venue still maintains the old-timey decor, and has a fantastic regular line-up of jazz music. Come here to sit at their large wooden bar and sip on a strong Old Fashioned, or to drink stiff martinis in a big booth while a big band blasts Duke Ellington.
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One of Chicago’s oldest bars, this 1907 original served as notorious gangster Al Capone’s favorite Prohibition-era hangout. These days, Green Mill remains one of the top jazz clubs in the country as well as a damn fine spot to grab a drink. The cinematic vibes of this bucket list-worthy bar are impossible to miss (with several film scenes being shot here), especially when bands hit the old-timey stage.
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(Although it is somewhat better than it was, you do not want to be wandering around in Uptown not knowing where you are going, particularly later at night. You don't even want to take the Red Line back - take a cab.)
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Jazz and blues aficionados will find solace in the Green Mill in Uptown, a historic club that transports visitors back in time with its vintage charm and soulful melodies, making it a legendary spot in Chicago’s jazz scene. Lastly, House of Blues in River North offers a unique experience with its eclectic lineup that spans various genres, from rock to reggae, housed within a visually stunning setting inspired by the rich cultural heritage of the Delta. Each of these venues contributes to the rich tapestry of Chicago's live music landscape, offering unique experiences that reflect the city's musical heritage and contemporary trends.
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I have a soft spot in my heart for jazz music and so naturally I was on a mission to find the best spot to hear it live in Chicago. My Aunt and Uncle pointed me to The Green Mill, a swinging cocktail lounge famous for being Al Capone’s favorite bar during the heyday of Prohibition. Now over 100 years old, it’s one of the most prestigious jazz clubs in the world and my favorite spot to drink martinis and listen to a variety of jazz (every thing from traditional to swing to big band).
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From being one of Chicago’s first beer gardens in 1914 to an iconic jazz club, The Green Mill is overflowing with a rich history that spans over 100 years. In its early years it drew movie stars from the nearby Essanay Studios and later it became one of Al Capone’s well-known hangouts during the prohibition era. The booth that Capone favorited can still be found there, along with an escape hatch behind the bar he and his cronies used to access underground tunnels.
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The Green Mill jazz club was the first jazz club in the US, and it has been serving up outstanding live music and booze for well over 100 years, running straight through the Prohibition era as an illegal speakeasy. Tunnels that were once used to smuggle alcohol in and let gangsters escape during police raids run through the basement. The Green Mill books top local and national jazz acts, and you’re guaranteed mind-blowing music here any night of the week.
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Maharlika Erickson is beverage director at Nisos Prime, and her experience also includes working as head bartender at Garage in Austin, TX, Billy Sunday, Dusek’s, The Queen Mary Tavern and Table, Donkey and Stick. Her favorite bar in Chicago is The Green Mill. “It’s an iconoclastic love letter to music and nightlife, an institution that indomitably possesses much of what bars worldwide have strived and failed to attain,” she says.
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Once the hangout of notorious gangsters, this iconic jazz club is still an uptown favorite for signature cocktails and free-flowing jazz. Come on Sundays to enjoy the longest-running Poetry Slam in the country, where you can sign up for the open mic or hear talented poets backed by a live band. Some of the quieter evenings become a phone-free zone, so be prepared to sit back and take in the music with your favorite company.
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With B.L.U.E.S., the Mines, Buddy Guy’s Legends, Rosa’s, and Blue Chicago still presenting blues nightly and the historic Green Mill, Andy’s, the Jazz Showcase, and several more clubs similarly devoted to jazz also keeping the torch burning brightly, Chicago’s live music scene continues to thrive. Still, its many defunct music joints from decades past continue to echo distantly through the nighttime air.
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Not food-related, but if you're up for a drink after the concert, The Green Mill is less than a block north. It's virtually unchanged from the days when Al Capone hung out there, and Charlie Chaplin even drank there, before Hollywood surpassed Chicago as the center of the motion picture industry. And there's usually a good jazz group playing (except for Sunday, when they have a famous poetry slam).
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Another pub in Chicago where you may enjoy your most fabulous drinks is this one. You have the opportunity to learn about the bar’s exciting past. Renowned for being Al Capone’s previous haunts, complete with fabled underground passageways where the famed crime boss used to smuggle alcohol, but these days it’s all about the music and the satisfyingly stiff, old-school cocktails.
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From the jazz jamming all the way till the early dawn to the authentic 40’s service, the down to earth crowd and the warm glowing aura, the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge has it all. Designed to provide comfort to all audiences, The Green Mill brings together a perfect blend of décor, artwork, and music all in one roof, capturing a broad jazz spectrum from its root rhythm.
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Always a popular stop on thegangster tours, the late-night jazz club has been around since the Capone days and served as a speakeasy. In its current state, Green Mill serves up traditional, bebop, improvisational and contemporary jazz nightly to locals as well as visitors, and its after-hours status allows visiting musicians to jam when they’re in town.
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A Chicago icon, The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge is steeped in history and charisma. Located in the Uptown neighborhood, this legendary spot dates back to 1907, thriving through the Prohibition era and beyond. Once a haunt for Al Capone, today it attracts jazz enthusiasts with its nightly live music lineup, featuring both established and emerging artists.
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4802 N Broadway St Chicago, IL 60640 (773) 878-5552www.greenmilljazz.com. This venerable Uptown lounge is famous as a former Capone hangout and as a Chicago jazz institution. Classy but comfortable, old-timers and fresh faces alike mingle over cocktails to hear jazz varieties that stretch from New Orleans style to Dixieland to Bebop.
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The Green Mill, located in the Uptown neighborhood, is one of Chicago’s most iconic jazz clubs. Opened in 1907, this historic venue has a storied past and has hosted legendary performers like Al Capone. The club’s vintage decor, Art Deco style, and cozy booths create an intimate atmosphere that transports you back in time.
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By far the best venue for the jazz aficionado would have to be the Green Mill (don’t confuse it with the Green Door). This is where the infamous Al Capone used to hang out and give his parties. Now excellent music reverberates here, and both musician and listener can find a groove and get lost in the rhythms of the night.
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Step back in time to the Prohibition era at this iconic Chicago restaurant, a vintage cocktail lounge in Uptown. They have live jazz music every night, and some really famous people like Billie Holiday and Von Freeman have performed there. Even Al Capone frequented here.
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The Green Mill Jazz Club, also known as the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, is a club in Chicago’s Broadway district. The venue has been featured in many Hollywood films including High Fidelity, The Dilemma, and Chicago Overcoat. It has also been mentioned in Star Trek.
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You have not been to Chicago if you’ve never been to The Green Mill. And if you’re a local, then you know this is the holy ground for all live music lovers. They have live music lineups almost every night and you can find the full calendar on their website.
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From traditional jazz to swing orchestras to the Uptown Poetry Slam every Sunday night, the Green Mill features some of the best jazz on the planet all where Al Capone, “Machine Gun” Jack McGurn and even Charlie Chaplin used to frequent ($6-12 after 10pm)
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The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, a former prohibition-era speakeasy, is now host to great jazz every night of the week. You will love the warm, atmosphere. It is believed to be the oldest continuously run jazz club in the US.
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Conveniently located around the corner from famous comedy club, Second City, this spot has been a watering hole for many authors, journalists, and comedians such as Roger Ebert, Mike Royko, Nelson Algren, and Bill Murray.
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A love letter to a bygone era, channel your inner gangster when you make a date at the Green Mill Green. Feel like you’re the bee’s knees when you sip your gin and tonic in the very same booth as Al Capone and his men.
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Have a Jazz Night at The Green Mill – Just a short drive from Montrose beach is a Jazz cocktail lounge that premieres great bands every week. This place has tons of history and has been swingin’ since 1907.
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Please contact the venue to check if this discount is still valid. - Unlock exclusive benefits with Green Mill Rewards Club, including FREE FOOD and bonus offers!. - Enjoy $5 cocktails and 2-4-1 Pounders!
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4802 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640773-878-5552 Visit Website. The Green Mill does not double as a breakfast place. They have late hours in the afternoon and evening, with live music on some nights.
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Green Mill, a lounge and jazz and blues spot in Uptown, is another go-to, with four stars out of 823 Yelp reviews. Head over to 4802 N. Broadway (at West Lawrence Avenue) to see for yourself.
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Green Mill is known for its Rat Pack on the jukebox, cheap drinks, and gritty bartenders. A Chicago staple with a rich history, it’s a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
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Ever wondered what a prohibition jazz joint was really like?. Well come along to North Broadway and find out. The Green Mill feels like it’s been preserved from another era.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit