Part of the Gay Chicago Guide — bars, events & things to do.
Chicago, Illinois
A high-energy Halsted nightclub with a late-opening dance floor.
Hydrate has been a fixture of the Halsted strip since it opened for Pride Weekend in 2003, in the space that once held the legendary '90s leather club Manhole. The layout splits in two: a street-facing lounge with windows that open onto Halsted for an early, lower-key drink, and a separate high-energy dance floor that gets going around 11 PM. The club built its name on its DJ bookings and its sound and light system, and it runs drag programming including the long-running 'Draglicious' Saturday revue. It's one of the few Northalsted rooms with a late-night license, so the floor stays open until 4 AM most nights and 5 AM on Saturdays, which makes it the natural last stop when the rest of the strip is winding down. Expect a dance crowd, big nights, and a room built for moving rather than conversation.
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