THE place for late-night jazz and cocktails, classic Chicago-style
The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge is a long-standing jazz club located in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. Since its opening in 1907, it has hosted performances by many jazz greats and presented a broad range of styles, including traditional, Dixieland, bebop, contemporary, and gypsy jazz.
In the 1920s, the club gained infamy as a hangout for mobsters (one of Al Capone’s people, Jack McGurn, was at one point a part-owner). It has also been featured in several movies, including Thief, High Fidelity and The Untouchables.
Nowadays, the “Mill” retains its speakeasy atmosphere, and in addition to live music every day of the week and special events, it is home to the Uptown Poetry Slam, a series of poetry performances on Sunday nights.
When you approach the intersection of Lawrence and Broadway (see map below), you will have no trouble finding the club. A large, glittering marquee with “Green Mill Cocktail Lounge” on it hangs above the entrance.
The place was initially called “Pop Morse’s Roadhouse” and was a frequent stop for mourners headed to a nearby cemetery. The name was later changed to the “Green Mill Gardens,” and finally to its current form. It is a nod to the Moulin Rouge (“Red Mill”) in Paris, and “green” was selected to distinguish the venue from the city’s red light district establishments.
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The club’s no-nonsense attitude continues today. Upon entering, you will be greeted by a bouncer, who will inform you to turn off the phone and keep your voice down during music. The same announcement is repeated before each set, and the staff (as well as some regulars) are serious about the policy. You can sometimes hear people shushing those who are talking during performances.
The front part of the Green Mill features a bar, lining the left side of the room, curving around the corner and ending by a retro juke box. There are several green velvet-upholstered booths around the bar area and more seating near the stage, but the space is intimate and fills up quickly. When that happens, patrons are asked (and expected) to share their table with others. Near the curve of the bar is a booth once preferred by Al Capone. With a view of the main and side exits, it allowed him to keep a watchful eye on both doors.
In the left-hand corner near the stage is the statue of Ceres, Goddess of Harvest, nicknamed Stella by Starlight by Green Mill performers, in honor of the classic jazz tune. Art deco and art nouveau wall art and light fixtures complete the throwback décor of the club.
Practical info
Weekday performances, featuring regular acts, are from 9pm until 1am ($6 cover), Friday and Saturday shows from 8pm until Midnight ($12 cover), and Sunday’s poetry slam from 7pm until 10 pm ($6 cover). Most Wednesday, Friday and Sunday nights also feature late-night jazz.
Green Mill Jazz Club
4802 N. Broadway Ave.
Phone: (773) 878-5552
Cash or American Express, ATM on site
Public transportation: Red Line (Lawrence stop)
You not only provide the suggestion of the club but you do such an amazing job of giving us a mental image of the places or settings you describe in your writings – that’s a great gift! When I return to Chicago, I hope to get to experience the Green Mill!
Raul (ilivetotravel in Twitter) recently posted..A Big Ego Needs A Big Building: the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest
Raul – I really appreciate your kind words!! Thank you so much. Too bad our tweetup crew didn’t have time to go to Uptown and GM back in May, it could have been fun.
Now this is my kind of place…yet another reason I finally need to visit Chicago
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted..Check Out Time – The Week in Travel
Come visit us soon, Daniel! :)
Somehow, this totally fits for Chicago. I love a good jazz club.
Kieu ~ GQ trippin recently posted..GQ trippin’ Turns 1 Year Old!
When I travel, I like to check out jazz clubs. Amazing where you can find great performers…
This is what was missing on my perfect day in Chicago! We didn’t go to such a nice place and to be honest, i felt let down..
An excuse to go back, me thinks!
@mrsoaroundworld recently posted..Is cruising for me? My honest opinion
Haha, I agree! I’ve said it before – too bad you weren’t part of our Chicago tweetup!
maybe it’s a good thing we’ve never been to chicago? now we have you to craft the perfect itinerary–not sure we would have found this on our own!
the lazy travelers recently posted..laws to travel by – #22
I’ll be happy to show you around when you visit!
THIS is the place that my friend who used to live in Chicago told me to visit during our Windy City Tweetup! I hate that we didn’t do this. It looks like such a cool club. I love that mobsters used to hang out here. When I go back to Chicago, you must take me.
Leah Travels recently posted..The Weird and Wonderful in Tokyo
It’s a deal, Leah! :)
ditto what Leah said. dying to return to Chi-town and have you be our exclusive tour guide. want to hit this place FO SHO!
lola recently posted..my 3 favorite travel memories…
Come back anytime! I think some of their cocktails might get Lola-approved. :)
Jetting Around recently posted..Photo of the Week: A street in Oaxaca City, Mexico
Nice summary of the history and how the club works. Such a cool place. I need to go back soon.
Traveling Ted recently posted..The Perseid Meteor Shower or bust misadventure
Now that you have the “beer-cam’ figured out, you definitely should. ;-)
While it wasn’t a jazz club, this venue reminds me of a concert place in Annapolis – The Ram’s Head. Very small and intimate but awesome atmosphere for a concert – but no bouncers in Annapolis :)
Jeremy Branham recently posted..Songs from the road – my life through travel and music
There is something fascinating about smaller venues and I find myself drawn to them more often than bigger ones. Maybe it’s because you can be a few feet away from the performer and there are fewer distractions. Thanks for stopping by, Jeremy!
Another place to add to a future Chi-town itinerary. :) What a great history. Look forward to your upcoming hangout destinations posts!
Aaron recently posted..In-N-Out Burger: Yay or Nay to Animal Style?
Thanks, Aaron! I’m happy to share my favorite spots. :)
We have a concert that we are goin to August 8, 2014 at Tinely Park Amphithearte. The next day we plan on goin to The Green Mill to check out the machete in the afternoon. Looking forward to it!
Hi Warren. Have a great time at the shows! I hope you enjoy the Green Mill as much as I do.
Looks impressive. Maybe I’m not very in to jazz but this kind of music is good to listen “live”, because it changes everything.
balkanyrudej recently posted..BST 2014/15. Część 1 – droga do Sarajewa
I love live jazz, that’s how I got into it. If you’re ever in Chicago, check this place out – it doesn’t get much better than Green Mill. :)