The Green Mill

In a city of institutions, the Green Mill is exemplary for its ties to both Prohibition-era speakeasies and Chicago’s legendary jazz scene. Established in the early 1900s, the North Side cocktail lounge was a go-to for Al Capone and his gang, who allegedly avoided run-ins with the law by sneaking out via the back bar’s hidden tunnels. These days, it’s best known for nightly live jazz and the renowned Uptown Poetry Slam, which has been hosted here since the 1980s.