Cubby Bear
1059 W. Addison St.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 327-1662
http://www.cubbybear.com
Hours: open daily

Odds are you’ll score at Cubby Bear faster than the Cubs will score across the street at Wrigley Field. The crowd here is about as young as it legally gets, especially on nights that boast live bands or karaoke. (Isn’t being 21 awesome?) But, seriously, it ain’t all bad coming into the Cubby pre-Cubs game, when it’s all sports, sports, sports. It’s after the game, when the 30,000-square-feet space (with six bars!) turns into a quasi-dance club for slobbering strangers, who you know nothing about except they were at the game, too.

Continental
2801 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 292-1200
http://www.centerstagechicago.com
Hours: open nightly

Poor Wicker Park residents: For their best odds in securing a late-night hook-up, they’ve got to trek it west to Humbolt Park’s Continental. By day, the sleek red- and black-accented bar seems completely harmless, dishing up quality brews for cheap (like $2.50 PBR). By night, though, rumor has it the hipster set finds room to dance closely, practically stepping on each other’s Chuck Taylors, anywhere they can—even though there’s no dance floor. At least the music here is bound to surpass that of its Lincoln Park-counterparts. If you can spoon to Spoon, you can grind to it, right?

Manor
642 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60610
(312)475-1390
http://www.manorchicago.com
The female dancers at Manor rock skimpy underthings as they shake like mad on platforms surrounding the V.I.P area—talk about setting a mood. The crowd here falls in the mid-20s-to-mid-30s range, made up mostly of young professionals on the prowl. The dressed-up cocktails (tons of martinis and mixed drinks) are uber-pricey, so kudos to you if you can find some desperate sap to buy you one. The men who really want to pick up women opt to flaunt their pocketbooks by springing for bottle service, which ranges from $300-$3,500.

The Kerryman
661 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 335-8121
http://www.thekerrymanchicago.com
Most Irish pubs eschew the whole hook-up scene for more of a relaxed, make-some-buddies-at-the-bar environment. But not the Kerryman: The behemoth of an Irish joint in River North packs in an early- to mid-20s crowd looking to grind up against fetching strangers on the second floor’s dance space. The oodles of stiff brews on tap—think Guinness, Bass and Boddingtons—provide plenty of liquid courage to get the preppy dudes to ask the girls to dance to the top-40 hits blaring. If you prefer things more low-key, park it downstairs and order up some shepherd’s pie.

Hydrate
3458 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 975-9244
http://www.hydratechicago.com
Hours: open daily

Need we say more than “lube wrestling” to make a point that this predominantly gay bar puts an emphasis on sex? The monthly event is just one of the parties this dance club throws, including drag nights, ladies’ night and appearances by well-known DJs. Thursday nights are home to the Hot Hydrate Male Dancers, gorgeous half-naked men gyrating on the back room’s dance floor.

Tai's Lounge
3611 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 348-8923

Hours: 5 p.m.-4 a.m. Monday-Friday; 5 p.m.-5 a.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-4 a.m. Sunday

Lovingly known as Tai’s Till 4 (as in 4 a.m.), this spot is among the more tolerable late-night bars in the city, though that doesn’t mean you won’t have some skeezy guy following you around. The dance floor is small and packs ‘em in, luring people with lively ‘90s hits and current pop songs. If you’re barhopping on Southport prior to arriving at Tai’s, chances are you’ll recognize half the faces in line. The crowd skews older than college kids, drawing mostly a mid- to late-20s set. It’s notoriously difficult to nab a cab home after bar close here, so make a friend and share a ride.

Deja Vu
2624 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 871-0205
http://www.centerstagechicago.com
Hours: open nightly till 4 a.m.

Sure, the 4 a.m. close time aids in its pick-up-joint status, but what further cements its reputation is the cast of drunken students from nearby DePaul who wait in line to get in on weekends. Everyone knows how frisky those college kids can get, especially when cheap drinks, loud music and dark, candle-lit environs are on hand.

Castaways
1603 N. Lakeshore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60610
(773) 281-1200
http://www.stefanirestaurants.com
Hours: open daily

The only pick-up joint on our list with a climate stipulation, Castaways is THE place to pick up members of the opposite sex come summertime. Girls in bikinis, shirtless men, live bands, the beautiful view of the lake and skyline and heaps of beer and icy margaritas result in a come-on combo that’s hard for any singleton to ignore. After catching some rays on the top of the boat-shaped restaurant and bar, eye a cutie and ask him or her to play a round of beach volleyball. It’s almost too perfect, right?

Shenannigans
16 W. Division St.
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 642-2344
http://www.centerstagechicago.com
Hours: 4 p.m.-4 a.m. Monday-Friday; 11 a.m.-5 a.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-4 a.m. Sunday

It could be said that every bar in the Viagra Triangle has the makings of a straight-up meat-market, but special attention should be given to the loud, debaucherous Shenannigans, which in the later hours turns into a dance party with women dancing all over the place—including on a stage with a pole. The mostly middle-aged crowd gets sloppy drunk here; no doubt many an overpriced and beer-soaked evening at this grungy spot has resulted in a hookup.

Hogs & Honeys
1551 N. Sheffield Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 377-1733
http://www.hogsandhoneys.com
Hours: closed Sunday

Would you really go to a bar that boasts a mechanical bull without the intention of getting hit on … or hitting on someone? We didn’t think so. This Weed Street favorite for bachelorette parties and bachelors alike beckons the scandalous set to ride its bucking bronco in an inevitably sexually suggestive way. This isn’t the kind of place you’re going to meet Prince Charming, though, with most of the crowd consisting of suburbanites, tourists or lonely men who like to gawk at the hot wait staff. The mix of country and rock tunes and the quasi-Western atmosphere keep things lighthearted and fun, though.

Hamilton's
6431 N. Broadway St.
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 764-8133
http://www.hamiltonsbarandgrill.com
Loyola University students looking to get some booty can forget joining a club or hanging out in the Student Union. If they come to Hamilton's, with drinks deals like $3.50 22-ounce jumbo drafts and $4 "Kissable Drinks," approaching someone here is as simple as asking them if you can buy them a fruity, booze-intense cocktail. And you'll be able to afford it, too. The live music, dance parties, college nights and food specials seal the deal.

The Fireplace Inn
1448 N. Wells St.
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 943-7427
http://fireplaceinn.com
Most people will tell you to head across the street to late-night hole Burton Place if you’re looking for tail in Old Town. But those-in-the-know will direct you to Fireplace, where wealthy, middle-aged singles congregate around the U-shape bar, listening to classic rock and modern pop and taking in the lodge-like setting after noshing on a plate of ribs at the adjoining restaurant. Whether you’re part of the midlife group or trolling for MILFs, buy a round for the group of ladies dressed in D&G jeans, and you’ll immediately have an in.

Sopo
3418 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 348-0100
http://www.sopochicago.com
Hours: 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Friday; 10:30 a.m.-3 a.m. Saturday; 10:30 a.m.-midnight Sunday

Sopo is where all the pretty people go on Southport to pick-up members of the opposite sex. You’ll most likely find groups of men or woman, not ones that blend both sexes, unless they’re renting out the upstairs space for a private party. That’s because Sopo is every man-on-the-prowl’s dream, with its loud music, almost-clubby vibe, somewhat affordable drinks (at least during the week anyway), and crammed-in crowd. You can’t help but rub elbows with some fine honeys, and Sopo is less sleazy than most spots conducive to scoring, which may very well be because the single ladies and men are out in equal numbers and with the same agenda.

Rockit Bar & Grill
22 W. Hubbard St.
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 645-6000
http://www.rockitbarandgrill.com
Hours: open daily

You could easily meet someone at Rockit Ranch Productions’ other nightclub, Underground, but Rockit’s sheer size gives it the edge: It can pack more hotties into the bi-level space, which boasts a 75-foot skylight and exposed brick. It also feels less-clubby than Underground, garnering a crowd that skews more chill, making it easier to strike up a conversation. Still, the young crowd is here to meet people, as evidenced by all the halter top- and high heel-sporting ladies and men in crisp, button-up shirts with probably a bit too much hair gel. The kind of flirting that goes on here is relatively harmless, though.

RiNo
343 W. Erie St.
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 587-3433
http://www.rinolounge.com
Hours: open Wednesday-Friday until 4 a.m.; Saturday until 5 a.m.

As one of the only 4 a.m. (5 a.m. on Saturdays) bars in River North, it’s no surprise the already sloshed masses that have been boozing at the neighborhood’s other mega-clubs book it here late-night. The loft-like environs, with plenty of low-slung couches and loveseats for cuddling, fill up with well-dressed (though, usually in little clothing) patrons in their mid- to late-20s. The dangerous combo of over-served twentysomethings and the safari theme (think horned chandeliers and animal-print stools) will likely bring out the tiger in anyone. So find your prey and attack!