How many bars and pubs are there in Chicago's busiest areas?
We counted 287 bars and pubs within 1 km of the centres of 10 Chicago areas. River North is the most crowded at 20.1 per km²; Hyde Park is the least, at 1.6.
Mapped
287
in 10 areas
Busiest area
20.1/km²
River North
Average rating
4.4★
places with 10+ reviews
Last scanned
13 October
2026
Bars and pubs by area, most crowded first
Measured within 1 km of the centre: LOW under 5, MODERATE 5–15, HIGH 15–40, INTENSE over 40 places per km².
| Area | Within 1 km | Per km² | Avg rating | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River North4.3★ average | 6320.1/km² | 20.1 | 4.3★ | HIGH |
| Lakeview4.3★ average | 5216.6/km² | 16.6 | 4.3★ | HIGH |
| Wicker Park4.4★ average | 4012.7/km² | 12.7 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| West Loop4.4★ average | 3711.8/km² | 11.8 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| Logan Square4.5★ average | 247.6/km² | 7.6 | 4.5★ | MODERATE |
| The Loop4.4★ average | 237.3/km² | 7.3 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| Lincoln Park4.4★ average | 175.4/km² | 5.4 | 4.4★ | MODERATE |
| Andersonville4.6★ average | 165.1/km² | 5.1 | 4.6★ | MODERATE |
| Pilsen4.4★ average | 103.2/km² | 3.2 | 4.4★ | LOW |
| Hyde Park4.3★ average | 51.6/km² | 1.6 | 4.3★ | LOW |
Where is it least crowded?
- Hyde ParkLOW
5 bars and pubs within 1 km (1.6 per km²), averaging 4.3★.
- PilsenLOW
10 bars and pubs within 1 km (3.2 per km²), averaging 4.4★.
- AndersonvilleMODERATE
16 bars and pubs within 1 km (5.1 per km²), averaging 4.6★.
Fewer bars and pubs is not the same as more demand. Look at foot traffic and rents before you read a quiet area as an opening.
How they are rated
All 287 bars and pubs in the 10 areas, by rating. Places with fewer than 10 reviews are counted apart.
- 4.5 and up127 (44%)
- 4.0 to 4.4112 (39%)
- 3.5 to 3.923 (8%)
- Below 3.57 (2%)
- Under 10 reviews18 (6%)
Chains seen most
No brand has two outlets inside any one area circle: these areas are mostly independents.
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Questions
Is Chicago saturated with bars and pubs?
It depends on the street. Within 1 km of the 10 area centres we mapped, density runs from 1.6 per km² in Hyde Park to 20.1 per km² in River North. 2 of the 10 areas count as high or intense competition (over 15 per km²). Check the exact address you have in mind before you commit.
Which Chicago area has the most bars and pubs?
River North, with 63 within 1 km of its centre (20.1 per km²). Next come Lakeview (52) and Wicker Park (40).
What is the average rating of bars and pubs in Chicago?
4.4 out of 5, across the 269 bars and pubs with at least 10 reviews in the areas we mapped. The highest area average is Andersonville (4.6), the lowest Lakeview (4.3).
How was this counted?
We scanned a 1 km circle around the centre of each area on 13 October 2026 and counted every bar on the map inside it. Places missing from the map or opened since are not counted, so treat the numbers as a floor. Circles of neighbouring areas can overlap, so a place near two centres is counted in both, and the figures are not a total for the whole of Chicago.