24 Hour Things To Do In Chicago: Your Late-Night Guide To The Windy City

She’s not called The City That Never Sleeps, but that doesn’t mean our beloved Chi-Town is void of 24-hour activities.

Here are five after-dark adventures for the Chicago night owl.

1. Have some fries with that
Susie’s Drive Thru may have a small interior, but it’s one of those down-home, greasy-spoon, cash-only institutions that makes you feel like a local. Yelpers rave about the beef sub (“a satisfying indulgence”) and chili cheese fries (“Sweet baby Jesus they are HUGE!!”). At all hours of the night, Susie’s also offers pizza puffs, onion rings, and more ice cream shakes than you can shake a corndog stick at.

2. Be a writer for the night
Begin your quiet late-night voyage to intellectualism with a browse through the narrow aisles of Myopic Books, the Wicker Park emporium that’s open till 11 p.m. Then grab your laptop and join starving Shakespeares for a latte at Pick Me Up Cafe-- they’re buzzing till 5 a.m. on Saturdays.

3. Enjoy an empty gym
There's something exhilarating about the notion of 4 a.m. bicep curls with the locals. Chicago's got a heap of 24-hour gyms, including Planet Fitness and Snap Fitness. For a no-fee alternative, jog across BP Bridge, Frank Gehry's wonder near Millennium Park.

4. Get a head start on breakfast
With a wall of ceramic art pieces and a roof of trendy suspended light bulbs, Elly’s Pancake House puts out a classier vibe than most all-night dining dens. Celebrate the finale to a wild night out with pecan waffles or a hulking pile of chocolate chip pancakes.

5. See a public wonder… without the public
Clogged with crowds by day, tourist attractions turn quiet, calm, and dazzling at night. Take a tranquil walking tour to Crown Fountain and Cloud Gate (aka “The Bean”) for unique views of the city’s late-night lights.