The 7 Most Old-School Spots in Chicago to Eat, Drink or Just Instagram

Most days, it seems we can’t get where we’re going fast enough. The “L” is delayed, so order a Via and when it finally arrives ten minutes later, we hit traffic. Maybe it’s a sign we need to stop rushing toward the future and slow down. What better way to do that than to spend some time at a place that hasn’t changed since Prohibition? Here are seven of our favorite spots that are stuck in time…in a good way.

Opened in 1907, this Uptown jazz bar was once a haunt of none other than Al Capone. In fact, you can still snag a seat in his favorite booth on the bar’s west side. Just think twice before you start hatching any schemes.

4802 N. Broadway Ave.; 773-878-5552 or greenmilljazz.com

Back in 1898 when this German restaurant opened, you could get a beer and a sandwich for a nickel. Those prices have inflated over the years, but you can’t put a price on dining at what is easily the Loop’s most iconic restaurant.

17 W. Adams St.; 312-427-3170 or theberghoff.com

Chicago’s not short on great steakhouses, so why not choose by seniority? Gene & Georgetti is the city’s oldest, having opened in 1941. While it's perfected the chops and pastas, it hasn’t messed with the ambiance: Expect a cozy vibe that takes you back.

500 N. Franklin St.; 312-527-3718 or geneandgeorgetti.com

Construction of this early skyscraper was completed in 1888, but Frank Lloyd Wright redesigned the two-story skylit lobby in 1905. What remains is a prestigious Chicago landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Best of all, it’s free to just pop in and gawk.

209 S. LaSalle St.; 312-553-6100 or therookerybuilding.com

Club Lucky’s Formica-topped bar is an exact replica of the original, from when the spot opened in 1938. Queue your favorite Rat Pack tune on the jukebox, then sidle up to a barstool for a martini. We don’t usually say this, but ring-a-ding-ding.

1824 W. Wabansia Ave.; 773-227-2300 or clubluckychicago.com