Hip Hop night Club in Chicago

Stately and very chic, this Chicago staple provides the perfect backdrop to a celebration or night when you're out to impress. The dress code sets the tone, and the decor reveals that you're among the well-heeled. The walls are a veritable fashion gallery, lined with photos of the rich and famous who've stopped in to wine and dine. Live jazz can be heard on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and dancing is done on Friday and Saturday nights. Drink selections include a well-selected range of wines as well as specialty martinis. (312-266-0360)

Enter through the alley, move past the beautiful blond hostess (having met the cover charge and dress code), descend the stairs, and be transported to a 10, 000-square-foot subterranean speakeasy of the new millennium. Le Passage's funky decor and talented DJs spin you from dance floor to two great bars. Yow Bar, named for legendary Trader Vic's bartender Yow Low, is a comfy VIP area. Beautiful, hip patrons can also enjoy live music, fashion shows, and a tasty late-night appetizer menu. (312-255-0022)

Local artist Suhail's giant steel Buddha marks the entrance to this cool spot. Leather and faux-leopard seating areas run the length of the main bar in the dark Moroccan/Middle Eastern-inspired den. Two bars, a cozy VIP section, and a small dance floor are packed nightly. Cosmopolitans are the house specialty. Buddha also has some of the best DJs in town. Check out Jesse de la Pena on Wednesday and Saturday and percussionists Ya Ya and Yamcouba on Fridays. (312-666-1695)

Stephen Calk, Barry Paddor (of legendary Shelter fame), and designer François Frossard created this upscale, luxurious nightclub. Hip locals have attended in masses since its July 2000 opening. DJs spin progressive music through a stellar sound system. The main, or Oval, room has a large oak dance floor and bar. The mezzanine offers a tangerine VIP lounge filled with leather, dark wood, and Oriental carpets overlooking the dance floor. The funky Light Bar and Blue Room, with its exaggerated, stunning chandeliers, are not to be missed. (312-491-8600)

"Rolling Stone" magazine named it "Best Dance Club" in Chicago for good reason. This intimate joint has two bars, a small dance floor with a tiny stage, and bass cabinets that double as platforms for drag queens, exotic dancers, or fetish shows that perform on occasion. Video screens run "out there" reels that are put together by DJs. Music varies from new wave to house, and the last Wednesday of the month is disco night. Not for the closed-minded; a mixed crowd prevails. (773-348-4975)

Resident and guest DJs spin everything from hip-hop to techno in these separate yet affiliated clubs. Rednofive's alley entrance leads into a smoky, dingy subterranean den. Designed to emulate an '80s rock club, it draws a surprisingly upscale crowd. The Fifth Floor, located upstairs, is still smoky but more open with a great sound system, dance floor, and lighting show. Give them a call to find out who's spinning and what ambience to expect. Dress code applies. (312-733-6699)