Looking to find an out-of-towner for a short fling in the Windy City? Funk Groove Bar might be your place, loaded as it is with tourists ready to party. But before you prepare your bedpost for another notch, make sure you can get in first—apparently, the dress code can be a little arbitrary.

On a recent visit, my male companion wore a new pair of white sneakers and the doorman quickly told him about Funk's no-sneaker policy. After a chat with the manager, we descended the stairs to the club and walked in to find a diverse crowd—with a majority of the guys in sneakers or flip-flops.

If you do manage to make it past the picky bouncer, you'll enter into a '70s-inspired underground party. Brushed stainless steel runs along the walls and on the main bar that separates the large room into two areas, one for sitting and one for dancing. There are also two elevated areas with tables and a small bar in the back corner. DJs play CDs of radio hits as dancers get down on the linoleum wood floor. The coolest part of the club is the elevated area at the back of the dance floor, where carefree shakers can do their thing for the voyeurs in the crowd.

The two bars offer up decently priced drinks, with a well mixer running about $6. There's also a shot-and-beer stand for those looking for a quick serve. The system works; many of the patrons were stumbling around, grinding on the dance floor and slurring words by 11:00 p.m. Don’t these tourists know we can party 'til 5 a.m. in Chicago?

Centerstage Reviewer: Maya Henderson