MENUCLOSE

Gaming cafes in Chicago

The Chicago metro lists 5 venues with 108 gaming PCs counted. The largest floor is Neon Gaming Hub in Des Plaines at 30 PCs — one of two Neon rooms in the metro, the other in Lincolnwood. The most-reviewed venue is the Gameway lounge at Midway airport, with 212 Google reviews at a flat 5.0.

5 venues on file · 108 PCs counted

Map · 5 pins · number is the PC count

What the numbers say about Chicago

Three of the five run past midnight on at least some nights, Neon Des Plaines until 03:00. Two publish an hourly rate: EXP Game Center at $10 with a $25 day pass, and the airport lounge at $29.95. BHOP Esports at Hawthorn Mall is the most varied floor in the metro — racing simulators, retro machines, rhythm games, coaching and tournaments next to 25+ PCs on RTX 5060 Ti cards. The Midway lounge sits airside in Concourse A, so it is only reachable with a boarding pass.

Open late and what an hour costs in Chicago

  • Open past midnight

    3 of 5 stay open past midnight on at least one night.

  • Cheapest hour published

    $10 at EXP Game Center, of the 2 venues that publish a rate.

  • Where they are

    Des Plaines (1), Vernon Hills (1), Lincolnwood (1), Highland (1), Chicago (1).

  • Nearest to you

Sorted by size · largest floor first; rooms with no published count sit last

  • Mid size

    PCs

    30

    Rate

    n/a

    Open

    15:00–03:00

    (varies)

    Rating

    4.6

    · 68

    US Chicago consoles · tournaments

    no rate published

  • Mid size

    PCs

    25+

    Rate

    n/a

    Open

    15:00–00:00

    (varies)

    Rating

    4.7

    · 97

    US Chicago consoles · food +5

    no rate published

  • Mid size

    PCs

    25+

    Rate

    n/a

    Open

    15:00–02:00

    (varies)

    Rating

    4.7

    · 23

    US Chicago consoles · tournaments

    no rate published

  • Mid size

    PCs

    16

    Rate

    $10/HR

    Open

    15:00–22:00

    (varies)

    Rating

    5.0

    · 51

    US Chicago consoles · racing sims +1
  • Small room Airside · Concourse A

    Gameway MDW

    MDW · Concourse A · Gate 1

    PCs

    12

    Rate

    $29.95/HR

    Open

    06:00–21:00

    Rating

    5.0

    · 212

    US MDW airport, Chicago consoles · food +1

Flying out?

MDW 1 lounge past security

Questions about gaming cafes in Chicago

Which gaming cafes in the Chicago area are open after midnight?

Four of the five venues on our list: Neon Gaming Hub in Des Plaines, which runs to 03:00 and has the largest PC floor in the metro at 30 PCs, the Lincolnwood Neon Gaming Hub, BHOP Esports at Hawthorn Mall and EXP Game Center, each on some nights.

Where around Chicago can you play rhythm games or racing sims?

BHOP Esports at Hawthorn Mall lists rhythm games, racing simulators, retro machines, food, coaching and tournaments, next to at least 25 PCs on RTX 5060 Ti cards with 240 Hz monitors.

How much does an hour cost at a Chicago gaming cafe?

EXP Game Center charges $10 an hour or $25 for a day pass and is closed on Sundays. At Midway airport, Gameway charges $29.95 an hour, $19.95 for 30 minutes or $49.95 for unlimited play. The other venues do not publish rates.

Is there a gaming lounge at Chicago Midway airport?

Gameway MDW sits past security in Concourse A, near Gate 1, with 12 PCs and 10 console stations, open 06:00 to 21:00. With 212 Google reviews it is the most-reviewed venue in Chicago on our list.

Read before you go

Nearby areas

Counted from public sources · 2 of 5 publish an hourly rate Report a change