Happy Hour In Chicago, Illinois

1. Lark

What’s better than happy hour? A happy hour that includes several specials at the same time! At Lark, a trendy but casual pub in the Lakeview neighborhood, you can enjoy drink specials five nights a week that are combined with food discounts too! From 5:00 to 7:00 pm, Tuesday to Friday, and Sunday, from 3:00 to 6:30, enjoy a drink and appetizer special that will allow you to try Lark’s extensive beer and cocktail selection.

A couple nights of the week, there are simultaneous specials going on, like buy one get one deals on pizza, half-off nachos, and half-priced mule drinks! Located just a few blocks from Wrigley Field, this is a great spot to grab a discounted bite before a nighttime game.

Lark

Address: 3441 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60657

Lark

2. Waydown

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Waydown Chicago (@waydownchicago)

At Waydown, the rooftop bar at the Ace Hotel, you’ll get amazing views of the Chicago skyline, along with delicious food and drinks. This bright and airy spot has an industrial feel, with metal and leather dominating the décor. You might think this bar’s premier location means its menu will be pricey, but it’s actually quite affordable—and even more so during happy hour! This runs from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, every Tuesday to Friday, with inexpensive drinks and snacks. It’s the perfect spot to take in the views without straying from your vacation budget.

Waydown

Address: 311 N Morgan ST, Chicago, IL 60607

Website: Waydown

3. Booth One

Stepping into Booth One feels like traveling back in time. It is modeled after the historic restaurant at the Ambassador East Hotel, with cozy seating, drinks in classic glasses, and black and white photos on the walls. Booth One is a little pricey, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience their delicious cuisine and drinks: head across the hotel lobby to the Library Bar for a weekday happy hour, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Everything on the menu is five dollars—snacks, beers, cocktails, and wines! The Library Bar is also designed to be old-fashioned, with a fireplace, cozy couch, and board games you can play while enjoying the food and drink.

Booth One

Address: 1301 N State Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60610

Website: Booth One

4. HopCat

HopCat is a beer lover’s paradise—there are over 300 beers available, with 130 on tap. These include brews from around the world and as close as Illinois. HopCat’s extensive beer list has won the restaurant top spots on best beer bar rankings, and they’ve also won awards for their famous Crack Fries—beer battered fries with freshly cracked pepper and a side of cheese sauce.

They also have great happy hour specials that let you try as much as you’d like! From 3:00 to 6:00 pm, Monday to Thursday, enjoy five dollars off burgers and pizza, as well as discounts on local drafts, wines, and well drinks. On Mondays, you can also enjoy half off of appetizers, from 3:00 pm to closing, which includes items like wings, nachos, and pretzel bites, in addition to the addictive Crack Fries.

HopCat

Address: 2577 N Clark ST, Chicago, IL 60614

Website: HopCat

5. Lonesome Rose

There’s nothing better than satisfying your late afternoon cravings with Mexican food and margaritas. At the Lonesome Rose, a hip and casual Tex-Mex eatery, you can enjoy deals on food and drink from 3:00 to 6:00 pm, every Monday to Thursday! During this window of time, palomas and frozen margaritas are just six dollars and Lone Star beers are only two dollars. Need something to line your stomach after those cheap drinks? A delicious serving of Truck Stop Nachos for eight dollars is the perfect addition!

Lonesome Rose

Address: 2101 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Website: Lonesome Rose

6. Ina Mae Tavern

Inspired by the cuisine of New Orleans, Ina Mae Tavern is a little slice of the South in downtown Chicago! The menu features delicious southern dishes, like fried chicken and seafood, gumbo, and hush puppies. For dessert, pick your favorite flavor of “sno ball”, or snow cone, for a refreshing cold treat.

Ina Mae’s also has an extensive drink menu, full of options that complement the delicious meals. Enjoy signature cocktails for half off during their happy hour, which runs from 4:00 to 6:00 pm on weekdays. If you finish your meal wishing you could take a little bit of the food home with you, check out the packaged goods section for hot sauce, jerky, and more!

Ina Mae Tavern

Address: 1415 N Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60622

Website: Ina Mae Tavern

7. Ella Elli

Ella Elli is an elegant restaurant with international influences in its food and drink menus. With its fancy interior and delicious entrees, all at different price points, this is a great spot for a date night. If you happen to be on a budget, stop by during happy hour to shave a few dollars off your bill. From 4:30 to 6:00 pm, they offer wine, specialty cocktails, and snacks, all between six and eight dollars. Feel free to start with the snacks, then share one of the pizza or pasta meals to conclude the meal!

Ella Elli

Address: 1349 W Cornelia Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

Website: Ella Elli

8. Chicago's French Market

Experience a European-style market with over 30 vendors surrounding a seating area, styled after a Parisian street café, at the Chicago French Market. The market’s founders selected the vendors based on their quality products and passion for great food. The eateries reflect Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods and bring together cuisine from around the world.

From Italian and Polish to Cajun, this is one spot in Chicago where you can eat whatever your heart desires! If your eyes are bigger than your stomach, and your wallet, stop by on weekdays, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm, for the happy hour specials. Vendors offer discounts on beer, wine, and lots of different foods, so you can try a little bit of everything while saving some cash!

Chicago's French Market

Address: 131 North Clinton, Chicago, Illinois

Website: Chicago’s French Market

9. Neon Wilderness

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Neon Wilderness (@neonwildernessbar)

If you’re looking for good drinks and a cool Instagram photo, Neon Wilderness is definitely the place to go! This trendy spot has stone walls mixed with neon decor and cheap beers mixed with fancy cocktails. Sit around a whiskey barrel table and sip on wine, beer, or a cocktail—they don’t serve food, but you are allowed to bring your own.

This makes it the perfect spot for happy hour, which runs daily from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. With featured cocktails for seven dollars, wine for eight dollars, and a beer and shot special for only five dollars, when paired with cheap takeout it’ll be an inexpensive evening out that feels fancy!

Neon Wilderness

Address: 1270 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Website: Neon Wilderness

10. Big Star

Big Star describes itself in three words: whiskey, tacos, and honky-tonk. If that doesn’t intrigue you, perhaps the funky atmosphere in a refurbished 1940’s gas station, the menu inspired by Mexican street food, or the classic country and rock and roll playing in the restaurant will! Big Star is reasonable any time of day, but especially during its happy hour on weekdays from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Get a taco, Tecate beer, and a shot all for just eight dollars. If you’d rather just have one beer, get a taco and margarita or Paloma deal for just ten dollars.

Big Star

Address: 1531 N Damen Ave, Chicago

Website: Big Star

Eating and drinking through the Windy City

One of the best ways to explore a gastronomically-rich city like Chicago is by dining in as many restaurants as you can. If you have limited time and budget during your visit, it can be impossible to eat and drink all of the delicious options on your list! Happy hours are a great way to get a bargain without giving up the opportunity to treat yourself. Hopefully, this list will set you on the right path for your culinary tour through Chicago.