12 Happy Hour Specials to Try in Chicago Now

Happy hour specials are important. The discounted prices are a great tool to bring Chicagoans into bars and restaurants no matter the weather. It’s been almost three years since state lawmakers legalized happy hour, lifting obsolete restrictions that prevented restaurant and bar owners from offering discounts on alcoholic drinks.

Eater Chicago attempted to log all the happy hour specials in one map. But as time went by, the map became bloated with outdated specials. It was difficult to update and bar owners would complain that the information wasn’t up to date. Customers would get angry that bars wouldn’t honor specials. Eater Chicago would get angry that no one informed the publication about any happy hour changes. No one was, well, happy.

Happy hour specials are now logged periodically in this post. It’s not meant to be a comprehensive list, but will try to highlight new restaurants or thoughtful offers from old standbys. Just make sure to check with the establishment to find out if older specials are still valid. Beware, bars aren’t bound to honor these specials which they’ve sent to Eater, but it sure would be nice if they did. Happy Hour specials from fall 2019 are available here.

Feel free to email chicago@eater.com with any solid happy hour deals.

February 19

ANDERSONVILLE — Uvae Kitchen and Wine Bar, 5553 N. Clark Street

Neighborhood wine bar and eatery Uvae offers happy hour all week long. Staff are serving draft prosecco is for $4 and snack menu items are half-off. Dishes include vinegar and sea salt red-skinned chips with roasted garlic and shallot dip, and duck paté with pickled radish, cherry compote, fennel mostarda, and sourdough.

Happy hour is from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday; 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

FULTON MARKET — Boqueria, 807 W. Fulton Market

This New York-based tapas spot has plenty of happy hour options on the menu. Drinkers can try red, white, and rosé sangria, available by the glass ($8) or pitcher ($33), as well as $8 house wines, $5 Moritz beers, $6 manzanilla sherry, and cocktails ranging from $8-$11. Tapas selections include patatas bravas (salsa brava, pimentón, garlic allioli) and escalivada (fire-roasted eggplant, red pepper, onion, labneh yogurt, fresh herbs, olive oil, flatbread).

Happy hour is from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

FULTON MARKET — Time Out Market Chicago, 916 W. Fulton Market

Mammoth food hall Time Out Market has a happy hour that seems suited to indecisive drinkers: buy a food item for $12 or more at any of the hall’s many acclaimed vendors and get a $4 draft beer, $6 draft wine, or $8 signature cocktail from three of the venue’s bars (tiki spot Secret Sound, from Lost Lake on the second floor, is not involved).

Happy hour is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

GOLD COAST - Le Colonial, 57 E. Oak Street

The Chicago outpost of this upscale Vietnamese stalwart calls happy hour “Social Hour,” and proffers a menu of $8 dishes such as Goi Cuon, Bo Bia, and chicken dumplings. Drink selections include $8 wines and cocktails including a lychee martini and “Southeast Sangria.”

Happy hour is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

HYDE PARK — Virtue, 1462 E. 53rd Street

Eater Chicago 2019 Restaurant of the Year Virtue features a very happy menu for “pot liquor time.” Chef and owner Erick Williams offers several Southern-American highlights only available during happy hour such as pig feet fritters, pork cracklin’, catfish sliders, and more. Drink options include “Father South” (mezcal, amaro, orange, whiskey bitters) and the eponymous “Patience is a Virtue” (vodka, creme yvette, rhubarb bitters).

Happy hour is from 4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday.

MAGNIFICENT MILE — The Purple Pig, 444 Michigan Avenue

Celebrated downtown mega-hit the Purple Pig is offering happy hour in its newish digs. Known for its extensive wine selection, the restaurant features $8 red and white wines by the glass. Drinkers can also order a $5 rotating beer, a $3 “piggyback,” and $8 old fashioneds.

Happy hour is from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

MILLENNIUM PARK — Adamus, 10 S. Wabash Avenue

This upscale lounge inside the Silversmith Hotel has happy hour specials such as $5.95 beers, $6.95 house wines, $7.95 rail drinks, as well as fun bar fare such as a bag of fried pickles (country mustard aioli, chipotle aioli) and warm doughnut puffs sprinkled with cinnamon sugar with a choice of chocolate or caramel sauce.

Happy hour is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

RIVER NORTH — Mason House, 613 N. Wells Street

Drink-deal hunters are in luck inside Found Chicago Hotel’s recently reconcepted restaurant and bar. Mason House’s happy hour menu featuring $5 beer, wine, and cocktails. Balance the booze with dishes such as fried cheese curds, chicken tenders (ranch, honey mustard, or sweet chili), and lamb meatballs (Mediterranean tomato sauce, grilled baguettes).

Happy hour is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

RIVER NORTH — Sugar Factory, 55 E. Grand Avenue

Sweets fans can have a tooth-rotting good time at this downtown dentist’s nightmare. All drinks and desserts are half-off during happy hour, including “goblets” such as “Fuzzy Peach Penguin Mango,” chocolate martinis, “Old Fashioned” or “Insane” milkshakes, and more.

Happy hour is from 4 p.m. to 6 pm. on Monday through Friday.

STREETERVILLE — Timothy O’Toole’s Pub, 622 North Fairbanks Court

Drink specials win the day at subterranean sports bar Timothy O’Toole’s Pub. Beer options include $3 domestic drafts, $3.50 domestic bottles, and $4 select craft drafts such as Blue Moon and Lagunitas IPA. Customers can also pick up $5 mixed well drinks and $6 glasses of house wine.

Happy hour is from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

THE LOOP — The Florentine, 151 W. Adams Street

This downtown restaurant inside the JW Marriott hotel has a new happy hour deal in store: drinkers can try specials including a $20 winter punch bowl (ginger-infused raspberry vodka, cranberry, ginger ale, cranberries) or “Butterfly Away With Me” punch bowl (vodka, butterfly pea, lemonade, rosemary). There are also $5 rotating drafts and $10 glasses of Citra Quartino wine. A tight selection of wood-fired pizzas is also on offer, such as a smoked mussels pie (onion, gaeta olives, fior di latte, tomato) and classic margherita. A full menu is available below.

Happy hour is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

WEST LOOP — Eden, 1748 W. Lake Street

New American restaurant Eden has a happy hour with $10 seasonal cocktails, beer, and wine by the glass. The current cocktail list includes the “Piña Pisco” (De La Motta pisco, lime, basil, pineapple, agave nectar, egg white, Peychaud’s bitters). There’s also a special food menu featuring items such as roasted bone marrow (bergamot salsa, brioche pull-apart, pea tendril, puffed rice) and roasted mushroom flatbread (French feta, chestnut, burnt onion, pomegranate, honey)

Happy hour is from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday.

January 23

GOLD COAST — Nico Osteria, 1015 N. Rush Street

This essential Italian restaurant launched a happy hour this month in its bar area, known as Salone Nico. Drinks and food are all $7, ranging from Aperol spritzes and glasses of house Italian red and white wines to oysters and arancini.

Happy hour is from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

RIVER WEST — The Dandy Crown, 694 N. Milwaukee Avenue

This new, festive cocktail bar offers drinkers fresh takes on a daiquiri (rum, lime, cinnamon syrup) and old fashioned (bourbon, Pedro Ximenez, Angostura) for $7 during happy hour, as well as a few discounted beers and shots. The big feature is a weekly rotating crock-pot cocktail, served warm, that bartenders concoct to beat back the throes of winter.

Happy hour is from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Thursday.

ROSCOE VILLAGE — Le Sud, 2301 W. Roscoe Street

Southern French restaurant Le Sud celebrates happy hour with $6 glasses of wine (red, white, or rose) and a rotating cocktail of the day. Dishes such as lamb tartine (whipped feta, cucumber, everything seasoning) and potato croquettes (black pepper aoli) range from $4 to $12, and children age 12 and under can order off a menu of pasta, hamburger, and more for $4.

Happy hour is from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday.

SOUTH LOOP — VU Rooftop Bar, 133 E. Cermak Road

This 22nd-floor rooftop bar hopes to lure happy hour-ers with $5 Miller High Life, $8 red or white sangria, and a custom $8 cocktail created with each drinker’s preferences in mind. Light bar fare is also available for $5.

Happy hour is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Thursday.

STREETERVILLE — The Albert, 228 E. Ontario Street

This lauded restaurant inside Hotel EMC2 has something special for both drinkers and Dry Januarians during happy hour. These include $4 spirit-free “drivers” (add a well spirit for $4 extra) such as the “P&T” (pomegranate, cucumber, tonic), as well as $8 cocktails such as “the Albert’s Old Fashioned” (rye whiskey, bitters, demerara). Two wine selections are available for $5. Temper those drinks with small dishes such as $6 shishito peppers with pimiento cheese or salt cod croquettes with malt vinegar gastrique.

Happy hour is from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

THE LOOP — Ocean Prime, 87 E. Wacker Drive

Swanky downtown steakhouse Ocean Prime leans in to happy hour with half off all appetizers, sushi, and oysters. Select drinks are also discounted by half, including some wines by the glass, all beers, and cocktails such as a cucumber gimlet and the Prime Manhattan.

Happy hour is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

THE LOOP — ROOF on the Wit, 201 N. State Street

Sleek rooftop lounge Roof on the Wit aims to keep energy high during the winter with 20 percent off the entire menu during happy hour. The roof and window-walls are open during summer months, but the glass-enclosed space offers warmth and downtown views when chilly temperatures and precipitation set in.

Happy hour is from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday.

WEST LOOP — Rooh, 736 W. Randolph Street

Modern Indian fine dining restaurant Rooh’s Chicago outpost offers drinkers $5-6 beers and featured cocktails during happy hour, as well as $8 glasses of wine. Food options include discounted menu hits such as $8 “Chicken 65” (peanut chutney, podi masala, lemon sour cream) and $7 cauliflower koliwada (curd rice mousse, peanut thecha).

Happy hour is from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday; Sunday.

WEST TOWN — Beatnik, 1604 W. Chicago Avenue

Bonhomme Hospitality’s Bohemian spot whisks happy hour revelers to the tropics this winter with “Runaway Bay.” DJ Papa G will spin “island beats” while patrons try $8 slushies, spreads, and bubbles. It’s also extending its weekly “Tropical Layover” special — ask the server for a complimentary upgrade during the specified time and get half off the bill of both food and drink.

“Tropical Layover” is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday; “Runaway Bay” is all night on Thursday.

WICKER PARK — Kinton Ramen, 1426 N. Milwaukee Avenue

The second U.S. location from the Canadian ramen chain (the first is in the West Loop) is offering half-off all appetizers during happy hour, including kimuchi, salmon tataki, and spicy karaage, or Japanese fried chicken. Drinkers can try $2 Sapporo drafts, $3 house sake, $4 wines by the glass, and $5 cocktails, such as the “Shochu Hi” (shochu, green tea).

Happy hour is from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday.