Waiting for Friday after a tedious work week can feel light years away, especially if it’s a dreaded Monday. However, we don’t have to wait until the weekend to see friends and pay for overpriced drinks at a crowded bar to get boozy—a budget-friendly outing awaits you after completing the day’s worth of tasks. Whether your office is in the loop or your Uptown bedroom, head to the nearest neighborhood bar and take advantage of the best happy hours Chicago has for a midweek excursion.
1. Sushi-San
Goodbye Taco Tuesday and hello Sushi Wednesday (any other day works, but Wednesday sounds better.) This is one of the best happy hours in Chicago if you love sushi. The deal includes $6 Spicy Tuna Maki, Spicy Tuna Aburi, Roasted Edamame, Japanese Eggplant, and more.
Find the location below:
📍: 63 w Grand Ave Chicago, Chicago
📅: Monday—Friday: 3:00-6:00 PM
🍽️ : Make a reservation at Sushi-san
2. Avli on the Park
Block out the city noise and head to this restaurant overlooking a charming park as you sip wine and, for once, breathe in polluted-freeish air. You’ll be undisturbed at what we designated as one of the prettiest restaurants in the city. Avli on the Park’s happy hour menu includes $6 glasses of wine, $10 featured cocktail, $5 selected beers, $8 Greek salad, $6 spreads, and $8 small bites.
Find the location below:
📍: 180 N Field Blvd, Chicago
📅 : Tuesday – Friday: 2:30-5:30 PM
🍽️ : Make a reservation at Avli on the Park
3. Upstairs at the Gwen
This opulent New American restaurant perspires Chicago happy hour elegance with its terrace skyline views paired with small plates and sweet cocktails. The happy hour menu includes a $10 Tommy Margarita, $10 Gin & Tonic, $10 Creole Maple Old Fashioned, $10 house wine, $6 draft beer, $6 fries, $10 Chicken Wings, and $10 Fried Brussels Sprouts.
Find the location below:
📍: 521 N Rush St 5th Floor, Chicago
📅 : Monday—Friday: 4:00-5:30 PM
🍽️ : Make a reservation at Upstairs at the Gwen
4. Cafe Ba-Ba Reeba
Cafe Ba-Ba Reeba is noted as one of the best Chicago happy hours because the happy hour never stops—come by the restaurant seven days a week and choose food from their mouth-watering menu while slowly becoming inebriated by the sangria pitchers. The menu includes $20 Sangria pitchers, $1.50 pintxos, $3.50 tapas, $5 Estrella Damm bottles, and more.
Find the location below:
📍: 2024 N Halsted St, Chicago
📅 : Monday—Sunday, 4:00-6:00 PM
🍽️ : First come, first served at the bar area
5. Middle Brow Bungalow
Wooden beams and string lights cover the patio of this delightful bucolic-decorated restaurant, giving a refreshing aura. Take a seat at one of their picnic tables, and enjoy their happy hour menu, which includes $5 beer, $6 wine, and a selection of bread, salad, and pizza that range in price. On Wednesdays, stay past 6 PM and become drenched in the music from live performances.
Find the location below:
📍: 2840 W Armitage Ave, Chicago
📅 : Wednesday—Friday: 4:00-6:00 PM
🍽️ : Make a reservation at Middle Brow Bungalow
6. Tanta
Walk into the first-floor bar of this Peruvian-inspired space to devour a few of their inventive Chicago happy-hours specials. From $8 to $10, indulge in everything from Boliyucas to Tequeños De Pollo. The drink specials include $10 cocktails, $10 wine by the glass, and $6 beer.
Find the location below:
📍: 118 W Grand Ave, Chicago
📅 : Monday—Friday: 4:00-6:00 PM
🍽️ : First come, first served at the first-floor bar
7. City Social
Amid every financial district in America, there is ostensibly an American Pub nearby. Whether you need an escape from an arduous day crunching numbers, or long-winded monotonous business calls, you’ll never want to leave once arriving. City Social’s Chicago happy hour specials include $4 Draft Krombacher, $6 glasses of Rose-All-Day Bubbly, $4 City Pale Ale, and $5 Mini Black & Tan.
Find the location below:
📍: 120 North LaSalle, Chicago
📅 : Monday—Wednesday: 4:00-6:00 PM
🍽️ : Make a reservation at City Social
8. Hub 51
You most certainly will find whatever you’re craving on Hub 51’s menu. Whether you want to catch a sports game or pregame to the season finale of Vanderpump Rules, the place is flooded with TVs at the bar. The happy hour menu includes a $5 draft beer, $5 wine by the glass, half-priced sushi on select rolls, and half portions of Hub 51’s famous Pulled Chicken Nachos for $13
Find the location below:
📍: 51 W Hubbard St, Chicago
📅 : Monday—Friday: 4:00-6:00 PM
🍽️ : Make a reservation at Hub 51
9. Virtue
Usually, when you want to consume award-winning food, it comes at a price. However, Virtue’s happy hour menu is delectable, affordable southern food. Ranging from $7 to $13, order a cup of Gumbo, a catfish slider, buffalo mac & cheese croquette, and other savory items. The happy hour drinks include a $10 cocktail and $9 glasses of wine.
Find the location below:
📍: 1462 E 53rd St, Chicago
📅 : Wednesday—Friday: 4:00-5:30 PM
🍽️ : Make a reservation at Virtue
10. Aba
Leave your dreary cubicle and head to this luscious greenery oasis rooftop after work. Aba is the perfect post-work solution to rejuvenize a hungry group of co-workers. One of the best Chicago happy hours, the specials at Aba include $7 sommelier-selected white and red wine pours, $5 locally-brewed beer, $10 for a classic martini and margarita drink, and $15.95 for the spread sampler.
Find the location below:
📍: 302 N Green St, 3rd Floor, Chicago
📅 : Sunday—Thursday: 4:00-6:00 PM
🍽️ : Make a reservation at Aba
11. Beatrix
This modern, all-day venue combines an American eatery, cocktail lounge, and bakery, molding the perfect afternoon spot for happy hour drinks and delectables. The menu includes $5 local beers, $6 select wines, $7 hand-crafted cocktails, and rotating bar bites.
Find the location below:
📍: 519 N Clark St, Chicago
📅 : Tuesday—Friday: 3:00 PM–6:00 PM
🍽️ : Make a reservation at Beatrix
12. Bub City
This sprawling and buzzy BBQ bar is perfect for howling out the tunes of Luke Bryan or Tim McGraw. While twirling in the country-themed bar, check out their happy hour, which includes $5 draft beer and hard seltzers available at the bar and dining room.
Find the location below:
📍: 435 N Clark St, Chicago
📅 : Monday—Friday: 3:00 PM–5:00 PM
🍽️ : Make a reservation at Bub City
13. Ema
A Mediterranean restaurant in River North, their menu is full of small plates, fresh bread, and regional wines that will take you to the coast of the Aegean Sea. The happy hour menu includes $7 mezze, $6 craft beer, $10 House Margarita, and $8 happy hour white & red pours for bar dine-in only.
Find the location below:
📍: 74 W Illinois St, Chicago
📅 : Monday—Thursday: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
🍽️ : Make a reservation at Ema
14. RPM Italian
Backed by Giuliana and Bill Rancic, this Italian restaurant will cure all your Italian cravings. This sleek, modern hot spot has an essential happy hour menu that includes $8 cicchetti and signature cocktails, beer, and wine by the glass starting at $8
Find the location below:
📍: 52 W Illinois St, Chicago
📅 : Monday—Friday: 4:00 PM–6:00 PM
🍽️ : first come, first served at that bar
15. Tallboy Taco
Tallboy Taco boats a fresh and inspired menu that serves tacos on hand-pressed corn tortillas, margaritas, and tall beers. If you’re a Mexican cuisine fanatic, you must stop here for the happy hour, including $5 Classic Margaritas, $5 Palomas, and $5 Nachitos.
Find the location below:
📍: 302 N Green St, 3rd Floor, Chicago
📅 : Monday—Friday: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
🍽️ : First come, first served
16. Diego
A nod to street food, Diego is a culinary voyage that intertwines the artistry of Mexican mixology and the authentic food you find on the street—founded by Chef Stephen Sandoval, the craft cocktail bar is infused with the spirit of Baja in Chicago’s hip heart of West Town. Their happy hour includes bright cocktails, beer, and bites.
Find the location below:
📍: 459 N Ogden Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
📅 : Monday—Friday: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
🍽️ : First come, first served