BEST HAPPY HOUR VENUES IN RIVER NORTH, CHICAGO

Apartment Living,Around Town,Best of Chicago

Anyone familiar with the River North Park apartments area of Chicago knows there is no shortage of happy hours to choose from. Which one is best, of course, means best for you: the reader. Under Illinois state law, the offer of a drink special is a distant memory. Bars are now allowed only to include drinks specials as part of food orders. The three things a bar can offer you to make it “happy” is food, entertainment and atmosphere. We’ll leave the atmosphere up to your individual taste. With this in mind, here are a few suggestions for happy hour around town.

POPULAR HAPPY HOUR VENUES TO VISIT IN RIVER NORTH, CHICAGO

For Music:

Fado’s Pub is in the heart of River North on Grand Avenue. It is your classic Irish Pub and is always crowded after 5:00 PM. It also has great live Celtic music upstairs. If you are looking for something dark and relaxing, try out the Underground Wonder Bar on N. Clark Street. Lonnie Walker and the house band will serenade you earthy blue ballads along with other local artists. Finally, if you want to get in on the action you might want to try Howl at the Moon on Hubbard Street. In addition to bands, the bar has two pianos which call out for singing along with your favorite tunes.

For Food:

Let’s approach happy hour from the perspective of an empty stomach. Bar food has moved on from chicken wings and barbecue wieners to some incredible tasty bits. A little apart from the concentration of bars near the river is Union Sushi and Barbecue. This two-story eatery on Erie Avenue is home to the best happy hour deals in the neighborhood. The $2 beef fillet skewers are meaty, and the $4 shrimp tempura rolls are flaky with a delicious center. The Mexican-themed, Cantina Laredo, on State Street is another double-decker bar that is known for its excellent half-priced appetizers, especially its taco trios. The chips and salsa are served warm and their large margaritas are frosty. Happy hours for both bars are 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Maybe the best bargain in the district starts at 5:00 PM when Flemming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar offers 5 cocktails, 5 wines and 5 appetizers for $6, including, homemade burrata, tenderloin carpaccio, and pan-crisped pork belly as well as a $7 prime burger.

Hopefully, with discounted drink prices kept in mind this list will offer a few suggestions for a new stop on your way home. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, there is always another option nearby in River North.