Find Your Happiest Hour
What makes you happy? If you’re like me, the answer is delicious drinks and amazing appetizers at perfect prices!
My name is Ryann and, like many twenty-somethings spending summer in the city, I’m always on the lookout for great spots to hang with friends, bond with coworkers, or flirt with dates.
As a native Chicagoan, I know that this city is full of great spots to eat and drink. I’ve rounded up the best places in the city for you to put the “happy” in Happy Hour!
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676 Restaurant
Sunday-Thursday 7:00 - 9:00pm
Located on the fourth floor of the OMNI Hotel Chicago, 676 Restaurant brings a whole new meaning to “Happy Hour”
Executive Chef Joshua Hasho takes the lead from the restaurant’s entirely locally grown produce and transforms each dish into a culinary farm-to-table experience.
“We really want you to feel like you’re in Chicago when you come here,” Director of Sales and Marketing David Katz said. “All the food is locally sourced from within 676 miles.”
Whether you’re in the mood for a ribeye or a cheese plate, this place has it all, with sweeping views of North Michigan Avenue to match.
“Happy Hour gives people a chance to try things from all of the great restaurants Chicago has to offer,” Katz said.
“Having affordable options that also taste great is a big draw for the younger crowd to come and network and get to know coworkers,” Communications and Market Research Coordinator Kristen Lang added.
Seasoned with herbs and spices from their fifth floor skydeck garden, the Margherita Flatbread evokes the tastes of Italy in just one slice. The Cheese and Charcuterie plate provides endless options, including house favorite – bacon jam – for diners to create the perfect bite every time.
676 Restaurant’s Happy Hour offerings are a new feature at the hotel and are sure to become a staple of the Chicago dining experience.
Personal Food Recommendation: Cheese and Charcuterie Plate
Personal Drink Recommendation: Strawberry Rhubarb Mule
Check out the rest of 676 Restaurant’s Happy Hour menu HERE >>
676 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 944 6664 -
Gino's East
Monday-Thursday 3:00-6:00 pm
When you think of rooftop views, you may not immediately think of Gino’s East. But, the newly renovated rooftop patio at the Magnificent Mile location offers everything you could need to relax and enjoy Happy Hour.
Take a seat at a table or comfy couch and enjoy the wrap-around patio while being served from the full bar or kitchen. Gino’s is offering your quintessential Happy Hour specials for the first time, beginning this year.
“Chicago is such a pretty city and it’s nice after a long day at work to get some sunshine and fresh air,” Marketing Manager Julie Goldsberry said. “This place is kind of like an oasis.”
If you’re in the mood for a brew and some tunes, Gino’s River North location just a few blocks away offers live music from Matt Keen of Rebel Soul Revival and $5 pints of Gino’s Brewing Company beers. More of those craft beers will be coming to The Magnificent Mile location soon.
Whether you are looking for a fun place to come for famous deep dish with the family or a hip spot for after-work drinks and snacks, Gino’s East delivers.
“We have our patrons who come in all the time and offering the new Happy Hour is a fun way to keep making them happy,” Goldsberry said.
Personal Food Recommendation: Spinach Artichoke Dip
Personal Drink Recommendation: LaSalle St. Lager
Check out the rest of Gino’s East’s Happy Hour menu HERE >>
162 East Superior Street
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 266 3337 -
Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse
Monday-Friday 4:00-6:00 pm
At Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse, fine dining meets your neighborhood hangout with everything from perfectly cooked filets to an ice-cold beer.
Surrounded by the spirit of Harry Caray himself, the Steakhouse bar makes for a great place to meet friends after work or catch a Cubs game.
“Harry would sit right here and greet people when they walked in,” Senior Public Relations Manager Hayley Thompson said. “That history makes this place really special.”
From celebrity photos to Chicago Cubs paraphernalia, there are pieces of the city wherever you look. For you history buffs, slip downstairs to check out the gangster-era vault, secret hallway, and old address book filled with mobsters’ contact information. The artifacts once belonged to mob enforcer Frank Nitti.
From their delightful appetizer menu to their ever-changing featured cocktail special, the crew at Harry Caray’s does not disappoint.
“Everyone loves an after-work drink,” Thompson said. “And a discount doesn’t hurt!”
Personal Food Recommendation: Bruschetta
Personal Drink Recommendation: Tequila Pineapple Martini
Check out the rest of Harry Caray’s Happy Hour menu HERE >>
33 West Kenzie Street
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 828 0966 -
I|O Godfrey
Monday-Thursday 3:00-6:00pm; and Friday 12:00 - 3:00pm
The rooftop lounge of the Godfrey Hotel has the full Happy Hour package. From great views of the neighborhood to irresistible food and drinks, there are tons of reasons to do Happy Hour at I|O Godfrey.
“Chicagoans are used to waiting for things from the Cubs winning the World Series to construction,” Director of Food and Beverage for I|O Godfrey, Grant Gedemer said. “So they are excited when the wait is over – especially when it means the end of the work day. Happy Hour is an opportunity to unwind with your co-workers after a long day or week”
I|O Godfrey is the perfect place for brunch, drinks, or a night on the town with a wonderful round up of menu items, including Prime Beef Sliders, Truffle Fries, and Salmon Avocado Maki.
On Friday’s, sneak away to I|O Godfrey for a mid-day pick-me-up thanks to their afternoon hours.
With its contemporary and cozy rooftop setting and sweeping views of the city, I|O Godfrey is a top destination for Happy Hour, and Gedemer promises, “you’re bound to find something you’ll love.”
Personal Food Recommendation: Spicy Tuna Maki
Personal Drink Recommendation: Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc
Check out the rest of I|O Godfrey’s Happy Hour menu HERE >>
127 West Huron and Lasalle
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 374 1830 -
Osteria Via Stato
Daily, 4:00 - 6:00pm
If you close your eyes, you might think you’ve been transported to a bistro in Italy. The candle lights, traditional recipes, and Italian cocktails at Osteria Via Stato are enough to make you say “Mamma Mia!”
Osteria puts an authentic Italian spin on their Happy Hour, following the tradition of “Aperitivo,” where alcoholic beverages are served before the meal to help stimulate the appetite.
“When I was traveling in Italy, it was like a whole town would shut down for the afternoon to take a break,” Head Chef David DiGregorio said. “It’s totally acceptable to have a glass of wine in the afternoon.”
The ever-changing wine selection at Osteria remains true to tradition and is limited to unique, small production Italian wines, while the cocktail menu features signature recipes such as the Prosecco Fizz. The restaurant is known for their light and flavorful Italian Sangria which includes red or white wine and fresh fruit.
Situated next to the Embassy Suites Chicago, Osteria sees a variety of professionals, travelers, and neighborhood customers throughout the day, especially those who finish work early and are in need of a “siesta.”
“It used to be that ‘power lunches’ were the thing for professionals, so now I think Happy Hour has taken over that tradition and made it more youthful,” Director of Marketing and Events Allison Gallese said. “It’s less formal than an office setting and lets coworkers talk more freely and network.”
No matter why you choose to come to Osteria, you can be sure you’ve made the right choice when you try Chef DiGregorio’s homemade roasted garlic, marinated olives, and ciabatta bread. These delicious bites are complimentary with your Aperitivo experience.
“There’s a certain outcome you have in mind when you decide to do everything yourself,” Chef DiGregorio said. “I like that everything has an old world feel.”
While the atmosphere may be “old world,” Osteria does its part to go green by recycling old menus into coasters.
If a trip to Italy is on your bucket list, get your taste buds ready with a trip to Osteria Via Stato!
Personal Food Recommendation: Roasted Garlic and Marinated Olives
Personal Drink Recommendation: White Italian Sangria
Check out the rest of Osteria Via Stato’s Aperitivo Menu HERE>>
620 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 642 8450 -
State and Lake Chicago Tavern
Monday-Friday 4:00 - 6:00pm
The ultimate intimate experience awaits at State and Lake Chicago Tavern. With food as beautiful as the space – and as delicious as it is beautiful –, Executive Chef Nathan Sears always delivers a satisfying meal, whether it is for lunch, dinner, or their famous Happy Hour.
“What makes our Happy Hour a step above the rest is our selection of craft beers on draft that we offer,” General Manager David Behncke said. “We’re [a part of] theWit and we want to take everything to the next level.”
That includes putting a modern and unique flare on traditional tavern dining. Happy Hour brews include Revolution and Metropolitan selections to pair with mussels, whipped mortadella or their most popular bite: the aged cheddar soft pretzel.
“After mixing, shaping, and proofing, the pretzels are boiled and topped with sea salt and Pleasant Ridge Reserve cheese,” Behncke said. “Made in-house, fresh every day.”
Whether you want to grab a drink after work, join with friends to watch a game, or take a special someone to a romantic meal for two, State and Lake Chicago Tavern’s Happy Hour caters to all.
Personal Food Recommendation: Aged Cheddar Soft Pretzel
Personal Drink Recommendation: Lagunitas Beer
Check out the rest of State and Lake Chicago Tavern’s Happy Hour menu HERE >>
201 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 239 9400
