We, like you, am not made of money. And while I personally love going out to get a fancy cocktail – or, like, 4 fancy cocktails – from time to time, my wallet is not always quite so enthusiastic.
Given that drinking anywhere in Chicago is often times soooo damn expensive, I’m guessing that you might feel the same way.
So, in a last-ditch effort to give your bank account and mine a much-needed respite, here are the various destinations to get cheap drinks in Chicago.
No need to thank me, you’re already welcome.
Estelle’s
2013 West North Avenue –1/2 off everything 5pm–7pm M-F, $5 Tito’s cocktails on Thursdays
Estelle’s is one helluva neighborhood bar – and it’s definitely got the drink specials to match. It is one of the cheapest bars in Chicago that offers daily happy hour specials that run from 5pm–7pm, Mondays through Fridays, and offers half off EVERYTHING but food and shots, meaning your average cocktail is only gonna cost you about five bucks. As if that wasn’t enough, Estelle’s also offers $5 Tito’s mixed drinks on Thursday, $4 Ferent Branca shots on Monday (for when you’re feeling fancy) and a $7 High Life + Four Rose combo on Sundays. I mean, why would you ever spend more than $10 on a cocktail when this exists?
Antique Taco
1360 North Milwaukee Avenue –$9 Margarita
Okay, so I get that an $9 drink might not seem cheap, but in a city where specialty cocktails regularly cost us upwards of $11, nine bucks is a miracle and you know it. Not only does Antique Taco offer a $9 classic marg at each of its three locations, but they also do a mean rosemary and seasonal option for the same price. As an added benefit for all my cheapos out there, margarita pitchers at Antique Taco are also just $30. Gimme, please.
Kincade’s
950 W Armitage – so, so many specials
Okay, deep breath – Kincade’s offers: $3 Miller Lite and Coors Light drafts on Tuesdays, $1 domestic bottles on Wednesdays, $1o domestic PITCHERS on Thursdays, a $4 draft o’ the day on Fridays, AND, last but not least, $6 Tito’s cocktails and Bloody Mary’s on Sundays.
Did you catch all that? ‘Cause this perpetually full sports bar is pretty much the cheap drink Mecca.
Delilah’s
2771 North Lincoln Avenue – again, so many specials
Delilah’s is Lincoln Park’s resident beer bar and features nearly 200 different drafts and bottles for you to take for a spin. In a concerted effort to get you to drink as much awesome beer as humanly possible, Delilah’s offers up cheap-as-hell daily specials such as: $1 beer and $2 Jim Beam on Mondays, $3 High Life bottles on Tuesdays, $3 PBR longnecks and $3 W.L. Weller Special Reserve on Wednesdays, $3 Schlitz Bottles on Thursdays, $3 Labatt Blue on Fridays, $3 Molson Canadian on Saturdays, and $3 Hamm’s Premium Lager Pints on Sundays.
Why you would ever buy another beer for more than $3 again, I don’t know.
Boleo
122 West Monroe Street – $8 Disco Punch, $6 Beer, and $5 Anticuchos during happy hour
There is nothing I love more than getting a sweet deal at an expensive restaurant – and happy hour at Boleo is just that. This swanky rooftop bar is usually mixin’ up $12 cocktails, but starting at 4:30 pm on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights, that price is slashed nearly in half to accommodate cheap-drinkers like yours truly. Plus, Boleo’s happy hour goes until about 7 pm, meaning I can have my deal with dinner this time around. Order up a $5 Anticuchos for a traditional Peruvian street skewer.
The Owl
2521 North Milwaukee – 1/2 off cocktails and beers from 6 pm – 8 pm
The Owl is Logan Square’s original hipster haven. Serving up good drinks, excellent beer, and uber-chill vibes (if chill vibes can even be “uber”), The Owl’s daily Early Bird Special is a must for anyone trying to save a couple bucks. What’s more, this laid-back watering hole also offers $5 Absolut wells on Sunday and $2-3 beers on Tuesday.
Joe’s on Weed
940 West Weed – $9 domestic pitchers, $19 domestic buckets and $8 Bloody Mary’s on Saturdays & Sundays
A classic sports bar, live music venue, and country hot spot all rolled into one, there should be no doubt in your mind that Joe’s is offering some sweet drink deals on the cheap. Though their specials rotate pretty regularly, the best deal we could find was the bar’s Saturday/Sunday/Game Day special, which lists pitchers for under $10, buckets for under $20 and loaded Bloody Mary’s for the low, low price of just $8, in the mornings only.
The Kerryman
661 North Clark – lots o’ daily drink deals
The Irish know how to drink. This is just common knowledge. So it really shouldn’t come as a shock when I tell you that The Kerryman – an Irish pub – has some of the best damn cheap drinks in town. Their specials include, but are not limited to: half-price BOTTLES of wine and $5 glasses on Tuesdays, $4 glasses of Rose, Prosecco, and $4 Krombacher pints all day Wednesday, $5 Jager Bombs and $3 Soco Lime Shots all day Thursday, $4 Guinness and $6 Tito’s cocktails during Happy Hour on Friday, AND $5 mimosas and Bloody Mary’s on Saturday & Sunday. Whew.
The Whistler
2421 North Milwaukee – cocktails usually start around $6
The Whistler is a relatively upscale stage/gallery/bar/restaurant in Wicker Park where they could easily be charging you 12 bucks a drink. And they totally do. That being said, being the kind, gentle souls that they are, The Whistler’s daily drinks menu usually includes at least one drink under the $8 mark, meaning that even the brokest (broke-est?) of folk can swing by and enjoy this cool space.
The Barrelhouse Flat
2624 North Lincoln Avenue – $8 happy hour
The Barrelhouse Flat is one of those fancy-pants, dark-lit cocktail bars that you’d usually only go to for a special occasion. But with a stellar happy hour on Sundays and Mondays between 6 and 8 pm, you definitely don’t have to. Offering many of the same cocktails as on their regular menu, everything The Barrelhouse Flat happy hour is $8 and under, including the mac and cheese (and minus the Animal Burger).
So go on, girl – get yourself that fancy Old Fashioned. You can totally afford it here.
Jack and Ginger’s
2048 Armitage Ave – daily drink deals, $5 Jack and Gingers DAILY!
Jack and Ginger’s is one of our favorite neighborhood dives, through and through. Stop by any night of the week to cash in on some of their fantastic deals :
Monday: $4 shots, $10 domestic pitchers
Tuesday: $4 flavored vodka, $1 off ALL DRAFTS
Wednesday: $4 Revolution beer, $3 “J” shots (Jim, Jack, Jose, Jager – you get the idea)
Thursday: $5 all bombs, $14 domestic buckets
Friday: $4 well drinks, $2 off Bulleit Whiskey
Saturday: $5.50 Tito’s drinks, $4 Bloody Mary’s and mimosas, $9 (for 3) or $14 (for 5) retro cans
Sunday: $4 Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas, $10 domestic pitchers, $2.50 domestic drafts
Roger’s Park Social
6920 North Glenwood – $6 Happy Hour
From 4 pm – 7 pm, Mondays through Fridays, Roger’s Park Social is serving up a $6 happy hour specials. The menu features house wines, $1 off Illinois draft beers, and a “pick yer mule” deal that lets you choose whatever, whether your feelin’ vodka, tequila, or bourbon that day.
Big Chicks
5024 North Sheridan – select drinks for $6 and under all week long
Big Chicks is a no muss, no fuss LGBTQ-friendly bar offering squeal-worthy drink deals all week long. Stop by on Sundays for $3 vodka lemonades, $5 Dark and Stormys on Tuesdays, $1 off all local craft beers on Wednesdays or, if your feelin’ extra cheap, $5 Absolut cocktails on Thursdays.
Brando’s Speakeasy
343 South Dearborn Street – late night and happy hour specials
This speakeasy and karaoke lounge offers cheapskates like myself both happy hour and late night specials on a daily basis. Some of Brando’s best deals and steals include $4 Moscow mules, $5 Bulleit Rye Old Fashioned, $5 Bombay Sapphire G&T, $5 Jameson Caskmates, and $4 3 Floyds bottled beers. Did we mention that’s all daily?
The Franklin Room
675 N Franklin – $1 beer and wine menu
Last, but certainly not least, the piece de resistance – the $1 beer and menu at The Franklin Room. Though it may only be served from 11:30 am to 2 pm, Mondays through Fridays, this standard bar and restaurant does offer a full menu of drinks for just one dollar a piece. In addition to cheap-as-hell beers and wines, for those of us looking for something just a little harder, the menu also includes $3 martinis. I should probably mention that you have to buy lunch in order to cash in on the deal, but who cares, $1 drinks are worth it.
Del Toro
2133 South Halsted Street – $7 mojitos on Tuesdays, $4 Latin beers on Wednesdays, $5 well drinks on Thursdays
You can’t go wrong when you stop into this Mexican haunt. It’s located a little off the beaten path in Pilsen, but well worth the trip, especially during their daily specials. Every day holds something new, like Latin Wednesdays with $4 Latin beers, or $5 well drinks on Thursdays. Topping it off with $7 mojitos on Tuesdays, Del Toro knows how to bring all the boys to their yard.
Featured Image Credit: Antique Tacos Instagram
The post Where to Find Cheap Drinks & Bars in Chicago appeared first on UrbanMatter.
