When did a basic cocktail become a $17 commitment? While menu prices continue to climb, a handful of Chicago bars and restaurants are still serving mixed drinks at prices that feel refreshingly reasonable. Whether you’re looking for a $7 margarita, a $10 negroni or a budget-friendly martini, these spots keep costs in check without sacrificing quality. And the deals aren’t confined to a short happy hour — they’re on the all-day regular menu. The list includes neighborhood dives, historic taverns, family-friendly pubs and even one of North America’s most celebrated cocktail bars — all with drinks priced well below what has become the city’s new normal.
240 Lounge
If your idea of a good night involves a UFC fight, a pool table and a cocktail that costs less than $10, 240 Lounge fits the bill. The Albany Park sports bar and dive keeps prices remarkably low, with most cocktails ranging from $7.50 to $8. Options include a whiskey sour, Crown Royal peach sunrise and an $8 seasonal mojito, while micheladas cost $10 and the Brazilian old-fashioned comes in at $9. Located just down the street from Lawrence Fish Market, regulars come back for the friendly bartenders and budget-friendly drinks.
3948 W. Lawrence Ave., 773-267-0474, facebook.com/240lounge
Belmont Tavern
Belmont Tavern keeps things easy with cocktails priced at $12 across the board. The revived Avondale bar reopened this year after sitting vacant for 25 years. Inside vintage furnishings, church pew seating and restored architectural details give it a lived-in, neighborhood feel. The drink menu features 26 cocktails organized by spirit, including whiskey, gin, vodka, rum, tequila and brandy-based options, ranging from familiar classics to house originals like Freshly Mowed Lawn, which contains Bison Grass vodka, apple and sherry, or Unclarified Milk Punch made with Amaro Averna, coffee, sherry, tonic and Angostura milk.
3405 W. Belmont Ave., belmonttavernchicago.com
Cove Lounge
Cove Lounge is a lively Hyde Park dive bar near the University of Chicago that has been a neighborhood staple for decades. A long mahogany bar anchors the main room, while a side room features foosball, darts and a large mural depicting former President Barack Obama, the Chicago skyline and UChicago. With a jukebox, plenty of regulars and an easygoing crowd of students, locals and longtime patrons, it’s the kind of place where people tend to settle in for a while. Cocktails are $10 for classics like an old-fashioned, Manhattan, whiskey sour, negroni, margarita and Aperol spritz, while house “Cove-tails” such as the Lake Michigan, Malibu Dream, and Summer’s Milk and Butterscotch Martini run $12.
1750 E. 55th St., 773-684-1013, instagram.com/covelounge_hp
Esmeralda’s Lounge
Esmeralda’s Lounge brings a tropical escape to Humboldt Park, where Caribbean-inspired flavors meet tiki-style cocktails in a cozy, dimly lit setting. The neighborhood bar leans into its relaxed, late-night energy, staying open until 2 a.m. most nights and 3 a.m. on Saturdays. The drink menu is built for easygoing sipping, with frozen cocktails priced at $8 and classics like margaritas, mojitos, palomas, piña coladas and well drinks at $10. More spirit-forward options, including caipirinhas and old-fashioneds, top out at $12.
2539 W. Division St., 312-479-7121, esmeraldaschicago.com
Gideon Welles
Named after former President Abraham Lincoln’s secretary of the Navy, this family-friendly Lincoln Square establishment sits across the street from Welles Park. Cocktails run $10 to $13, with plenty at the $10 sweet spot, including a house Manhattan, picante margarita, mezcal negroni, and a Wild Irish gin and tonic. There’s also a whole lineup of mule variations for $10, letting you pick your “passport stamp” with options like Moscow, Kentucky, London and Irish mules.
4500 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-907-2226, gideonchicago.com
Gus’ Sip & Dip
Named No. 27 on North America’s 50 Best Bars list of 2026, Gus’ Sip & Dip has earned national recognition while keeping its pricing unusually grounded for River North. The dark, tavern-style space is polished and intimate without feeling overly formal. While many downtown bars charge well above $15 for craft cocktails, every mixed drink here is priced at $12. The menu spans 30 classic and contemporary cocktails, from margaritas, mojitos and daiquiris to Clover Clubs, Sazeracs and martinis, with options built around vodka, tequila, gin, rum, whiskey, cognac and more.
51 W. Hubbard St., 312-736-0163, gussipanddip.com
Mac’s Wood Grilled
Housed in the former Schlitz Brewery Tied House, Mac’s Wood Grilled offers $5 bloody marys and house vodka cocktails, along with $6 seasonal mules and lemonades in flavors such as blueberry, cucumber and watermelon. With two patios, plenty of TVs for game days and a menu centered on burgers, sandwiches, wings and other American comfort food, it’s the kind of neighborhood spot where grabbing a few rounds won’t break the bank.
1801 W. Division St., 773-782-4400, macswoodgrilled.com
Taquería Primo Chuki’s Uptown
For drinkers who like options, Taqueria Primo Chukis Uptown offers a large variety of cocktails for less than $10. The affordable Mexican joint serves $7.99 red sangria, fruit-forward mezcalitas in flavors like tamarind, jamaica, passion fruit, guava and pineapple, plus a lineup of flavored margaritas starting at $8.99. If you’re feeling a little more indulgent, the watermelon margarita and mangonada margarita come in at $9.99, while palomas and vampiritos are both priced at $8.99. There’s also a second location farther west on Lawrence, Restaurant Primo Chukis Uptown #2, though the full cocktail selection may vary by location.
1708 W. Lawrence Ave., 872-208-7075, taqueriaprimochukisuptown.com
The Radicle
From the team behind Daisies, The Radicle recently opened in Logan Square and has already made waves with its affordable cocktail program. The drinks lean into playful, Italian aperitivo riffs and inventive house infusions. Standouts from the $10 cocktail menu include Indecent Locals (mezcal, aratte reposado tequila, heirloom watermelon, roasted peppers and aperativo) and Birdwatching in Milan (fernet branca, Campari, aged rum, pineapple, banana, red koji makegeolli), alongside richer, more whimsical builds in the $12 section like the Catholic Guilt (Ford’s gin, pomegranate, rinomato, Chinato, myrrh) Scoop of Blue Moon (clarified milk punch made with Mijenta cristalino, white rum, blue curaçao and a house “top secret” ingredient, finished with rainbow sprinkles).
2523 N. Milwaukee Ave., 312-488-4069, radiclechicago.com
Roost Chicken & Biscuits
This Southern comfort food spot in Roscoe Village offers some of the cheapest cocktails on this list, with a selection of mixed drinks priced at just $7. Options include a bourbon-spiked peach tea, a Bee’s Knees made with gin and honey syrup, a Cheerwine Margarita, a jalapeño margarita and a vodka-based John Daly. Those with a sweet tooth can upgrade to one of the restaurant’s $10 boozy shakes, including a Mudslide made with Baileys, vodka and coffee liqueur or a peach cobbler-inspired shake with bourbon or rum, topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. The fried chicken restaurant also has a second location in River West, though alcohol is not served there.
2011 W. Roscoe St., 312-261-5564, roostisgood.com
Wil’s Martini Lounge
As the name suggests, Wil’s Martini Lounge specializes in martinis, with a lengthy menu that includes classic martinis, sweeter dessert-style options and house signatures. Opened in 2025, the Andersonville bar has quickly become a gathering spot for the area’s LGBTQ+ community. While full-size, 10-ounce martinis generally cost $16 to $18, six-ounce servings range from $11 to $13. In addition to martinis, the menu includes other cocktails within the same price range and a selection of curated mocktails.
1478 W. Catalpa Ave., instagram.com/wilsmartinilounge
Eva Remijan-Toba is a freelance writer.
