One of the best parts of living in Lakeshore East is how easy it is to meet a friend, grab a drink, or enjoy an early dinner without leaving the neighborhood.
Avli on The Park, Drunken Bean, and Gordo's Tiny Taco Bar all sit right around Lakeshore East Park, while FireLake is just across the way in the Aqua building. Together, they give the neighborhood a nice mix of Greek, casual cafe, tacos, cocktails, patios, and after-work options.
Avli on The Park
Avli on The Park is one of the neighborhood's prettiest happy hour settings, especially when the rooftop or outdoor space is open. It works well for a glass of wine after work, a light dinner, or a more polished happy hour with friends.
Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The menu includes Greek spreads, meze, $8 cocktails, wine carafes, mini bottle service, and Mythos lager.
Standouts include hummus, tzatziki, tirokafteri, melitzanosalata, smoked salmon tarama, kataifi shrimp, Greek fries, zucchini chips, and burrata. For drinks, the A-Gouri, Athenian Spritz, and watermelon margarita are all easy summer choices.
Drunken Bean Coffee & Wine Bar
Drunken Bean is one of the most flexible spots in Lakeshore East because it works from morning coffee through evening wine, cocktails, flatbreads, and casual dinner.
The daily happy hour runs from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and includes $11 flatbreads, $11 pastas, $5 draft beers, $5.50 selected cocktails, and select wines starting around $5.
This is a great option when you want something casual and easy, especially if you are meeting a neighbor, stopping in after work, or want food and drinks without making a full dinner reservation.
Gordo's Tiny Taco Bar
Gordo's Tiny Taco Bar brings a fun, casual taco bar feel to Lakeshore East. It is an easy choice for margaritas, small bites, and a more relaxed happy hour right by the park.
Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Specials include $3 empanadas, $5 esquites, $7 nachos, $7 tiny quesadillas, $7 choriqueso, $7 tiny taco flights, $10 quesabirrias, $10 quesaburger sliders, $4 beer, $8 margaritas, and the $22 Gordo-Rita.
They also offer Taco Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., with $3 tacos.
FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar
FireLake is located in the Aqua building, making it an easy walk for Lakeshore East residents who want a patio, cocktails, and a slightly larger restaurant setting.
Happy hour runs Monday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The food menu includes a mega pretzel, FireLake smash burger, flatbread, chicken wings, cheese curds, French fries, and onion rings.
Drink specials include $6 select draft beer, $6 Right Bee cider, $6 White Claw soda, and $8 select house wine. FireLake also offers daily happy hour specials, including $9 select cocktails on Monday and Thursday and $30 select bottles of wine on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Why These Happy Hours Matter
Lakeshore East feels different from many downtown neighborhoods because so much of daily life is right outside your door. You can walk to coffee, dinner, cocktails, the park, the Riverwalk, the lakefront, and Millennium Park without needing to plan around traffic or parking.
For residents, these local happy hours are part of what makes the neighborhood easy to enjoy. Whether you want a rooftop glass of wine at Avli, a casual flatbread at Drunken Bean, margaritas at Gordo's, or a patio cocktail at FireLake, you have several options within a short walk.
If you are thinking about buying or selling in Lakeshore East or the New Eastside, I am happy to help you understand the buildings, lifestyle, and market.
Ginger Menne
Baird & Warner
(312) 927-0852 | [email protected]
www.neweastsideliving.com
