Bar Sótano Happy Hour — River North, Chicago

The happy hour

Wed	All day
Thu–Sat	5–6 PM

Drinks

Coctel del Día (daily cocktail) — $10
Oaxacan pasilla old fashioned — $8
Del Maguey VIDA Puebla mezcal 1 oz — $6
Ojo de Tigre mezcal 1 oz — $7
Victoria Pilsner — $4
Tecate + shot of tequila — $9

Food

Tlayudita de pipian rojo — $6
Dry aged beef albondigas — $7
Pibil croquettes — $7
Jalapeño fire fried chicken — $8

Happy hour all day Wednesday (including $1 raw oysters all day). Thu–Sat happy hour 5–6 PM only. Enter from alley on Clark St. Open Wed–Sat only.

Deal last verified April 2026. Confirmed on the venue’s own website.

The space

Photos: Google Maps

The vibe

Rick Bayless's underground mezcal den tucked beneath Frontera Grill, accessible via a River North alley entrance. Named one of Wine Enthusiast's Best Mezcal Bars in America 2024. Happy hour runs all day on Wednesdays (including $1 raw oysters all day) and the first hour open Thu–Sat — ideal for discovering rare agave spirits at half price in a cozy, candlelit cellar atmosphere.

Cozy
Hip
Good for groups
Known for cocktails
Google: happy hour drinks
Google: happy hour food
Takes reservations
Outdoor seating

Is that score good?

Almost everywhere scores 4–5 stars, so each site's score is shown against every venue in the Atlas rated on that site — here in Chicago, and across the US. The gold bar is this spot.

GOOGLE ★ 4.5 395 ratings ↗

In Chicago 171 rated venues At the median

4.0 THIS SPOT 4.5 4.9

Rated higher than 28% · tied with 22% · lower than 50% of the others · median ★ 4.5

Across the US 2,042 rated venues At the median

3.1 3.5 4.0 THIS SPOT 4.5 5.0

Rated higher than 34% · tied with 23% · lower than 44% of the others · median ★ 4.5

YELP ★ 4 174 reviews ↗

In Chicago 168 rated venues Below median

3.2 3.5 THIS SPOT 4.0 4.5 4.9

Rated higher than 24% · tied with 14% · lower than 62% of the others · median ★ 4.1

Across the US 1,993 rated venues Below median

2.0 3.0 3.5 THIS SPOT 4.0 4.5 5.0

Rated higher than 27% · tied with 11% · lower than 63% of the others · median ★ 4.1

TRIPADVISOR ★ 4.5 19 reviews ↗

In Chicago 142 rated venues Top quarter

3.0 3.5 4.0 THIS SPOT 4.5 5.0

Rated higher than 69% · tied with 14% · lower than 17% of the others · median ★ 4.3

Across the US 1,653 rated venues Top quarter

1.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 THIS SPOT 4.5 5.0

Rated higher than 71% · tied with 11% · lower than 18% of the others · median ★ 4.3

OPENTABLE ★ 4.9 106 diners ↗

Food 4.9Service 4.8Value 4.7Ambience 4.9Noise Moderate

In Chicago 63 rated venues Top 10%

3.0 4.5 THIS SPOT 4.9

Rated higher than 90% · tied with 8% · lower than 2% of the others · median ★ 4.7

Across the US 537 rated venues Top 10%

3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 THIS SPOT 4.9

Rated higher than 94% · tied with 4% · lower than 2% of the others · median ★ 4.6

Each bar counts venues at that rating (0.1-star steps), lowest on the left; the curve starts at the lowest score anyone has. Ratings captured October 7, 2026.

Getting there

443 N Clark St (alley entrance), Chicago, IL 60654 · (312) 391-5857

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