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Best Places For Day Drinking In Chicago

Why wait for the early evening to grab a drink? Whether you want to meet up with your friends or coworkers for an early happy hour, wash down your lunch with a pint or have a beer while watching a daytime game, the Chicago area is filled with bars that open well before the early evening. To find the right bar for some drinks during the daylight hours, consider checking out the following bars in Chicago.

Lady Gregory's Irish Bar & Restaurant
5260 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 271-5050
www.ladygregorys.com

If you're in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood and looking for a great place to grab a pint with your burger, then head to Lady Gregory's Irish Bar & Restaurant. It offers a dizzying array of beer that ranges from craft domestics to imports from as far away as Belgium and the Netherlands. If whiskey is more your drink of choice, check out Lady Gregory's wide selection, with approximately 300 on hand. Don't forget the restaurant's food menu, either, which includes sandwiches, roasts, salads and burgers; it also serves brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

The Village Tavern
135 Old Mchenry Road
Long Grove, IL 60047
(847) 634-3117
www.villagetavernoflonggrove.com

For those who enjoy a cozy ambience while they sip a pint and tuck into a hearty lunch, head out to The Village Tavern in the far northwest suburb of Long Grove. The tavern, opened since 1849, features an assortment of antiques and paintings that combine to give it a warm and inviting atmosphere. Its lunch and dinner menus include an assortment of standard pub favorites, including hamburgers, fish fry, salads, and soups. But what of the drinks? The Village Tavern offers an assortment of perennial favorites, including Miller Lite and Budweiser, as well as specialty craft beers. A good selection of wine is also available. Stick around for live entertainment, which starts in the early evening. After your meal, check out the boutique shops near the tavern.

The Cove Lounge
1750 E. 55th St.
Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 684-1013
www.thecovelounge.com

Located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, The Cove Lounge opens its doors at 10 a.m. Monday through Friday and at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It also keeps late hours, closing as late as 3 a.m. on Saturdays. The drinks menu offers a bevy of beverages, including Pabst, Budweiser, Miller Lite and Heineken. Daily specials are available so you can save some cash on your favorite drinks.

Related: Best Bars For Foodies In Chicago

Simone's Bar
960 W. 18th St.
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 666-8601
www.simonesbarchicago.com

Do you want a plate of nachos or a pizza with your drink? Simone's Bar, located in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, has a wide selection of drinks and food for your next daytime drink. You can start your happy hour a bit early by choosing from the bar's selection of cocktails, which includes the Orca, The Devil Herself and Oh Snap! Wine and beer are also available. If you're planning to hang out for a bit, then consider giving a look at the bar's food menu, which includes fried pickles, tempura vegetables, soups, sandwiches and pizza. Simone's Bar is also a three-star green restaurant, as certified by the Green Restaurant Association.

Chief O'Neill's Pub & Restaurant
3471 N. Elston Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 583-3066
www.chiefoneillspub.com

Whether you want beer, wine, whiskey or cocktails, head over to Chief O'Neill's Pub & Restaurant for a drink. The pub, located in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood, boasts an assortment of drinks that will whet your whistle. You can also load up on a meal and choose from Chief O'Neill's sandwiches, chicken dinner, fish and chips and more. If you're just popping in for a quick drink after work, you can also order an appetizer. Chief O'Neill's opens at 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, at 11 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday, and its Sunday brunch is most definitely worth waking up for.

Related: Best Bars For Networking In Chicago

Megan Horst-Hatch is a runner, reader, baker, gardener, knitter, and other words that end in "-er." She is also the president of Megan Writes, LLC. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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