Best Happy Hour Mediterranean Restaurants in Chicago
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
The Purple Pig
High-volume Mediterranean small plates spotlighting pork and Spanish-leaning tapas.
Notable Picks
8.8
Opened in 2009 by chef Jimmy Bannos Jr., The Purple Pig is a high-volume Mediterranean small-plates restaurant on the Magnificent Mile where pork, offal, and vegetable dishes pull from Italian, Greek, and Spanish flavors. A Bib Gourmand pedigree, tens of thousands of reviews across platforms, and an always-busy dining room make it one of downtown Chicago’s most proven small-plates destinations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Milk Braised Berkshire Pork Shoulder, Charred Cauliflower, Pork Belly
What Makes it Special: High-volume Mediterranean small plates spotlighting pork and Spanish-leaning tapas.
8.3
Medi Kitchen & Cocktail is a Lebanese-inspired small-plates restaurant on Halsted where shareable mezze, kafta, and shakshouka meet a serious cocktail list in a dim, design-forward room. It reads like Lincoln Park’s Mediterranean lounge: part dinner destination, part bar for lingering over drinks and dips.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel Benni, Kafta Kabob, Shakshouka
What Makes it Special: A cocktail-focused Mediterranean spot where Lebanese family recipes meet a moody, club-adjacent dining room.
Worthy Picks
#3
101 Bar
7.8
The 101 Bar & Grill anchors a multi-level bar and rooftop complex at Rush and Erie, pairing Mediterranean-inspired dishes with burgers, salads, and a strong cocktail focus. Guests come as much for the covered patio and skyline rooftop as for the food, making it a social, view-driven way to work Mediterranean flavors into a night out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hummus with Warm Pita, Grilled Salmon Entrée, Chicken Sliders
What Makes it Special: A Mag Mile–adjacent bar and grill where rooftop views, cocktails, and Mediterranean-leaning plates share the spotlight.
7.6
A late-night hookah lounge with a Middle Eastern menu that works best as a snacks-and-plates hang rather than a destination dinner. Treat it like a shared-order spot—one or two staples for the table, then settle in for the lounge vibe.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hummus, Chicken shawarma, Mixed grill platter
What Makes it Special: Hookah-lounge energy paired with a Middle Eastern food menu.