After years of DineLA Restaurant Week offering discounted prix-fixe lunch and dinner specials, the organizers behind the the popular food event seem to have heard our cries: "But what about the cocktails?" The inaugural DineLA Happy Hour Week begins Monday and ends Friday, and with a formidable list of participating restaurants and bars, it's difficult to decide where to spend your money. One strategy: Hit up these recently opened spots that you haven't had time to check out yet. It'll be like a trial run—a $5 cocktail here, a $8 appetizer there—so that you can decide whether you'll be returning to one of these newcomers in the future. Here are 10 places that have opened in the past few months where you can have your happiest hour.
A-Frame
What: OK, so A-Frame isn't exactly new, but Roy Choi revamped the popular restaurant back in February and added some solid dishes and drinks to the Hawaiian eatery. $4 beer, $6 wine, $8 cocktails, $5-$12 dishes (including the Loco Moco, which is amazing).
When: Mon-Fri 5-7pm; Fri 10pm-close
Where: Mar Vista
Birch
What: This restaurant made our most exciting openings list in March, so we're pumped that there's a discounted way to try out the menu. $6-$8 cocktails, wine and beer; $7-$10 dishes.
When: 5:30-7pm, 10-11:30pm
Where: Hollywood
Cafe Gratitude Arts District
What: With a couple locations already around town, Cafe Gratitude sprouted up in the Arts District at One Santa Fe last month. Their happy hour will include a $5 juice—of course—along with $4 beer, $5 wine, $6 cocktails, and $6-$8 dishes.
When: 3-7pm
Where: Downtown Arts District
Ledlow
What: Josef Centeno morphed Pete's Cafe into Ledlow in December, changing the menu to include elevated American dishes and craft cocktails. Check it out! $5 beer, $7 wine, $7-$8 cocktails, $5-$9 dishes.
When: 5:30-7pm, 10-close
Where: Downtown
Now Boarding
What: There's a lot to make you feel like you're flying first class at the airline-themed Now Boarding, but the Happy Hour Week specials will give you a serious upgrade. $3 PBR, $5 well cocktails, $8 specialty cocktails, $2 tacos from the Komodo food truck.
When: Mon 5-close, Tue-Fri 5-8pm
Where: West Hollywood
Preux & Proper
What: The New Orleans-themed restaurant and bar has a really fantastic selection of bar bites (try the shrimp beignets!) that make for a perfect post-work nosh session. $4 beer, 2-for-1 well cocktails and shots, $8 sweet tea smash, $30 punch bowl, $3-$16 dishes.
When: 4-6pm, 11pm-1am
Where: Downtown
Redbird
What: The happy hour menu for this newcomer includes bites from chef Neal Fraser and cocktails by Julian Cox—and if you haven't stopped by yet for the sheer aesthetic of Redbird, you definitely need to. $8 cocktails, $11 dishes.
When: 5-7pm
Where: Downtown
Tacoteca
What: Gilbert Marquez is making some pretty phenomenal mezcal cocktails at Tacoteca, which opened in December. $5-$10 cocktails, $4-$8 dishes.
When: 5-7pm, 10pm-close
Where: Santa Monica
Terrine
What: Chef Kris Morningstar's brasserie has been a hot spot since opening, and at these prices, you can certainly afford to check out the normally pricey restaurant. $9-$10 cocktails, $9-$11 dishes.
When: Mon-Thu 9-11pm, Fri 10pm-1am
Where: Beverly
The Lost Knight
What: The British pub is offering Happy Hour Week diners a pretty sweet deal—your choice of one beer, wine or cocktail and a bite (think Welsh Rarebit, a sausage, curry chips) for $12.
When: 4-7pm
Where: Echo Park
Want more happy hours in your life? These are places we go for the best happy hour deals every week of the year.