The best Boston happy hours

This modern Central Square restaurant draws crowds who rave about the creative riffs on Japanese classics meshed with Spanish tapas. For sampling of some of the menu favorites, stop by daily between 3-6pm for $1 “wafflatos,” $3 patatas bravas, $5 chicken “nugz,” and more. The deal is only available at the bar, where there are plenty of creative cocktails to pair.

Descend the stairs into this Harvard Square staple for their legendary happy hour, when the entire menu (spanning from brisket nachos to a brownie in a mason jar) is half-price every day from 5-7:30pm. There is a $4 minimum beverage purchase per person, and the deal not available on the outdoor patio tables or for take out.

Both locations of Earls Kitchen—in the Prudential Center and  Somerville’s Assembly Row—offer two happy hours. Stop by from Monday-Friday (3pm-6pm) and Sunday-Thursday (9pm-close) for discounts on menu favorites such as chicken tacos, Korean hot wings, and truffle fries. As a bonus, the Pru location has a breezy rooftop patio.

This Brookline standby is always packed for good reason. Sit in a booth, a table, the tatami room, or the sushi bar and choose from an extensive menu of standard and creative sushi offerings. From 5pm to 7pm and 9pm to 1:30am, the happy hour bar menu features 50% off bar snacks like shumai, rangoon, tako yaki, and haru maki.

This no-frills pub/club combo in Central Square has an extensive happy hour menu that will get you prepped for a night of Guinness and dancing. From 5pm-7pm every day, enjoy menu favorites for almost half off. Happy hour items include quesadillas, nachos, curry fries, fried brussel sprouts, soft tacos, and more.

This Quincy Market bar and club known for brightly-colored scorpion bowls offers one of the few happy hours in the neighborhood from 5pm-8pm (daily except Saturday). Fill up on bar bites like chicken fingers, spicy poppers, veggie tempura, and firecracker popcorn chicken for $2.25 each. That should fortify you before you dive in to one of those party-starting drinks.

For a most classy happy hour option, head Downtown for a sampling of Oceanaire’s super-fresh seafood selection. The Admiral’s Hour menu, offered in the bar area Monday-Friday from 4pm-7pm, includes discounted small bites (e.g. fish tacos, oysters, steamed mussels) and more substantial fare such as a daily crudo, shrimp and grits, and a lobster roll with matchstick fries. Enjoy a classic or contemporary cocktail while you’re there.

Michael Mina’s elegant izakay-style Japanese spot in Downtown Crossing is a high-end favorite for date night. Happy hour offers a more accessible way to experience some of the magic. From 4pm-6pm and 9pm-10pm, Monday-Friday in the bar and lounge area, enjoy bargain-priced fried chicken karaage, hand rolls, daily robatayaki, and more. Pair with sake or one of the daily cocktail creations.

The bar at Morton’s in the Seaport offers a happy hour menu Sunday-Friday, 4:30pm-6:30pm and 9pm-close. The bar bites menu includes short rib steak tacos, petite filet mignon sandwiches, and mini crab cake BLTs, among other favorites, for $7-$9 each. Round out the experience with something from the award-winning wine list.

For a dose of Red Sox history, Dropkick Murphys fandom, and affordable fare, head to McGreevy’s. While the menu at this beloved sports bar is always affordable, a slate of happy hours throughout the week offers an extra perk: 50 cent wings on Mondays (4pm-close), $5 half-pound burgers on Tuesdays (4pm-close), half-price apps on Wednesdays (4-7pm), $1 personal flatbread pizzas on Thursdays (4-7pm), and $1 oysters on Sundays (all day until they run out). Check their website for full details.

This cozy spot in Harvard Square offers 6-for-$5 shrimp cocktail plus 2-for-$1 oysters (minimum 6) every day from 12-5pm and 9pm-close. Between 5pm-9pm, those prices merely double, making this a great spot for enjoying fresh shrimp and oysters any time.

This Seaport stalwart is known for big, celebratory gatherings, especially on the weekends. Sushi lovers head here on Wednesdays (starting at 5pm) for one of the city's best sushi deals: unlimited sushi for $29. Choose from standard rolls like spicy tuna and California or house creations like the red dragon. Other small items like the crispy, spicy salmon rice bites are also available.