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Idle Hour
Photograph: Jakob N. Layman for Time OutIdle Hour

The best happy hour deals in Los Angeles

Head to the best places in town to eat well, drink well and do it all on a budget that works for you

Patricia Kelly Yeo
Edited by
Patricia Kelly Yeo
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Not every happy hour special is created equal, and what makes a spot someone’s go-to for a much-needed early-evening drink can vary. But we think there’s a little something for everyone among these happy hour spots below.

Los Angeles is never short on great bars to try, ranging from your neighborhood dive bars to sports bars and delicious restaurants that compliment that 4pm cocktail with some delectable food. Of course, having to navigate the city’s web of freeways for the perfect special puts a dent in that discount, so we’ve gone ahead and compiled a comprehensive list of the best happy hour deals all over L.A. Set a reminder in your calendar this coming workweek and round up your friends because here is where you can grab a drink and meal for just a fraction of the price.

Our guide to L.A.’s best happy hour deals

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • Downtown Arts District
  • price 2 of 4

What: $6 mystery shots, $6–7 beers, $8 wines, $10 cocktails and $6–14 bar bites
When: Tue–Sun 4–6pm
Why we love it: This Arts District watering hole is one of the best bars in the city. E.R.B. also happens to be home to one of the city's best burgers, which is also on their happy hour menu. Craveable bites like smoky potato taquitos and a tasty chicken and biscuit combo, plus a full array of discounted cocktails make it easy to stay here awhile—as does the roomy patio out back.

  • Bars
  • Gastropubs
  • Santa Monica
  • price 2 of 4

What: 50% off cocktails, wines and spirits
When: Daily until 7pm
Why we love it: The Misfit has been a popular spot off Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade since it first opened over a decade ago. The lunch and dinner menus are a mishmash of various cuisines, including Peruvian ceviches, Thai curried clams and juicy smashburgers with plenty of cheddar cheese. But those looking for an afternoon drink can take advantage of their daily special from opening to 7pm and enjoy 50% of all cocktails, wines and spirits. The Misfit also makes for a great weekend brunch spot with a $23 bottomless mimosa special.

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  • Restaurants
  • Californian
  • Hollywood
  • price 3 of 4

What: $5 beers, $10 wines and cocktails, $4–5 bar bites
When: Wed–Sun 4–6pm
Why we love it: This Hollywood rooftop eatery atop a luxury fitness club offers a romantic setting, especially at sunset, and its "social hour" offerings are one of the most affordable ways to dine in the area. Smaller portions of Mother Tongue's signatures dips are available at happy hour for $5 apiece (we particularly like the toasted walnut muhammara) along with globally inspired dishes like chicken tikka masala skewers and Jarlsberg cheese sliders.

  • Restaurants
  • American
  • Silver Lake
  • price 2 of 4

What: $11 cocktails, $10 wines, $10 beer and shot combos, $6–15 bar bites
When: Wed–Sat 3–7pm
Why we love it: One of L.A.’s best brunch restaurants recently went all day, baby, including an excellent happy hour for anyone in the Silver Lake area. Chef Jonathan Whitener’s diner-style comfort dishes include $8 beef brisket tacos, $10 smoked whitefish dip and a gut-busting cheddar and pastrami sandwich for $15. Wash everything down with a discounted mojito, paloma or michelada.

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  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • West Hollywood
  • price 2 of 4

What: $6 draft beers, $8 wines, $9 margaritas, $7 small plates and the $10 "Happy Madre Meal"
When: Weekdays 3–6pm; Mon–Wed, Sun 8pm–close (bar only)
Why we love it: Located on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, Gracias Madre has won people over with its creative plant-based Mexican dishes, extensive tequila and mezcal selection, and one of the best outdoor courtyards in L.A. During weekday happy hour, the restaurant's tequila stock is put to good use with refreshing margaritas that have a hint of sweetness from agave and some bite from orange bitters. You'll find some great deals on draft beers, too, plus some must-try vegan bites like loaded soyrizo nachos and a $10 meal deal that includes a beer, garlic chipotle fries and a jackfruit slider. 

  • Restaurants
  • Japanese
  • Santa Monica
  • price 2 of 4

What: $5–9 sake, $12 yuzu mojitos, $8 "whiskey" cokes, $5–9 bar bites 
When: Mon–Thu 5–6:30pm; Sat, Sun 3–6pm
Why we love it: This Tokyo-based restaurant chain serves  seasonally inflected Japanese drinking fare on the northern edge of Santa Monica. The Westside location is the family-run company’s first location outside Japan, and while the regular dinner menu is excellent, the happy hour menu is a downright steal. Shirubē's ultra-popular corn ribs are on the menu as is the restaurant's surprisingly tasty negitoro over garlic bread. Snacky fare like pork belly tacos, chicken karaage, edamame and shrimp tempura are also on offer during happy hour.

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  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • Venice
  • price 2 of 4

What: $10 frozen daiquiris, margaritas and shot and beer combos, $8 wines, shots and two-tones, $4 beer, $8–11 bar bites
When: Daily 4–6pm
Why we love it: Marina del Rey’s Nueva is now Gin Rummy, an island-inspired drinking destination serving impeccably crafted tiki classics and an excellent happy hour that includes $8 chicken wings and $11 coconut shrimp. In addition to the specials above, there's plenty of room for large groups to spread out in the breezy Venice-adjacent space. 

  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Barbecue
  • Culver City
  • price 2 of 4

What: $9 five-piece wings, $9–12 nachos, $10 sliders, BOGO drinks
When: Mon 5–9pm, Tue–Fri 5–6pm
Why we love it: Meat butchered on premise, brisket smoked over peach wood logs, a pitmaster from Texas—this Culver City barbecue joint checks all the right boxes, including an excellent happy hour menu. Steeply discounted bar bites are available before 6pm, including nachos topped with your choice of smoked brisket or pork belly, a set of smashburger sliders and smoky, juicy wings with house white barbecue sauce or honey Sriracha. Best of all, it's available all night on Mondays. For drinks, there's a buy-one-get-one free deal on nearly all drinks, which you can also get the last hour of service any day of the week. (Some top shelf label exceptions do apply.)

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  • Restaurants
  • Japanese
  • Culver City
  • price 2 of 4

What: $5 beer, $8 wine and sake by the glass, $9–11 cocktails, $5–12.50 bar bites 
When: Tue–Sun 5–6:30pm
Why we love it: Unlike other happy hour menus on the Westside, Culver City's FIN offers a robust food menu that includes edamame, gyoza, yakitori and plenty of hand and cut rolls for your early dinner needs. There's even $7.50 two-piece orders of spicy tuna crispy rice—one of our favorite fusion sushi dishes around. 

  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • Los Feliz
  • price 2 of 4

What: $5 beer, $6 wine and $8 cocktails 
When: Daily 7–9pm
Why we love it: Earlier in the night, this Silver Lake party room offers surprisingly quiet ambience and the best happy hour for drinks we've seen in the city. Since the Friend doesn't open until 7pm (except Sundays, when it opens at 1), the bar's happy hour pricing is the perfect way to pregame for a big night out or to just grab a reasonbly priced drink even if you're working late. Note: For those that linger until 10pm or so, this place turns into a dance party.

 

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  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • Fairfax District
  • price 2 of 4

What: $6 wine and beer, $7 micheladas, $11 cocktails, $5–12 appetizers
When: Mon–Fri 3–6pm
Why we love it: Madre’s three locations (Torrance, Culver City and West Hollywood) are known for their staggering selection of 400 different bottles of mezcal available for tastings. While that collection isn't part of the happy hour menu, you can sample some of Madre's mezcal offerings in their great cocktail menu, including a smoky margarita that’s just the right balance of heat, sweetness and acidity. Choose from a food menu that’s twice as long as the drink specials and has all kinds of delicious small bites like charred elote with queso cotija, tender carnitas tacos or even a side of chips with some chicken mole negro to dip into.

  • Restaurants
  • Fusion
  • Koreatown
  • price 2 of 4

What: $5–7 appetizers, $4–7 beer, wine and well cocktails, $22 pitchers
When: Daily 4–7pm, Sun–Thu 11pm–1am
Why we love it: This Colombian-Korean fusion spot has proven to be one of the liveliest spots in the Historic Chapman Plaza, if not all of Koreatown, with its DJ-hosted brunches and twice-a-day happy hour specials. Drinks sit below $7 each, with the option of getting a pitcher of Modelo or Stella for $20. Food includes small bites like a special on wings, crispy yucca fries and empanadas filled with spicy kimchi fried rice.

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  • Restaurants
  • Contemporary American
  • Hollywood
  • price 2 of 4

What: $4.20 beers, $8 wines, $9 cocktails and $8–12 bar bites
When: Wed–Sun 2–5pm, then last hour of service
Why we love it: Known citywide for its excellent burger, this West Hollywood gastropub offers a decent happy hour and relatively normal happy hour prices—which also makes it one of the best places near the Sunset Strip to find an affordable meal. On the menu, there's $12 burgers, discounted slices of "bar pizza" (which are made with French bread) and other tasty drinking fare like Thai barbecue Bruseels sprouts and roasted shishito peppers.

  • Restaurants
  • Californian
  • Culver City
  • price 2 of 4

What: $8–11 small plates, $5–7 beer, $8–10 wine, $9–12 cocktails
When: Mon–Thurs 5–6pm; Fri, Sat 4–6pm; Sun 2–6pm
Why we love it: This Southeast Asian-inspired Culver City kitchen has mastered the art of having the perfect salty bite with your afternoon cocktail. Try the crispy chicken skin, which has the appearance of traditional pork rinds but with a peppery seasoning, or the nam prik wings that come with a Thai sweet and spicy glaze and crushed peanut topping. The $9 Venetian Spritz is also a great way to take the edge off the end of a long day. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Seafood
  • West Hollywood
  • price 2 of 4

What: $6 beer, $8 wines and cocktails, $7–14 bar bites
When: Wed–Fri 5–6:30pm (bar seating only)
Why we love it: Providence's Michael Cimarusti pays homage to his New England roots with his decade-old seafood restaurant in West Hollywood. Snag a half-dozen oysters for $14, a mini lobster roll for $16 and other surf-and-turf delights from the happy hour menu. We're also partial to the fried calamari ($7) and the house smoked fish dip ($8).

 

  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • Los Feliz
  • price 2 of 4

What: $2 off draft beer, $8 wine, $10 cocktail & Aperol spritzes, $5–12 small plates
When: Mon–Fri 2–7pm
Why we love it: The boozy half of Los Feliz’s Alcove, Big Bar serves excellent cocktails made by knowledgeable and friendly bartenders, and they're even cheaper during their five hour-long "Eastern Standard" happy hour. Plus, if you manage to get a seat in this small space (or on the twinkly front patio), it can serve as the perfect setting for catching up with a friend or having a drink with a special someone in a charming, old-school ambience. Foodwise, the simple menu includes fries, a burger, mango habanero wings and crispy cauliflower in ginger soy sauce.

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  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Bars
  • Pubs
  • Atwater Village
  • price 2 of 4

What: $9 cocktails, $6 draft beers and bar bites under $10
When: Mon–Sat noon–6pm, Sun 2–6pm
Why we love it: In Atwater Village (and Burbank), there's no better place to be before dinner than this Scottish-themed watering hole with reilable wine and craft beer options and an ever-changing mix of well-executed and affordable gastropub fare. Think a $10 smashburger and fries, $9 nachos and a $9 plate of buffalo wings made with housemade hot sauce.

  • Restaurants
  • American
  • Venice
  • price 2 of 4

What: $13 cocktails, $8 wine and beer; $16 steak frites and $6-12 bar bites
When: Tue–Sat 5:30–7pm (at the bar)
Why we love it: Josiah Citrin's Venice steakhouse has a strong happy hour menu conducive to cheap after-work hangouts and early meals. During nightly "glass off," sit at the wraparound bar for an excellent $12 burger made with white American cheese plus grilled wings, skewers and calamari. You can even score a $16 petite-sized steak frites.

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  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • Venice
  • price 2 of 4

What: $10 margaritas, $5 agua fresca, $5 tacos, $10 guacamole and chips
When: Wed–Sun 5–6pm
Why we love it: This all-day New York City import comes from Damian's Enrique Olvera. Whereas the world-renowned chef's Arts District original skews upscale, Atla offers a breezy, far more casual menu of Mexican staples that includes a standout lobster burrito, a tangy version of traditional seafood coctel and brunch-y chilaquiles. If you're even remotely familiar with L.A.'s Mexican food scene, nothing here will blow your mind, but if you're looking for a way to dine and drink on the cheap in Abbot Kinney, Atla's happy hour is a great way to do it.

  • Restaurants
  • American creative
  • Downtown
  • price 3 of 4

What: $10 cocktails and $10 bar bites
When: Tue–Fri 5–7pm 
Why we love it: 
At the Walt Disney Concert Hall’s upscale restaurant by Ray Garcia, the award-winning local chef serves his take on hyper-seasonal California cuisine to pre-show diners and Downtown office workers in the fomer Patina space. The streamlined happy hour menu includes a 40oz Miller High Life, served out of a coupe glasses for a little dose of elegance, plus Garcia's take on the classic bar burger, manchego-dusted fingerling potatoes with aji verde and a maitake mushroom quesadilla with Gruyere and salsa verde. 

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  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Bars
  • Cocktail bars
  • North Hollywood
  • price 2 of 4

What: $7 cocktails, well drinks and wines; $7 bar bites
When: Mon–Fri, Sun 3–6pm; Sat 1–6pm
Why we love it: From the street, there’s no mistaking that you’ve found the right place, but this barrel-shaped architectural icon in the Valley's saving grace is its excellent happy hour menu. Stop by anytime before 6pm for bar bites like pretzels, flatbread pizza, chips with cheese or salsa and chicken bites tossed in your choice of buffalo, barbecue or mango habanero sauce.

  • Restaurants
  • American creative
  • Downtown Historic Core
  • price 3 of 4

What: $11 wine and cocktails; $15 small plates
When: Wed–Fri 5–7pm (at the bar)
Why we love it: Downtown's Redbird has one of the most beautiful dining spaces in town: The restaurant's indoor space blends classic and contemporary elements, with an outdoor patio that affords a stunning view of a former Catholic cathedral. Happy hour specials at this serene oasis includes small plates that run on the fancier side, incuding blistered shishito peppers with grated bottarga and crispy duck wings with nuoc cham. Sample wine by the glass or one of the bar’s elaborate spirit-forward cocktails like the Turf Club, which blends gin, vermouth, luxardo maraschino, absinthe and lemon essence.

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  • Bars
  • Hotel bars
  • Hollywood
  • price 3 of 4

What: $10 for two tacos, $9 cocktails, $6 beer and wine
When: Tue–Sat 6–8pm
Why we love it: The evening views atop this Western-inspired Hollywood rooftop are stunning to begin with, but the bar's weekday-only Desert Hour also lets you catch the sunset alongside much cheaper cocktails and tacos. Order the Dolly Parton-inspired Jolene—priced at $9 during happy hour—to complete your vaguely country-themed happy hour experience.  

  • Bars
  • Wine bars
  • Santa Monica
  • price 3 of 4

What: $10 wine, $14 daily cocktail, discounted oysters, cheeses & charcuterie
When: All day Sunday and Monday, Tue–Sat 4–6pm
Why we love it: This chic but laid-back Santa Monica bar doubles as a wine shop, meaning you can grab your favorite bottle on the way out or pay retail price (plus a corkage fee) to enjoy it at the bar. But happy hour here is by the glass and also includes a rotating cocktail offering of the bartender’s choice. Enjoy your drinks with some classic wine pairings like charcuterie boards with cornichons, cheese platters or a tray of oysters with mignonette and lemon.

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  • Restaurants
  • Steakhouse
  • Downtown
  • price 3 of 4

What: $9 beers, $11 wines, plus discounted cocktails and bar bites
When: Mon–Fri 4–7pm (lounge only)
Why we love it: This upscale steakhouse is by no means a "cheap eats" sort of place, but Nick + Stef’s happy hour offers some great bites at discounted prices with your afternoon cocktail. The three-hour special includes beer, wine and cocktails with delicious steakhouse sliders on a butter brioche, fresh oysters and some small bites to nibble on like roasted shishito peppers with chili aioli and smoked deviled eggs topped with crispy bacon confit.

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