The top happy hour deals in Los Angeles

What: $8 house wine & sangria, $5 beers, $2 off small dishes and cocktails
When: Happy hour: Mon–Thu 5–7pm, Friday 4–7pm. Open bar special: nightly.
Why we love it: Bacari has a few locations scattered across town, from the San Fernando Valley to Playa del Rey to Silver Lake, and its happy hour specials are available at each one. But its Beverly Grove location in particular oozes charm with its outdoor courtyard and aged French country design. Glasses of the house’s red, white and rosé wines come out to just $8 for happy hour, as well as their fruity house sangria that’s perfect for enjoying at sunset. There’s a lengthy cocktail list to browse through if you’re interested in a mixed drink and small plates from the cichetti menu (a.k.a. snacks) include a wide variety of things like a five-cheese mac and cheese or a shrimp ceviche for something bright and refreshing.

What: 50% off cocktails, wines and spirits, $20 bottomless mimosas and $6 Bloody Marys
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 $20 bottomless special.

What: $6 draft beers, $8 wines, $9 margaritas, $7–8 small plates
When: Mon, Weds–Fri 3–5pm; Daily 8pm-close (bar only)
Why we love it: Located on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood, Gracias Madre has won many 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 their loaded soyrizo nachos with creamy cashew nacho cheese and the tender cauliflower-based tacos al pastor.

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.

What: $5–6 wine, beer and micheladas, $9 cocktails, $4–11 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.

What: $3–5 appetizers, $4–7 beer, wine and well cocktails, $22 beer bucket
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 bucket of five Aguila beers for just $22. Food includes small bites like a special on wings, crispy yucca fries and empanadas filled with spicy kimchi fried rice.

What: $7–10 small plates, $4–6 beer, $6–9 wine, $9 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 $8 Venetian Spritz is also a great way to take the edge off the end of a long day. 

What: $2 off draft beer, $8 wine, $10 cocktail & aperol spritz, $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.

What: $8 sangria and wine, $10 cocktails, $8–14 Spanish tapas
When: Mon–Fri 4:30–6:30pm
Why we love it: Available at the bar, the happy hour at this West Hollywood hot spot offers excellent small plates like croquetas de pollo and roasted pork belly buns, plus $2 oysters topped with pineapple caviar and tamarind foam for those who feel like getting a little fancy. There's significant overlap between the happy hour menu and the restaurant's normal dinner and drink offerings—meaning an early visit here is a great way to experience the vibey Spanish restaurant, even if you've got a tighter budget.

What: $4 beer, $9 cocktails, $8 toasts and wines, $12 apero (charcuterie) plate
When: Daily 4–6pm
Why we love it: In 2022, any cocktail in Los Angeles, let alone a well-made one, is hard to come by but the $9 cocktails at this  Los Feliz neighborhood restaurant hit the spot whenever we're feeling like having a couple of drinks. For a heftier, and still budget-friendly meal, spring for the $12 burger topped with aged white cheddar, caramelized onions, pickles and Dijon mayo.

What: $10 sangria and wine, $6 beers, $7–12 small plates
When: Mon–Sat 4–6pm
Why we love it: This stylish Fairfax hotel restaurant offers a tranquil indoor-outdoor setting that will make you feel worlds away from the street outside, and the food, by prolific local Peruvian chef Ricardo Zarate, is top-notch as well. Munch on the standout $7 media luna taco—a tiger prawn-stuffed tribute to Mariscos Jaliscos—and $10 sweet glazed wings for a happy hour meal you won't soon forget.

What: $3 tacos, $9 cocktails, $6 beer and wine
When: Mon–Fri 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 9 to 5 to complete your vaguely cowboy- and country-themed happy hour experience.

What: $5 beers, $9 wine and discounted cocktails, appetizers and pizzas
When: Daily 4–5:45pm
Why we love it: Sitting in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Melrose, Spartina is a great spot for meeting up with friends and enjoying their breezy front patio. Select from the happy hour menu's pizza offerings, including their decadent burrata and caramelized fennel pizza or the classic margherita, both at nearly half off the original price. If you're interested in more of an entree-for-one, this special comes with a house favorite's menu with dishes like Neapolitan meatballs, charred flatbreads with tomato and basil, or a spicy Calabrian chili fried chicken sandwich. Great food aside, the discounted wine and beer are definitely a bonus.

What: $5 beer, $10 wine & cocktails, discounted oysters, cheeses, & charcuterie
When: Daily 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 solid amount of beer options and 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.

What: $11 wine and cocktails; $12 small plates
When: Wed–Fri 5–7pm
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, while its outdoor patio affords a stunning view of former Catholic cathedral Vibiana. Happy hour specials at this serene oasis includes small plates like blistered shishito peppers with grated bottarga, hiramasa crudo with a tart blood orange ponzu sauce and pork belly confit in buttermilk vinaigrette. Sample wine by the glass or one of the bar’s elaborate spirit-forward cocktails like the Day Dreamer, which blends gin, vermout, aperitifs and chamomile tea.

What: $6–7 beers,  $10 wines, plus discounted cocktails and bar bites
When: Mon–Fri 5–7pm (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 two-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.

What: 
Koreatown: $6 beer and sake, $8 wine and cocktails, $10 sangria and soju, $1.95 oysters
Woodland Hills: $7 beer, wine and cocktails, $7–11 plates, $1.75 oysters
When: 
Koreatown: Daily 5–7pm; 10pm-close
Woodland Hills: Mon–Fri 3:30–6:30pm
Why we love it: If fresh seafood or a raw bar is your ideal alcohol pairing, then look no further than EMC Seafood & Raw Bar. Whether you're at their Valley or Koreatown locations, you'll find steeply discounted oysters and drinks, plus a slew of other delicious fried seafood bites. EMC's Koreatown location also offers the same happy hour menu later in the evening, including the much larger menu of Korean beers, soju and food options like gyoza and takoyaki.

What: $35 for a pizza and two cocktails
When: Mon–Thu 4–6pm 
Why we love it: Consistently ranked as one of the best pizzas in L.A., Daniele Uditi's freshly made neo-Neopolitan pizzas never fail to please. Available only for dine-in customers at Pizzana's West Hollywood location, this happy hour deal makes the most sense as an super early dinner or light snack shared between a pair. Order any pizzas (except the market priced Tartufo) and choose from the handful of cocktails offered within the slim alleyway off Robertson Boulevard, and you've got all the making of a traditional Italian aperitivo.

What: $5 beer and wine, $10 Moscow mules, $8–10 bar bites
When: Mon–Fri 2–6pm
Why we love it: This industrial-style sports bar in North Hollywood is perfect for watching the big game. Though not part of the happy hour menu, they happen to make excellent gourmet burgers, like their household District Burger with juicy Angus beef, grilled onions, bacon, fontina cheese, arugula and chipotle aioli for a smoky kick. For happy hour, they offer nachos, soft pretzels, grilled cheese, brussels sprouts and fried cauiflower—the perfect addition to any cheap drink.