Best Happy Hours In Houston

-Best Happy Hours for Beer and Wine
-Best Happy Hours for Apps
-Best Reverse Happy Hours

If you want to be part of a lively bar scene that has a happy hour for every taste, Houston is where you belong. Houston is home to happening dive bars, upscale restaurants with variety of cuisines and everything in between. Many bars within the Bayou City have happy hours you won’t want to miss, and they’re all close to sought-after apartments.

Where are the Best Houston Happy Hours for Cocktails

Some of the best happy hours in Houston feature specials on mouth-watering cocktails. Houston-area restaurants, pubs and bars host happy hours that show off their specialty drinks every day of the workweek, and some of them even have happy hours on the weekend. If you’re thirsty and located in or around Houston, you won’t have to travel too far to enjoy discounted cocktails during a nearby happy hour.

1. Nobu

Since Nobu opened its doors in the Houston Galleria on Westheimer Road, the eatery has remained a local hotspot that continues to grow in popularity. While it’s easy to run up your tab to well over $100 during the restaurant’s regular hours, dining at Nobu is much more affordable if you visit the establishment’s bar lounge between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. during its happy hour. During happy hour you can order specialty drinks from the eatery’s Tanoshi menu.

The Tanoshi menu includes deals on hot and cold appetizers as well as beer and wine specials. As you look through the menu, the restaurant’s cocktails will stand out immediately thanks to their often unique ingredients. The Nobu Sidecar is worth a try if you’ve never had Iwai Japanese Whisky paired with Gran Torres Orange and Yuzu Juice. If whisky’s not your thing, you should give the sought-after Lychee Martini a whirl.

2. Blanco Tacos + Tequila

If spending more than $10 per drink during happy hour at Nobu is too rich for your blood or you want to be part of a happy hour that lasts for more than just 60 minutes, you won’t even have to leave the Houston Galleria to find an alternative place to visit. Happy hour at Blanco Tacos + Tequila occurs Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. every week.

People looking for a cheap happy hour in Houston will feel right at home when they visit Blanco Tacos + Tequila. During happy hour at this establishment, you can enjoy tasty margaritas and sangria for just $5.00. If you want to try something different, you can order a Frosé, which is a frozen blend of rosé, peach, passion fruit and pomegranate, for just five bucks.

While many places may be reluctant to offer discounts on their shots, Blanco Tacos + Tequila doesn’t hesitate during its happy hour. If you want to pass on a cocktail, you can get a shot of house tequila for $5.00. Shots of Mezcal are also available for $6.00 each as are $7.00 shots of a premium liquor that changes regularly.

3. Upstairs Bar & Lounge

Located at 2356 Rice Boulevard, the Upstairs Bar & Lounge is where you’ll find tasty cocktails at discounted prices during happy hour. Every Monday through Friday, happy hour kicks off at this popular eatery at 4 p.m. and wraps up at 7 p.m. Whether you want an Old Fashioned, a Grapefruit Spritz, a Bellini, or any of their many other cocktails, you can order the drink of your choice for just $6.00 during happy hour.

If you’re going to make a night of it, be sure you visit the Upstairs Bar & Lounge on a Monday. Every Monday, mules and martinis are available at this restaurant for just $7.00 from 3 p.m. until closing time.

4. The General Public

There’s no doubt about it — The General Public hosts what can easily be called the best happy hour in midtown Houston for people on a budget. Even if you’re not on a budget, you’ll have a great time if you go to a happy hour at this welcoming eatery. The General Public is “committed to keeping you in good spirits,” and the neighborhood bar does just that during happy hour.

The General Public is located at 797 Sorella Court, in suite 118. Happy hour begins at 3 p.m. and runs until 6 p.m. Starting at 3 p.m., you can order any beverage from the bar’s drink menu for just $3.00, including cocktails. The price per cocktail goes up one dollar beginning at 4 p.m. At 5 p.m., every cocktail will run you $5.00 each.

The bar’s unique pricing structure during happy hour makes The General Public one of the most affordable places to unwind after a long day at the office. The prices also make this a great spot to try new specialty drinks without breaking the bank.

Where are the Best Houston Happy Hours for Beer and Wine

If you’re just not into cocktails and specialty drinks, you’ll be glad to know that there are plenty of happy hours in Houston that include deals on beer and wine. Whether you prefer a pilsner or a lager, white or red wine or something in between, you’ll find beverages that will appeal to you during a happy hour located somewhere in the Bayou City.

1. Toulouse Café and Bar

Located on Westheimer Road in the River Oaks District, Toulouse Café and Bar is a renowned French bistro that hosts a happy hour from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Friday each week. During the bar’s happy hour, patrons can get their fill of carefully selected red and white wines for just $7.00 per glass.

The café also serves scrumptious finger food during happy hour for only $7.00 per dish. Salmon gravlax, shiitake mushrooms stuffed with crab and scallop carpaccio are just a few of the yummy appetizers you can get for well under $10 apiece.

2. Katz’s Deli and Bar

While a deli may not spring to mind when you’re thinking about happy hours, Katz’s Deli and Bar proves its establishment should. If you enjoy wine, you’ll love the prices on wine during this eatery’s happy hour. Throughout happy hour, you can enjoy vino for just $7.00 per glass.

Happy hour at Katz’s Deli and Bar runs from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Wine isn’t the only thing discounted during happy hour at Katz’s Deli. You can also enjoy select mules like the Moscow or Long Island for $5.00 each. Delicious snacks are also discounted during happy hour at this location, such as glazed scallions with bacon and house-made chips smothered in blue cheese.

3. Dish Society

The Dish Society is a farm-to-table restaurant chain that offers great steals during its happy hour. With four locations in Houston alone, you’ll never have to go very far to land in a Dish Society eatery during happy hour. At the diner located at 5740 San Felipe Street #100, happy hour kicks off at 3:30 p.m. and draws to an end at 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday every week. During happy hour, you can enjoy a glass of wine or sangria for only $5.00. Save even more when you order a carafe of wine or sangria to share with your friends or co-workers for just $15.00.

The Dish Society offers great deals on its beers during happy hour, too. Throughout happy hour, you can get a locally crafted beer from $3.00 to $6.00. Whether you drink beer, wine or sangria, you can pair your beverage with a complementary happy hour bite for $6.00 or less.

4. On The Kirb

While On The Kirb could easily be included as part of our upcoming discussion of the best reverse happy hour spots in Houston, it deserves mention here because of the great specials the eatery offers on beer and wine during its happy hour. During happy hour at On The Kirb, you can imbibe while you save money with $4.00 draft beers and $5.00 glasses of house wine.

Whereas happy hour at other locations may be likened to a sprint because they don’t last long, happy hour at On The Kirb is more like a marathon. Five days per week, happy hour starts at 12 p.m. and continues until 7 p.m. If you’re looking for a place you can enjoy all afternoon and into the early evening every Monday through Friday, you’ve found it. On The Kirb is located at 5004 Kirby Drive.

Where are the Best Happy Hours for Apps

While some people may eagerly look forward to a happy hour because alcohol will be flowing at discounted prices, others can’t wait for their next happy hour because of the food. A typical happy hour includes specials on some appetizers that are sure to please even the most discerning palates.

1. Ambrosia

If you want to enjoy affordable appetizers that are truly fit for the gods, you should head over to the aptly named Ambrosia during happy hour. Comfortably nestled on a residential block on Lexington Street, Ambrosia hosts a regular happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. On Monday, the eatery extends its happy hour to 9 p.m. Ambrosia also hosts a reverse happy hour every Friday and Saturday from 9 p.m. until close.

Believe it or not, there isn’t a single appetizer over $6.00 on the restaurant’s happy hour menu. Wasabi pork dumplings served with ponzu sauce, a Japanese style fried chicken wing served over orange curry and ribeye tataki are just examples of the appetizers you can enjoy at Ambrosia for $6.00 or less during happy hour.

2. Calle Onze

When it comes to drink specials, happy hour at Calle Onze starts at 3 p.m. every day. For the next three hours, guests can enjoy cocktails and sangria for $6.00 per glass, beers for just $4.00 and house wines for $5.00 per glass.

As far as appetizers are concerned, happy hour at this local eatery located at 222 West 11^th Street starts at 3 p.m. and ends at 6 p.m., the same time as the drink happy hour. If you enjoy Tex-Mex fare, you’ll love the appetizers Calle Onze discounts throughout happy hour. You can enjoy nachos, munch on pork tamales or feast on chicken and beef quesadillas for only $5.00 per plate.

3. Helen

The sister of the original Helen Greek Food and Wine restaurant in Rice Village, Helen in the Heights should be your destination if you enjoy Greek food and wine. Every week, Helen in the Heights hosts happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

When you visit Helen in the Heights at 1111 Studewood Street, suite B, during happy hour, you’re in for some tasty treats. You can order marinated olives for just $4.00, a trio of tasty dips for $6.00 or some feta-brined chicken wings for only $8.00. If you have a sweet tooth, make sure you leave room for the eatery’s bourbon and baklava soft serve. This delicious dish is only $5.00 during happy hour.

4. Simone on Sunset

Simone on Sunset is a cozy eatery that has a happy hour seven days per week. Monday through Friday, happy hour at this restaurant starts at 4 p.m. while the fun kicks off an hour earlier on Saturdays and Sundays. Whether you visit Simone on Sunset at 2418 Sunset Boulevard on a weekday or weekend, happy hour will come to an end at 7 p.m.

The discounted food that’s available during happy hour depends on the day of the week you visit the restaurant. On Mondays, you can get a gourmet burger with cheese and chips for just $10.00, for example. You can add fries for only $2.00 more. If you attend a happy hour on Wednesday, you can order one of three hand-crafted pizzas for $10.00. Beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursdays, happy hour attendees can order a six-ounce, bacon-wrapped filet for $22.00 or a 12-ounce ribeye for $20.00. Both steaks are served with a starch and two veggies.

You can enjoy discounted drinks at this location during happy hour, too. You can get a bottle of wine for $20.00 or you can order a glass of vino for $5.00. Well drinks are only $5.00 apiece throughout happy hour and you can get $1.00 off on select beers.

5. Relish Restaurant and Bar

Relish Restaurant and Bar can be found at 2810 Westheimer Road in the heart of Houston. Since the eatery is closed on Sundays, it only hosts a happy hour six days per week. The fun starts early at the Relish Restaurant and Bar, with happy hour drink specials available as early as 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

Deals on appetizers start at 3 p.m. daily and end at 5:30 p.m., the same time the drink specials end. With small bites such as deviled eggs for only $1.00 to the classic burger for $10.00, there’s something for every appetite and budget. Relish also features cheese and charcuterie boards, bruschetta and chicken wings during their happy hour.

Best Reverse Happy Hour Spots in Houston

If you work non-traditional hours, you know that the end of the workday isn’t always 5 p.m. For some people, the end of the day comes late at night or in the wee hours of the morning. Because a typical workday can end at so many different times these days, some savvy bar and restaurant owners have implemented what’s referred to as a “reverse” happy hour at their Houston-area locations and offer specials late at night instead of or in addition to earlier specials.

1. CRISP Wine, Beer & Eatery

Located at 2220 Bevis, CRISP Wine, Beer & Eatery is where you can enjoy both traditional and reverse happy hours. Monday through Friday you can attend a daily happy hour from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. During these events, patrons get $2.00 off wine and craft beers served by the glass.

On Fridays and Saturdays, CRISP takes things up a notch with a reverse happy hour. These fun- and libation-filled events begin at 10 p.m. and wrap up at midnight.

2. Poitín

Located at 2313 Edwards Street, Poitín is a relatively new entrant on the Houston bar and restaurant scene. The brainchild of successful restauranteur Ian Tucker, Poitín hosts a daily happy hour from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. and a reverse happy hour from 9 p.m. until closing time Sunday through Wednesday every week.

Poitín serves some happy hour food that’s unique. Possum pie, fish balls and tacos made with beef cheeks are some of the things on the happy hour menu. You can wash down your food with $8.00 cocktails or beers that are $2.00 off during happy hour at this restaurant. If you prefer wine, you can order it by the glass for only $5.00 when you attend a happy hour at Poitín.

3. Yard House

You’ll come across one Yard House location in space 116 at 800 Sorella Court. This CityCentre eatery has both traditional and reverse happy hours. Regular happy hours take place Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. each week. You can attend a reverse happy hour at this restaurant from 9:30 p.m. until closing Sundays through Thursdays. We should note that happy hour specials are for food only during reverse happy hours after 11 p.m.

During a happy hour at the Yard House, you can enjoy select appetizers and pizzas for half price. Several types of nachos, ahi sashimi, queso dip, pork lumpia, fried cheese curds, boneless buffalo wings, mu shu egg rolls, fried mac n’ cheese and pepperoni and mushroom pizza are some of the delicious, discounted appetizers you can enjoy during a happy hour at the Yard House’s CityCentre location.

You can also get $2.00 off draft beer, spirits and cocktails. Happy hour guests can get $3.00 off select servings of wine and they can save $4.00 on half yards as well. With discounts on popular drinks and appetizers during conventional and reverse happy hours, can things get any better than they already are for patrons at the Yard House?

Get in Touch With Smart City Locating to Find a Houston-Area Apartment

You want to have fun whenever you go to a happy hour. And you want to have a great place to go for happy hour wherever you live. Why not let the fun continue as you search for an apartment in Houston? Let Smart City help you find the perfect apartment in Houston. Our apartment-locating services are legit free and hyper-personalized. Contact us today to get your fun-filled hunt for a Houston-area apartment underway!