It’s about time we talked about downtown San Diego happy hours, folks. No matter if you’re grabbing a quick beer after work, on the hunt for some discounted bites, or just want to have a chill hangout while going easy on the wallet, we’ve got this round.
Here are 30 local places offering the best happy hour deals right now.
A Japanese Mule at Cloak & Petal.
Photo via Cloak & Petal
Keeping spirits up
The Smoking Gun | Weekdays, 3-7 p.m. | Specials at this trendy spot include the $6 Japanese Highball, $8 Mai Tai, and $30, Instagram-worthy Punch Bowl — a drink for four served in a disco ball featuring Absolut Citron, Absolut Pear, Aperol, ginger, lemon, grapefruit juice, bitters, and champagne.
Whiskey Girl | Weekdays, 3-7 p.m. | Sip on $7 well drinks, beer, or house wine, plus 50% off select apps.
Cloak & Petal | Weekdays, 4-6 p.m. | Designed after the streets of Shibuya and Harajuku in Tokyo, this hip Little Italy restaurant offers discounted specialty cocktails, sake, wine, and draft beer, plus snacks between $3-$13, and classic and specialty rolls.
Topside Terrace Kitchen & Bar | Monday-Friday, 4-5 p.m. + Saturday-Sunday, 2-5 p.m. | The “Social Hour” menu at the third floor spot includes $12 crafted cocktails like the Topside Spritz, Old Fashioned, and Onlyfans Martini.
The Whiskey House | Daily, 4-7 p.m. | Add a whiskey shot to any beer for $1 or try the $7 cocktails like the Moscow Mule, Whiskey Sour, Negroni, Aperol Spritz, and The Al Capone.
Off the vine
Rustic Root | Monday-Friday, 5-6:30 p.m. | Enjoy 50% off your choice of 20 craft cocktails, plus snacks like parmesan fries for $5 and firecracker shrimp for $9.
Meze Greek Fusion | Sunday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. | We spy $3 off wines by the glass and $6 draft beers + well cocktails, plus $3-$8 snacks like falafel and spanakopita. This spot comes highly recommended by SDtoday reader Linda L. who likes to go with her friends. Cheers, Linda.
Wet Stone Wine Bar | Tuesday-Saturday, 5-6 p.m. + Sunday, 4-9 p.m. | Wine and dine with $8.50 glasses of select wines and sangria, $28.50 select bottles, and the $20 House Blind Flight Trio. Add some small plates starting at $8.50.
Try the flavorful shrimp aguachile with avocado, cilantro + jalapeños. | Photo by @garagekitchenbar
Biggest bargains
Garage Kitchen + Bar | Daily, 3-6 p.m. | Grab your friends and park it at this cool hangout slashing prices during happy hour with a menu featuring 51% off drinks (except specialty cocktails + top shelf), and $3 off appetizers.
Henry’s Pub | Daily, times vary | Enjoy $5 drink deals, plus snack specials on certain days, like the $4.50 Basket O’ Wings on Wednesdays.
Happy Does Bar | Thursday + Friday, 3-6 p.m. (except during Padres games) | Get more for less with $3 Crispy Chicken Sliders + Happy Sliders, eight brands of $5 beers, plus $6 house wine and seltzer.
Hungry for meal deals
Gaslamp Fish House | Weekdays, 3:30-5:30 p.m. | The happy hour grub deals are plentiful here — by land and sea — including oysters on the half shell at $1.50 a pop, Truffle Fries with Parmesan for $7, and $4 specialty tacos.
Queenstown Public House | Weekdays, 3-6 p.m. | Score $10 drinks like Beer Flights, house wine, or a Whiskey Sour, plus $8-$10 deals on food like NZ Chips & Dip and Fish N Chips.
The Butcher’s Cut | Sunday-Friday, 4-6 p.m. | Sip on signature, $8 craft cocktails like the SD Breeze (vodka, pineapple, lemon, soda), alongside
scrumptious bites like oysters, Seared Tuna, Yellow Curry Chicken Skewers, Mini Blue Lump Crab Cakes, and Avocado Toast.
Cafe Sevilla | Sunday-Friday, 4:30-6:30 p.m. | Pair your beer, wine, sangria, or craft cocktails with a wide selection of flavorful tapas between $5.50-$13 like the Spicy Octopus Ceviche and Queso Fundido. Don’t miss the tacos inspired by the flavors of Spain.
Rockin’ Baja Lobster | Weekdays, 3-6 p.m. | Chow down on a plethora of items for under $10, including the salsa + queso flight, chicken taquitos, and carne asada fries.
Don’t sacrifice variety — grab a beer, wine, or cocktail all for the same price. | Photo by @thefieldsd
Weekday wildness
Gaslamp Tavern | Weekdays, 3-6 p.m. | Take advantage of $2 off drafts, cocktails, and wine. Plus, check out additional special deals for each day of the week, like the $5 mystery beers on Wednesdays.
Union Kitchen & Tap | Weekdays, 4-6 p.m. | Try a $6 Lagunitas IPA or $10 signature cocktails like the Union Old Fashioned, plus bites like the $13 flat breads.
A margarita flight at Barrio Star.
Photo via Barrio Star
Coin-Op Game Room | Weekdays, 4-6 p.m. | Wind down with arcade games and $5 select drafts, 50% off all apps, and $2 cheese pizza slices.
The Field Irish Pub | Weekdays, 3-7 p.m. | Pair $6 select draft beers, house wines + well cocktails with food specials ranging from $4-16, including Black & Blue Sliders, Irish Potato Skins, and Curry Fries. Plus, grab $2 off specialty cocktails.
Barrio Star | Daily, times vary | We spy a margarita flight for $20, sangria for $8.50, and tacos a la carte for $5.
Wilma’s has us spinning — that’s a carousel fashioned into a bar top.
Photo via Wilma’s Carousel Bar
Wilma’s Carousel Bar | Daily, 4-5 p.m. | The $10 happy hour specials include all cocktails on the menu, select red + white wine, and the Smashed Big Mac.
Barleymash | Weekdays, 3-5 p.m. | Indulge in half-off beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails at this cool hangout.
Kansas City Barbeque | Daily, 3:30-6:30 p.m. | This will take your breath away — the iconic “Top Gun” bar offers daily specials on draft beer and snacks. We recommend grabbing a pint and perusing the memorabilia from the movie — and, of course, taking a seat at Goose’s piano.
Nason’s Beer Hall | Weekdays, 3-5 p.m. | The “Hoppy Hour” menu includes $5 draft beer, $6 house wine, and a $10 Classic Cheeseburger or Giant Pretzel.
Late night gem
Taste & Thirst | Daily, 3-8 p.m. + 8 p.m.-12 a.m. | Grab half off all drinks and $3 off beers during the early happy hour and more specials during the late night session, like the $5 seltzer of the month and $3 chips + salsa.
King & Queen Cantina | Daily, hours vary | Share a $20 Mr. Tempo Beer Bucket with friends or enjoy $14 margaritas, $8 sangria, and discounted snacks.
STK Steakhouse | Sunday-Thursday, 9 p.m. to close | Enjoy bites like the $6 Wagyu Meatballs, $9 Beef Tartare, or the $19 Jumbo Prawn and 3-ounce filet. For drinks, try the $9 signature cocktails or select wine by the glass.
Glass Box and five other restaurants at Sky Deck are offering happy hour deals Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m., starting Oct. 1, 2023.
Photo via Glass Box
Toasting to other parts of San Diego County
Sky Deck at Del Mar Highlands | Monday-Friday, 4-6 p.m. | Six of the food hall’s restaurants — Ambrogio15, Craft House, Glass Box, Marufuku Ramen, Understory, and URBANA Mexican Gastronomy & Mixology — have teamed up to offer happy hours deals. Try a cocktail at Understory at 50% off or $1 oysters from Glass Box.
Paradisaea, Bird Rock | Wednesday + Thursday, 4-6 p.m.
Happy hour specials include 50% off cocktails, draft beer, and wine. If you’re hankering for a snack, try the $14 warm marinated olives and the $27 market oysters.
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Host at home
Shop our favorite happy hour essentials to host friends for a drink at your place:
- Craft delicious drinks at home with syrups and mixers made from fresh ingredients.
- No clue how to put together a charcuterie board for your next event? No worries, here’s a helpful road map that you can use for everyday hosting!
- Try these alcohol-free sparkling beverages available in six organic flavors and made with nourishing, regenerative ingredients that help you tap into your inner power.
- The Elevated Craft Cocktail Shaker promises no more leaks and has a built-in measuring system.
- This set of six colored wine glasses reminds us of Estelle stemware — only more affordable.
- Pair your colorful wine glasses with a colorful decanter that’s an Anthropologie best-seller.
- Keep wine and champagne cold in a marble wine chiller.
- An electric wine opener makes opening bottles smooth and stress-free.
- Don’t forget the best drinkware made by small, local businesses — we’re big fans of the Pirani Life tumbler, an eco-friendly version of a Solo Cup, and these Kanga Coolers koozies that keep drinks cold.
