If you haven’t noticed, there’s this weird trend going on around town where businesses say they have a Happy Hour, but when you get there all you get are overpriced snacks and cocktails. A $12 Tito’s soda is not a deal! A $10 bowl of olives is also not a deal. Why would I rush my way out of work and in Austin rush hour traffic if I’m in fact not saving any money during happy hour?
That’s why we decided to search high and low for Austin’s best weekly Happy Hours that will actually leave your bank account happy after you close out. We have separated them by area of town to make it easy for you to reference, we hope this is helpful, and cheers!
Jump Ahead To
Grab your friends or co-workers and head to Wax Myrtle’s for their updated half-off happy hour with new food and drink specials which kick off September 25! The team behind Wax Myrtle’s is excited to share their new happy hour deals including discounted drink prices with half off draft beer, $5 bubbles, $8 margaritas, and food deals including $5 fries, and $9.50 nachos. Happy hour is available Monday – Thursday, 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., with complimentary access to the pool.
Kicking off Oct. 9th and running Mondays – Fridays, they’re also offering guests a collaborative and quiet workspace with fresh breakfast items, coffee, tea, and espresso drinks, plus outlet-lined walls all around the dining room space in their new “Laptops and Lattes” program. The new morning food menu will consist of $8 chia seed granola with yogurt and honey, $6 market fruit cup, $7 rotating breakfast pastries, $10 breakfast taco, and $9 green juices.
208 West 4th Street | This is honestly my go-to happy hour downtown. Their HH is honored all day on Monday and from 4 pm -to 7 pm Tuesday- to Friday. This schedule gives you time to get to the restaurant and not have to down your cocktail as fast as you can to order another. Aside from the lengthy happy hour time, the number of items on their HH menu is amazing. Get half off select food, not just appetizers, and $6 cocktails. This includes a duck confit mac and cheese for $8 which is to die for, their escargot for $12, and their amazing patty melt for $10.50. I don’t think anyone can get a combo at McDonalds for that. Get a $6 French 75 or a Peche Negroni to round out an amazing meal.
206 Colorado Street | If you haven’t been to Bar Chi, have you ever been on a date in Austin? This is a go-to spot for those trying to impress a date and not break the bank in the process. The best part is that they have happy hour Monday- Friday from 4 pm -7 pm. Again, lots of time to get a table or a seat at the bar before HH ends. We love that they have appetizers and maki rolls on their HH menu. We like to start off our meal with a $5 bottle of Sapporo, $4 edamame, $7 veggie tempura, and the $5.50 gyoza, fried of course. Get a second bottle of beer to go with a warm sake, which will only cost you $5 for a small 6-ounce pour. Maki rolls are $6 – $9 for the yellowtail and scallion rolls, or the spicy tuna crunch roll. Specialty rolls are between $11 and $14 depending on the ingredients. Bar Chi also offers reverse happy hour on Friday night from 10 pm to 11 pm for all of you looking for some late night eats.
218 West 4th Street | I’m going to sound like an old Austin snob, but Halcyon has been killing the downtown Austin game for a LONG time. Their happy hour runs Monday- Friday 4 pm- 8 pm and has $2.50 wells and domestics. Umm, what???? A drink for less than $3 is unheard of in this town anymore. That’s all you really need to know to get your booty over there. Once you’re there splurge on their espresso martini, which was around before everyone in Austin started to offer their own varieties. Since Halcyon is an actual coffee shop, it will include that espresso, not just coffee flavored liquor.
Two Locations in Austin | Yes, North Italia is a chain, but they have great food and a wonderful happy hour that I love. Both locations have a huge dining room, bar and patio, which means you don’t have to fight others off to get a good seat during happy hour. Their happy hour runs Monday-Thursday 3 pm-6 pm. The white truffle garlic bread is only $11 and the Italian meatballs are huge and will run you $12. If you’re looking for pizza, get the margherita or caio-e-pepe for $13. We like the bottle and a board deal for $33, that one allows you to choose a pizza, bruschetta, chefs board or farmers market board; and a bottle of red or white wine. I mean, come on! That’s a date on a budget if I’ve ever seen one. If you’re just there for a drink, you can get a glass of red or white wine for $6.50 or a beer for $5.
500 San Jacinto | This is honestly unexpectedly a great spot for happy hour. We already know that Diner Bar has an amazing dinner menu but now we are being blessed with an equally awesome HH one. The restaurant has happy hour every day from 4 pm – 6 pm; all day Monday, and 8 pm- close on Tuesday and Wednesday. You can get a $3 draft beer or a $10 local vodka or gin martini to go with the $2 oysters. I would also try their TGM Burger for $10 and their baked chicken wings for $8. Honestly, anything on the menu is probably delicious because Chef Mashama Bailey is amazing and I trust her team with some amazing dishes.
301 San Jacinto | The Vince Young Steakhouse is a prime downtown spot and it’s been overlooked for happy hour for far too long. I recently went with some friends and we seriously ordered one of everything on their HH list. Their HH runs from 5 pm-7 pm and everything on their bar and lounge menu is $10. One of my favorites is steak frites with a chimichurri sauce, crispy quail, as well as the wagyu brisket burger. It’s truly one of the best deals in Austin.
110 East 2nd Street | Dean’s is located inside the JW Marriott, but don’t let that keep you from going in for happy hour. They recently opened up their veranda space where you can get happy hour, Monday-Friday from 5 pm – 6:30 pm. Their $10 plates will be the best deal with oysters Rockefeller, Dean’s meatballs and shrimp scampi. Dean’s also offers $8 wines and $9 specialty cocktails.
1306 East 6th Street | I debated not posting this one only because I selfishly wanted to keep it all for myself, but I decided to share the wealth. Licha’s has been my go-to for HH for years now not only because of the food, but the vibes. Licha’s has a great patio for people watching and their HH runs Tuesday-Friday from 4 pm-6 pm. My favorite item on the HH menu is their nopal and chorizo huarache and it’ll only run you $8. It’s huge and so flavorful, but leave room for the tinga de polllo sopecitos which are also $8. Order the $8 esquites to share and wash it all down with a yummy Bonita cocktail with spiced rum and horchata for $8 as well.
1813 East 6th Street (ARRIVE Hotel) | If you haven’t been to Vixen’s Wedding yet, you’re missing out on one of the most unique meals in Austin. The Goan-insipired menu is a mix of Indian and Portuguese flavors and will blow your mind. Thankfully, they do have a happy hour Wednesday – Sunday from 5 pm – 6 pm. I don’t necessarily love the short time frame but the menu items they have on HH will make up for it. The sourdough naan with chili butter for $6 is good enough to be a meal on its own, but you’ll also want to go for the gunpowder cauliflower for $7 along with their rava meatballs for $8. They also offer cocktails for $8, wine for $7, and beer for $4.
1814 East Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd | This East Austin gem boasts a huge patio and an even greater happy hour, especially for burger lovers. It runs Wednesday – Sunday from 3 pm -6 pm and you will be more than happy with all the money you’ll be saving. Sour Duck offers $6 single burgers and you can add on a beer, or tiny margarita for $4. You can also get a paloma or a turmeric mule for $6.
1911 Aldrich Street, Suite 100 | This southern kitchen is in the middle of all the action in Mueller. It’s definitely a good spot for happy hour before going on a walk around the pond or catching a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse. Their HH runs from 3 pm – 5:30 pm and has $5 snacks like deviled eggs, pimento cheese and a fried chicken little biscuit. Their glasses of wine are $6 and their specialty cocktails are $7.
609 W 29th St (Daiboku)/ 6929 Airport Blvd #146 (Sazan) | I combined both of these happy hours because they’re from the same owner and both have similar offerings. Daiboku is located in West Campus and recently opened in a great spot that even has parking for patrons, while Sazan Ramen is in the Highland neighborhood. They are both really fantastic places for ramen and even though their menus vary a little, they are both amazing choices for happy hour. Both locations have a $5 happy hour menu that will ease your mind when trying to save some money. Their HH runs from 3 pm-6 pm, giving you lots of time to eat at your own pace. Sazan Ramen has a Yuzu Margarita, draft beer, hot sake, Indomitable Wings, and their Sazan Fries on the menu. Daiboku has a selection of $5 cocktails, sake, beers, wines, ramen and select starters.
5520 Burnet Road | This North Austin spot has a great menu with a mix of Asian and Southern-inspired dishes. Their happy hour time is also great for those trying to avoid the rush hour traffic around town. The Peached Tortilla has HH Tuesday- Sunday 5 pm- 7 pm where your drink options are amazing. They have $5 beers, $6 wine, and $7 cocktails. You can pair those up with $4.50 tacos, $6 snacks like blistered shishito peppers and kimchi arancini balls, as well as their $9 social burger with miso caramelized onions and Japanese pickles.
9400 Arboretum Blvd | Bulevar has made a name for itself with its amazing Mexico City-style cuisine and what better way to get a taste of what they have to offer than during their happy hour. Their HH runs Monday- Wednesday 5 pm – 7 pm and Thursday- Sunday 4 pm- 7 pm. Their Hielo Bulevar frozen cocktail is $7 and their draft beer will run you $5. Pair that with any of their select small plates for $10, including the lamb barbacoa gordita, the tacos del fuego with pork belly, flank steak and adobo.
Two locations in Austin | Taverna has been our go to spot for brunch for a long time but they also have a great happy hour menu at their Domain location. They host HH Sunday- Friday from 3 pm – to 6 pm on their bar and patio seats. The good news is that all their HH bites are $8 and that includes meatball sliders, zucchini chips, a cheese board, crostino with prosciutto and truffle, or a smoked salmon focaccia. All of those sound amazing but so do the $4 select wines, $4 draft beers and their $5 well drinks.
1417 South First Street. 1417 French Bistro is that small restaurant that gives you the neighborhood hang vibes and even better food. As soon as you walk in you’re met with amazing décor with a French twist that will make you feel right at home. Their happy hour is a perfect time to go check out some of their smaller plates and is offered from 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. on Monday through Thursday; and on Fridays from 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Their aperitifs are half off, making their steak tartare $12.50, roasted marrow bones are $13, their escargot is $10 and their amazing French onion soup is $7.50. Their sidecar, cucumber gimlet, and French margarita are each $8.
801 South Lamar Blvd. Uchi might seem like a place where you go to have a very expensive meal, but their happy hour really offers you a chance to try out some of their dishes that might otherwise feel out of reach. From 4 pm – 6 pm everyday you can stop by their South Lamar location and snag a table but I recommend getting there as early as you can. I would fill up on some of their hand rolls like the bincho (marinated albacore tuna, jalapeno and mint) and the Hamachi (yellowtail, poblano and wasabi aioli). The walu-walu is also a must-try for $9.50.
1400 South Congress & Multiple Locations in Austin | The Hopdoddy on South Congress can be a busy place on the weekends with all the tourists flocking to the area, but the weekdays are actually a good time to visit. Hopdoddy has their “Hoppy Hour” Monday- Thursday 3 pm- 6 pm and there are plenty of deals to be had. Five dollars is all you need to remember because they have so many items on their menu for that price. You can get a house margarita, a paloma, a kickin’ mule, a beer, sliders or fries for just $5. And what’s even better is if you happen to find seats at the bar during HH, you can order from the full menu and your whole bill will be half off! That’s an unreal deal but just make sure to get there early if you can. I love their Magic Shroom, Double Bacon Jam and Ahi Tuna burgers, and pair that with their parmesan truffle fries or the green chile queso fries for dipping.
Two Locations in Austin | This happy hour will make you so happy to be in a place where there’s plenty of parking and open seating areas. If you haven’t been yet, Oasthouse is a German-inspired concept that has some really amazing dishes and cocktails to go with your delicious meal. Their happy hour runs from 3 pm- 6 pm and the carnitas poutine will run you $8, the falafel fritters $7 and a house pretzel with beer mustard and house pickles is also $8. They also have several signature cocktails which will run you from $7 – $9.
7415 Southwest Pkwy, Building 5, Suite 100 | This West Austin spot has been blowing up on social media, but if you want to check it out without committing to a full dinner, happy hour will give you a sneak peek into their cuisine. Their HH runs from 3 pm – 6 pm Monday to Friday. With $5 draft beers, $7 glasses of wine, and $8 margaritas, their drinks menu is definitely worth it. They also have their Northern Mexican Chipotle Bean Dip for $5 and their two taco order is $9 with your choice of grilled avocado, veggie, carnitas or chicken.
7720 State Hwy 71 West | This Oak Hill favorite is a great happy hour for anyone craving Southern Tex-Mex favorites. Jack Allen’s Kitchen happy hour runs from Monday – to Friday from 3 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. They have half off all app starters which includes their house-made pimento cheese for $3.50, smoked barbacoa quesadilla for $5 and their jalapeno crab dip for $7.50. All of their drinks are also half off.
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