Spend the workweek enjoying discounted fare and a price break on drinks, and be home by 7 pm. Below are 10 spots that serve up a mighty fine deal during happy hour.
Six spots new to the happy hour game
The Del
Specially priced bites from queso ($5) to gnocchi tots topped with cheddar and ale fondue sauce ($6), and drinks, including draft beer ($3.50), house wines by the glass ($6) and cocktails like the tequila-based Paloma ($7), make happy hour (Monday-Friday; 3-6:30 pm) a slam-dunk at the casual Memorial-area joint.
Izakaya
Available seven-days-a-week (from 5-7 pm), the happy hour menu at the Midtown Japanese spot presents small plates from fried octopus ($7) to shisito peppers with red miso ($4), and sips like 12-ounce Kirin and Sapporo beers ($4 each), sake ($4-$6), house wine and bubbles ($6) and an ever-changing list of cocktails (think: Hotei Highball made with wine-based aperitif and dry vermouth, topped off with mandarin orange soda and garnished with a dry orange slice; $6).
And if that’s not enough to grab your attention, daily specials including half-price Asahi beer on Mondays and $3 mimosas on Sundays will surely do the trick.
The Owl
Drink up: $3 domestics, $4 wells and $5 select premiums and draft beers are all on the happy hour menu (weekdays; 4-7 pm) at the laid-back watering hole. What's more, the bar also offers up alluring daily specials like the Monday-only, reverse happy hour (10 pm - 2 am).
JerryBuilt Homegrown Burgers
The fast-casual burger joint with two Houston locations (West University and The Woodlands) had us at $5 happy hour burgers (choose from the classic cheeseburger or Jerry’s burger with an Angus beef patty, lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, housemade special sauce and American cheese), but then they went the extra mile with half-price wine, beer and ice cream cookie sandwiches making this deal a can’t-miss (Monday-Thursday; 2-5 pm).
Hunky Dory
Hit up the British-American tavern in The Heights for $6 snacks and a deal on drinks (Sunday-Thursday; 5 - 6:30 pm) during happy hour. Bites range from housemade terrine served with toast to chicken liver mousse with orange marmalade and pork skins. Wash it all down with house wine and champagne by the glass ($7), pints ($4) and a duo of classic cocktails: Pimm’s Cup ($5) and Old Fashioned ($7).
Rico's Morning + Noon + Night
The open-air kiosk at Midtown’s Bagby Park offers up half-price tap wines and frozen sake, $3 beers and a standout combo of a burger, fries and a beer ($10) during happy hour (Monday - Friday; 4 pm - 6 pm).
Four old favorites with new menus
Reserve 101
Nothing short of a steal, happy hour (Monday-Saturday; 2-6 pm) at the downtown, come-as-you-are whiskey bar boasts half-price draft beer, plus wines by the bottle for $20 and $5 premium cocktails. Don’t skip the Monkey Banana Sour (made with scotch, banana puree, simple syrup, lemon juice, pecan oil and an egg white).
Mark's American Cuisine
Drink prices drop during happy hour (Sunday-Thursday; 5-7 pm) at the Montrose mainstay, including $6 wines by the glass and $6 cocktails like the First Kiss (reposada tequila, pomegranate liqueur, lime juice, jalapeño simple syrup, rhubarb bitters). There's also a deal on eats: for $7 choose from several options including roasted oysters, beef Carpaccio, crab-stuffed squash blossoms.
Urban Eats
The Washington Avenue bistro presents a happy hour lineup (Monday-Friday; 3 pm - 6:30 pm) with well drinks ($4), wines by the glass ($4) and draft beer ($4). You'll also enjoy half-off select bottles of wine, bottled beer and craft cocktails including the Purple Iris (blueberry vodka, hibiscus vodka, crème de violette, muddled blueberries and lemon juice).
Feast on nosh sliders ($4), kale and artichoke soufflé ($6), fried green tomatoes ($6) and the like. Go big and order the Flight & Friends special with your pick of five draft beers or wines by the glass served with cheeses, mixed olives and salami ($12).
Etoile Cuisine et Bar
Score fries and a burger (an eight-ounce house-ground patty, Swiss cheese and roasted tomato on a housemade brioche bun) for just $12 — along with beef short rib sliders ($7), a spicy sausage sandwich on house-made ciabatta ($7) and more — during the French restaurant's "Green Hour" (Sunday-Friday; 4:30-6:30 pm).
Highlights on the drink menu include select beer ($5), several absinthe offerings ($9-$13), wines by the glass ($6) and craft cocktails ($7) like the Importance of Being Earnest (a mix of rye, Absinthe and Peychaud bitters).
The Monkey Banana Sour cocktail at Reserve 101 is a must-try.
