Brian Nagele
Whether you want to hike to the Hollywood sign, look for celebrities, visit one of the many museums, or go on a food tasting tour of the city, Los Angeles won’t disappoint you.
With over four million people, there are plenty of things to do and see in Los Angeles.
If you’re in the mood for cheap drinks on vacation, hitting bars during happy hour is the best idea.
Los Angeles bars can get pricey, but with excellent happy hour deals, you can enjoy your favorite cocktail, beer, or a glass of wine at a great price.
Check out where to find the best happy hour in Los Angeles.
Esters Wine Shop & Bar
1314 7th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: 310-899-6900
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Esters Wine Shop and Bar is only minutes from Santa Monica Beach on 7th Street.
This beautiful little bar features an art deco design and a sophisticated atmosphere.
You’ll see walls lined with bottles of wine you can purchase and people meeting up with friends for a nice glass of wine after a long day.
If you want to visit this restaurant for happy hour, you can visit any day of the week between four and seven in the evening.
They have a variety of food and drink deals that are worth taking advantage of if you love wine.
They have red, white, and rose wine on happy hour, beer, and bartender’s choice cocktails.
Theia
8048 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: 323-591-0059
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Nestled amongst the restaurants on West 3rd Street is Theia.
This bar and restaurant are small, but they take pride in their intimate atmosphere.
They have indoor and covered outdoor seating and a small red carpet leading to the bar’s front door.
You can literally walk the red carpet to get a drink from here.
Theia’s happy hour is only for two hours, but it’s worth it.
From five to seven p.m., you can enjoy discounted appetizers, cocktails, Stella Artois, and a few house wines.
I loved their gin and tonic, but they have other more unique cocktails to try.
The tzatziki dip and pita are perfect if you get hungry while sipping on your drink.
Bacari W. 3rd
8030 W 3rd St #3/4, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Phone: 213-933-2327
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Bacari W. 3rd is right down the street from Theia.
So, if you want to take advantage of two happy hours, you can easily walk from one to the other.
Bacari is a Mediterranean restaurant with beautiful greenery and vibrant yellow chairs, and it is decorated to make you feel like you’re dining at a restaurant in Italy or Greece.
For those who love all-you-can-drink happy hours, Bacari is the place to be.
They offer a 90-minute open bar every night for a great price.
You can only get beer, wine, and sangria, though, so their regular happy hour is better for those who prefer liquor.
On Monday through Thursday, you can enjoy half off all well cocktails.
Big Bar
1927 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone: 323-644-0100
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You’ll find Big Bar in East Hollywood on Hillhurst Avenue. This bustling bar is stunning and has an old-world vibe.
The bar’s interior features dark wood and white marble fixtures, but I love the outdoor patio.
The walls have green vines growing on them, and at night, the twinkling lights turn on to create the perfect mood.
Big Bar’s happy hour is similar to others in the city.
It’s for three hours throughout the week and is unavailable on Saturday and Sunday.
You’ll enjoy discounts on their signature cocktails and certain food items. I loved their signature cocktail.
They make it with gin, raspberry brandy, butterfly pea tea, grenadine lemon, and egg whites.
The Waterfront Venice
205 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291
Phone: 424-404-8470
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Venice Beach’s The Waterfront is launching a weekday happy hour and we’d love to share the news with your readers.
Perfect for the non-nine to fiver, or the nine-to-fiver who would prefer to work with a drink in one hand and a laptop in the other, The Waterfront’s happy hour is offered Wednesday-Friday from 3-5:30pm.
Located directly on the Venice Boardwalk with views of the Pacific Ocean, The Waterfront is the ideal location to enjoy the late afternoon sunshine.
Gracias Madre West Hollywood
8905 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Phone: 323-978-2170
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If you’re looking for a Mexican restaurant with a great happy hour, then Gracias Madre in West Hollywood is the place you need to try.
While it’s a Mexican restaurant and bar, it has a more modern decor than traditional Mexican joints.
It’s filled with light wood, wicker, and white furniture with bright pillows that make the place pop.
I love this restaurant’s happy hour because it includes more food than others.
As an entirely organic and vegan Mexican restaurant, you won’t be able to tell the difference.
The happy hour margarita with silver tequila is my favorite if you stop in.
As for happy hour bites, the soy chorizo empanadas are heavenly.
Hyperion Public
2538 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
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Hyperion Public is in Franklin Heights, just south of Griffith Park.
This American restaurant is laid-back and features a rustic or country theme.
While it seems like a more upscale place at first, you’ll see casually dressed people here for a great meal and even better drink.
Hyperion Public’s happy hour is one of my favorites because it’s from four to seven every day.
You can get a PBR for only $3, $6 for domestic beer, and $9 for old fashions for the whiskey drinkers.
They also have cocktails with rum, vodka, or gin.
Their buffalo chicken wings and grilled cheese are also on happy hour and worth ordering.
Piccalilli
3850 Main St, Culver City, CA 90232
Phone: 424-298-8540
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Piccalilli is in Culver City, less than ten miles from downtown Los Angeles.
You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see a green neon sign with the restaurant’s name and a statue of a deer outside.
This modern restaurant combines American and Asian decor in a contemporary way that you’ll just have to experience.
This restaurant’s happy hour has delicious and elegant options.
Not everyone wants food during their happy hour, but if you do, the crispy chicken skin is a must-try.
My favorite cocktails on the happy hour menu are their Venetian spritz with prosecco and Mekong sour with Thai basil.
Redbird
114 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 213-788-1191
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Redbird must be a stop on your itinerary if you’re exploring downtown, Los Angeles.
This new American restaurant is beautiful with large white walls, a skylight, and bright orange and purple accents.
This is an elegant restaurant where you’ll feel like the most important person in the room.
Happy hour at Redbird only happens on Wednesday and Friday, and you have to sit at the bar to take advantage of the food and drink specials.
Their menu features dishes like duck wings, shishito peppers, beer, wine, and plenty of cocktails.
The teacher’s pet cocktail has Jack Daniels single barrel whiskey and pairs well with all their food.
Spartina
7505 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Phone: 323-782-1023
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Spartina is in West Hollywood on Melrose Avenue.
This rustic Italian restaurant features a beautiful patio with large green bushes, dim lighting, and bright blue chairs.
Even if you prefer to sit inside, it’s just as stunning.
It’s the perfect combination of rustic and chic. Spartina’s happy hour features several antipasto dishes and some of their most popular pizza recipes.
You can enjoy discounted food and drinks from four to six, Monday through Friday.
If you’re visiting with friends, I recommend ordering a pitcher of beer and sharing it with their white pizza with pork belly.
The Misfit Bar & Restaurant
225 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: 310-656-9800
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Another great bar and restaurant to grab cheap drinks at are The Misfit Bar and Restaurant.
This joint is on Santa Monica Boulevard, within walking distance of the beach.
This gastropub is everything you’d expect in a classic gastropub.
It’s one of the best happy hours in Los Angeles because you get half off cocktails, wine, and beer from open until seven every day.
This is where you order your go-to cocktail because you don’t need anything fancy.
Elbow Room
1634 N Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Phone: 323-645-7119
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Right across the street from the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a great pizza joint with drink specials.
Elbow Room is a super casual restaurant that’s almost always busy, even when it’s not happy hour.
It’s a modern and simplistic joint with concrete flooring and plenty of TVs to watch whatever game is on.
You can enjoy happy hour here seven days a week.
There’s beer for only $4 and select cocktails for $10 with a slice of pizza.
They also have other drink deals, but their Moscow mule with a piece of pizza is hands down my favorite.
Mezcalero DTLA
510 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Phone: 213-628-3337
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In downtown Los Angeles is Mezcalero DTLA.
This is one of the laid-back restaurants downtown.
There are walls filled with different types of tequila and knowledgeable staff to assist you in finding the perfect drink.
I love the rustic wood tables and calm atmosphere.
You can take advantage of Mezcalero’s drink specials from open until seven.
You can get discounts on the house and specialty cocktails, and I recommend their solstice cocktail, peonies in jade cocktail, and yuca fries to munch on.
Founders Ale House
8771 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
Phone: 424-777-0079
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Out in West Los Angeles, Founders Ale House is the perfect sports bar to stop at for drink specials and a great meal.
The atmosphere is casual and gets lively whenever sporting events are on TV.
Even if you’re not a sports fan, the drink specials, food, and friendly atmosphere is enough reason to visit.
Founder’s happy hour starts when they open and runs until seven.
They have an extensive happy hour menu, so everyone will find something they’re happy with.
My favorite part is their beer shot special. You get a draft beer and a shot of Jameson for $11.
They also have a burger and drink deal worth considering.
Electric Owl
1451 N Gardner St, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Phone: 323-545-6565
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Right off of Sunset Boulevard on North Gardner Street is Electric Owl.
This West Hollywood bar and restaurant has a rustic American vibe and feels very welcoming.
I love the large clock standing outside the restaurant because it’s unique.
Parts of the restaurant look like an old train car, which is a must-see.
For a happy hour at Electric Owl, you have to order their cheese plate to enjoy with your drink.
If you’re not a cheese plate person, their ranch tater tots are delicious too.
As for drinks, the hibiscus margarita and sangria are outstanding.
The Village Idiot
7383 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Phone: 323-655-3331
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Another great bar on Melrose Avenue is The Village Idiot.
It’s a new American restaurant great for sitting back, relaxing, and grabbing your favorite drink at the bar.
There are exposed brick walls, corners filled with costumes and masks, and an open concept kitchen.
There are several happy hour deals at The Village Idiot that are popular.
You can get a classic cocktail or opt for a bottle of rose to share with friends.
Another popular choice is their “house pour.” It’s a PBR and then one ounce of tequila and bourbon.
I love their Brussel sprouts with bacon during happy hour.
