Brian Nagele
Sacramento’s location in central California puts it within reach of some of the best ingredients available in the United States.
Visitors shouldn’t be surprised that the city has many bars and restaurants with fantastic food and drink.
Farm-to-table food isn’t the exception here. It’s the norm.
On my recent trip to Sacramento, I searched for great places to dine and ones with specials worth checking out.
Many restaurants here served terrific food and great drinks, but I was looking for the best city offered.
These were the bars where I found the best happy hour deals in Sacramento.
Florez Bar & Grill
5900 S Land Park Dr, Sacramento, CA 95822
Phone: 916-429-6864
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Florez Bar & Grill is in Sacramento’s South Land Park region, a few blocks north of Joseph Reichmuth Park.
The restaurant’s covered outdoor seating area draws the eye with a bright blue awning and lush plants.
Blue is utilized inside, too, creating a laid back atmosphere with contemporary style.
Happy hour at Florez Bar happens six times weekly from 3 pm to 6 pm.
While drinks of all sorts are available at discount prices, the margaritas on the menu are the clear standout.
I ordered the spicy tamarindo margarita, which was sweet and tangy with a kick!
There are lots of tasty Mexican treats served here, so come hungry and save room for an empanada.
Mas Taco Bar
Multiple locations
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Though there are multiple locations, I went to the Mas Taco Bar a block away from the John C. Frémont Park in Downtown Sacramento.
Mismatched hanging lamps help give this spot a hip edge.
The bar itself is a standout feature with distinct black and white tiling and spirits that are beautifully lit.
Mas Taco offers discounts on most drinks, appetizers, and specific tacos on Mondays through Fridays during the early evening.
Starters are half off, so I suggest ordering a couple while relaxing and enjoying a few cocktails.
My favorite was the shrimp ceviche featuring citrus juice and spicy jalapeno.
Scott’s Seafood & Grill
4800 Riverside Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95822
Phone: 916-379-5959
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Along the Sacramento River, close to the zoo, restaurant patrons head to Scott’s Seafood & Grill for an upscale take on the happy hour.
Scott’s is a luxurious dining place with polished floors and fine art on display.
The bar’s vibe is fancy but not uptight.
For specials on food and drink, head to Scott’s Seafood during happy hour Monday through Friday.
Quite a few seafood options appear on this discounted menu.
Fresh and grill oysters at a stellar price were my favorite snack here.
Plus, they paired well with Oak Park Mystic Cloud Hazy IPA.
Happy hour here is a great way to sample the high-end offerings at this bar.
House Kitchen & Bar
555 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-498-9924
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In the heart of Sacramento’s Downtown House Kitchen & Bar provides a sophisticated place to grab drinks.
The bar is just a few blocks from the state capitol and other landmarks like the Stanford Mansion.
Tourists and locals come to House Kitchen & Bar to experience the classy but cozy vibe, an atmosphere curated by chef-owner Chris Nestor.
A variety of inexpensive appetizers are on the bar’s happy hour menu.
There were lots of great options of upscale comfort food.
For me, the standout was the sticky fries served with short rib and a soy-based glaze. House Kitchen & Bar serves several handcraft cocktails worth trying, too.
Fans of fruit drinks should try the Raspberry Ice Pick, a mix of three raspberry liquors and lemonade.
58 Degrees & Holding Co.
1217 18th St, Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: 916-442-5858
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Sacramento’s Midtown district serves as a trendy place for dining.
A few minutes from the State Capitol Park World Peace Rose Garden is 58 Degrees & Holding Co., an upscale wine bar with a welcoming atmosphere.
The rustic yet modern furnishings add to the vibe as well.
58 Degrees serves American classics, and many of its best-loved dishes can be found on its happy hour menu.
Stop by Tuesday through Saturday between 4 pm and 6 pm to grab great bites like spicy brisket sliders at a discounted price.
Since this is a wine bar, there is more than just a white and red selection on their happy hour menu.
58 Degrees offers several varieties, including sparkling options.
Flatstick Pub – DOCO
630 K St #120, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-872-0772
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Steps away from the Golden 1 Center, home of the Sacramento Kings, Flatstick Pub provides a great place for bar food favorites in the heart of Downtown.
Flatstick combines the concept of a neighborhood bar with sporting activities, creating a great place to enjoy a drink while trying your hand at mini golf.
Flatstick Pub sells classics like plates of nachos and soft pretzels alongside southwest-inspired dishes.
With over two dozen beers, ciders, and seltzers on tap, I was spoiled for choice when I visited this spot.
Visit during happy hour for special deals on alcoholic beverages on weeknights or bottomless mimosas on weekends.
Tropics Ale House Midtown
2001 J St, Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: 916-594-7286
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Tropics Ale House, located in the Boulevard Park Historic District, provides another great place to visit for drinks in Midtown.
The bar’s industrial yet rustic aesthetic creates an eclectic spot with converted barrels as tables and mismatched wood planks on the bar.
The environment at Tropics was easygoing and cheery.
At Tropics, happy hour happens every day from 3 pm to 6 pm.
Enjoy low-cost items at three different price points for eats and drinks.
Choose from bar favorites like sliders and pork nachos.
My favorite drink on the happy hour menu was the Tropojito, a tropical twist on the classic mint drink.
The Shady Lady Saloon
1409 R St, Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: 916-231-9121
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A saloon inspired by the speakeasies of the past, The Shady Lady Saloon is one of Downtown Sacramento’s best options for drinks and Southern food.
Conveniently located near a light rail stop, this bar provides a great place to dine and relax with a distinctly vintage atmosphere.
The Shady Lady mixes classic drinks for their patrons with several high-end liquors, including many scotch varieties.
If you come for happy hour Mondays from 3 pm to 6 pm, you’ll be treated to discounted small bites like chicken strips and pork rinds.
I especially enjoyed the biscuits I had during my visit.
Kupros Craft House
1217 21st Street, Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: 916-440-0401
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Another great venue in Sacramento’s Midtown, Kupros Craft, shares the area with other local hotspots like William J. Geery Theather.
Both of these iconic locations are housed in buildings over a hundred years old.
Kupros’ building started as a home, had a second life as a costume shop, and has now transformed into a friendly neighborhood bar.
Weeknights Monday through Friday from 5 pm to 7 pm, Kupros offers happy hour specials on well drinks, draft beer, and house wine.
You can pick up cheap snacks during this time too!
I was particularly impressed with the fried pickles served with creamy house-made ranch with a kick.
The Red Rabbit Kitchen and Bar
2718 J St, Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: 916-706-2275
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The Red Rabbit Kitchen and Bar makes a name for itself in Midtown, focusing on farm-to-table food and hand-crafted cocktails.
The low lighting and open brick create a moody ambiance perfect for imbibing a cocktail or two.
Remember, keep an eye for the iconic red rabbit decorations around the bar!
Red Rabbit refers to their happy hour instead as “cautiously optimistic hour,” but there’s no reason to be hesitant when stopping by here for deals.
Their menu has one of the wide selections of Sacramento’s happy hours.
The Panetta Cheese Toastie was especially tasty with lots of melty gruyere cheese!
Foundation Restaurant & Bar
400 L St, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-321-9522
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Close to the Old Sacramento Waterfront and Tower Bridge, Foundation Restaurant & Bar provides an inviting but simple place to dine.
The design is reminiscent of an old-school restaurant with a black and white checkered floor and dark wood accents.
Foundation serves classic dishes with locally sourced and sustainable ingredients focusing on seafood and steak.
Head to Foundation in the late afternoon to take advantage of weekday happy hour discounts for deals on various food items.
My favorite selections from this menu were the flatbreads.
In particular, I enjoyed the pesto margarita with heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella, and parmesan.
Bawk! by Urban Roots
1409 R St #102, Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: 916-376-7531
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Bawk! by Urban Roots is another Sacramento favorite next to other spots on our list in the Richmond Grove area of Downtown.
The decor is modern with artistic touches, making it a trendy little place to grab a drink and a bite.
Extensive outdoor seating makes Bawk! extremely popular when the weather’s nice.
Bawk! specializes in fried chicken, and there are several options available on the happy hour menu, whether you’re looking for wings or a chicken sandwich.
Sample the bar’s custom cocktails, or bawktails, for unique takes on drinks.
The Rye Whiskey Cherry Lime-ade had the perfect combination of sweet and sour flavors.
Cafeteria 15L
1116 15th St, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-492-1960
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An urban favorite with homey vibes, Cafeteria 15L welcome patrons a few blocks away from the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium Downtown.
The building is open with a high ceiling creating an incredibly welcoming place to eat.
Much of the interior uses reclaimed wood, adding a touch of charm to the business.
Except for show nights at the nearby auditorium, Cafeteria 15L hosts happy hours weeknights from 3 pm to 6 pm.
Drink specials included discounts on specialty cocktails and well drinks, but the highlight here for me was the Spicy Ahi Tuna Poke.
I wasn’t expecting such a high-quality dish with fresh ingredients on the happy hour menu, but I was pleasantly surprised!
Iron Horse Tavern
1800 15th St, Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: 916-448-4488
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Along with The Shady Lady and Bawk!, Iron Horse Tavern can be found in the Richmond Grove part of Downtown.
The Iron Horse may use dark accents in its bar, but the lighting brightens the room and makes it feel welcoming.
Still, there’s almost a moody vibe here, but in a way that makes you want to stay and enjoy it!
Iron Horse Tavern serves American bar classics done well.
They also serve a wide selection of salads, including one featuring couscous and salmon served with a fragrant herb vinaigrette.
During happy hour Mondays through Fridays, you’ll get discounted appetizers and drinks!
Yard House
405 K St #100, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-441-5001
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Find the Yard House in the heart of the Old Sacramento Historic District, a few minutes’ walk from the Sacramento River.
This isn’t the old Yard House location in the United States.
They are a popular chain with an updated take on the classic sports bar.
The vibe here is relaxed, casual, but still classy.
Yard House was one of my favorite spots for happy hour because there were two options to choose from.
In addition to their weeknight happy hour from 3 pm to 6 pm, they have a second happy Sunday through Wednesday from 10 pm to close.
Stop by at any of these times for special deals on appetizers, pizzas, and drinks!
From bars where you can play minigolf to upscale establishments serving the finest wines, California’s capital has a diverse collection of spots with the best happy hour in Sacramento.
One thing they all have in common is the dedication to outstanding service and utilizing local ingredients in America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital.
Even after visiting all these unique bars, I’m sure I still missed some of the best happy hours in the city.
If you’re not going to make it for happy hour, check out some of our other favorite bars aroud Sacramento!
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and let me know what to check out next!
