the 20 best happy hour spots in nyc
Would we make it through the work week if it weren’t for happy hour? Happy hour specials are even more coveted in an expensive city like NYC. Here are 20 NYC bars with drink and food specials that you can still make after work! A few even have weekend specials.
Pineapple Club in NYC
lower east side
everyday 5-7 pm / $1 oysters, drink specials + fries
Located in Twin Bridges, a hidden gem of a neighborhood situated between Chinatown and Lower East Side, Bar Belly is a cozy, narrow bar with great oysters and rosé. Dimly lit and filled with loud chatter, this place is better for a catch up with friends instead of a date.
everyday 5-11 pm / $7 lychee martinis and sangrias
Famous last words at this bar are “lychee martini”. Delicious and cheap make for a dangerous combination, but this bar definitely hits the spot.
everyday 4-6 pm / wine and wine cocktail specials
This dimly lit French wine bar has an extensive food menu along with their drink selections. Happy hour drinks include a selection of whites and reds alongside sangria, aperol spritzes, and Prosecco.
daily 5-7 pm (all day sunday) / $1.50 wellfleet oysters, $10 cocktails, $9 wines, beer + snack specials
An elevated dive bar, Black Crescent is more low-key than its rowdier neighbors in LES.
everyday 11:30 am - 7:30 pm / drink specials
I first discovered this bar from an episode of now controversial Aziz Ansari’s Netflix show Master of None, which takes place in NYC and features several local spots. Given the eclectic neon lit vibes of this place, I felt that I had to check it out. The low key vibes did not disappoint.
mon - sat / 4 – 7 pm / wine and apps
This cute wine bar used to be in midtown east but they have since moved down to LES, where they fit the vibes much better.
everyday 5-7 pm / $5 drinks, $1 oysters
This bar gets crowded, and has a pool table downstairs. The Flower Shop is one of my favorite chill bars to frequent. Also contrary to its name, there are no flowers for sale/to be seen anywhere at the bar unfortunately. Think of them as an elevated dive bar.
monday - friday 4-7 pm / $2 oysters
I love a good oyster happy hour, and there’s an abundance of them in NYC. If you play your cards right, you will be hard-pressed to pay more than $2 per oyster while out at a bar. Sel Rrose has great music and vibes, and will always have a crowd going no matter what time you’re visiting. They also have another location in Montauk (if that gives you an indication of the vibes of this place), and a cute, pink interior as well as outdoor seating.
west village
mon - fri / food + drink specials
In case you couldn’t tell by the name of this bar, this spot was made for Happy Hour. I’m also not sure where else in the city you would find $10 martinis!
everyday 3-5 pm / $10 negronis + martinis
This classic spot in the village is seemingly always crowded, no matter the time of day. (Note that they also have two locations in West Village - the Hudson Street location has $10 martinis during 3-5 pm whereas their MacDougal location has $10 negronis from 3-5 pm.)
everyday 5:30-8 pm / drink and food specials
Tucked away in a quieter area of the Village, Automatic Slim’s reminds me of old school New York. This is a great chill dive bar that’s away from the more rowdy, popular area of West Village.
everyday 5-7 pm / $13 wines, $14 cocktails, $10 snacks
Not only is this place incredibly chic on the inside, but it also has a cute garden and patio in the back! They also serve natural wine and a seasonal menu (I like their wines better than their food which is a bit overpriced.) They’re the sister restaurant of La Parenthese, a French bistro based in Marseille, so you know they’re the real deal. They do have a more expensive happy hour, but their atmosphere is very cute and very French.
everyday 5 – 7 pm / bar only with cocktails, beer, and wine specials
This adorable French restaurants has good food, a spacious and cute interior set in a townhouse in the Village, and great drinks/happy hour specials. They also have an adorable outdoor patio.
mon – fri 5 – 7 pm / cocktails, beer, wine, and food specials
This has become one of my favorite bars in the city. A popular date spot, Analogue is spacious, dimly lit, not too loud, and well-decorated with lavish leather armchairs, wooden bookcases, and gold adornments. The atmosphere is reminiscent of a sultry living room, giving off homey yet sophisticated vibes.
flatiron
tues - sat 4-7 pm / food and drink specials
The happy hour menu here is drool-worthy ($10 cheese plate – from Beecher’s as they are located below the cheese shop!, $8 wines, $7 white bean dip and more), and the bar has a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
soho
mon - fri 4-7 pm / drink specials
This dark basement bar feels like an elevated dive bar. Artfully placed neon signs add a sultry glow. It’s the perfect low-key SoHo spot.
east village
mon - thurs 5-7 pm / food and drink specials
east village / cocktail bar / $$
Pineapple Club is the cutest and most spacious bar in East Village with half-priced food, drinks, and $10 bottomless fries. They have great food (I was pleasantly surprised by this, and ended up staying for dinner!) and solid drinks. With an expansive interior and outdoor seating as well, this place is great for big groups as well as a great date spot.
midtown
sun – thurs / 5-6 pm / food and drink specials
You could easily pass by this hidden jazz bar multiple times and never know it existed if you didn’t know about it. Located below street level and with no external markings on the door, the outside of Tomi looks like the nondescript basement of a building. Featuring live jazz every night, Tomi is the best place to go for happy hour if you’re looking for something different. Tomi is also completely unlike any other bar you would find in the area. This is the only bar I would travel specifically to midtown for (and that’s saying something, as I usually try and avoid the area between 34th and 59th street like the plague.)
everyday 4-7 pm / drink specials
This is the midtown location of this wine bar (there is another one in Gramercy). With cute, dimly lit vibes and a good selection of wines and cocktails, Pierre Loti is a great after work drinks’ spot/date spot.
weekdays 3-6 pm / $1.50 oysters and drink specials
This seafood restaurant has multiple locations in the city (Brookfield Place, Chelsea, DUMBO, Midtown, and a UES location coming soon!) With Montauk-y vibes, this trendy but chill spot has good vibes for Happy Hour (and other times as well!)
For even more NYC happy hour specials, check out my Instagram account @atyourleisurenyc!