Happy hour provides a great opportunity to visit a new restaurant, let off some steam after work, or make a trip to your favorite neighborhood watering hole. Whether you’re seeking a deal at a fancy cocktail bar, or you just want to throw back some dirt-cheap beers with a raucous group of friends, we’ve found some absolutely killer happy hours in Los Angeles that you’ll want to try ASAP.
1. Madre
Madre is a vibrant Oaxacan restaurant with multiple outposts around L.A., but their WeHo location is worth a visit just to see the country’s largest mezcal collection in person. The happy hour menu provides an ample selection of cocktails, beer, wine, and small plates at generously marked-down prices.
🕜 When: 3pm-6pm Monday-Friday
🍸 What: $11 cocktails, $7 micheladas, $6 wine and beer, $6 tacos
📍 Where:
- West Hollywood • 801 North Fairfax Ave #101, Los Angeles CA 90046
- Torrance • 1261 Cabrillo Ave #100, Torrance, CA 90501
- Palms • 10426 National Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
- Santa Clarita • 27007 McBean Pkwy, Valencia, CA 91355
2. Damian
The prices on Damian’s upscale Mexican menu might feel out of reach most days, but consider visiting during happy hour to taste the food and cocktails at a discount. Margaritas get knocked down from $19 to $15, guacamole gets a price cut from $19 to $13, and you can get Monopolio beers for $5.
🕜 When: All day Monday, 5:30-6:30pm Wednesday-Thursday
🍸 What: Discounted cocktails, $9 micheladas, $5-6 Monopolios
📍 Where: Downtown Los Angeles • 2132 E 7th Place, Los Angeles, CA 90021
3. Desert 5 Spot
This rooftop restaurant and bar has a ton of character, weekly events, and great deals in its desert-themed digs. The weekday deals make the sunset views even lovelier, and the popular L.A. happy hour often coincides with unique events like karaoke, line dancing, and live musical performances.
🕜 When: 6-8pm Tuesday-Saturday
🍸 What: $9 cocktails, $6 beer and wine, $10 for two tacos
📍 Where: Hollywood • 6516 Selma Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
4. Everson Royce
Make sure you show up hungry to Everson Royce so you can enjoy their spectacular food menu just as much as their artisanal cocktails. Happy hour food specials include wild mushroom arancini for $7, flavorful meatballs for $10, and a classic grilled cheese for $12. Get a seat on the romantic, low-lit patio and toast to the end of your workday.
🕜 When: 4-7pm Tuesday-Friday, 2-6pm Saturday-Sunday
🍸 What: $11 cocktails, $9 wine, $6-7 pints
📍 Where: Arts District • 1936 E 7th St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
5. Idle Hour
You can’t miss this historic building in NoHo shaped like a whiskey barrel, which dates back to 1941. They serve Americana cocktails and pub fare in an ode to the building’s origins as a retro roadside attraction, and you can’t do much better than the giant pretzel with queso dip. Just watch out for the ghost of Idle Hour’s original owner, Delores.
🕜 When: 3-6pm Sunday-Friday, 1-6pm Saturday
🍸 What: $7 cocktails, $7 wine, $2 off all beer, $7 bites
📍 Where: North Hollywood • 4824 Vineland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91601
6. Esters
Esters manages to maintain a relaxed, local bar vibe in a beautifully decorated space. Their thoughtfully crafted menu has earned kudos from James Beard Foundation, and the intriguing mix of traditional wines with more unconventional choices brings a nice range of options. Plus, if not everyone in your group is a wine enthusiast, Esters offers a full bar with a wide selection of seasonal cocktails and mocktails.
🕜 When: All day Sunday-Monday, 4-6pm Tuesday-Saturday
🍸 What: $14 cocktail, $12 wine, $3.50 oysters, and more
📍 Where: Santa Monica • 1314 7th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
7. Gracias Madre
Chef Diana Briscoe has developed some of the tastiest vegan Mexican cuisine in Los Angeles, which retains the authenticity and significance of traditional dishes while highlighting some of the best local ingredients available. Guests also enjoy exploring the extensive bar menu, which is dedicated solely to agave spirits such as tequila and mezcal. During happy hour, they serve a simple and satisfying $10 special consisting of a jackfruit slider, garlic chipotle fries, and a house cerveza.
🕜 When: 3-6pm Monday-Friday
🍸 What: $9 margaritas, $8 wines, $6 beers, $7 bites
📍 Where: West Hollywood • 8905 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069
8. Here’s Looking At You
Here’s Looking At You offers an oddball late-night happy hour consisting of three hearty food specials. People swear by the $17 cheeseburger with au poivre mayo and fried onions, which makes for an unbelievable dinner before going out in Koreatown.
🕜 When: 8:30-10pm Thursday-Monday
🍸 What: $26 steak frites, $17 cheeseburger, $14 smoked trout dip
📍 Where: Koreatown • 3901 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90020
9. Gin Rummy
Escape to a far-flung tropical fantasy at Gin Rummy, a distinctly untraditional tiki bar with a ton of personality. The happy hour menu presents a nice lineup of discounted appetizers, $10 margaritas, and a range of playful shot + beer combinations. Come for the deals, stay for the patio and pinball machines.
🕜 When: 4-6pm daily
🍸 What: $10 margaritas, daiquiris, and shot + beer; $8 wine, $6-11 appetizers; $4 Rolling Rock beer
📍 Where: Marina Del Rey • 822 Washington Blvd, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
10. Dante
Martinis are the name of the game during happy hour at Dante, a gorgeous ninth-floor rooftop with exquisite Italian food and unbelievable views over Beverly Hills. The $10 daily martini hour offerts a nice selection of martini variations with accoutrements like caviar, Cinzano, and bitters. If you’re seeking a weekend happy hour in Los Angeles, this one is hard to beat.
🕜 When: 3-5pm daily
🍸 What: $10 martinis
📍 Where: Beverly Hills • Maybourne Beverly Hills, 225 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210