Few people look forward to Mondays. Returning to the workweek after a fun, relaxing weekend is enough to fill many with dread. Fortunately, Houston restaurants and bars have found ways to ease the transition—both emotionally and financially. Weekday happy hours have long been a great excuse to grab a drink (and maybe a bite) with coworkers before heading home. While Wednesday may be known as “hump day,” Monday is when many of us could use a little extra incentive. That’s why a number of local spots offer dedicated Monday happy hour specials to help kick off the week on a brighter note.
Check out these great places to beat the Monday blues.
Doris Metropolitan
This fine dining steakhouse from Sof Hospitality offers an extra-special Monday happy hour from 5 to 9 p.m. in the bar. Select glasses of wine are $10, along with a curated selection of spirits and highballs, including Haku vodka with Hoshizaki sparkling water. The Monday bar bites are just as enticing, but the restaurant’s renowned bread service is the perfect place to start at just $6. From there, it’s a tough choice between the $11 tuna tartare, $19 octopus skewer, or the $16 Doris Burger, served with truffle fries. It’s luxury dining at a surprisingly approachable price. 2815 S. Shepherd Dr., Houston, dorismetropolitan.com/houston
Bar Boheme
This longstanding Montrose bar makes Mondays easy with all-day $7 specials. Everything on the happy hour menu is priced at $7, including bar bites, select wines and a variety of cocktails. The addictive Vietnamese fries—topped with hoisin, sriracha and crushed peanuts—are a standout, while other bargain bites include Buffalo cauliflower, beef dumplings, and barbacoa tacos. Music comes courtesy of DJ Caribeats and DJ Rey every Monday. 307 Fairview St., Houston, barboheme.com
Voodoo Queen Daiquiri Dive
Don’t let the exterior fool you—great frozen drinks and a good time await inside. Weekday happy hour typically runs from 4:20 to 7:20 p.m., but on Mondays, it’s “all damn day,” according to the restaurant’s website. Guests can enjoy $1 off frozen machine drinks, $3 Jello syringes and well drinks, plus $6 Bourbon Street Hurricanes. Balance out the booze with one of the kitchen’s flavorful po’boys or an order of the famous hush puppies. 322 Milby, Houston, ssvoodooqueen.com
Candente
Pitmaster Michael Sambrooks knows his way around brisket, and both locations of his Tex-Mex spot celebrate Mondays with all-day Nacho Average Monday specials. That means half-price nachos across the board, including the famous brisket version, which is a cult favorite. Other options include bean and cheese, ground beef, chicken fajita, and beef fajita. Stop by between 3 and 6 p.m. for $7 happy hour margaritas, sangria, and well drinks. The Monday nacho deal is available throughout the restaurant, while select happy hour bites are offered in the bar only. Multiple locations, candentehtx.com
Blind Goat
MasterChef champion Christine Ha’s modern Vietnamese eatery in Spring Branch serves up an all-day Monday happy hour that’s just as appealing for drinks as it is for bites. Guests can slurp a half-dozen East Coast oysters on the half shell with Thai chili mignonette for just $9 or dig into the restaurant’s popular Mom’s eggrolls for $5. Pair either with a $6 glass of sparkling wine, or opt for sticky wings or pork belly skewers alongside a $6 Japanese whisky highball or Old Fashioned. 8145 Long Point Rd., Houston, theblindgoat.com
Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge
The retro-cool interior sets the mood at this hip Montrose bar, and on Mondays, the prices are just as appealing. From 4 p.m. to midnight, guests can sip $8 cocktails, including espresso martinis and frozen palomas. Arrive before 7 p.m. to score a $7 burger-and-fries combo, and you may find yourself moving Friday date night to Monday. 95 Tuam St., Houston, jethroshouston.com
Millie’s Kitchen
This Garden Oaks-Oak Forest area eatery provides a homey background fro noshing on Southern cuisine and sipping on a cool drink. Happy hour is all day Monday in the bar area with $6 draft beer, $9 select wines, and $9 cocktails such as a sea breeze or Millie’s old fashioned. Find select $6 happy hour bites, including house-made chips and queso, bbq pork sliders, and mashed potato balls. 3542 Oak Forest Dr., Houston, millieshouston.com
Kira
A stylish Japanese listening lounge in River Oaks, Kira is as well known for its handrolls and inventive cocktails as it is for its popular shaved ice dessert, kakigori. Happy hour is always a hot ticket—the intimate space has just 15 seats—but on Mondays, the deals last all day and include 25 percent off all drinks. It’s also a great time to explore the menu, with $7 crudo and select $5 temaki. Feeling indulgent? Upgrade to one of the luxe temaki, featuring lobster or steak and eggs. Whatever you order, don’t skip the chef’s choice kakigori. At $12 during happy hour, it’s a sweet ending that’s well worth the splurge. 2800 Kirby Dr., Houston, kirahtx.com
Roost
This cozy neighborhood bistro is tucked into a residential pocket of Montrose, making it a favorite gathering spot for wine and conversation. On Mondays—and Tuesdays—all wines, craft beers on tap, and bottled or canned beers are 30 percent off all evening. Stop by between 4 and 6:30 p.m. for happy hour bites like $6 fried cauliflower, $10 Creole crawfish boulettes, and a flavorful $14 spicy Caesar Wagyu burger. 1972 Fairview St., Houston, iloveroost.com
Lost and Found
Known for its weekend brunch, this Midtown hotspot also offers a great Monday happy hour from 4 to 10 p.m. Guests can choose from a selection of $5 beer, wine, and drinks, plus nosh on $1 wings (six minimum order), $3 deviled eggs, and $6 boudin balls. There are plenty of loaded fries on special, too. From 4 to 7 p.m., there are $8 frozens like Jingle Jangle and Golden Cadillac. 160 W. Gray St., Houston, lostandfoundmidtown.com
Cedar Creek
Cedar Creek keeps Mondays festive with happy hour all day long, extending its weekday drink deals well beyond the usual 3 to 7 p.m. window. Settle into the laid-back Heights patio for $6 house wines and well drinks, plus $1 off select draft beers, cans, and bottles. It’s an easygoing excuse to linger over a round without waiting for the clock to strike happy hour. 1034 W. 20th St., Houston, cedarcreekcafe.com
Crisp
Crisp makes a convincing case for ordering an extra pie on Mondays. The Heights neighborhood favorite offers half off a second pizza with the purchase of one, making it an easy excuse to explore more of the menu. Combine it with the restaurant’s regular happy hour, which runs Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., with $10 Crowd Pleaser cocktails, $2 off wines by the glass, craft drafts and well liquors, plus 25% off a bottle of wine when paired with a cheese board. 2220 Bevis St., Houston, crispheights.com
The Den UH
A college bar may not top everyone’s happy hour list, but for University of Houston students, visiting parents, and alumni cheering on the Coogs, the Den is a nostalgic favorite with wallet-friendly deals. On Mondays, Mexican beers are $4.50 all day and jumbo margaritas are just $7.50. From 5 to 9 p.m., tacos are only $1 each—a bargain that’s sure to please cash-strapped college students and the parents picking up the tab alike. Go Coogs! 4835 Calhoun Rd., Houston, uhdenbar.com
