You found it. That elusive NYC happy hour that has cocktails priced at less than $15. But, it ends at 5 p.m. This creates a bit of a hiccup in your plans if you can’t walk out of the office or turn those Slack notifications off until 6 p.m., the earliest.
But in a city like NYC, across a range of neighborhoods, many bars and restaurants make it easy to still snag those deals without having to dip out of work early. Whether you want a late night option or even some all day and weekend happy hours, here are our top picks.
Selune
Selune has been in Brooklyn for just over a year, but it’s quickly become a Bed-Stuy staple. The restaurant, housed in a 100-year old building on a corner of Halsey, serves up a robust selection of wines and oysters that you can indulge on at all hours.
However, we’re here for the happy hour, which runs from 5 to 7 p.m. every weekday. Sip on $10 glasses of wine and $1 oysters that are accompanied with house-made sauces like ponzu scallion and lemongrass. Though it’s not part of the happy hour, the charcuterie board is also worth a nibble. 478 Halsey St., Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, selune-bk.com
Maison Pickle
For another happy hour option that includes cocktails and oysters, head to the Upper West Side. Maison Pickle offers the Mini Martini Hour, Monday through Friday, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Pull up to the bar and you’ll get a trio of ‘tinis (all made with Botanist gin) in an adorable cocktail tree. Or, opt for the Cognac flight.
The happy hour also includes wine and beer, $11 and $7, respectively. For some light bites, the oysters are $2 a piece and bar-worthy snacks like the pickled crudités and artichokes are just $10. For even more affordable eats, head a few blocks over to the recently opened Velvet Cowboy, owned by the same Pickle Hospitality team, for a $5 food menu. 2315 Broadway St., Upper West Side, maisonpickle.com
Blackbarn
Blackbarn’s farm-to-table experience offers an elevated vibe for anyone seeking a dining option in NoMad. During the weekday, until 6:30, diners can enjoy affordable drinks and bites in the Tavern, the front dining space. The lineup ranges from $8 drafts to $12 signature cocktails.
You can even get 25% off select appetizers like samosas, empanadas, and wings, which come coated in a homemade hot sauce. This is definitely the destination that’s a happy middle point for the friend who works Downtown and the friend who’s in Midtown, or, if you’re seeking to pregame before a Madison Square Garden event. 19 E. 26th St, NoMad, blackbarnrestaurant.com
Le Sixth
Led by chef Philippe Orrico, Le Sixth gives sexy but cool French vibes with an open kitchen concept. The happy hour lasts from 5 to 7 p.m., but you’ll definitely want to get there sooner rather than later. The $2 oysters are on an “until we run out” basis, but you can still enjoy the beer, wine, and cocktails, which range from $8 to $16.
Cocktails to try include the French 75 Plus One or the Bartlett Pear Sidecar, that’s topped with a housemade spiced pear syrup. Also, if you’re still on the fence about an espresso martini, give their version a try. The addition of the chantilly cream might be the ingredient you didn’t know you were missing. 359 6th Ave., West Village, lesixth.com
Mexi
Mexi, which now has a location in Manhattan along with Williamsburg, is a best bet for anyone who loves mezcal or tequila. It also has the rare, but oh-so-necessary weekend happy hour. Instead of the usual $15, the margaritas (classic, cucumber, strawberry, hibiscus) are $12, as are the refreshing palomas.
You can catch the daily happy hour from 1 to 7 p.m., as well as a light-night version Thursday through Saturday from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. Though the tacos aren’t in the happy hour deal, they’re more than worth trying. The tortillas are made using the nixtamalization process, which involves soaking the corn in an alkaline solution that results in an earthier flavor. 149 N. 9th St., Williamsburg, Brooklyn; and 57 Stone St., Financial District, mexi.nyc
Shaver Hall
Food halls can be pretty hit-or-miss, but Shaver Hall is definitely a win. At 35,000-square-feet, it’s housed in the former Lord & Taylor building. Head to the Layaway bar, smack dab in the middle of the hall, and you can enjoy a happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. and then again from 8 p.m. until close.
The wallet-friendly picks start at just $5. Choose a $5 beer or $10 wine or cocktail, like the Arizona (a low ABV reminiscent of the classic Arizona green tea) or the Pedro Mezcal, a pineapple, mango, mint, and cilantro margarita. And if you get hungry, you’re surrounded by almost a dozen eateries, including the cheese conveyor belt of Pick & Cheese or Tallow, which serves some of the best medium rare steaks and also has a separate happy hour at the bar (5-7 p.m.). 424 Fifth Ave., Midtown, shaverhall.com
Melba’s
Some restaurants fall off after a few years, but Melba’s has been a Harlem go-to for more than 20 years. The neighborhood staple is known for Southern classics and, bonus, there’s also a weekday happy hour to keep you satisfied.
From Monday to Thursday, 3 to 7 p.m., the deal features $5 beers (Harlem Brewing Company, Corona, and more), $8 well cocktails, and dangerously strong $7 nutcrackers. The aforementioned drink should probably be soaked up with some hearty food and thankfully Melba’s happy hour also features $5 appetizers like the Short Rib Slider, Soul Roll, three-piece chicken tenders, and Eggnog Waffles. 300 W. 114th St., Harlem, melbasrestaurant.com
Sugar Monk
Another Harlem establishment that dishes out happy hour until 7 p.m. is Sugar Monk, just a stone’s throw from the legendary Apollo Theater. Since 2019, the restaurant has perfectly and seamlessly combined cocktails with culinary art. That includes having an in-house forager who supplies plants, roots, and flowers to add the necessary finishing touch to the cocktails in the form of syrups and thoughtful infusions.
During happy hour select beers and glasses of wine are $5 and $7, respectively. This happy hour is especially great for rum lovers with several rum-based cocktails, including the lemongrass daiquiri, priced at $14. 2292 Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, sugarmonklounge.com
Limo Bar
Themed bars can be synonymous with cheesy, but Limo Bar bucks that. While the 1980s, nostalgic theme is pretty much everywhere (including the plethora of gold framed images of stretch limos), the space is cozy and maintains an elevated vibe. From Tuesday through Friday, from open until 7 p.m., the happy hour menu boasts $12 cocktails, including the must-try mini pickle martini that’s topped with a cornichon.
The bite sized trio of mini hot dogs and mozzarella sticks of the same menu are great for sharing or keeping to yourself. Did we mention that if you swing by on Sunday, there’s an all-day happy hour? 33 Avenue B, East Village, limobarnyc.com
Metro Cinema
Finding a martini happy hour isn’t too hard, but one that combines sips and cinema is quite fun. Everyday from 4 to 6 p.m., the bar at Metro Cinema has a martini happy hour. Before or after your screening, the menu is a martini lover’s dream, no matter if you’re craving the dirty, classic, Vesper, or espresso version. The Matcha Martini, crafted with white rum, is a standout. Plus, this makes a really great date spot if you want to chat for a few before or after viewing a film. 131 Eighth Ave., Chelsea, metrocinema.com
MayRee
East Village Thai restaurant MayRee doesn’t limit the happy hour to weekdays or early hours. On Monday through Wednesday you can snag deals all day. Thursday and Friday the happy hour operates from noon to 8 p.m. Then on Saturday and Sunday the party goes from noon to 5 p.m.
During these times, an ice cold Singha beer is just $5, wine is $8, and the Lychee Martini is $12. The only happy hour food options are the edamame ($7) spring roll ($9), but there’s also a lunch special that overlaps on Monday through Friday until 4 p.m. when the $17 lunch specials include Pad See Ew, Pad Thai, Spicy Basil Fried Rice, and more. With so many options, you have a solid chance of catching these food and drink deals any day of the week, even if you have a tight work schedule. 58 E. 1st St., East Village, mayreenyc.com
