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Happy hour drinks and snacks at Gina’s on Congress.
Jody Horton

The Best Happy Hours in Austin for Affordable Drinks and Eats

The ultimate guide to the city's best drinking and dining specials

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Happy hour drinks and snacks at Gina’s on Congress.
| Jody Horton

Austin’s best happy hours make it easier to drink and eat more for less with great deals for those looking to relax after work, hang out with friends before dinner, or just take advantage of low costs for a meal.

There are the classics like Uchi’s sake social, the great deals on Jeffrey’s Monday evening menu, discounted Mexican seafood towers at Este, oyster platters from Parkside, Sunday martini deals at Holiday, and much more.

Scope out the city’s best new bars, essential bars, places with excellent wine lists, dive bars, and beer destinations.

With updates by Nadia Chaudhury.

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Bufalina Due

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The Brentwood Neapolitan pizzeria and wine restaurant and its East Austin counterpart offer half-off pizzas from 4 to 5:30 p.m. daily, along with half-off wine bottles that are under $100, and discounted pours of house wines and beer drafts. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The Peached Tortilla

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The Southern-Asian fusion restaurant’s social hour in Allandale includes $5 beers, $6 wines, $7 cocktails, $4.50 tacos (kalua pork or Chinese barbecue pork), and $6 snacks such as blistered shishito peppers and kimchi arancini balls. There’s also the $9 happy hour burger. It’s all available from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday at the indoor and outdoor bar areas. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Drink.Well

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The North Loop gastrobar’s happy hour menu includes $9 cocktails, $3 off wine glasses, 25 percent off wine bottles, $5 draft beers, dollar-off beer cans, and $2 off snacks and appetizers. It runs from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 3 to 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

A bar.
Drink.Well
Drink.Well

Uncle Nicky's

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Sneak in an early happy hour at this Italian bistro in Hyde Park and its South Lamar location from 2 to 5 p.m. daily. Ordering a cocktail comes with free snacks like marinated mozzarella and little mortadella/mayonnaise sandwiches. Then there are $10 spritzes and $5 house wines. Find a similar happy hour down on its South Lamar location. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Veracruz Fonda and Bar

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Fans of Veracruz All Natural can partake in happy hour over at its Mueller Mexican restaurant. There are $2 off cocktails, wine glasses, and Mexican beers as well as selected bites like shrimp ceviche, and totopos with guacamole or salsa. It runs from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The Cherrywood Mexican seafood restaurant’s happy hour is full of great deals on larger format dishes. There’s $25 off the seafood tower, $15 off seafood platters, and then 50 cents off oysters. Then there are other discounted bites like fish tacos, tuna empanadas, and ceviche. Then there are 25 percent off wine bottles and $10 margaritas. It runs from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and then from noon to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Salty Sow

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The Cherrywood New American restaurant’s happy hour includes $6 tacos and $6-to-$10 appetizers, including triple-fried duck-fat fries with an egg. For drinks, there are dollar-off draft beers, $2 off cocktails, and house wine glass and bottle specials. It runs from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. every day. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Jeffrey's

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Want to try the fine-dining destination in Clarksville, but not up for dropping the serious serious bucks required? The happy hour menu features 25 percent off bar food and glasses of wine, available only on Monday evenings from 4:30 to 11 p.m within its lounge. There are indoor dine-in services.

Sour Duck Market

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The Blackland casual cafe’s happy hour is a good one, with $6 burgers and $9 double-patty burgers, $3 soft-serve sundaes, and discounted select cocktails, beer pints, and Lone Star cans. It’s available from 3 to 6 p.m. every day. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Better Half Coffee & Cocktails

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The West Austin cafe’s happy hour features excellent $6 cheeseburgers (beef, chicken, or vegetarian), $4 drafts of St. Elmo Brewing Co.’s Carl kolsches, $3.50 Miller High Lifes, and $6 glasses of sangria from 3 to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Parkside

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Thankfully, the downtown New American restaurant is back open with one of the finest happy hours around. There are half-off oyster platters, crab fritters, bacon cheeseburgers, and more; plus half-off cocktails and beers. Find similar deals at the other Parkside Projects restaurants, too: Backspace and Olive & June. It’s available from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are indoor dine-in services.

Péché

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The downtown absinthe bar and French restaurant’s happy hour includes select half-off dishes and $6 cocktails. It runs from 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, as well as all evening on Sunday from 5 to 10:30 p.m. and Monday from 4 to 10:30 p.m. There are indoor dine-in services.

A restaurant.
Péché.
Péché

Gina’s on Congress

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The downtown French-Italian-leaning restaurant offers up a nice happy hour with half-off snacks like smoked salmon dip with sea salt potato chip and dauphine potatoes, as well as half-off all cocktails on the menu. It runs from 3 to 6 p.m. daily. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Uptown Sports Club

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Another great late afternoon-into-early evening happy hour can be found at this East Austin New Orleans-ish bar and restaurant. There are specials on East Coast oysters and grilled oysters by the half-dozen, as well as discounted foods like fried green tomatoes and beef patty melts, $5 Meanwhile Brewing light lager, $9 glasses of wines, $8 choose-your-own-adventure martinis, and $6 spritzes. It’s available Monday through Friday, 2 to 5 p.m. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Licha's Cantina

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Make a meal out of the East Austin Mexican restaurant’s cocktails and small plates during its $8 happy hour. It’s available Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The Cavalier

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The East Austin bar’s daily happy hour comes with $2 off snacks like deviled eggs and Brussels sprouts, dollar-off specific draft beers and wines, $7 frozen cocktails, and $3 well drinks. It runs from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and then from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

El Alma

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The Mexican restaurant’s South Austin locations — this in Barton Springs and the other further down in Westgate — offer an ample drinks happy hour. There are discounted margaritas, $7 sangrias, and dollar-off Mexican beers. It’s available from 3 to 6 p.m. every day. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Uchi & Uchiko

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If a languorous gastronomical stroll through one of Austin’s iconic high-end sushi restaurants or its sister restaurant isn’t in the cards, the sake social hour at Uchi (in the Zilker neighborhood) and Uchiko (in the Rosedale neighborhood) is a fantastic opportunity to sample the best of the menu at a fraction of the regular cost. From 4 to 6:00 p.m. daily, there are stellar rolls at lower prices, plus classic items and sake. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Holiday

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Okay, so this Govalle bar’s happy hour only happens on Sundays, but it’s a damn good deal. All martinis — from the frozen Mexican martini to the espresso martini to the dirty martini — are half-off. It’s available on, yes, Sundays from 5 to 11 p.m.

Lucky Robot

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The Travis Heights Japanese restaurant’s happy hour includes discounted bottles of sakes and wines and dishes like maki, nigiri, and crudo, along with $9 cocktails. It runs from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Shore Raw Bar & Grill

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The West Oak Hill seafood restaurant is another great destination for happy hour oysters, where the raw bivalves are half-off. Plus there are other discounted bites like grilled oysters, shrimp cocktails, and mussels and fries; discounted cocktails; $8 house wines and sangrias; and $2 off beers. It runs from Monday through Friday, 3 to 6 p.m. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Underdog

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The Bouldin Creek Korean American wine restaurant offers a nifty happy hour where discounted dishes like a la carte oysters, steak frites, and Korean fried chicken wings are paired with specific discounted wines and beers. It runs from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and all night on Tuesday from 5 to 9 p.m. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Loro Austin

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Curious about happy hour bites from Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole, especially when they take place at an Asian smokehouse? The South Lamar restaurant’s happy hour menu comes with discounted foods like the carmelized onion brisket cheeseburger, smoked chicken wings, and pulled pork tostadas; alongside $5 frozen cocktails, yuzu spritzes, and tapped wine and sakes. It’s available from 2 to 5 p.m. during the weekdays. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Chapulin Cantina

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Similar to sibling restaurant Licha’s Cantina, this Bouldin Creek Oaxacan restaurant’s happy hour features $8 cocktails and appetizers like quesadillas and tacos. It runs from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Jack Allen's Kitchen [Oak Hill]

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All locations of the New Texan comfort food restaurant offer a solid happy hour full of half-off appetizers and dollar-off of all drinks. There’s this location in Oak Hill, as well as restaurants in Cedar Park, Round Rock, North Shoal Creek, and Davenport Ranch West. Happy hour is from 3 to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The Meteor

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The Bouldin Creek Cafe’s happy hour includes $5 giant pizza slices, $2 off beers and wine glasses, and $6 of house wine glasses. It runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Oasthouse

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Both locations of the New American restaurant — this in far South Austin and the other up north — offers happy hour dishes and drinks. The former includes carnitas poutine and fried cheese curds; the latter with vanilla chai Old Fashioneds, margaritas, and spritzes; alongside half-off bottles of wines, tapped wine discounts, and dollar-off beers. It’s only available in the bar and patio areas. Happy hour is from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 9 p.m.

Bufalina Due

The Brentwood Neapolitan pizzeria and wine restaurant and its East Austin counterpart offer half-off pizzas from 4 to 5:30 p.m. daily, along with half-off wine bottles that are under $100, and discounted pours of house wines and beer drafts. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The Peached Tortilla

The Southern-Asian fusion restaurant’s social hour in Allandale includes $5 beers, $6 wines, $7 cocktails, $4.50 tacos (kalua pork or Chinese barbecue pork), and $6 snacks such as blistered shishito peppers and kimchi arancini balls. There’s also the $9 happy hour burger. It’s all available from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday at the indoor and outdoor bar areas. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Drink.Well

The North Loop gastrobar’s happy hour menu includes $9 cocktails, $3 off wine glasses, 25 percent off wine bottles, $5 draft beers, dollar-off beer cans, and $2 off snacks and appetizers. It runs from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 3 to 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

A bar.
Drink.Well
Drink.Well

Uncle Nicky's

Sneak in an early happy hour at this Italian bistro in Hyde Park and its South Lamar location from 2 to 5 p.m. daily. Ordering a cocktail comes with free snacks like marinated mozzarella and little mortadella/mayonnaise sandwiches. Then there are $10 spritzes and $5 house wines. Find a similar happy hour down on its South Lamar location. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Veracruz Fonda and Bar

Fans of Veracruz All Natural can partake in happy hour over at its Mueller Mexican restaurant. There are $2 off cocktails, wine glasses, and Mexican beers as well as selected bites like shrimp ceviche, and totopos with guacamole or salsa. It runs from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Este

The Cherrywood Mexican seafood restaurant’s happy hour is full of great deals on larger format dishes. There’s $25 off the seafood tower, $15 off seafood platters, and then 50 cents off oysters. Then there are other discounted bites like fish tacos, tuna empanadas, and ceviche. Then there are 25 percent off wine bottles and $10 margaritas. It runs from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and then from noon to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Salty Sow

The Cherrywood New American restaurant’s happy hour includes $6 tacos and $6-to-$10 appetizers, including triple-fried duck-fat fries with an egg. For drinks, there are dollar-off draft beers, $2 off cocktails, and house wine glass and bottle specials. It runs from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. every day. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Jeffrey's

Want to try the fine-dining destination in Clarksville, but not up for dropping the serious serious bucks required? The happy hour menu features 25 percent off bar food and glasses of wine, available only on Monday evenings from 4:30 to 11 p.m within its lounge. There are indoor dine-in services.

Sour Duck Market

The Blackland casual cafe’s happy hour is a good one, with $6 burgers and $9 double-patty burgers, $3 soft-serve sundaes, and discounted select cocktails, beer pints, and Lone Star cans. It’s available from 3 to 6 p.m. every day. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Better Half Coffee & Cocktails

The West Austin cafe’s happy hour features excellent $6 cheeseburgers (beef, chicken, or vegetarian), $4 drafts of St. Elmo Brewing Co.’s Carl kolsches, $3.50 Miller High Lifes, and $6 glasses of sangria from 3 to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Parkside

Thankfully, the downtown New American restaurant is back open with one of the finest happy hours around. There are half-off oyster platters, crab fritters, bacon cheeseburgers, and more; plus half-off cocktails and beers. Find similar deals at the other Parkside Projects restaurants, too: Backspace and Olive & June. It’s available from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are indoor dine-in services.

Péché

The downtown absinthe bar and French restaurant’s happy hour includes select half-off dishes and $6 cocktails. It runs from 4 to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, as well as all evening on Sunday from 5 to 10:30 p.m. and Monday from 4 to 10:30 p.m. There are indoor dine-in services.

A restaurant.
Péché.
Péché

Gina’s on Congress

The downtown French-Italian-leaning restaurant offers up a nice happy hour with half-off snacks like smoked salmon dip with sea salt potato chip and dauphine potatoes, as well as half-off all cocktails on the menu. It runs from 3 to 6 p.m. daily. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Uptown Sports Club

Another great late afternoon-into-early evening happy hour can be found at this East Austin New Orleans-ish bar and restaurant. There are specials on East Coast oysters and grilled oysters by the half-dozen, as well as discounted foods like fried green tomatoes and beef patty melts, $5 Meanwhile Brewing light lager, $9 glasses of wines, $8 choose-your-own-adventure martinis, and $6 spritzes. It’s available Monday through Friday, 2 to 5 p.m. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Licha's Cantina

Make a meal out of the East Austin Mexican restaurant’s cocktails and small plates during its $8 happy hour. It’s available Tuesday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

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The Cavalier

The East Austin bar’s daily happy hour comes with $2 off snacks like deviled eggs and Brussels sprouts, dollar-off specific draft beers and wines, $7 frozen cocktails, and $3 well drinks. It runs from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and then from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

El Alma

The Mexican restaurant’s South Austin locations — this in Barton Springs and the other further down in Westgate — offer an ample drinks happy hour. There are discounted margaritas, $7 sangrias, and dollar-off Mexican beers. It’s available from 3 to 6 p.m. every day. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Uchi & Uchiko

If a languorous gastronomical stroll through one of Austin’s iconic high-end sushi restaurants or its sister restaurant isn’t in the cards, the sake social hour at Uchi (in the Zilker neighborhood) and Uchiko (in the Rosedale neighborhood) is a fantastic opportunity to sample the best of the menu at a fraction of the regular cost. From 4 to 6:00 p.m. daily, there are stellar rolls at lower prices, plus classic items and sake. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Holiday

Okay, so this Govalle bar’s happy hour only happens on Sundays, but it’s a damn good deal. All martinis — from the frozen Mexican martini to the espresso martini to the dirty martini — are half-off. It’s available on, yes, Sundays from 5 to 11 p.m.

Lucky Robot

The Travis Heights Japanese restaurant’s happy hour includes discounted bottles of sakes and wines and dishes like maki, nigiri, and crudo, along with $9 cocktails. It runs from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Shore Raw Bar & Grill

The West Oak Hill seafood restaurant is another great destination for happy hour oysters, where the raw bivalves are half-off. Plus there are other discounted bites like grilled oysters, shrimp cocktails, and mussels and fries; discounted cocktails; $8 house wines and sangrias; and $2 off beers. It runs from Monday through Friday, 3 to 6 p.m. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Underdog

The Bouldin Creek Korean American wine restaurant offers a nifty happy hour where discounted dishes like a la carte oysters, steak frites, and Korean fried chicken wings are paired with specific discounted wines and beers. It runs from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and all night on Tuesday from 5 to 9 p.m. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Loro Austin

Curious about happy hour bites from Aaron Franklin and Tyson Cole, especially when they take place at an Asian smokehouse? The South Lamar restaurant’s happy hour menu comes with discounted foods like the carmelized onion brisket cheeseburger, smoked chicken wings, and pulled pork tostadas; alongside $5 frozen cocktails, yuzu spritzes, and tapped wine and sakes. It’s available from 2 to 5 p.m. during the weekdays. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Chapulin Cantina

Similar to sibling restaurant Licha’s Cantina, this Bouldin Creek Oaxacan restaurant’s happy hour features $8 cocktails and appetizers like quesadillas and tacos. It runs from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Jack Allen's Kitchen [Oak Hill]

All locations of the New Texan comfort food restaurant offer a solid happy hour full of half-off appetizers and dollar-off of all drinks. There’s this location in Oak Hill, as well as restaurants in Cedar Park, Round Rock, North Shoal Creek, and Davenport Ranch West. Happy hour is from 3 to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The Meteor

The Bouldin Creek Cafe’s happy hour includes $5 giant pizza slices, $2 off beers and wine glasses, and $6 of house wine glasses. It runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

Oasthouse

Both locations of the New American restaurant — this in far South Austin and the other up north — offers happy hour dishes and drinks. The former includes carnitas poutine and fried cheese curds; the latter with vanilla chai Old Fashioneds, margaritas, and spritzes; alongside half-off bottles of wines, tapped wine discounts, and dollar-off beers. It’s only available in the bar and patio areas. Happy hour is from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 9 p.m.

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