New York: 5 bars with great happy hours
Happy hours at any of these bars offer drink specials every night of the week. Photo: Vancity Allie
New Yorkers love their “happy hours,” that delightful window of time before dinner when many bars and restaurants drop their prices on wine, beer and cocktails in an attempt to lure in the post-work crowds. Happy hours can be found throughout New York on every work night, but we thought we’d highlight five of our favorite downtown and Brooklyn bars with happy hours.
A stop by one of these bars should guarantee some great booze for your Cheapo buck:
Spain Restaurant
113 W. 13th Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan
Web site
Spain Restaurant, a popular Beat generation haunt, dishes up Spanish-themed food and drink for a new crop of thirsty and fabulously interesting patrons just south of 14th street in the Village. Sit at the bar or a table in the front, order a $4 drink, and the (sometimes gruff) servers will bring free plates of tapas (meatballs, Spanish tortillas, fried potatoes). Cheapo groups should consider splurging on a pitcher of their famous sangria for $17.
El Cantinero Mexican Cantina
86 University Place, Greenwich Village, Manhattan
Web site
Prepare for a Cheapo fiesta: Mexican food is all you can eat for $11.95 on Mondays and Thursdays. After you’ve eaten your fill, head to the second floor where drinks are just $4 during the all-night happy hours. If you enjoy yourself during the week, head back to El Cantinero on the weekend when a DJ spins salsa (for dancing, not for eating!) and other Latin genres on the second floor. Friday and Saturday a happy hour starts at 5 p.m.
Verlaine
110 Rivington Street, Lower East Side, Manhattan
Web site
Southeast Asian tapas bar Verlaine is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year by falling back to their 2001 happy hour prices on Sundays and Mondays. Cocktails, including their famous lychee martini, are just $4. Can’t make it down to the Lower East Side on those days? The lychee martinis will set you back an extra dollar until 10 p.m during the rest of the week. We’ll definitely drink to that.
Common Ground
206 Avenue A, East Village, Manhattan
Web site
Well drinks (not made with top-shelf liquor) and wine are just $4 between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. every day at this East Village bar, but the $2 pints of beer are the real cheapo deal. Soak up your drinks with buy-two-get-one-free appetizers and paninis and choose from a fun selection of board games. During the weekend all 12 of their draft beers go for just $3 starting at noon. Risk a double hangover with a $4 hair-of-the-dog Cajun Bloody Mary. Go on, you can afford it.
Cherry Tree Bar
65 4th Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn
Even if you don’t live in Park Slope, this semi-divey bar is worth the trek. Go for the backyard garden (during the warmer months, at least) and stay for the deals: from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. $5 gets you the Cherry Tree combo, a beer and shot of whiskey. Chase your combo with $3 shots and PBRs, and $4 well drinks.
Have a happy hour to add?
Do you have another favorite downtown happy hour to add to our list? Tell us about it in the comments section.
Also in our guide: If you’re planning a trip to the Big Apple, be sure to check out our reviews of the best cheap hotels in New York City. Our editors have visited, inspected and reviewed hotels throughout Manhattan, from Battery Park to Harlem, looking for the best hotel values.
About the author
I have a list of popular bars in colorado.Have fun!!