If you ask us, happy hour is the best time of the day.
What could be better than sipping cocktails and nibbling on light bites? Usually there’s some sort of discount involved, so that can clinch the deal.
And since South Florida is a travel destination, you can bet that the bars and restaurants here know how to slap happy hour up to a new level.
Here are some of our favorites right now. (Stay tuned for some breaking happy hour news from the Miami Heat during the NBA Playoffs.)
The Anderson
709 NE 79th St., Miami. 305-757-3368. TheAndersonMiami.com.
There’s the usual happy hour prices ($6 spirit drinks, $7 cocktails, $6-$9 munchies and beer/wine specials) Tuesdays through Sundays from 6 to 9 p.m. But now you can order a “Happy Hour Happy Meal,” which comes with a house beer and a Jim Beam Shot with your burger and fries for $15.
Beaker and Gray
2637 N. Miami Ave., Miami. 305-699-2637. BeakerAndGray.com.
This Wynwood hot spot has a regular happy hour between 4 and 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, but there’s a second late-night happy hour from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Drink specials include classic $7 craft cocktails (think Moscow mule, Tom Collins, daiquiri, margarita, old fashioned, Sazerac). There’s also $5 beers and $6 glasses of wine. Munchies include $5 cheese fries and garlic churro, both for $5.
Big City Tavern
609 Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 954-727-0307. BigCityLasOlas.com.
There is an extensive happy hour menu with dishes ranging from $5 to $8.75 at this eatery’s happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. daily. But the thing you’ve got to try is the king size Bavarian style pretzel that is served with a Yuengling Lager beer for $5.
Death or Glory
116 NE Sixth Ave., Delray Beach. 561-808-8814. DeathOrGloryBar.com.
There’s your usual happy hours offerings from 4 to 7 p.m. daily, and the bar snacks like hummus, crab Rangoon, crispy chickpeas and vegan or veggie burgers are delicious. But now there are $7 tiki happy hour drinks at the indoor bar with such creative names as a Dark ‘n’ Stormy (Coruba, ginger beer and lime) and the Corn ‘n’ Oil (Mount Gay Black Barrel Rum, lime, falernum and Angostura Bitters). There’s also an old fashioned and Cuba libre and a hand-shaken daiquiri with Plantation 3 Stars White Rum
Dune
2200 N. Ocean Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 754-900-4059. DuneFL.com.
This indoor-outdoor restaurant and bar inside the Auberge Beach Residences and Spa is popular, in part, because it sits right on the beach. Dune has a happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays on its oceanfront terrace. There’s a special called “Champagne on the Half Shell,” which is three oysters and a glass of bubbly for $10. There’s also a cocktail menu with each drink priced at $8.
El Camino
15 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach. 561-865-5350. ElCaminoDelray.com.
817 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 954-530-1188. ElCaminoFtLauderdale.com.
Both locations of this restaurant that bills itself as serving Mexican soul food have a late night happy hour — which they call “Reverse Happy Hour” — from midnight to 2 a.m. daily. Wine, beer, spirits and margaritas are $5 and under. Tequilas are half price (there are more than 400 on the list) and made-right-there chips and salsa goes for $1. Some tacos are $2.
Etaru Japanese Restaurant and Grill
111 S. Surf Road, Hallandale Beach. 954-271-3222. EtaruRestaurant.us.
500 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 954-477-8068.
Daily happy hours at the Fort Lauderdale location are 4:30-9 p.m. and at the Hallandale Beach location 5:30-9:30 p.m. Snacks are available until 7 p.m. in Hallandale Beach and 7:30 p.m. in Fort Lauderdale and include dumplings, Japanese fried chicken and skewers in the $2-$5 range. Signature cocktails are $6 and sake is $5.
Gatsby’s Joint
2460 E. Commercial Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 754-332-2125. GatsbysJoints.com.
Gatsby’s brings the beats with a rotating schedule of local musicians playing every style from Top 40 and acoustic to blues and jazz. Happy hour is from 5 to 7 p.m. daily with $4 house wine and beer, $8 signature cocktails and $5.95 appetizers.
Louie Bossi’s Ristorante Bar Pizzeria
1032 E. Las Olas Blvd,, Fort Lauderdale. 954-356-6699. LouieBossi.com/ft-lauderdale.
100 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton. 561-336-6699. LouieBossi.com/boca-raton.
Both locations have two dollars off drinks during happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. daily. But more importantly, the pizzas are half-off during happy hour.
One Door East
620 S. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. 954-368-6902. OneDoorEast.com.
The new happy hour menu puts the spotlight on tapas sampling comfort food flavors of Spain, Asia and, of course, the U.S. The fare includes Swank Farms (in Loxahatchee) shishito peppers, green garbanzo and grilled sourdough toast, beef brisket, beef shishito skewers, smoked fish dip and fritters. The small plates cost $5-$7 during happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. and then again from 10 p.m. to close Mondays through Saturdays. On Tuesday nights there is “Burger, Beer and Buns,” a prime beef burger (the bun has pepper jack cheese and black truffle aioli), a beer and a sticky bun for dessert for $25 during happy hour.
Park Tavern
32 SE Second Ave., Delray Beach. 561-265-5093. ParkTavernDelray.com.
Park Tavern has more than 50 varieties of bourbon in its curated collection. More importantly the restaurant has a $8 bourbon flight during the daily 5-7 p.m. happy hour that includes Sagamore Rye, Elijah Craig and Old Forester 1910. Of course there other happy hour deals: $5 spirits and cocktails; $4 beer on tap, $3 bottles and $3 wine by the glass.
Regional Kitchen and Public House
651 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. 561-557-6460. EatRegional.com.
There are two-for-one cocktails during this restaurant’s happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. But what’s really interesting is that the Regional is also featuring art from local artists in what it is calling the Regional Art Space. And yes, you can buy the art.
Rhythm and Vine
401 NE Fifth Terrace, Fort Lauderdale. 954-533-3734. Rhythm-Vine.com.
Happy hours are from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays with $3 off everything and $5 margaritas, negronis and old fashioneds at this hella-popular indoor-outdoor beer garden (no worries, the inside bar and the converted Airstream bar outside are full-service bars). And make sure you stay for themed nights Local Love Wednesdays (Fort Lauderdale residents get 50 percent off their tabs from 7 p.m. to close with valid ID) and Ladies Night Thursdays, when women get free white and rosé wine and champagne from 7 p.m. to midnight (and everyone gets $6 specialty cocktails and $3 Peronis).
Rooftop @ 1WLO
1 W. Las Olas Blvd. Suite 700, Fort Lauderdale. 954-523-1956. Rooftop1wlo.com.
It’s all about the view here, which is spectacular. Happy hour is from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays with $5 Tito’s Handmade Vodka and $10 specialty cocktails. Small plates and snacks are 50 percent off.
The Historic Stranahan House Museum
335 SE Sixth Ave., Fort Lauderdale. 954-524-4736. Facebook.com/stranahanhouse/events.
That’s right, it’s a museum with a happy hour. The Stranahan has a happy hour on the third Tuesday of each month starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for museum members and $20 for non-members. You can also email education@stranahanhouse.org for more information or buy tickets.
Taverna Opa Delray
270 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-303-3602. TavernaOpa.com/delray-beach.
This eatery holds a “Yappy Hour” on the first Wednesday of every month from 3 to 7 p.m. Four-legged guests can enjoy menu items Turkey-N-Mac and Chicken and Quinoa (no kidding). Doggie guardians can enjoy special drinks such as the Pink Pooch and the Salty Dog, both $7 (still, not kidding). Local animal rescues will also bring adoptable dogs to the restaurant and there will be raffled prizes such as grooming sessions and training classes.
Township FTL
219 S. Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale. 954-338-4070. TownshipFTL.com.
All you have to do is ask the bartender to flip your chip. And if your happy hour drink chip lands on “Happy Hour,” then you get another chip (and another drink). If it lands on “Township,” then they take the chip back. Happy hour is 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays with two-for-one prices.
Trophy Room
12300 South Shore Blvd., Wellington. 561-793-2110. TrophyRoomRestaurant.com.
Beaucoup bubbly, that’s what this new Wellington restaurant is offering during happy hour daily from 4 to 7 p.m. You can get champagnes and rosé-by-the-glass for $12, including Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label and Wölffer Summer in a Bottle Rosé. From the happy hour bites menu there are oysters for $2.50 each, ceviche for $9, tuna tartare nachos for $10 and cheeses and charcuterie for $12. On Thursdays Veuve Clicquot is $8 a glass.