clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Cocktails and pintxos at Barvale
Patricia Chang

16 of SF’s Hottest New Happy Hours

Where to get your affordably-priced drink and snack on

View as Map
Cocktails and pintxos at Barvale
| Patricia Chang

Happy hour is that precious reprieve from San Francisco's unrelenting drainage of your bank account. It's the time of day when anything seems possible — even a beer that won't require taking out a mortgage or choosing between snacks OR drinks. And with more and more hot spots opening around town, that means more and more happy hours to choose from.

Here are some of San Francisco’s recent additions to the happy hour scene, mapped West to East for your drinking pleasure. And while these are currently the hottest new happy hours around town, there are plenty of others that are essential to the discounted drinking scene, and you can find those here. Happy drinking.

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Comstock Saloon

Copy Link

This North Beach watering hole has operated as a bar since 1907, and under the Absinthe Group's ownership, it's got some top notch old-school and contemporary cocktails. $8 happy hour drinks are served daily from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and include a Scofflaw (rye, dry vermouth, lemon grenadine) or a shot and a small beer combo (Four Roses Bourbon and Anchor Steam or Bols genever and Trumer Pilsner). New chef de cuisine Jason Raffin has bar snacks to match including white cheddar or caviar chexx, fries, and crispy Brussels sprouts with chicharrones.

Lindsey Rice

Hotel San Francisco

Copy Link

One of the city’s sassiest additions of late, Hotel San Francisco has a bumping happy hour to go along with its playful decor. Beers are $3 off, a selection of cocktails are $10 and snacks like tempura-fried pickled veggies are on the menu. It goes down Monday through Friday from 3 p.m.-6 p.m.

Bottled negroni
Patricia Chang

The Ramen Bar

Copy Link

Michael Mina and Ken Tominaga’s casual downtown ramen restaurant is not just for lunchtime noodle slurping: Between the generous hours of 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, it’s also the spot for $4 post-work sake bombs, $1 High Life, and $5 bites like Pabu country ribs (Berkshire pork, red chili, kewpie and sesame) and chicken karaage.

The Bear & Monarch

Copy Link

Prime for Financial District after work drinking, the new restaurant inside the Loews Regency has a menu of upscale snacks like grilled chicken wings and truffle French fries to pair with discounted wine, beer, and craft cocktails. Weekdays happy hour goes from 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. and 2 p.m.- 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Super Duper Burgers

Copy Link

Yes, it’s a fast casual burger restaurant with multiple locations throughout the city. But also yes, it has beer, wine, and spiked shakes, the order of which comes with a free order of fries. At the Marina, Castro, and Metreon locations, get a free kid-sized soft serve cone with a burger or sandwich. Hours vary by location, check them all out here. (At the Kearny location, happy hour goes all day on Saturday.)

Fifth Arrow

Copy Link

SF’s newest vintage bowling alley, bar, and restaurant is also offering happy hour. It’s daily from 4 p.m.- 6 p.m., featuring $10 pizzas, half off wine, and 10 ounce beers for $5. It’s adjacent to August Hall, its music venue sibling, which makes it a perfect destination to hit up before a show.

Ayala Restaurant

Copy Link

Union Square’s snazzy new seafood destination Ayala is the new place to be from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. for “Martini Hour.” Cocktails from bar director Julian Cox (Tartine Manufactory) include a signature martini for $9 (with frozen CapRock Gin, Dolin Dry Vermouth, and an olive or twist) and a Castelvetrano ‘Washed’ Martini for $9 (with Fords Gin, Dolin Dry Vermouth, Manzanilla Sherry, and Sel Gris). Happy Hour snacks are there, too, like yuzu kosho baked oysters ($3 each) rosemary fried almonds ($3) and fried Brussels with harissa ($5).

The Saratoga

Copy Link

A sophisticated happy hour is now on at this Tenderloin hotspot, and it’s a good one. Barman Brandon Clements thoughtfully crafted cocktails are $5, as are the snacks. ‘Toga tots, a Tetris-like structure of fried potatoes topped with Fiscalini cheddar and chorizo, is among the snacks on offer, while Remember the Maine combines rye, sweet vermouth, cherry heering, and absinthe. Happy hour is from 5 p.m.-6 p.m. on weekdays.

Dirty Habit

Copy Link

Weekday happy hour at Dirty Habit — “Dirty Hour” — runs from 4 p.m.-5 p.m., with $5 beers, $9 glasses of wine, and $10 “pick your poison” cocktails on the garden patio. Bar snacks are also on hand for consumption.

Trail to the West cocktail
Dirty Habit

ROOH SF

Copy Link

This contemporary Indian restaurant, imported straight from India itself, offers happy hour at its bright cobalt blue bar on weekdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Small plates such as chili pakoda with ricotta and mint chutney, lentil kulcha with truffle butter, and Goan chorizo scotch eggs with house ketchup start at $5 each. As for drinks, there are $8 wines by the glass and $5 beers.

Petit Marlowe

Copy Link

Swing through the stylish doors of this SoMa wine bar for half-price oysters and $25 bottles of rose, Monday through Saturday from 4 p.m.- 6 p.m.

Aubrie Pick

Tank18 Restaurant & Urban Winery

Copy Link

This new happy hour is a Friday-only event, but it’s a good one. From 5 p.m.-7 p.m., drink Tank’s own beer ($3) and wine ($5), cocktails ($7), and bar bites like $1 oysters and arancini with brisket ($5)

Tank 18 [Official]

Starbelly

Copy Link

End your workday and/or start your evening in the Castro at Starbelly, where they’ve just added cocktails to the mix with the advent of a full liquor license. From 3:30 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday (and Sundays), snacks like salumi, cheese, and a liver plate are $6, an order of honey basil fried chicken wings is $8, and select drinks like Starbelly’s Manhattan, Patio Punch, or a shot and a 1⁄2 beer, are $7. For a full meal, get a burger, fries, and happy hour cocktail for $20.

Starbelly

Foxsister

Copy Link

The best kind of happy hour goes every day of the week. Foxsister provides this service from 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. Snack on wings, buns, dumplings and more discounted snacks with $3 beers, $2 soju, and boozy slushies for $6. And if you’re there on Monday, throw back $1 wings and soju shots from 5 p.m.- 10 p.m.

barvale

Copy Link

Barvale has expanded its offerings with $1 pintxos (little bites on toothpicks like ham croquettes, albondigas, and Spanish tortilla) passed in the bar, and select $6 beers, wines, and select cocktails (including sangria and gin tonics). It goes down Monday-Friday from 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

Last Rites

Copy Link

The dark, foreboding tiki bar has a new “Golden Hour” happy hour. It happens every day from 5 p.m-6 p.m. with $9 tiki classics: mojitos, daiquiris, el presidentes, and hotel nacionals.

Albert Law

Loading comments...

Comstock Saloon

This North Beach watering hole has operated as a bar since 1907, and under the Absinthe Group's ownership, it's got some top notch old-school and contemporary cocktails. $8 happy hour drinks are served daily from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and include a Scofflaw (rye, dry vermouth, lemon grenadine) or a shot and a small beer combo (Four Roses Bourbon and Anchor Steam or Bols genever and Trumer Pilsner). New chef de cuisine Jason Raffin has bar snacks to match including white cheddar or caviar chexx, fries, and crispy Brussels sprouts with chicharrones.

Lindsey Rice

Hotel San Francisco

One of the city’s sassiest additions of late, Hotel San Francisco has a bumping happy hour to go along with its playful decor. Beers are $3 off, a selection of cocktails are $10 and snacks like tempura-fried pickled veggies are on the menu. It goes down Monday through Friday from 3 p.m.-6 p.m.

Bottled negroni
Patricia Chang

The Ramen Bar

Michael Mina and Ken Tominaga’s casual downtown ramen restaurant is not just for lunchtime noodle slurping: Between the generous hours of 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, it’s also the spot for $4 post-work sake bombs, $1 High Life, and $5 bites like Pabu country ribs (Berkshire pork, red chili, kewpie and sesame) and chicken karaage.

The Bear & Monarch

Prime for Financial District after work drinking, the new restaurant inside the Loews Regency has a menu of upscale snacks like grilled chicken wings and truffle French fries to pair with discounted wine, beer, and craft cocktails. Weekdays happy hour goes from 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. and 2 p.m.- 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Super Duper Burgers

Yes, it’s a fast casual burger restaurant with multiple locations throughout the city. But also yes, it has beer, wine, and spiked shakes, the order of which comes with a free order of fries. At the Marina, Castro, and Metreon locations, get a free kid-sized soft serve cone with a burger or sandwich. Hours vary by location, check them all out here. (At the Kearny location, happy hour goes all day on Saturday.)

Fifth Arrow

SF’s newest vintage bowling alley, bar, and restaurant is also offering happy hour. It’s daily from 4 p.m.- 6 p.m., featuring $10 pizzas, half off wine, and 10 ounce beers for $5. It’s adjacent to August Hall, its music venue sibling, which makes it a perfect destination to hit up before a show.

Ayala Restaurant

Union Square’s snazzy new seafood destination Ayala is the new place to be from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. for “Martini Hour.” Cocktails from bar director Julian Cox (Tartine Manufactory) include a signature martini for $9 (with frozen CapRock Gin, Dolin Dry Vermouth, and an olive or twist) and a Castelvetrano ‘Washed’ Martini for $9 (with Fords Gin, Dolin Dry Vermouth, Manzanilla Sherry, and Sel Gris). Happy Hour snacks are there, too, like yuzu kosho baked oysters ($3 each) rosemary fried almonds ($3) and fried Brussels with harissa ($5).

The Saratoga

A sophisticated happy hour is now on at this Tenderloin hotspot, and it’s a good one. Barman Brandon Clements thoughtfully crafted cocktails are $5, as are the snacks. ‘Toga tots, a Tetris-like structure of fried potatoes topped with Fiscalini cheddar and chorizo, is among the snacks on offer, while Remember the Maine combines rye, sweet vermouth, cherry heering, and absinthe. Happy hour is from 5 p.m.-6 p.m. on weekdays.

Dirty Habit

Weekday happy hour at Dirty Habit — “Dirty Hour” — runs from 4 p.m.-5 p.m., with $5 beers, $9 glasses of wine, and $10 “pick your poison” cocktails on the garden patio. Bar snacks are also on hand for consumption.

Trail to the West cocktail
Dirty Habit

ROOH SF

This contemporary Indian restaurant, imported straight from India itself, offers happy hour at its bright cobalt blue bar on weekdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Small plates such as chili pakoda with ricotta and mint chutney, lentil kulcha with truffle butter, and Goan chorizo scotch eggs with house ketchup start at $5 each. As for drinks, there are $8 wines by the glass and $5 beers.

Petit Marlowe

Swing through the stylish doors of this SoMa wine bar for half-price oysters and $25 bottles of rose, Monday through Saturday from 4 p.m.- 6 p.m.

Aubrie Pick

Tank18 Restaurant & Urban Winery

This new happy hour is a Friday-only event, but it’s a good one. From 5 p.m.-7 p.m., drink Tank’s own beer ($3) and wine ($5), cocktails ($7), and bar bites like $1 oysters and arancini with brisket ($5)

Tank 18 [Official]

Starbelly

End your workday and/or start your evening in the Castro at Starbelly, where they’ve just added cocktails to the mix with the advent of a full liquor license. From 3:30 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday (and Sundays), snacks like salumi, cheese, and a liver plate are $6, an order of honey basil fried chicken wings is $8, and select drinks like Starbelly’s Manhattan, Patio Punch, or a shot and a 1⁄2 beer, are $7. For a full meal, get a burger, fries, and happy hour cocktail for $20.

Starbelly

Foxsister

The best kind of happy hour goes every day of the week. Foxsister provides this service from 5 p.m.- 7 p.m. Snack on wings, buns, dumplings and more discounted snacks with $3 beers, $2 soju, and boozy slushies for $6. And if you’re there on Monday, throw back $1 wings and soju shots from 5 p.m.- 10 p.m.

barvale

Barvale has expanded its offerings with $1 pintxos (little bites on toothpicks like ham croquettes, albondigas, and Spanish tortilla) passed in the bar, and select $6 beers, wines, and select cocktails (including sangria and gin tonics). It goes down Monday-Friday from 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

Related Maps

Last Rites

The dark, foreboding tiki bar has a new “Golden Hour” happy hour. It happens every day from 5 p.m-6 p.m. with $9 tiki classics: mojitos, daiquiris, el presidentes, and hotel nacionals.

Albert Law

Related Maps