The Best Happy Hours on Los Angeles' Westside

For a trendy place with a dirty name, this place is actually pretty delicious. I went here the other day for happy hour (drinks are half-off and selected appetizers are $6) and I had the raspberry mojito which was AMAZING. I would seriously go back to this place just for the mojito. I also got some tacos (which sadly are not included on the happy hour menu), and they were surprisingly tasty. And at $3.95 a pop, I guess I couldn’t really complain…too much.

Like Pink Taco, this bar is in the Century City Mall— so it doesn’t have the best ambiance. But, it’s not a bad choice if you’re looking to enjoy a drink and get some fresh air— the whole bar is outside. Happy hour is everyday (from 3pm to 7pm,) and drinks are 2 for 1. And here’s where they won over my heart: complimentary plantain chips!

I’ve always liked this bar— maybe it’s because I have a thing for the random weaponry on the walls… Anyway, this place does a mean happy hour. $3 beer, $4 for well drinks and wine, $5 for margaritas, and $6 for mojitos (they make pomegranate, raspberry, and mango!!!). They also offer a pretty nifty bar menu: sliders, chicken skewers, quesadillas, and fries are all $5 or less.

I know a lot of people have beef with Border Grill (it being an upscale Mexican restaurant and all), but I’ve always kinda liked this place. And what I like even more is the fact that they have happy hour during the week and on the weekends after 10pm. The drinks (margaritas, mojitos, and my fave, sangria) are $4 and the tacos (lamb tacos?? umm, yes please!) and ceviche shots (I cannot tell you how much I LOVE ceviche) are $3.

I love the weekday vibe at Bodega (I’ve also been on a Saturday night, and have to say the weekday vibe is FAR superior). That, and they also have excellent deals going during happy hour. A glass of wine will set you back about $5 or you can splurge and get a carafe for $15— if you’re there on a Tuesday you can get any bottle of wine for $20. They also have a good happy hour menu— the pizzas are grilled cheese are yum.

I went here for the first time a couple months ago, and I thought it was pretty good. My only complaint was that we came for Happy Hour thinking we would save ourselves some cash, but I guess we ended ordering too much food, because it wasn’t all that cheap! But I thought the sangria was pretty good (and reasonably priced at $4 a glass). NOTE: it’s much cheaper to get individual glasses of sangria during Happy Hour then to get a whole pitcher. We ordered the cauliflower soup, the hummus and veggie platter, the brussels sprouts, the lamb sliders, the short ribs, and the tortilla Espanola (a potato frittata served with sour cream). I’d definitely get the lamb sliders again, as well as the frittata. And after seeing all the rave reviews, I think I might have to try the bacon wrapped dates next time I’m in Venice.

A sexy, swanky bar within walking distance of 3rd Street Promenade? Wait, what???? Yes, friends 3rd Street adjacent has finally become somewhat cool. But don’t think you can just waltz in your flip-flops, this place is HIGH class. But that doesn’t stop them from having a happy hour. It’s not the most variety-laden happy hour (you have a choice between red wine, Stella Artois and Pimm’s— all $4-$5. But I guess the bar menu is meant to make up for the lack of choice when it comes to the drinks: risotto balls, baked mac & cheese, grilled cheese (made with English cheddar— my FAVORITE), crispy artichokes, and fried calamari are all $5. The food isn’t awe-inspiring, but it ain’t bad.

This Culver City bar must have a soft spot for the unemployed because their happy hour starts at 3pm! (It also has a soft spot for the working stiffs because it ends at 7pm.) Draft beer and premium drinks are $5, while bottled beer, wine, and well drinks are $3. You can also get half off pizza— this is a Chicago themed bar after all.

Since Fraiche is a fancy schmancy restaurant, they don’t have happy hour, they have “gourmet hour.” But don’t let the name throw you off, this is one affordable AND tasty deal. Shrimp cocktails, sliders, fondue, and arancini (deep-fried risotto balls) are $5, while french fries are $2. Wine and cocktails are $4 (this includes the house-made sangria!) and draft beers are $3. If you grab a seat on the enclosed you’re in a for a fine evening— just make sure you get here between 5:30pm and 6:30pm this is an actual happy HOUR.

I’ve gushed about Backstage on Guidespot before, and I’m more than happy to do it again— this is an AWESOME bar. And to further cement their awesomeness— they have happy hour on SATURDAY!!! (as well as Monday through Friday, of course). If you drop by between 4pm and 7pm you can get $2 domestic brews, $3 well drinks. and half off appetizers (the sliders and mac & cheese are DELICIOUS— get them!!!)

Cabo Cantina is a bit of a frat boy sausage fest, but they do have 2 for 1 drinks during happy hour. And if you go on Tuesdays (Taco Tuesdays), you can get all- -you-can-eat tacos for $5. Hmmm… cheap drinks and endless tacos vs. perpetual frat party. Hmmm….

What’s with Santa Monica and the frat boy bars? But unlike Cabo (which is Mexican) and the Parlor (which is a sports bar apparently,) South is a Southern bar— yes, a Southern bar in Santa Monica. And yes, that is weird. And what that means is that there fried green tomatoes, chicken and waffle sliders (CRAZY) crawfish popcorn, and fried pickles. Pitchers of beer are a whopping $10 and if you go on Recession Thursdays you can get pulled pork and grilled cheese sandwiches for $2.

Like its Wilshire Blvd. bar brethern, Cabo Cantina and South, The Parlor is sort of reminiscent of a dirty frat party without the free drinks. But, the happy hour deals are pretty good, and for that I’m willing to put up with braving the crowds of Sigma Chi Nu Whatevers. Beers are $3, well drinks are $4, and wine is $5 (somehow I have a weird feeling they don’t sell much wine at this place…) But the piece de resistance is the fact that sliders are $1.50.

Years ago, my roommate and I got a mysterious gift card for Palomino in the mail— actually it wasn’t that mysterious, it was addressed to the person who lived in the apartment before us. And not ones to turn down free food, we went out for happy hour. And now that I think about, we totally saw Nick Lachey there eating with the guy who used to married to be Jamie-Lynn Sigler!!! Crazy. Anyway, the drinks are about $4 and you can also get pretty good deals on appetizers on pizza— and food is pretty good. They’ve recently updated the menu and I hear the crab dip is mighty tasty.