Audio By Carbonatix
Things are a bit stressful out there. Still. And yet, here we are adulting every day. The prize for crossing that finish line of each workday is a nice cocktail and perhaps a bite to eat. For as long as humankind has clocked in, we’ve had happy hour (maybe, anyway).
Luckily, in Dallas, there are some spectacular options. Below are opportunities to live grand on modest budgets, two hours at a time. Take, for instance, the happy hour at the bougie Clifton Club. Yes, the valet stand is intimidating, but if we can pull up our oil-eating, hail-damaged beater with no backup cam, you can too and save some money.
Here are the best happy hours to glam it up on $20 or less, all with great vibes.
Clifton Club
3333 N. Fitzhugh Ave.
HH: Tuesday – Sunday, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Clifton Club is an intimate, swanky spot that is part East Dallas and part high-end Park Cities. We’re not sure which half is which, but happy hour is sport here. The Happy Meal is everything you need to know. It’s served in a bright red box and comes with a mini smashburger, fries, a cocktail and one Lucky Strike cigarette, all for just $20. There are also five $10 cocktails and indulgent bar food (mozzarella sticks, fries, spinach artichoke dips) for $10 or less.
Easy Slider
3905 East Side Ave., East-ish Dallas (or maybe Deep Ellum)
HH: Wednesday – Sunday, 4 to 7 p.m.
Easy Slider (the food truck) has a 1-year-old bar on a quiet street outside of Deep Ellum. As cool as the vibe is, the food steals the show. Get a Big Smash (full-size cheeseburger) for $8 and wash it down with a $10 martini or $8 cocktails. If you want to throw a filter on the burger, ask them to dress it up with Big Mac-like sauce, grilled jalapeños and onions.
Thomas Avenue Beverage Co.
2901 Thomas Ave., State and Thomas
HH: Weekdays 4 to 7 p.m. and All Day Monday
This spot from longtime Dallas barman Lucky Campbell has one of the best happy hours in the city. Five days a week from 4 to 7 p.m., grab a Moscow mule, margarita, gimlet or ranch water for $5. Get four other cocktails, including a barrel-aged old-fashioned, for just $6. All appetizers are half-price, putting them all well under $10. And flatbreads are $10. Hide inside the dark bar or hit the patio for sunshine and (usually) a good number of good puppy dogs.
Las Palmas
2708 Routh St., Uptown
HH: Monday – Friday 2 to 6 p.m.
Happy hour at Las Palmas starts at lunch. From 2 to 6 p.m., get $8.50 cocktails. Hell yeah, it has a ranch water, a margarita, martinis and a bantanga, which should be a national drink of some country (Coke and tequila with lime and a pinch of salt). There’s a small à la carte menu to help you soak it up. We’ll just leave it at the $9.25 nacho fries, which is only described with “Get yo own…” There’s really nothing a marg and nacho fries can’t fix.
The Libertine
2101 Greenville Ave., Lower Greenville
HH: Tuesday – Friday, 4 to 7 p.m.
This Dallas pub is a Lower Greenville staple. Happy hour stretches to 7 p.m., which we appreciate. The $6 loaded skillet queso with carnitas is pretty nice, too. There are a few other plates; the hog wings are the most expensive at $7. Get half-priced bottles of wine, $5 frozen margaritas and five other drinks for $6, including a seasonal sangria, carajillo and old-fashioned.
Old Monk
2847 N. Henderson Ave. and 810 W. Davis St.
HH: Weekdays 3 to 7 p.m.
We love The Old Monk, and not only because house cocktails are only $7 during happy hour. Well, actually, yeah, that’s why we love it. Both locations have neighborhood vibes and lively patios. The fish and chips are stellar as well.
Apothecary
1922 Greenville Ave., Lower Greenville
HH: Daily, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
So, let’s chat. Apothecary was the side hustle to the Michelin-recognized Rye, which closed in early March. But the thing is, Apothecary is, in many ways, Rye. The dishes and cocktails that wooed the Michelin inspectors, earning the bar a special cocktail award? Get them for $10 during Apothecary’s happy hour (others are $12). Then, there are food specials on different days. On Tuesdays, get half-priced tacos (beef cheek!), and on Wednesdays, get half-priced burgers and $10 highballs.
Uchi
2817 Maple Ave., Uptown
HH: Daily, 4 to 6 p.m.
We know people who spend their entire paycheck at Uchi’s happy hour. And we’re proud of them. The happy-hour menu at the award-winning, simply amazing Uchi is six pages long. The skinny here is that from 4 to 6 p.m., you can get a nine-course omakase for $60, loads of nigiri, hot tastings at reduced prices and wine, sake, cocktails and Sapporo for $6. Try the house cocktail Ichigo for $9; it’s an agave-infused sake with Thai chili and strawberry.
Bowen House
2614 Boll St., Uptown
HH: Daily, 4 – 6 p.m.
This historic house in Uptown is for when you want to feel grown up. The charming house is well-appointed with fresh flowers and a sense that it could be an Airbnb if not a bar. Go for the happy hour $10 cheeseburger (there are three other options at that price as well: olives, Spanish croquettes and crudites). Wash it down with one of five cocktails priced at $9.
Milo Butterfinger’s
5645 SMU Blvd., Northest Dallas
HH: Sunday – Friday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., All Day Monday
Milo’s underwent a refresh a couple of years ago, and the space is thriving now. It’s a sports den, a great place for groups and the patio is lovely. During happy hour, get an $8 margarita, cheap beer and premium wells for $7. There are five options in the $10 happy-hour food specials section of the menu. There are also other daily drink specials.
HG Sply Co.
2008 Greenville Ave., Lower Greenville
HH: Monday – Friday, 3-6 p.m.
Another Lower Greenville gem, HG Sply Co., has a loyal fan base thanks to its easygoing vibes and healthy options. During happy hour, get half-off select apps, all tap beer is $4.50, or go for house wine, an HG mule, a cucumber or strawberry smash (so refreshing) or an old-fashioned for $7.
Just Drinks
These are the spots that offer light bar bites or don’t have a kitchen, but the drink specials are on point.
Double D’s – Retro vibes in the Design District; $7 cocktials and wine Wednesday – Sunday 5 – 8 p.m.
Alamo Club – A little gritty, a lotta fun on Lower Greenville. It has good bar food, too. Weekdays, noon to 7 p.m.
Parliament – From 5 to 8 p.m. Monday – Saturday, get stupid cheap, stupid good cocktails.
Single Wide – Happy hour runs from 4 to 9 p.m. weekdays at this quirky trailer-park themed dive.
Tiny Victories – This small bar just off West Davis in Oak Cliff is a charmer. Cocktails are as inspiring as the Bob Ross shrine behind the bar.
