Happy hour is a great excuse to get out of the house and try a new restaurant, or to make a trip out to your favorite neighborhood haunt. San Francisco has plenty of happy hours to enjoy, many with beautiful patios to boot. Here is a list of some must-try happy hours in the city to put on your to-do list.
1. Waterbar
When: 2:30pm-5pm daily
What: $1.55 oysters, $5 beer, $8 wine, $10 cocktails
Where: 399 The Embarcadero
This stylish restaurant has delicious fresh seafood on a spacious patio next to the Bay Bridge. Enjoy panoramic views of the Bay and browse a sustainable seafood menu. They also put on Oysterfest events that have raised over $120,000 in the last 11 years.
2. El Techo
When: 4pm-6pm Monday-Friday
What: $5 beer, $7 margarita, $18 sangria pitcher, $7 guacamole, $7 empanadas, and more.
Where: 2516 Mission St
This breezy rooftop restaurant in the Mission has incredible views, plus a wide variety of Latin American street food. In addition to their fabulous margaritas, consider trying other mouthwatering cocktails including pisco punch, sangria, and more.
3. Bar Crudo
When: 5-6:30pm Monday-Saturday
What: $2 oysters, $2 mussels, $5 beer, $7 wine
Where: 655 Divisadero St
Bar Crudo has been serving sustainable, raw seafood preparations since 2005. They are active in the Western Addition and Divisadero Corridor communities. Their happy hour specials include a variety of inventive seafood including oysters, chowder, and chile toreados.
4. PABU
When: 4-5:30pm Monday-Saturday
What: $6.88 sake bomb and beer; $3.88 pork steam bun and robatakayi, and more.
Where: 101 California St
Chef Ken Tominaga and Chef Michael Mina helm this exciting Japanese izakaya restaurant, featuring select seafood from the famous Toyosu Market in Japan. Enjoy delicious cocktails and handrolls on their enormous heated patio.
5. La Mar
When: 3pm-5pm Monday-Friday
What: $4 beer, $6 wine, $7 cocktails, $5 empanadas, and more
Where: Pier 1 1/2 The Embarcadero
This upscale Peruvian restaurant has a beautiful patio right on the waterfront where you can enjoy fresh ceviche, grilled skewers, and incredible empanadas. Signature cocktails include a prickly pear margarita and the classic pisco sour.
6. Burma Love
When: 5-6:30pm Monday-Friday
What: $8 beer, $10 wine, $13 cocktails, $14 wings, $14 calamari
Where: 211 Valencia St and 8 Mint Plaza
Explore a wonderful menu of Burmese food while sipping drinks at happy hour pricing on weekday afternoons. Their handcrafted cocktails are truly special and many special ingredients are brought all the way from Burma (Myanmar).
7. Palm House
When: 4-6pm Tuesday-Friday
What: $1 off beers, 1/2 off bottled wines, $6 boozy slushies, $6 fries
Where: 2032 Union St
Palm House boasts a “staycation destination” with tropical decor and a lively atmosphere. It’s situated in the original 1854 dairy farmhouse that inspired the name for Cow Hollow, and brings spectacular Caribbean flavors with a Californian twist.
8. Delarosa
When: 3pm-5pm Monday-Friday
What: $8 wine and cocktails, $6 beer, $8 broccolini bruschetta and burrata
Where: 2175 Chestnut St and 37 Yerba Buena Ln
This Roman-style pizzeria is an unpretentious hangout for all-day pizza, craft beer, great wines, and specialty cocktails. Their spritz romana cocktail is fantastic, as is the burrata bruschetta.
9. One Market Restaurant
When: 4-8pm Tuesday-Friday
What: $5 beer, $8 wines, $9 spirits, $4.25 latkes
Where: 1 Market St
This farm-to-table NY-style deli doesn’t skimp on Happy Hour, which you can enjoy in the bar, lounge, or patio areas. Wine, beer, and spirits all get a markdown; and cheap bites include $9 chickpea fries, $10 deviled eggs, and an epic selection of loaded latkes.
10. Tataki
When: 4:30-6:30pm daily
What: $5 cocktails, beer, sake, wine, nigiri, hand rolls, and small bites
Where: 2827 California St
This epic sushi and sake hotspot has an unbeatable happy hour menu where everything is just $5, from the drinks to the food. As the first sustainable sushi bar in the United States, it’s a must for healthy food with a low impact on the environment.
Featured image: @lamarsf on Instagram