Everyone loves happy hour, and not just because it is easier on our pockets. The idea of Happy Hour goes all the way back to the prohibition era, when people needed a way to unwind between work and going home and secret bars were more than happy to oblige with a discount. Discount does not always mean a dive, glamorous spots all over the city happily create happy hour menus providing us with an escape. Here are some of New York’s best happy hour deals right now!
Chelsea’s cocktail scene is changing, and you can thank women-owned bars for that. While the neighborhood is known for its galleries and pricey cocktails, the owners of Jungle Bird opened a new cocktail bar, Shy Shy, with one of the most exciting happy hour models we’ve seen in a while. The interiors are pretty, the staff warm and welcoming, and the cocktails are some of the best we’ve tasted. During our visit with chatted with one of the owners, Marissa Cheshier, about the importance of women-owned bars and how Shy Shy adds extra excitement to the neighborhood.
Shy Shy’s happy hour menu can be enjoyed from Tuesday to Saturday (yes, Saturday) until 7pm, and all day Sunday and Monday. Their $12 happy hour drinks include martinis, including one of our favorites “Oh, You Like It Dirty.” It truly is the dirtiest martini in the city. Wines are $10 and beers are $5. For food you can snack on $5 fries, $10 dips and we even saw half a dozen oysters with a bottle of muscadet for $45. If you wish to stay past happy hour, we highly recommend trying Shy Shy’s viral Caesar Salad Martini. We expect this to be one of our favorite spring/summer bars. Come here with your friends, date, or come alone. This is the kind of cocktail bar that feels like a pretty haven away from the city streets and doomscrolling at home.
Shy Shy, 169 8th Ave (betw 18/19th St) Chelsea
No Sake Hana is a well-known bucket list destination for foodies and their happy hour will have you coming back for more. The glamorous Japanese restaurant is quite the nightlife favorite, and we would not expect anything less from the team at Tao Group Hospitality. Located at the Moxy Hotel, you descend down the stairs into a lavish atmosphere where you will find well-dressed patrons taking pictures with the chic backdrop. If you seek a spot that is both aesthetic and has a delicious menu, No Sake Hana will surely wow you.
When it comes to happy hour, No Sake Hana offers options. Their Happy Hour “Sets” give you the chance to sample from each section of the menu — nomi (noun, “drink”), otoshi (noun, “small snack, to start”) and taberu (verb, “to eat”), for only $20/set. The happy hour goes on from 6-9, but if you miss the window don’t fret. The restaurant is also offering an all-night bar menu, inspired by Tokyo’s food and drink destinations like Shinjuku’s “Golden Gai’’ and Omoide Yokocho alleyways. The all-night bar menu includes $5 bites, $10 snacks and $15 cocktails. If you ever wanted to visit one of Tao Group’s destinations, we say, don’t walk, run, to enjoy this deal. Come here with a group of friends or a date, a good time is always guaranteed. As a side note, we discovered a new favorite sake here, the Nanbu Bijin “Tokubetsu Junmai.”
No Sake Hana at the Moxy Hotel, 145 Bowery (betw Broome/Grand St) Lower East Side
If a steak house dining experience is more your speed, try American Cut. The classic fare restaurant, from Marc Forgione, reinvented the way we picture a steakhouse and made it a lot more modern. While steakhouses are often associated with wall street types, this glamorous spot has been able to lure in a hip downtown crowd looking to eat a truly excellent steak.
The popularity of American Cut is due to the atmosphere, large space and menu, but it might also be due to their consistently innovative and exciting happy hour ideas. This season they brought us The NYC Happy Meal. The weekday happy hour is from 5-7p, and includes a martini, caesar salad and truffle friends, all for just $24. That is unbeatable. This deal is available at their bar and lounge, with no reservations necessary. Bring a friend or come alone before heading home after work, this steakhouse and its interiors are a must-see in person.
American Cut, 363 Greenwich St (betw Franklin/Harrison St) Tribeca
For something a little different try the new-ish and very stylish French Bistro, Heroes. From the team behind Tokyo Record Bar and Niche Niche, Heroes is one of those gems we hate to share, but their happy hour deal is too good to keep to ourselves. On weekdays from 5:30 to 7pm the Soho bar and restaurant is serving $5 The Tiny Tini (classic or dirty,) but trust us when we tell you that this is no tiny martini.
Not a fan of martinis? In addition you can order $10 cocktails. For bar and lounge snacks we recommend the Iberico Ribs and/or fried potatoes. Come alone or invite a date, this spot prefers walk-ins for the bar. The aesthetic and historic architecture alone is worth your visit. We are obsessed with the calming lavender decor and their sister bar’s retro vibe, Pearl Box, which is located under the same roof. Both spots are housed i a historic tri-level carriage house. Come alone, or bring a date, the menus and interiors are in one word “fabulous.” Heroes, 357 W Broadway (betw Broome/Grand St) Soho
Heroes, 357 W Broadway (betw Broome/Grand St) Soho
Fernando’s Hideaway claims not to be a secret, but not many know about their Girl Dinner Deal. This tip comes just in time for women’s month. The 70s-style hideaway invites you to dress up and come enjoy 90 minutes of bottomless cocktails for $30 when you purchase two tapas or an entree. Drinks include options like Aperol Spritz and Mimosas. The food menu includes everyone’s favorites, like burrata, Bruschetta Crostini, and crab cakes.
Girl Dinner is served from Tuesday—Saturday, from 5pm—late. There is a photo booth and we hear their brunch is out of this world. As fans of both disco and cocktails, we can’t think of a more fun way to spend a girl’s night out. You can find this hidden gem above Bartley Dunne’s pub.
Fernando’s Hideaway, 160 W 54th (betw 6/7th Ave) Midtown
