Who doesn’t like a good happy hour? Sure, there are the naysayers who say all that eating and drinking at a lower price for a fixed time is not in anyone’s interest. But the majority of us sensible, consenting adults appreciate the value of a choice happy hour—especially in a city where the prices of food and drink just keep rising.
Hayes Valley is now packing some great bars within its few blocks, and happy hours abound. With all the new openings, closings and general maneuvering, however, it can be hard to keep track ... and that’s where we come in.
We've put together a handy guide to help you get your Hayes Valley happy hour on. Organized by location, this list is not exhaustive, there should be enough to wet your whistle and/or keep your hunger at bay for a few hours in the evening.
Momi Toby’s Revolution Cafe & Art Bar
First up if you start on Laguna at the western end of Hayes? Momi Toby’s happy hour, which runs from 4pm-7pm. During this time, selected beers are $1 off. They also have outdoor seating so you can enjoy your happy hour drinks with some sun on the side.
Noir Lounge
Around the corner on Hayes St, you’ll find Noir Lounge—a nice, large wine bar and brewpub with plenty of seating. Their happy hour runs from 4pm-7pm on weekdays. You will get $2 off all wine and beer on tap, as well as wines by the pour. Food is not included in this happy hour, but there are some cheaper bites available to have with your drinks, including mixed olives and winter spiced nuts at $5 each.
Two Sisters Bar and Books
Almost next door to Noir Lounge, happy hour is one of the best times to check in to TSB&B. With little room to move between tables, it can become a bit overwhelming to try and get a drink here later in the evenings.
Happy hour times vary depending on the day, but the offers do not. From 4pm-6pm Tuesday to Friday and from 1pm-4pm on the weekends, you can get draft beer for $3, house wine for $5 and their house cocktail—a gin gimlet—for $5. Again, there is no happy hour food, but they do have a few $5 snacks.
Place Pigalle
Miette
Blink and you could miss Place Pigalle. In fact, soon it might be missing altogether, with its future currently uncertain. For now, however, you can still take advantage of its happy hour with $1 off all drinks from 2pm-5pm.
Brass Tacks
Hard to believe it's almost been a year since Brass Tacks took over the old Marlena's site. A stylish and vibrant venue, Brass Tacks offers one of the most extended happy hours in Hayes Valley—with $1 off all drinks (beer, wine, cocktails) from when they open at 2pm until 7pm, Monday to Friday.
Dobbs Ferry Bar
Dobbs Ferry Bar also has a generously long happy hour. From 2pm-7pm, Monday to Friday, you can get $3 beers, $1 off draft beers and $1 off well drinks. They also have a fairly large selection of food available during happy hour, with prices ranging from $4 (for fried pork and chicken cracklings) to $10 (for a mini 5oz burger). The full selection can be seen here.
The One Sushi & Lounge
If you prefer sushi snacks with your drinks, you'll find some generous offers from The One Sushi, a couple of minutes walk from Dobbs Ferry on Gough. Everyday from 5pm-6:30pm, you can get $3 beers, $5 appetizers and nigiri for $1.50.
If you prefer sushi snacks with your drinks, you'll find some generous offers from The One Sushi, a couple of minutes walk from Dobbs Ferry on Gough. Everyday from 5pm-6:30pm, you can get $3 beers, $5 appetizers and nigiri for $1.50.
Caffe delle Stelle
Back on Hayes St, Caffe delle Stelle has a happy hour from 3pm-5pm which concentrates on food, with prices ranging from $5 to $8. On the drink side, you can get imported beers and house wine for $3.50, and mimosas and sparkling wine for $4 (take a look at their happy hour menu here).
Sugar Lounge
These guys really define generosity when it comes to happy hour. From 4:30pm-7:30pm, along with $4/5 draught beers and $4 well drinks, Sugar Lounge lays out a great spread of complimentary savory snacks from their sister restaurant Hahn’s Hibachi Family Style Korean BBQ Restaurant. They also provide a selection of candy for those who'd like a sweeter treat with their drink.
These guys really define generosity when it comes to happy hour. From 4:30pm-7:30pm, along with $4/5 draught beers and $4 well drinks, Sugar Lounge lays out a great spread of complimentary savory snacks from their sister restaurant Hahn’s Hibachi Family Style Korean BBQ Restaurant. They also provide a selection of candy for those who'd like a sweeter treat with their drink.
We should also mention that Sugar Lounge have a daily drink special priced at $5. Every day brings a different featured cocktail. So, for example, on Wednesday, pomegranate
martinis are $5, while on Friday it's strawberry margaritas for $5. The full list of daily specials can be found here.
Muka
Off the main Hayes Valley track, the recently reopened Muka has happy hour specials from 2pm-6pm all week to tempt you off Hayes Street. During these 4 hours everyday, you can get: selected draft beer for $4; housemade sangria and the bartender’s beer choice for $5; house red and white wine for $6; and sparkling wine for $7. They also offer a happy hour meal of a pint of Kronenbourg and a selected sandwich for $10. Alternatively, you can go all in with some cheese, charcuterie and a selected wine bottle for $39.
Boxing Room
Across the road from Muka, while there is no set happy hour at Boxing Room, you can get half price Abita draft beers, half price Bohigas Cava Reserva Penedes, as well as half price oysters selected daily by the chef, all until 4:30pm every day.
Across the road from Muka, while there is no set happy hour at Boxing Room, you can get half price Abita draft beers, half price Bohigas Cava Reserva Penedes, as well as half price oysters selected daily by the chef, all until 4:30pm every day.
Mercury Cafe
Moving away from Hayes Street again (albeit in the other direction), you come to Mercury Cafe at Octavia and Page. Though you might associate Mercury Cafe more with your morning caffeine boost, they actually also have a happy hour from 3pm-6pm, Monday to Friday. At these times, draft beer drops to $4.35. Currently, they have Racer 5, Great White, Acme Ale and 8 Ball Stout on tap.
Moving away from Hayes Street again (albeit in the other direction), you come to Mercury Cafe at Octavia and Page. Though you might associate Mercury Cafe more with your morning caffeine boost, they actually also have a happy hour from 3pm-6pm, Monday to Friday. At these times, draft beer drops to $4.35. Currently, they have Racer 5, Great White, Acme Ale and 8 Ball Stout on tap.
Pisco Latin Lounge
Continuing all the way up Octavia, although very much on the borders of Hayes Valley, it's worth making the trip to Pisco Latin Lounge between 5pm-7pm or from 9pm-11pm, Monday to Friday. Their happy hour specials include a range of bar bites for $3-$5. Drinkwise, you can get a Peruvian beer for $3, a glass of red wine or sangria for $5, and a selection of cocktails for $6.
Continuing all the way up Octavia, although very much on the borders of Hayes Valley, it's worth making the trip to Pisco Latin Lounge between 5pm-7pm or from 9pm-11pm, Monday to Friday. Their happy hour specials include a range of bar bites for $3-$5. Drinkwise, you can get a Peruvian beer for $3, a glass of red wine or sangria for $5, and a selection of cocktails for $6.
Miette
Finally, a sweet treat for you all. From 6pm-7pm on weekdays, Miette has a macaron happy hour, when you can get macarons for only $1. At that price, it would be rude not to!
Hopefully we've given you plenty of inspiration for your next evening out in Hayes Valley. Whether you are looking for a cheeky drink, a quick pick-me-up or a discount dinner, one of these venues should be able to deliver. Now go get happy.
If you have any questions/doubts about the times and offers listed above, we suggest you double check with the individual bars. And if we're missing one of your favorite happy spots, please let us know in the comments below.
