Whether you’re still ringing in the new year, celebrating the end of dry January, or just trying to warm up in this darn cold, the D.C. area is full of new happy hours for you to check out.
L’HUERE DE L’APERO: Bistro du Jour, 99 District Sq. SW
Happy hour(s): Monday-Friday; 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
If you go to Bistro du Jour’s new happy hour and close your eyes, you might be able to trick yourself into thinking you’re in Paris. The Wharf’s French-style bistro has debuted a happy hour menu that features $8 aperitifs—including a kir royale, an Aperol spritz, and an elderflower spritz—as well as $6 beer and $7 wine. You can also nab a French 75 for $8, or a rhubarb punch for $7. Don’t miss out on their food specials, which include a $3 baguette with butter, a $9 soup du jour, and $2 macarons.
HAPPY AS AN OYSTER: Brine Dupont, 1800 Connecticut Ave. NW
Happy hour(s): Tuesday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
There’s a new raw bar in town. And they’re bringing an oyster happy hour to Dupont. Restauranter Aaron McGovern has decided to transform his longtime Dupont eatery Russia House (which was severely vandalized last year) into another location of Brine, his successful H Street raw bar. Brine Dupont opened earlier this month, and they’ve got a happy hour to lure you in. During the discounted time period, you can score $1 off each oyster along with other deals including three broiled oysters for $9, a half pound of peel and eat shrimp for $10, as well as ceviche ($10) and a burger ($13). Pair your seafood with beer ($5), rum punch ($8), or a glass of wine ($7).
BOLIVIAN BOOZE AND COCKTAILS: Casa Kantuta, 2309 18th St. NW
Happy hour(s): Wednesday all day; Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 5 p.m.-8 p.m.
Take a trip to Adams Morgan so that your taste buds can take a trip to Bolivia. After two successful pop-ups, the District’s first Bolivian cocktail bar, Casa Kantuta, has found a permanent home on 18th Street, in the basement of sPACycLOUd. During their happy hour — which runs all day long on Wednesdays — they offer $3 beer, $5 wine, and signature cocktails between $9 and $11. All 14 of their signature cocktails are made with singani, Bolivia’s brandy export, which they combine with ingredients like mezcal, pisco, and frothy egg whites to deliver one-of-a-kind creations.
UNHAPPY HOUR: Ellē, 3221 Mt. Pleasant St. NW
Happy hour(s): Tuesday-Sunday, 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
When Mount Pleasant’s classy neighborhood eatery Ellē says happy hour, they mean it. Every Tuesday through Sunday, you’ve got just one hour to enjoy their drink and food meals. Starting at 5:30 p.m., enjoy $10 glasses of wine and cocktails, including the Criss Cross Applesauce (white rum, fino sherry, green apple, lime, mastiha and bitters) and the Scofflaw (rye, pomegranate, lemon, dry vermouth), along with grilled gem lettuce ($13) and smoked tuna croquette ($14). Though they call it their ‘un’-happy hour, Ellē’s deals are sure to keep a smile on your face.
HENRI HOUR: The Henri, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Happy hour(s): Monday-Saturday, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
Looking for a drink downtown? The Henri, the French-Belgian upscale bistro located on Pennsylvania Ave. NW, offers after-work deals you won’t want to miss during their recently-launched ‘Henri Hour.’ On their happy hour menu you’ll find $6 wines, $10 handcrafted cocktails, $5 draft beers and $15 glasses of champagne. Don’t miss the restaurant’s signature cocktail: The Henri, which brings together bourbon, Aperol, and amaro averna. Combine your drinks with an upscale bar snack, like Maryland crab rolls ($9), lamb kebab ($9), bonnet cauliflower tempura ($9) or Belgian frites ($5).
PINTS AND HALF SMOKES: Last Call Bar, 1301-A 4th St. NE
Happy hour(s): Saturday-Sunday, 12 p.m.-4 p.m.
It’s called Last Call Bar, but you can score great drink deals long before closing time. The industrial drinking hole near Union Market has kicked off the new year with a happy hour that will make your weekend drinking wallet-friendly. Every Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., head to Last Call for $3 pints of beer, $5 glasses of wine and cocktails — including an old fashioned on draft — and a $3 half smoke. Yes, you read $3 right.
OYSTERS AND DISCO BALLS: Le Mont Royale, 1815 Adams Mill Rd NW
Happy hour(s): Daily, 4 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
If you want to sip your after work cocktails under a few disco balls, look no further than Le Mont Royal, Adams Morgan’s new French-Canadian disco bar. If disco vinyls and French cocktails aren’t enough to lure you in, take a look at their brand-new happy hour menu. Oysters are half off, and you can enjoy them alongside discounted draft cocktails ($10), a glass of wine ($8), draft beer ($6), a Canadian non-alcoholic beer ($5-$6), or a non-alcoholic Carthusian tonic ($6).
MARGARITAS AND SANGRIAS: Taco Bamba, 670 Quince Orchard Rd.
Happy hour(s): Weekdays, 3 p.m.-6 p.m.
Taco Bamba is making its way around the DMV, with a massive expansion leading them to eight locations and counting in Northern Virginia and Montgomery County. Their newest landing spot is Gaithersburg, where the taqueria has brought their tacos, cocktails, and a brand-new happy hour. It’s a simple one to remember, because everything on it is $5. That includes draft beverages, featuring draft margaritas and sangrias. It also includes a Taco Bamba special: The Jefferey, a foot-long crispy meat spring roll with carne asada, pork al pastor, chorizo, chihuahua cheese, peppers, onions, and serrano salsa verde.
EXPLOSIVE TIKI DEALS: Tiki TNT, 1120 Maine Ave. SW
Happy hour(s): Mondays, 3 p.m.-9 p.m.
Mondays got you down? Raise your spirits with Tiki TNT’s new rum-forward happy hour, which runs from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Monday. Keep the weekend going into the week with $5 beers, $7 cocktails, and premium house specialties for $10, which include a passion fruit daiquiri and a classic Mai Tai. Pair your tiki drinks with discounted snacks, including crystal shrimp dumplings with house-made duck sauce ($6)
PINA COLADAS AND PINEAPPLE GUACAMOLE: Royal Sands Social Club, 26 N St. SE
Happy hour(s): Daily, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
It might be windy and cold outside, but step inside the Royal Sands Social Club and you’ll feel like it’s summer. The Florida-themed bar opened in Navy Yard last December to buzzy success, with photos of its pool-mimicking interior going viral. Now, they’re giving you an extra reason to visit with a daily happy hour. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., score draft beer for $5.50, $9 cocktails (including a frozen piña colada and a miami sunrise), $6 shots (pain killer and grapefruit flavored), and wine for $9 to $10. Grab a bar snack while you’re at it: The happy hour menu features pineapple guacamole ($9), ahi wonton nachos ($12) and a jumbo shrimp cocktail ($12).
MIX-AND-MATCH DRINKS AND SNACKS: Vermillion, 1120 King St.
Happy hour(s): Tuesday-Friday, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
Vermilion, Old Town Alexandria’s hip New American spot, has already been making their customers happy on weekdays between 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Now, they’re bringing that happiness into your weekends with their newly-extended happy hour, which includes Saturdays and Sundays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Snag $6 beers, $7 wines, and $8 cocktails while you munch on a make-your-own-snack bundle, which allows you to mix-and-match three of Vermilion’s snacks for $15.
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