Black’s Bar and Kitchen
Monday through Friday 4 to 7

The recently renovated bar at Black’s Bar and Kitchen—lots of blond wood with comfortable stools and booths—buzzes with well-dressed crowds thanks to a happy-hour deal for seafood lovers. Settle in for $6 martinis, $3.50 Smithwicks, or $2.50 Yuenglings, and slurp briny bay oysters on the cheap (two for $1.95). Old Bay–sprinkled shrimp on ice are 50 cents each. “Addie’s mussels,” in a broth of tomato, garlic, and shallots and served with warm, crusty bread, are half price at $6.50.

By the looks of the quiet bar scene, not many people know about this Southern-accented restaurant’s quickie one-night happy hour. If they did, the line would be out the door. Signature drinks, such as black-cherry cosmos, Dark & Stormies, and Yellow Cabs (a mix of Cognac, pineapple juice, and lime), are $5. Same goes for snacks. A juicy burger with well-seasoned fries will double as dinner.

More contemporary and colorful than its Glover Park sibling, this Dupont Circle Indian spot offers many a deal at the long, sleek bar: tapas-style takes on Indian street food are half price (most under $4), cocktails are $4.75 (the selections are well mixed if standard), and beers are $2.50 domestic, $3.50 imported. We like the bargain samosas stuffed with curried peas and potatoes, the pakoras, and more-modern dishes such as dahi bhalla, lentil dumplings artfully arranged in a yogurt sauce.

View Larger Map

PS 7’s
Monday through Saturday 5 to 7

In the lounge off this sleek Penn Quarter dining room, chef Peter Smith toys with upscale twists on junk food. Three baby hot dogs come with fries and tiny bowls of house-made ketchup, mustard, and relish; tuna sliders are butter-brushed Parker House rolls stuffed with tuna tartare; and arancini are shrunken versions of baseball-size fried risotto balls popular on the streets of Italy. At happy hour, sharable snacks on the lounge menu are discounted to $7 (except for the hot dogs, which are $10).

So are the cocktails, whether “classics” (Manhattans, sidecars) or “creations” (try the spicy El Diablo). Selected wines are $4 a glass, and a featured beer—recently Bohemian Lager—is $2.50. Grab one of the low lounge tables or a seat on the outdoor patio, and don’t miss the free house-made caramel popcorn and sesame crackers.

People watching—especially on the wraparound patio—is the draw at this Mediterranean-inspired neighborhood spot between Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan. With broad wooden benches and tables on the sidewalk patio, there’s plenty of space to sit and sip. House wines and margaritas are $4, all beers are $3, martinis and rail drinks are $5.50 to $6.50. Food specials swing between Mediterranean mezze such as hummus and flaky, spinach-stuffed borek and bar fare like nachos.

There are few empty seats at this wood-paneled bar. Guys straight from the office roll up their sleeves and dig into platefuls of 35-cent Buffalo wings while they watch ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption on the flat-screen TVs. The wings are good—hefty and not greasy—but the miniature fried-oyster po’boys and nachos loaded with smoky pulled pork go well beyond standard bar snacks. A $1.50 po’boy order brings three round, buttery biscuits with two plump oysters tucked inside each plus a tangy rémoulade on the side. Pair them with a $2.50 Bud Light and you’ll get change back from a five.

This opulent Spanish dining room woos younger customers with half-price tapas before the expense-account set arrives. The happy-hour crowd sometimes spills out of the cozy bar into the dining room, where you might find yourself snacking atop a plush crimson banquette. Recent winners are sweet piquillo peppers stuffed with Catalonian sausage ($4.25) and a crock of shrimp sizzling in olive oil and garlic ($6.75 for a large portion). Pitchers of sangría are $16 for one of the best renditions in town.

You can’t find a bar much friendlier and less pretentious than the narrow Toledo Lounge, a refuge from the usual Adams Morgan madness. It’s a dive in every sense—duct tape hides holes in the vinyl booths—and there’s nothing highfalutin on the menu, either. On Wednesday evenings, you can get half-price hot dogs ($3.50) and grilled-cheese sandwiches ($2.50). Skip the dog—it’s okay but not special—and go for the melted-cheese sandwich on buttered sourdough with a side of onion rings. Wash them down with $2 drafts.

What are your tips for bargain food happy hours? Let us know in the comments below! 

Related:
Best Bargain Happy Hours
Indoor and Outdoor Spots for a Summer Drink
Happy Hour Finder
Great After-Work Happy Hours
Dog-Friendly Happy Hours

More>> After Hours Blog | Arts & Events | Happy Hour Finder | Calendar of Events