Happy Power Hour
Where to drink on the cheap: 9 top happy hours in Dallas
Happy hour is what gets some people through the workday. We can’t really blame them; alcohol is the best. So we thought about it and came up with an array of bars, lounges, taverns and places of general moral decay for some happy hours worth daydreaming about.
Quarter Bar
Bread Winners Cafe’s next-door bar brings a little New Orleans to McKinney Avenue. The two-story establishment is full of nooks and rooms that make it possible for you to relax in peace — or at the bar with everyone else. Quarter Bar has specials most nights, like $2 wells and domestics and $4 house wine on Thursday from 4-10 pm.
Day to go: Monday, for half-price pizza and $1 PBR from 4-10 pm.
Union Bear
This West Village eatery is a beautiful blend of quality pizzas made with fresh, organic ingredients and a plethora of craft beers from all over the country. It’s in the heart of Uptown, ensuring a trendy crowd just looking for a low-key but worthwhile time out. Look for $3 drafts, which change daily.
Day to go: Monday, when you can keep the glass when you buy a pint.
The Grapevine
One of the best dive bars in Dallas, the Grapevine is where you retreat when Uptown and downtown get you, um, down. The tiny interior keeps you protected from the bright sunlight, but if you need a breath of fresh air after being pent up all day, go outside to the patio and enjoy the colorful crowd.
Day to go: Tuesday, for $3 domestics, frozen drinks and house wine, plus $2.50 wells. Best part is that it goes from 3 pm (opening) all the way to 2 am (closing).
The Corner Bar
Don’t confuse it with the Quarter Bar. This place has a neighborhood-hangout vibe perfect for groups. Get a little rowdy while watching sports or playing pool or embarrassing yourself at karaoke.
Day to go: Tuesday, when there are $2 wells from 4 pm to 2 am. If done effectively, you’ll forget you still have three days to go in the work week.
Ozona Bar and Grill
Part of the SMU bar scene, Ozona has a huge patio perfect for perching on a sunny afternoon or late at night. Inside, you’ll find plenty of tables to watch the Cowboys win (or lose, probably) and maybe fit in a game of pool.
Day to go: Wednesday, for dollar drafts that will transport you back to college. Just don’t take it too far, because college kids can — and will — drink more than you and not show it.
Mansion Bar
We’ve touched on this place before — and for good reason. There might not be a higher class of drinking in Dallas than the Mansion Bar, which means that the best time to hit this place is during happy hour, when those $15 cocktails get a bit more reasonable.
Day to go: Wednesday, as a personal celebration of having made it halfway through the week. Enjoy half-price specialty cocktails, beer and glasses of wine from 5-7 pm.
Bryan Street Tavern
The outside of BST isn’t much to look at, but inside you’ll discover a pretty good dive bar. That means there are a bunch of local brews — Deep Ellum, Franconia and Peticolas — on the lineup, plus some killer pizza, at this East Dallas establishment.
Day to go: Thursday, because although those local beers are worth drinking, it never hurts to switch over to $2 well drinks, which are available from 11 am-2 am.
Absinthe Lounge
This trendy little haunt in the South Side on Lamar puts you in an elevated state of mind. Enjoy a cigar to take the edge off the workday, and get a head start on the weekend in the cozy atmosphere that is cooler than you.
Day to go: Friday, when the weekend is calling you to $2 drafts, $3 wells, $4 calls and — drum roll, please — $5 martinis from 4-9 pm.
Park Tavern
This new gastropub at the Shops at Park Lane is a high-end yet low-key date destination that happens to serve a bevy of Texas brews and quality plates ranging from street tacos to New York strips. During happy hour you get $3 domestics, Texas drafts, well drinks and margs, as well as $3 off appetizers.
Day to go: Sunday, so you get the benefit of an all-day happy hour without the crush of the post-office crowd.