The Most Unique Happy Hours In New York City

$1 oyster happy hour still exists at Cafe Commerce on The Upper East Side

Alexander Stein

Ask any New Yorker: Happy hour isn’t what it used to be. The rise of remote work, paired with thinner margins for restaurants has left the most jubilant time of day, well, a bit lacking in recent years. Luckily, some restaurants and bars are still trying to entice the after work card with tempting specials on food and beverage that bring back the age old tradition of happy hour in New York City. Here’s where to seek out some of the most unique happy hours across Manhattan and Brooklyn:

This Greenpoint Vietnamese institution offers Golden Hour before and after peak dinner times. Visit Monday-Thursday from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. or Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m. – 12 a.m. for select $8 beers, a $12 spritz of the day or classic cocktail, and $50 wines by the bottle, plus Vietnamese finger foods and light bites.

Why wait for the end of business hours for happy hour? The bar at Aqua in Flatiron offers a daily happy hour from noon until 6 p.m. Wines by the glass are $10, classic cocktails go for $12, and beers start at $8. A $20 sushi and sake pairing menu plus spicy tuna or shimeji sushi with a chilled glass of sake are a value better than most takeout.

Celebrate the end of the week every Friday from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. at this Lower East Side hotel’s in-house tattoo parlor, UnScripted Ink. The weekly tattoos and tequila happy hour offers $100 flash tattoos plus a drink.

At Cafe Commerce, Chef Harold Moore’s uptown revival of his once West Village gem, guests can indulge in $1 Island Creek oysters between 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. on weekdays, with the purchase of a glass of wine or cocktail at the bar or on the patio. Yes, there are a few restrictions, but a $1 oyster is hard to find in the city these days.

Head to this Midtown restaurant every day from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. for $5.95 beers, $12.95 wines, and $13.95 cocktails. The signature Dynamo Trio offers a martini, Caesar salad, and beef fat fries for $29.95. Oysters, sliders, and seasonal snacks are also served a la carte.

Visit this Midtown caviar emporium for Martini Hour” at the bar Monday through Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. With the purchase of a martini, guests receive a complimentary order of Caviar Russe’s signature Caviar Cones. Bar bites and special drinks are also offered during this time, including The Caviar Tini with ALB vodka that is crushed (not shaken or stirred), and garnished with “caviar” made from lillet, elderflower and pomegranate; plus crispy rice with sea trout, milk bread with caviar butter, lobster rolls, and more.

In NoMad, Scarpetta offers a later happy hour from Sunday through Thursday starting at 8 p.m. until the restaurant closes. The “tiny supper” menu features half portions of its pastas and crudi for $18, plus “tiny tinis” for $14, and wines by the glass for $11.

Inspired by the Italian aperitivo tradition, Lele’s in Boerum Hill offers a rotating selection of classic bites for $7 and drinks under $15 every day from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. The signature baby negroni trio includes three miniature negronis for $15.

New York City’s only bar dedicated to showing exclusively women’s sports hosts happy from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday on the Lower East Side. Specials include $2 off house drafts, plus an $8 beer and shot combo, while collegiate level and professional women’s sports air on almost two dozen flatscreens. Popcorn, olives, and mores snacks are also available.

Head to this historic Tribeca townhouse for a fun happy hour every day from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Snacks include $2 oysters, a small shrimp cocktail, or petite seafood tower. A martini and house tater tots go for $22, and seasonal cocktails plus house wine are also on special during happy hour.

The Midtown Argentine steakhouse known for its fire-grilled meats and Buenos Aires-style hospitality offers weekday happy hour from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., The deal includes half off all drinks, including their premium and super-premium spirits, wines, and beers.

If traditional happy hour is too early, head to the MetLife Building after 8 p.m. when Point Seven hosts its nightly happy hour. Nearly every bottle of the restaurant’s 1200 wines is 30% off and those who want to drink for less while dining on seafood can enjoy no corkage fee on BYO bottles after 8.