Not all Charlottesville happy hours are alike—each bar/
restaurant is happy in its own way. From seriously gritty to spacious and luxe, there’s a range of options to keep a (slightly crooked) smile on your face.
Alamo Cinema Drafthouse Glass Half Full Taproom
M-F 4-7pm
Of all the gin joints in all the towns in the world, you could walk into this one at Fifth Street Station and find $6 appetizers, $4 craft draft pints, $5 glasses of wine, and Bogart-worthy cocktails. Easy parking. This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Beer Run (above)
M-F 3-6pm
Grab a stool inside for an afternoon pint ($1 off) with neighborhood regulars, or head to the patio (with kids and dog) to snarf the large nachos ($2 off) while easing into a glass of wine ($1 off). Low-key and lip-smacking.
Black Cow Chophouse
W-Sun. 4:30-6pm
A beef-lover’s Platonic ideal of a happy hour: $16 steak frites plus featured wines $8/glass, $32/bottle, beer/cider $2 off, and $1 off classic cocktails. Upscale but homey.
Botanical Fare
W-F 5-7pm
Fresh and vibrant vegan paradise. $1 off cans of beer and zero-proof cocktails, $2 off glasses of wine, $3 off cocktails, plus free umami potatoes (Wednesday, with purchase), $5 seasonal spritz (Thursday), and half off bottles of wine (Friday). Queer-celebratory, food allergy-friendly.
Brazos Tacos
M-F 2:30-5:30pm
Locals love the Texas-style tacos and family-friendly spaces, and Brazos loves them back with $8 house margaritas, $5 frozen margaritas, $2 off beer, $2.50 select tacos, and all-day happy hour every day for health care workers.
Burton’s Grill
M-F 3-7pm
The Cheers of The Shops at Stonefield has a throwback appeal. $2 off draft beer, half off glasses of house wine, $4 well liquor, and $8 cheddar jalapeño sliders, buffalo chicken dip, and General Tso’s wings. Inclusivity bonus: expert accommodation of dietary restrictions.
Dürty Nelly’s
M-F 3:30-6:30pm
Half off drafts. Two bucks off rounds. No food, just drinks. ’Nuff said.
Holly’s Diner
M-F 5-8pm
Funky and fun, a soft landing for introverts. Good food, drinks, and folks. $2 off drafts and wine by the glass, rail liquor $4 a pour.
Public Fish & Oyster
M-Sun. 4-6pm
Lobster rolls, oyster specials, yacht-rock friendly. Ahoy, matey!
The Quirk Lobby Bar
M-Sun. 4-6pm
The Wizard of Oz might hold court at the bar of this castle. Airy, artsy, sophisticated, and playful. $9 classic cocktails, $5 draft beer, $9 wine by the glass. Tuesday all-night happy hour, with live jazz from 6-9pm.
Restoration at Old Trail
T-Sat. 3-6pm
Caddyshack at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. $4 bottles of beer, $5 rail drinks, $5 appetizers. For when you’re feeling country-clubby. No gophers allowed.
The Ridley
M-F 3-6:30pm
This Black-owned restaurant honors Dr. Walter Ridley, the first Black student to graduate from UVA. $4 off wine, $2 off draft beer, $2 rail liquor plus specials like Monday half off beer/wine for health care workers, and Tuesday $12 burger night.
The Southern Crescent
Galley and Bar
Th-Sun. 5-6pm
A Creole-Cajun fantasy. Intimate bar inside; veranda, tin roof bar, fire pits, and cabanas outside. Virginia Oysters on the half shell $1.50/each, $8 cocktails (with fresh-squeezed juices and housemade syrups), $4 beer, $6 glasses of wine.
Tonic
M-F 4-6pm
Twinkling lights surround the vine-covered patio. $5 draft beer, $8 wine, $10 cocktails, and the $10 featured sandwich. Tuesdays pack a Patio Punch ($5 carafes).
Umma’s
T-Sat. 5-7pm
Woman-owned, queer-proud, Korean-Japanese restaurant with half-priced drafts and chuhais (shochu/fruit highballs), specialty and classic Japanese cocktails, and addictive Japanese-style chicken nuggets called karaage. Down-home and divine.