Downtown LA has quickly turned from “the only reason to venture there is for the Staple Center” to one of Los Angeles’ hot areas. Which of course means happy hour. Here are some of the best ones to hit up, downtown:
Drago Centro
I guess this is more like a happy day, since the deals are available all day. Discounted items include $5 – 8 specialty cocktails and $4 – 10 sizable snacks. Try the I Due Kobe Hamburgers for only $6; La Pizza al Pesto for $5; and the truffle-laced Il Calzone ai Funghi e Tartufo for $10. 11 am – Close, Monday – Friday; 5 pm – Close, Saturday & Sunday; 525 S. Flower St.; 213.228.8998
Chaya Downtown
Wait, there is another all-night, every-night happy hour in the same building? Does it get any better? Chaya offers $7 cocktails, $6 wine, and $4 beer, but it’s the food that really gets you happy. Sushi rolls range from $4 – 7, and signature appetizers, like the Kobe Beef Short Rib Melt and the Jalapeno Ponzu Fish ‘n’ Chips, range from $6 – 12. 4 pm – Close, Monday – Friday; 5 pm.- Close, Saturday & Sunday; 525 S. Flower St.; 213.236.9577
Library Bar
The large happy hour menu includes $4 beers along with the $5 margaritas, Library Lemonades, Grapefruit Greyhounds, and cosmos. There are no food items included on this menu, so get a good belly full of food before you start pouring. 3 pm – 8 pm, Monday – Friday; 630 W. 6th St.; 213.614.0053
Mas Malo
This downtown version of the Silver Lake resto offers the same happy hour or “Hora Feliz,” as they like to call it. Enjoy house margaritas and well drinks for $5, and El Valientes (cans of Tecate with a shot of Milagro Silver) for $6. The $2 fried tacos will help soak up all that tequila. 4 pm – 6 pm, daily, 515 W. 7th St.; 213.985.4332
Seven Grand
Seven Grand shares an awning, with Mas Malo, so you can just hop between the two! Here, they have a $5 classic cocktail list and $4 rotating beer specials. 5 pm – 7 pm, Monday – Wednesday; 4 pm – 7 pm, Thursday & Friday; 515 W. 7th St.; 213.614.0737
Broadway Bar
Grab a $3 beer, or a cocktail discounted by $2, and knock it back before this spot in clubbin’ atmosphere. 5 pm – 8 pm, Tuesday – Friday; 830 S Broadway; 213.614.9909
The Gorbals
Happy hour here brings wine and beer at half-off. Although food is full-price, the famous $7 Bacon-Wrapped Matzoh Balls are a must. 6 pm – 8 pm, Monday – Friday, 501 S. Spring St.; 213.488.3408
The Edison
The Edison happy hour includes dinner offerings for under $10 at the bar drinks are discounted by 40% in this industrial chic space that maintains much of the original architecture and mechanics from its days as a power plant. Don’t miss the 35-cent cocktails offered on Thursdays with the purchase of another cocktail. 5 pm – 7 pm, Wednesday – Friday, 108 W. 2nd St.; 213.613.0000
Lazy Ox Canteen
Happy hour here consists of $5 small plates and $3 drinks. Not a bad place to get happy. 5 pm – 7 pm, Monday – Friday; 241 S. San Pedro St.; 213.626.5299
