Alley Lounge
Alley Lounge is my new favorite spot this summer! Barman Russell Thomas is pouring discounted drink and food specials during their happy hour. Order up your favorite well drinks for just $6 or sip on a specialty cocktails ($9) like the GIGI mixed with gin, Cointreau, ginger root, lime, a dash of Fee Brother’s Old Fashioned bitters and an orange peel. For a sizzling hot sipper, enjoy the Jalisco Breeze crafted with Casamigos silver tequila, elderflower liqueur, Serrano chili, cucumber and lime or the Smirking Rhino cocktail with rye whiskey, muddled ginger and agave. Savory bar snacks include artisanal sandwiches like the Caprese Baguette with buffalo mozzarella, tomato and pesto-balsamic dressing and the Turkey & Cheese Baguette prepared with peppered turkey, Muenster cheese and chipotle aioli ($7 each). Alley Lounge has everything you need to cool down at this smoking-hot speakeasy. Tuesday-Saturday, 6-7 pm; 12223 W Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90066; 310.398.8611 (Photo Credit: acuna-hansen)
FIN
This Asian-Latin tapas restaurant has happy hour and reverse happy hour, featuring a menu packed with eleven deliciously discounted dishes, icy beers including Sapporo and Sapporo Lite, hot and cold sake, house red and white wines, as well as all of their well drinks. All of FIN’s happy hour eats and drinks range from $4-8. Snack on warm edamame, glazed green beans, Tuna Jalapeño Crispy Rice (two flash-seared rice cakes topped with spicy tuna and jalapeño), chicken or beef skewers, vegetable Rolls, Shrimp Gyoza (dumpling) or the Baked Crab Hand Rolls stuffed with sweet crab meat wrapped in sesame seed encrusted soy paper (inside tip: add avocado). You can also order shared dishes like Tuna Tartare with avocado, masago, scallions and sesame seeds with wonton chips, the Japanese Ceviche, or the tasty Tiger Prawn Tacos (three per order) with chopped shrimp, wasabi aioli and pico de gallo in a crispy wonton shell. Sunday through Wednesday the happy hour food menu is available from 5 pm to close. Daily, 5-7:00 pm, reverse happy hour, Monday-Saturday, 10-11 pm; 12223 W Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90066; 310.398.8611
Magnolia House
Enjoy three wines by the glass (including house-made red sangria), five draft beers, five small plates, countless well drinks and one creative cocktail of the moment; each and all of them under $10. Swing by this cozy craftsman bungalow and Slam down a few $5 pints of Craftsman 1903, Heavenly Hefe, Mother Earth Cali’ Creamin’, Santa Barbara Common Ale and Swamis IPA or sip on $5 select red and white wines by the glass. Pair your beverages with gourmet snacks from Executive Chef Kyu Yi and bite into delicious dishes like Crunchy Ahi Tacos with spicy tuna, avocado crema and radish; Margherita Flatbread topped with spicy tomato, burrata, basil and a cilantro-pistachio pesto; Drunken Nachos smothered in beer cheese sauce, dine on Blistered Shishitos served with sweet Thai chili and ponzu or Lebanese Beef Skewers drizzled with tahini yogurt sauce. Monday-Friday, 4:30-6 pm; 492 S Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101; 626.584.1126 (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Magnolia House)
Rascal
This favorite local hotspot on South La Brea Avenue hosts happy hour seven days a week, offering $6 Eats & House Libations available throughout the entire restaurant. Rascal offers beverage choices, including cocktails like the Moscow Mule crafted with Gruven vodka, lime and Reed’s ginger beer, the Margarita shaken up with Zapopan tequila, Bols triple sec and lemon and lime juice and special wine cocktails like house-made red sangria and the Cold Duck, sangria topped off with sparkling cava brut. Beer lovers can enjoy pints of the North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner, while discriminating winos will delight in select red, white and sparkling wines like the Torre Oria Cava (NV), the Vino Blanco Pragustus (2014) and Montepulciano d’abruzzo tor del colle (2011). Executive Chef Andy Lee keeps everyone happy with favorites like Grilled Cheese with caramelized onions, sharp cheddar and American cheeses, tomatoes and greens, a classic Burger topped with beer-deglazed caramelized onions, cheddar, arugula, tomato and herb remoulade, as well as Brussels Sprouts sprinkled with smoked bacon, shallots and garlic and drizzled with whole grain mustard sauce. Buttermilk marinated fried chicken, served two ways: A Fried Chicken Sandwich, which is stacked with tomato, Napa cabbage and tzatziki and the classic comfort-dish, Fried Chicken & Gravy is smothered with Italian sausage gravy. Non meat-eaters can enjoy a pita bread-packed Vegetable Gyro Sandwich stuffed with potato croquet, tabbouleh, curry hummus, tzatziki and queso fresco. Plus, every Sunday is Sunday Funday, a game night, offering a variety of board games to play. Tuesday-Saturday, 5-7 pm, Monday, 5-11 pm & Sunday Funday, 5-10 pm; 801 S La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036; 323.933.3229
solita Tacos & Margaritas Valencia
Swing by solita Tacos & Margaritas Valencia for happy hour and reverse happy hour. Enjoy a menu of snacks and beverages ranging from $4-$6 each. Executive Chef Deborah Schneider, is rolling out Naked Guacamole, Street Tacos like Wood Grilled Chicken, Crispy Fish and Tofu, Chicken Taquitos drizzled with guacamole, salsa fresca and crema, and signature Guacamole solita served in a fried tortilla bowl and topped with diced mango, tomato, onion, Serrano chile and cilantro. Pair it with a solita house, frozen or skinny Margarita from Beverage Director Colin Pflugradt. For the non-tequila lovers, well drinks and glasses of wine like the Jade Mountain Merlot and Castle Rock Chardonnay are just $5 each. Get to solita Tacos & Margaritas Valencia on Tuesday because they are offering even more afternoon specials and also featuring live music, frozen margarita flights, taco options and more from 3 pm-close. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 3-6:15 pm and 9-11 pm; 24201 Valencia Blvd., Suite 3470, Valencia, CA 91355; 661.291.1399
Spare Tire Kitchen & Tavern
Sip on $5 draft beers, well drinks and select wines by the glass or a specialty cocktail from Beverage Director Travis Ferguson (ranging from $5-$8). Icy libations rotate frequently and include cocktails like the Writer’s Mistress crafted with Jack Daniels whiskey, honey syrup, lemon and basil or The Cloverdale mixed with Hendricks gin, lime juice, cucumber and ground pepper. As for eats, Executive Chef Isaias Pena is serving up dishes at even happier prices. Enjoy East L.A Street Corn for $5 or indulge in $6 dishes of Chicken & Waffles, Poutine, Baja Tacos with tortilla chips, Chicken Strips & Fries, Loaded Tots, Mas Nachos smothered in cheese, guacamole, pico de gallo and jalapeños, Pub Beef Sliders, T.J. Dog wrapped in bacon and topped with caramelized onions and jalapeños, and Three Cheese Pizza with gooey ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Sunday-Friday, 4-7 pm, Friday & Saturday, 10 pm-Midnight; 5370 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, 90036; 323.525.2618
The Corner Door
Chef de Cuisine Ali Haji is cooking up bites (ranging from $6-$9) like Avocado Toast topped with burrata, radish, arugula, olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt, Arugula Salad tossed with shaved vegetables, candied walnuts, goat cheese and a French vinaigrette and succulent Spicy Pork Belly Sliders topped with cabbage on sweet rolls. The French Fries “Carbonade” are smothered with beer braised beef, slow roast garlic aioli and gooey farm house cheese; Smoked Salmon Terrine with potato, anchovy sauce gribiche and a fried egg; a basket of crispy Fish & Chips is served with tartar sauce, hand cut fries, and malt vinegar; and Sticky Toffee Pudding with toffee caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. As for a little liquid therapy, award-winning mixologist and Bar Manager Beau du Bois is lining up featured cocktails, beers, and wine. Shake it up with icy classics: the margarita mixed with tequila, triple sec, lime and sugar, and the house-made Moscow Mule On Tap with vodka, lime and ginger beer. Order up the Gold Rush mixed with bourbon, lemon and honey or the Anti-Mixology, a can of Miller Hi Life Beer with a shot of whiskey. You can also get Miller High Life (for just $3 each) and Dale’s Pale Ale or Craftsman 1903 Lager. A couple of glasses of select red and white varietals like the 2013 Solar de Estraunza Rioja Blanco and the 2013 Vinas Lujan de Cuyo Malbec are available. Plus, every Sunday the grill is on fire and the drinks are flowing for Burger R&D Night. Chef Haji is serving up a different burger every week with fries and a beer for just $15, while du Bois is mixing up glasses of house-made Old Fashioned cocktails for just $5 a piece. Daily, 5-7 pm; 12477 W Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90066; 310.313.5810 (Photo Credit: acuna-hansen)
Tipple & Brine
Indulge in $2 fresh oysters, $5 oyster shooters and $7 house-made classic cocktails from Bar Manager A.J. Korchak, like their Old Fashioned or a Moscow Mule crafted with Vodka, lime and ginger beer. Also, order up $5 draft offerings of Firestone IPA,Mama’s Little Yella Pils, Golden Road Hefe,Craftsman 1903or Dogtown Brown and two wine selections of red or white for just $6 per glass. Executive Chef Marc Johnson is cooking up additional menu favorites that rotate frequently during Social Hour, but generally consist of dishes like Crispy Oysters with sauce gribiche ($7), Brussels Sprouts ($5) and Mussels & Fries ($7). And Tipple & Brine did not forget about you Monday! Pull up a seat at the bar, on the patio or in the lounge every Oyster Monday and slurp down $1 Oysters On The Half Shell from 4:30-11 pm. Monday-Friday, 4:30-6:30 pm, Oyster Monday: Monday, 4:30-11 pm; 14633 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403; 818.528.2550
Venice Whaler
The Venice Whaler will be rolling out happy hour specials featuring discounted food and drink specials, like $2 off all draft beers, $5 off all pitchers, $1 off any canned brew in house, $2 off all well drinks, and a $6 craft cocktail of the moment from Bar Director Anthony Settecase and yummy bites from Executive Chef Nick Liberato for just $5-$8. Order up Sliders topped with cheddar cheese on sweet Hawaiian bread; Chicken Satay Skewers glazed with sambal and served with dill aioli for dipping; smoking hot Wings drenched in your choice of buffalo sauce or sweet honey glaze; or crispy beer battered Fried Pickles with garlic aioli. Monday-Friday, 4-7 pm; 10 W Washington Blvd., Venice, CA 90292; 310.821.8737 (Photo Credit: acuna-hansen, Moretti)
