Incredible craft breweries, distilleries, wine bars, and restaurants make up the city’s dining scene — and with a bit of planning, you can take advantage of countless deals. We’re a local food tour company and in this guide, we share Denver’s best happy hours in 17 neighborhoods, including:
- Union Station – South
- Union Station – North
- 16th Street Mall
- North Broadway
- South Broadway
- River North Art District (RiNo)
- Lower Downtown (LoDo)
- Highlands
- Ballpark
- City Park West
- Capitol Hill
- Washington Park
- Cherry Creek
- Denver Tech Center
- Centennial
- Lowry
- Central Park
From dive bars to upscale eateries, these spots are perfect for an after-work team building outing, a budget bite with friends, and even special occasions. No matter your preferred ambiance or cuisine, we’ve got you covered!
Denver’s Best Happy Hours
Union Station – South
What to Order: Aperol Spritz, Olives, Marcona Almonds
Northern Italian eatery Tavernetta is located in the heart of downtown Denver, just off the Union Station train platform. Its upscale ambiance may appear to be a better option for special occasions or higher-priced dinners. But midday, Tavernetta offers one of the best happy hours in Denver — which is why we featured it in our insider’s guide to Denver dining.
From 3-6 pm daily (yes, even on the weekends), it offers $9 glasses of wine and $8 beers. There are also $8 cocktails (the Venetian spritz is our personal favorite), along with a host of reasonably priced small plates like $8 arancino and $15 cacio e pepe. No reservation is necessary for happy hour, and the lounge is especially cozy when the fireplace is lit in the winter.
To experience Tavernetta’s happy hour in style, join us on our Cocktail Tasting Tour which runs every day at 4:30 pm. You’ll taste four amazing cocktails and small bites while learning about food, drinks, and the Mile High City.
Union Station – North
What to Order: House Burrata, Chicken Wings, Craft Cocktails
We love the atmosphere at Woodie Fisher, a gorgeous restaurant located a few blocks from Union Station. It resides within one of the oldest standing structures in Denver: the city’s original Hose House #1. Formerly a fire station, the restored building pays homage to its history by offering all first responders 20% off.
Additionally, Woodie Fisher has a daily happy hour available from 4-6 pm. On Sundays, specials are extended from 4-9 pm. Enjoy $5 glasses of wine, plus $2 off signature craft cocktails and draft beers. The menu also highlights its $17 signature burger and $10 crispy chicken wings served with your choice of buffalo or Thai chili sauce.
Sit at the bar or a table in its dining room, or opt for its cool, cozy lounge featuring great views of its open kitchen. Woodie Fisher is also a partner on our Dinner Tasting Tour which is perfect for small groups and company off-sites. See our corporate events page for more info.
16th Street Mall
What to Order: Chicken Liver Mousse, Cheese Board, Sparkling Rosé
Bistro LeRoux is a richly appointed and romantic space that feels intimate and luxurious. The French eatery is one of chef Lon Symensma’s ChoLon Concepts, and it offers an extensive happy hour menu. Take advantage on weekdays from 4-5 pm and weekends from 3-5 pm.
During these times, well cocktails are priced at $7 and signature mixed drinks are $11. Draft beers are discounted to $4. Other specials include its $9 foie gras and chicken liver mousse served with grilled brioche and red wine-poached apples. Warm, soft, cool, crisp, sweet, and savory — it hits every taste bud you possess! LeRoux also offers a $30 board and bottle deal which includes a cheese or charcuterie board, plus a bottle of red, white, or rosé.
If wine is your thing, join our Denver Wine Walk which visits LeRoux and two other amazing downtown wine bars. Also, be sure to take a look at our post on the 10 best happy hours for wine drinkers.
North Broadway
What to Order: Wines by the Glass, Bruschetta Boards
Postino may be a chain with locations outside of Colorado. But its happy hour is so legendary around the Mile High City that we’d be remiss if we didn’t include it here. There are three locations across Denver (Broadway, LoHi, and the Hale neighborhood’s 9-CO development), plus sites in Boulder and Highlands Ranch.
You’ll need to plan early for this one, as their best drink specials end at 5 pm daily. These include $6 pitchers of beer and $6 glasses of wine — yes, this applies to every bottle on the menu! Pair your drinks with small plates and signature bruschettas, which include options like brie, apple, and fig (our favorite) and classics like basil, mozzarella, and tomato.
If you miss the early window, head to Postino for its late-night happy hour, available on Mondays and Tuesdays after 8 pm. During these times, you can enjoy a bottle of wine and a bruschetta board for just $25.
South Broadway
What to Order: Draft Beer, Mac and Cheese
Fans of pub grub and heavy metal will feel right at home at The Brutal Poodle, which offers a daily happy hour from 11 am – 6 pm. Take advantage of $4 wine and well drinks, plus $3 domestic bottles. Draft beers from local craft breweries like Ratio Beerworks, Great Divide, and Denver Beer Co. are also $2 off, meaning pints are just $3 – $5 per.
Though food specials aren’t offered during happy hour, you won’t want to miss menu favorites like its brisket sammy, chicken and waffles, and creamy mac and cheese topped with crushed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos — plus your choice of other hearty toppings. Place your order and enjoy the dive bar atmosphere, complete with a hard rock playlist and large TVs for catching the game.
River North Art District
What to Order: Jelly Sake, Spam Musubi, Kara’age Chicken
Osaka Ramen is located just off Larimer Street, the main strip in RiNo. This basement-level izakaya serves a variety of small plates, which are 25% off on weekdays from 4-5 pm. We especially love the spam musubi, a dish featuring sushi rice and crisped spam wrapped in seaweed paper. Its kara’age fried chicken made with shoyu-marinated thighs is another favorite. It’s also a highlight on our RiNo Food Tour which runs most days of the week from 1:30 – 4:30 pm.
In addition to food deals, Osaka Ramen’s happy hour has great rotating drink specials. Most weekdays, it cuts the cost of various beverage categories by 25%. Stop in for discounted beer on Mondays, sake on Tuesdays, wine on Wednesdays, and cocktails on Thursdays.
Lower Downtown
What to Order: Margaritas, Fry Bread Tacos
Kachina Cantina is located on the fun and funky Dairy Block. It’s just steps away from Union Station and close to several of our favorite things to do in Denver. Enjoy views of Coors Field from its indoor/outdoor bar, or be seated indoors next to its colorful Four Corners mural.
This Southwest and Mexican-inspired eatery is our go-to spot for delicious tacos and margaritas, plus incredible tequila and mezcal flights. It also offers an awesome happy hour, available daily from 3-6 pm.
Don’t miss its $6 house margarita or if you’re out with a group, order its $30 blood orange margarita pitcher. Options for non-tequila drinkers are available, too, like its gin spritz and red sangria, both priced at $8. Happy hour also includes food specials like $3 tacos — though, we recommend upgrading the standard corn tortilla for Navajo fry bread. To taste its carne asada taco and house margarita, join us on our signature Downtown Denver Food Tour!
Highlands
What to Order: Campari Spritz, Arancini, Castelvetrano Olives
Bar Dough is the brain-child of Top Chef finalist Carrie Baird. Her bright and modern Italian eatery is right on 32nd Street, set in line with other great spots like Lady Jane, ramen restaurant Uncle, and speakeasy Williams & Graham.
Aptly named, Bar Dough highlights two types of dough-driven foods: pasta and pizza. It also offers complimentary snacks and cocktails, which are discounted daily from 3-5 pm. Various $8 spritzes are made with apéritifs like Aperol, Campari, and Lillet. Glasses of prosecco and its house white and red are also available, priced at $7 per. As far as food, happy hour plates include $4 arancini, $7 Castelvetrano olives, and $15 charcuterie.
If after-work drinks lead to dinner, we highly recommend the seasonal pasta Bolognese. It changes a few times a year but is always a highlight.
Check Out Bar Dough’s Happy Hour Menu >>
Ballpark
What to Order: Craft Beer, Chili Cheese Fries, Signature Burgers
The Cherry Cricket has operated in Denver since 1945. Today, it has three locations including the original burger joint in Cherry Creek, plus sites in Littleton and the Ballpark neighborhood.
If you’re looking for things to do around Coors Field, stop by its downtown hub during happy hour. On weekdays from 3-6 pm, all boozy beverages are $2 off. Enjoy libations from its full bar, along with glasses of wine and craft beers on tap. While discounts don’t apply to its food menu, you won’t want to miss its tasty sides (we especially recommend the chili cheese fries), along with its famed burgers. Build your own or try award-winning options like its raspberry-poblano burger and green chile relleno burger.
Alternatively, sample this Ballpark mainstay’s spicy pork green chile on our Downtown Denver Food Tour! It runs every afternoon and includes five generous tastings from incredible local restaurants, plus optional alcoholic drink pairings.
Check Out The Cherry Cricket’s Menu >>
City Park West
What to Order: Colorado-Grown Wine, Mix-and-Match Charcuterie
Wine bar La Bouche offers a playful ambiance, perfect for happy hour. Black and white stripes and peeps of exposed brick appear throughout the renovated interior. Seating rests along the marble bar counter. Though, the shaded outdoor patio is our favorite spot to sip and savor.
Happy hour is offered from 4-6 pm on Tuesdays through Thursdays, as well as 2-4 pm on the weekends. During these times, all tap wines are 25% off. Sample house selections for just $7.50 a glass, featuring grapes grown at Colorado’s Jack Rabbit Hill Farm.
The menu offers a variety of American and French wines, available as a flight and by the glass or bottle. Beer, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages round out the selection, as do mix-and-match charcuterie boards, small plates, and artisan pastries.
Capitol Hill
What to Order: Oysters, House Wines
Angelo’s Taverna is a comfortable and approachable neighborhood spot in Cap Hill. Its happy hour is very popular with locals and tables can fill up quickly, so we recommend you arrive early. Deals are offered daily from 3-6 pm, as well as 9 pm to close.
Enjoy $1 off draft beer, $2 off tap wines, and $6 well drinks, along with amazing specials on small plates. These include $1.25 oysters, $2.50 chargrilled oysters for those not into the raw stuff, $5 crab cake sliders, and $6 toasted ravioli.
“Mollusk Mondays” are an especially ideal time to visit Angelo’s Taverna. All day, bowls of mussels are priced at $7 and its clams and linguine entree is discounted to just $17.
Washington Park
What to Order: Draft Beer, Chicken/Seitan Wings
Take advantage of Fire on the Mountain’s happy hour deals, available weekdays at both its Wash Park and Highlands locations. From 3-6 pm, specialty cocktails are priced at $10, while canned wine and all drafts are $2 off. Sixteen options make up the draft list, which features several local craft breweries including Diebolt Brewing Company and WeldWerks Brewing Co.
This laid-back mainstay also offers discounts on food, like six bone-in chicken wings or vegan seitan wings for just $8. Get them tossed with your choice of housemade sauce — favorites include lime cilantro, raspberry habanero, and Jamaican jerk. Celery sticks and dressing (bleu cheese, ranch, or vegan ranch) come on the side and make the eatery’s specialty all the more delicious.
Cherry Creek
What to Order: Jones Martini, Shrimp Cocktail, Deviled Eggs
Local Jones is set within Halcyon, a swanky hotel in Cherry Creek. Its contemporary casual vibe and elevated New American menu draw in both locals and tourists, especially during happy hour. Mondays through Thursdays from 2-5 pm, several boozy beverages and tasty bites are offered at a discount.
Sip its signature old fashioned for $12 or order a $10 Jones martini made with New Amsterdam vodka or Citadelle gin. Local draft beers are priced at $6 while house-selected wine is sold at $9 a glass and $25 a bottle.
Pair these with $2 oysters, $3 shrimp cocktail, and $9 fancy deviled eggs topped with smoked trout roe. If you’re craving something more substantial, opt for the $15 meat and cheese board or the $12 buttermilk ranch chicken tenders served with tangy housemade barbecue sauce.
Denver Tech Center
What to Order: Griffin Old Fashioned, 10-Hour Brined Wings
Boxy, beige structures make up much of DTC and Griffin Tavern’s strip mall location might be easy to miss. But inside, you’ll find a fantastic staff, a great whiskey and beer list, and quality-made food at a reasonable price.
Monday through Friday from 2-6 pm, several plates are $3 off. These include its pretzel bites made with queso blanco, chorizo, and spicy ground mustard, along with cheese curds served with housemade salted bourbon caramel or ranch dressing. Ten-hour brined wings also appear on the menu. During happy hour, five wings are priced at $7 and include your choice of flavor. Options include buffalo, hot buffalo, Cajun dry rub, sweet bourbon BBQ, Thai chili, and a zesty lemon pepper dry rub.
As far as drinks, we recommend the Griffin old fashioned. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s well-made and just $10 during happy hour. You don’t need a huge bankroll to be a whiskey snob here. The tavern has a huge list of local and national brands, so whether you’re a fan of American bonded spirits or local beers, there are plenty of options to be had at $2 off.
Centennial
What to Order: Meatball Sliders, Margherita Pizza, Beer and a Shot
Marco’s is one of only two AVPN-certified pizzerias in Colorado and one of fewer than a hundred in the US. In other words, a slice here is the closest thing to a pizza in Naples on this side of the Atlantic.
Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizza has a location in Ballpark and another in Centennial. The latter’s happy hour is available daily from 3-6 pm. If you’ve had a rough day, nothing beats an $8 beer and a shot! $5 well cocktails and glasses of house wine are also available, as are $6 mules and Aperol spritzes. Pair these with meatball sliders and Margherita pizza, and you have a recipe for a perfect post-work unwinding with friends — or simply by yourself.
This pizzeria is also a partner on our signature Downtown Denver Food Tour. These tours are great for groups of all sizes and occasions, from celebrations to company outings. To learn more about our team building activities, visit our corporate events page.
Lowry
What to Order: Old Fashioned Shot, Buttermilk Chicken Tenders
Officers Club is part of the Hangar 2 development district, which pays homage to the area’s former Lowry Air Force Base. Similarly, this New American eatery takes cues from officers’ clubs found on military bases during the mid-century. A pianist plays in the dining room on Thursdays through Sundays, and a semi-enclosed patio draws guests outdoors.
Enjoy happy hour deals on Mondays from 4 pm to close, Tuesdays through Thursdays from 4-6 pm, and Fridays from 3-6 pm. Specials include $1 off wine by the glass, plus $2 off draft beers and well cocktails. Signature drinks like its seasonal paloma, blood orange spritz, and old fashioned shot are priced between $7 and $8.
Happy hour also offers discounts on some of Officers Club’s most popular dishes. Nosh on a $6 kale salad with honey-ginger vinaigrette, along with a $13 half-order of its Southern buttermilk fried chicken tenders. Priced at $5, its warm New England cheddar biscuits also come highly recommended.
Check Out Officers Club’s Happy Hour Menu >>
Central Park
What to Order: Deviled Eggs, Steak Frites, Classic Cocktails
Annette was founded by James Beard award-winning chef Caroline Glover. It’s a highlight inside Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace, which features several food and retail vendors (including its new sister concept, Traveling Mercies).
Stop in Annette’s sunny and stylish space during happy hour, available from 4:30-5:30 pm on Wednesdays through Sundays, plus all hours on Tuesdays. Start with $4 deviled eggs paired with your choice of classic cocktail, each priced at $10. Options include its mule, Manhattan, gin and tonic, and white rum daiquiri. Alternatively, grab a shot and a beer for $8 or a full bottle of white, red, rosé, or sparkling for $35.
If you’re still feeling peckish, order a larger plate before the dinner rush. Options include its $12 egg salad on toast and $27 steak frites served with greens, grilled onion butter, and a pickled shallot vinaigrette.
Want to learn more about Denver’s food and drink scene? Join Delicious Denver Food Tours, Denver’s #1 ranked tour company, for a walking food tour, offered daily from $70. Visit award-winning local restaurants for delicious tastings and learn about the city along the way.
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