It’s the happiest hour of the day. Or the happiest couple of hours. Maybe even a bit more.
Since 2016, bars and restaurants in Alberta can offer happy hour deals any time, day or night. They can present deals as low as $2.75 for an ounce of spirits, $1.75 for a five-ounce glass of wine, $2.75 for a 12-ounce bottle or can of beer or $3.20 for a 20-ounce pint. (The old two-for-one specials are verboten.)
It would be great to see that pricing occasionally — especially $1.75 for a good cabernet — but seldom do bar owners go that far in the discounts. Drawing customers with deep-discount drinks is frowned upon in the industry. Instead, we see a few bucks off drinks at happy hour and often some food specials. (Wednesday wing night, anyone?)
But where to spend those precious hours? Happy hour is all over the map, both literally and figuratively. So, to help you find your happy place, we’ve put together a list of some of our favourite happy hour haunts.
1410 Bier Haus
When: Every day from 3 to 6 p.m
1410 Bier Haus offers local draft beer, highballs and six-ounce glasses of house wine for just $5 on weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. The kettle chips are free and there are also half-price appetizers.
1410 17 Ave. S.W., 403-229-1410, 1410bierhaus.ca
Anejo
When: Every day from 3 to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. until close
More than a hundred tequilas lining the back bar give a less-than-subtle hint that Anejo might be a good place for a margarita or a straight shot of high-end agave juice. Drop that price (for the margarita, anyway) to $6 during daily “halfy hour,” add half-price tacos and the party is on.
2, 2116 4 St. S.W., 587-353-2656, anejo.ca
Bottlescrew Bill’s Pub and Buzzards Restaurant & Bar
When: 3 to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday; all day on Sundays
Calgary’s classic pub and restaurant with a sunny, rambling, near-year-round patio, rolls out a different daily beer special for $5. During weekdays, their local draft beers are $3 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., $4 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. all local drafts beers, wine and Caesars are $5. On Sundays, an all-day happy hour includes all local draft pints, Caesars and five-ounce glasses of wine also for $5. Feel like staying a while (and calling a cab)? There are highballs for $4.
140 10 Ave. S.W., 403-264-6959, bottlescrewbill.com
Buffo
When: 2 to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday
During happy hour, this Italian ristorante offers beer and highballs for $5, glasses of wine and prosecco for $6 and half-price bar bites. Visit this spot with friends to eat and drink to your heart’s content.
6455 Macleod Trail S.W., 403-351-2316, buffocalgary.com
Cannibale
When: 4 to 6 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday and 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday
Cannibale is one of the most popular spots in Bridgeland to go for a cocktail (and a shave in the attached barbershop). During its daily happy hour, cocktails are $8.50 and you can choose between an old fashioned, daiquiri, Jungle Bird or ask the bartender about the rotating happy hour cocktail. There’s also select beer, wine (red and white), and bourbon for $5.
831 1 Ave. N.E., 403-454-5808, cannibale.ca
Chairman’s Steakhouse
When: Weekdays 4 to 6 p.m.
Ease out of your work day with $10 classic cocktails — think a Manhattan, Moscow Mule and Daiquiri — and $5 domestic drafts. Round off your drink with some snacks from the lounge menu, like ahi tuna tartare or chicken sliders, since everything is 20 per cent off during happy hour.
2251 Mahogany Blvd., 587-291-9898, chairmans.ca
Cibo
When: 3 to 5 p.m. on Monday to Saturday, 9 p.m. to close on Monday to Thursday and 10 p.m. to close on Friday and Saturday (17th Avenue location); 2 to 4 p.m. every day, 8 p.m. to close on Sunday to Thursday and 9 p.m. to close Friday and Saturday (Centre Street location)
Cibo — the lively, casual, Italian joint — has $5 pizzas, scodellina, house wine and draft beer during its afternoon and late-night happy hours at both locations.
1012 17 Ave. S.W., 403-984-4755 and 2220 Centre St. N.E., 403-276-2030, cibocalgary.com
Cleaver
When: Before 7 p.m. and after 9 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday
Cleaver’s happy hour covers a lot of hours. Before 7 p.m. and after 9 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday, you can get $4 sliders and $8 wine, beer and cocktails.
102, 524 17 Ave. S.W., 403-452-1211, cleavercalgary.com
Double Zero
When: Every day from 3 to 5 p.m
Nothing beats pizza after a hard day’s work, except maybe a $12 pizza with a half price glass of wine, craft beer or bubbles.
Chinook Centre, 6455 Macleod Tr. S.W., 403-457-7677, doublezeropizza.ca
Goro + Gun
When: Weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m.
Its handy downtown mall location makes Goro + Gun an ideal spot for a post-work tipple, and the Japanese restaurant’s $5 happy hour menu has turned Goro into a particularly hot spot on weekday afternoons. Wine, sake, Sapporo beer and an Omakase cocktail are all on deck, but the happy hour highlight is a long list of $5 appetizers including favourites such as sushi rolls, sashimi, takoyaki and other tasty Japanese snacks.
Scotia Centre, 225 7 Ave. S.W., 403-237-5596, goroandgun.ca
Gringo Street
When: Before 7 p.m. and after 9 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday
Cleaver’s Latin sister restaurant and next-door neighbour has the same happy hour hours but offers $3 tacos and $7 double cocktails instead. There’s also live music here every Sunday during the summer from 4 to 7 p.m.
101, 524 17 Ave. S.W., 403-474-1411, gringost.com
The Guild
When: Every day from 2 to 6 p.m.
This stylish restaurant is making it easier to treat yourself with $9 feature cocktails, $5 pints of Big Rock Brewery’s Liberty Commons Lager and half-price bar bites. You can also order six and nine ounce glasses of wine for $6 and $9, respectively.
200, 8 Ave. S.W., 403-770-2313, theguildrestaurant.com
Hawthorn Dining Room & Bar
When: Weekdays 3 to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight
After strolling through the Fairmont Palliser to its Hawthorn restaurant and lobby bar, you’ll be greeted with $8 daily beer, house wine and prosecco during their weekday happy hours. You can channel old world glamour as you visit Hawthorn for a mid-day pick-me-up or a nightcap.
133 9 Ave. S.W., 403-262-1234, hawthorndiningroom.ca
Hose & Hound
When: 3 to 6 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and all day on Sundays
Situated in Inglewood’s Fire Hall #3, which was built in 1906, the Hose & Hound can douse your thirst with $5.50 domestic beers and premium well highballs.
1030 9 Ave. S.E., 403-234-0508, thehose.ca
Hy’s Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar
When: Weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m. and 4 p.m. to close on Sundays
During happy hour at Hy’s, sparkling wines and feature cocktails are 40 per cent off, draft beer is $5.50, highballs are $5.75 and featured red and white wine is $9 a glass. Highlights from the food menu include cheese toast ($5.95), a prime beef burger ($14.95) and oysters ($1.50 each). This spot also has a nice big patio.
The Core, 8 Avenue and 3 Street, 403-663-3363, hyssteakhouse.com
Kensington Pub
When: Every day from 3 to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close
The Kensington Pub, or K-Pub as it’s known to regulars, offers 16 ounce Guinness Hop House 13 lager and Legend 7 Porter for $5.95 and house highballs for $4.95. The English-themed pub offers daily food features to go along with the drinks, too.
207 10A St. N.W., 403-270-4505, kensingtonpub.com
Klein/Harris
When: 3 to 6 p.m. from Tuesday to Friday
The result of a partnership between executive chef James Waters and “cocktail curator” Christina Mah, Klein/Harris is half restaurant, half lounge (quite literally — the room is bisected into two sections, just like the name). The Tuesday to Friday “happiest hour” offers discounts on wine and beer (both $5) as well as buckets of duck wings with spicy maple garlic sauce ($14).
113 8 Ave. S.W., 403-262-8100, kleinharris.com
Last Best Brewing & Distilling
When: Every day from 2 to 6 p.m.
Last Best’s wide selection of house brews are consistently flavourful and go especially well with upscale bar snacks like root vegetable fries and beer braised pork fry bread. The daily happy hour features specials on both food and drink (including nine ounces of beer for just $2.50), best enjoyed if you belly up to a padded stool at Last Best’s long and brassy bar.
607 11 Ave. S.W., 587-353-7387, lastbestbrewing.com
The Living Room
When: Weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
The Living Room’s happy hour is pretty straight forward. All feature beer, cocktails and wine by the glass are $6 and feature small plates are $8. The street-facing bar top is best for people-watching in the afternoon.
514 17 Ave. S.W., 403-228-9830, livingroomrestaurant.ca
Lulu Bar
When: Every day from 2 to 5 p.m.
This warm wood and teal oasis offers patrons a break from the hustle and bustle of city life in a laid-back atmosphere. Lulu Bar offers a half price happy hour where most alcoholic drinks are half off. You can easily pair the salt and pepper pork belly with one of the first five taps of beer or signature cocktails (excluding the tiki tiki menu), as well as any wine or sake where the bottle price is below $70.
510 17 Ave. S.W., 403-930-5707, lulubar.ca
Market
When: Weekdays from 3 to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close; weekends from 10 p.m. to close
During Market’s daily happy hour, there are $8 glasses of wine, $5 beer and $5 highballs made with homemade bar syrups. But most importantly, there is $10 pricing on some of Market’s most popular appetizers. Don’t miss the poutine made with 4K Farms’ pulled pork or the three cheese gnocchi.
718 17 Ave. S.W., 403-474-4414, marketcalgary.ca
Modern Ocean
When: Weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m.
This new addition to Modern Steak’s downtown campus offers half-price oysters and bottles of Champagne for four hours each weekday. You can also order two different bundles at a special price: a dozen oysters (six east coast, six west coast) and a 200ml bottle of Grey Goose vodka for $47 or the same selection of oysters with two 250ml bottles of Bollicini Prosecco for just $33. Pro tip: go on Tuesday for additional discounts on tuna, salmon or beef tartare.
100 8 Ave. S.E., 403-244-3600, modernocean.ca
Mugshotz Sports Bar & Grill
When: Tuesday through Saturday, 4 to 7 p.m.
Charlene and Clint Pellerin serve up some of the best wings in the city (Wednesdays and Fridays, $8.75 a pound) to go along with $4.95 bottles of domestic beer or highballs, Tuesday through Saturday. Try the dill pickle or the whiskey maple bacon wings.
12, 2808 Ogden Rd. S.E., 403-264-4441, mugshotzofficial.wixsite.com
National Beer Hall
When: Every day from 3 to 6 p.m.
National’s four locations (8th Avenue, 10th Avenue, 17th Avenue and Westhills) offer a lively come-one, come-all atmosphere and daily happy hour deals. Beer is 29 cents per ounce ($5 for 18 ounces and $3.50 for 12 ounces) and hickory smoked pepperoni is $5.50.
Various locations, ntnl.ca
Native Tongues Taqueria
When: Weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m.
Plates of street-style tacos are most people’s go-to order at Native Tongues, but the contemporary Mexican restaurant’s daily happy hour offerings give customers a chance to explore some other food options (plus a few standard drinks) on the cheap. The happy hour menu is small but mighty, featuring a bean and cheese tostada (a tortilla that is fried or toasted), chilaquiles (tortillas topped with salsa and your choice of meat) and a hamburger that goes above and beyond what you’d typically find at a Mexican restaurant.
235 12 Ave. S.W., 403-263-9444, nativetongues.ca
The Pig & Duke
When: Weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m
At both locations (Connaught and downtown), the Pig & Duke rounds out its menu with happy hour items that range from $5 to $6. Get pints of Phillips Solaris White Peach Ale and locally brewed Tool Shed’s Cow Killa, domestic bottles, highballs and house wine while indulging in daily food specials at this casual neighbourhood pub.
1312 12 Ave. S.W., 403-245-8487 and 503 4 Ave S.W., 403-452-0539, pigandduke.com
Posto Pizzeria and Bar
When: Weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m
Attached to its big brother Bonterra, Posto pours half-price wine and $5 pints on weekdays, along with appetizer snacks like perogies and meatballs for $2.50 each. The location, just a short stroll south of the tracks from downtown offices, is a plus, too.
1014 8 St. S.W., 403-263-4876, posto.ca
Proof
When: Every day 4 to 7 p.m
One of Calgary’s most cosmopolitan cocktail bars, Proof takes the art of the mixed drink very seriously, and the lounge’s daily happy hour lets patrons enjoy an uncompromised level of quality on the (relative) cheap. Spend your early evenings gazing upon the impressive and elegantly arranged wall of liquor behind the bar while sipping on $7 glasses of house wine, $6 beers, $8 classic rum cocktails and $5 food specials.
1302 1 St. S.W., 403-246-2414, proofyyc.com
Raw Bar
When: 4 to 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday
You can slip inside the cozy confines of Raw Bar from 4 to 6 p.m. for half-price small plates and $5 house wine, draft beer and classic cocktails (choose from a Martini, Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Negroni, Margarita or Moscow Mule). Bonus: On Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m., you can order oysters for $1 each and half price bottles of wine all night long.
Hotel Arts, 119 12 Ave. S.W., 403-206-9565, rawbaryyc.ca
Schooners Neighbourhood Pub
When: 2 to 6 p.m. on Monday to Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays
Schooners rings in happy hour early with a 2 p.m. start Monday through Saturday (noon on Sundays). During these hours, selected domestic pints, bottled beer and well highballs are an enticing $4.50 and glasses of wine are $5. The nautically themed Schooners also has daily food specials, including half-price wings on Sundays.
6416 Old Banff Coach Rd. S.W., 403-240-2424, schoonerspub.com
Ship & Anchor
When: Weekdays from 4 to 7 p.m.; Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m.; Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.
Charming, engaging and casual, the Ship & Anchor’s status as a Calgary landmark includes daily happy hour deals featuring discounted draft beer and highballs ($1 off) as well as daily shot specials.
534 17 Ave. S.W., 403-245-3333, shipandanchor.com
Social Beer Haus
When: Every day from 3 to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close, Sunday to Thursday
At Social Beer Haus, you can ring in the end of the work day with $5 wine and beer (14 ounces) along with deals on their appies, like taco sliders. As night time rolls around, you can take advantage of their late night meats where all of their meats are half off.
220 8 Ave. S.W., 403-474-6466, socialbeerhaus.com
St. James Corner
When: Weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and all-day on Sundays
As Irish as it comes, St. James Corner counts down the seconds to the next St Patrick’s Day. You can help knock off three hours on weekdays with select beer for $5, house lager for $3.50, as well as house wine and highballs for $4.
1219 1 St. S.W., 403-262-1157, stjamescorner.ca
Tea House
When: 6 to 7 p.m., Wednesday to Saturday
Tea House is a cool cocktail bar in the basement of Two Penny in Victoria Park. Even though its happy hour is only during the first hour of service, it’s worth it if you’re going for the weekly live comedy on Thursdays at 7 p.m. — which is also a steal of a deal at just $10.
1213 1 St. S.W., 403-474-7766, teahouseyyc.com
Teatro
When: Weekdays from 2 to 5 p.m.
Prime yourself for the theatre or a concert with a pre-show visit to Teatro. Enjoy half-off the light bar menu while sipping on a Peroni beer, highball or house wine for $6.
200 Stephen Ave. S.E., 403-290-1012, teatro.ca
Trolley 5
When: Every day from 3 to 6 p.m.
Trolley 5’s daily happy hour features killer deals on all of its in-house brews, as well as house wines and highballs for $4. If you’re feeling peckish, there are daily food specials on the brew pub’s versions of pizza, barbecue, wings and other dishes.
728 17 Ave. S.W., 403-454-3731, trolley5.com
Vin Room
When: Every day from 3 to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. until close
Like to lighten the day with a little vino? Check out Vin Room’s “Twice as Nice” happy hour for $7 wine, $6 beer and $5 tapas, daily. As an added bonus, your dog can join you on the front patio at the 4th Street location and on the whole patio at the 85th Street location.
2310 4 St. S.W., 403-457-5522 and 8561 8A Ave. S.W., 587-353-8812, vinroom.com
Vintage Chophouse & Tavern
When: Weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m.
This classy joint has a retro flair and refined atmosphere that’s reflected in their happy hour menu. There’s a special menu of pre-steak appies that includes vintage cheese toast with truffle mornay and gouda cheese for $5 and beef ribs for $10, among others. You can easily pair your food selection with a vintage lager ($5), glass of house wine ($6) or classic cocktail ($8).
320 11 Ave. S.W., 403-262-7262, vintagechophouse.com
Waalflower Kitchen & Cocktails
When: All day on Mondays; 2 to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close, Tuesday to Thursday; 2 to 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. to close on Fridays; 10 p.m. to close on Saturdays
At Waalflower, there’s a large selection of food and drink items for $10 and under during happy hour, making it easy to wine and dine yourself. You can start your afternoon off with the Perks of Being a Waal Lager followed by sweet and spicy wings or ribs.
24 4 St. N.E., 587-349-9008, waalflower.ca
Wurst
When: Everyday from 3 to 6 p.m. and all day Mondays
Wurst, a Mission anchor with a Bavarian tone, rolls out half-litre steins of domestic and import brew for $5, half-litres of draft wine for $12 and half-price appetizers.
2437 4 St. S.W., 403-245-2345, wurst.ca
[This article was last updated on September 16, 2019]