I discovered my love for happy hours when I started becoming a foodie in college. My palate was expanding, I lived in an amazing city for fun food and drinks, and exploring new restaurants quickly became my favorite hobby. Unfortunately, being a foodie is not easy when you’re a broke college student without a salary.
Luckily, I discovered happy hours, and everything changed.
Even with a salary, I’m still always game for a good happy hour deal - I wholeheartedly believe there’s no better way to explore the food and drink scene in a new city. Although I have to say the Denver happy hour scene might not quite live up to Austin’s (what is with all of the happy hours here ending at 5?? Don’t people work?), I’ve found a few that I absolutely love.
Serving European fare with a great wine and cocktail selection in an upscale setting, Bistro LeRoux is sure to satisfy your cravings for oysters, charcuterie, or french onion soup. The happy hour menu boasts classics like truffled deviled eggs, steamed mussels, Spanish-style meatballs, and steak tartare for anywhere from $5-$9, and the BEST french onion soup I’ve tried in Denver for only $5! You can also try a charcuterie board or 1/2 dozen oysters plus a bottle of wine for $30 (the cheese and charcuterie is my fav). On Mondays, treat yourself to LeRoux’s all day happy hour!
This bright, innovative taco joint on Larimer Square is my go-to for happy hour margs and tacos. Enjoy a traditional marg for only $5, or try their house-infused margs for $6 (the citrus-lemongrass and serrano are my personal favs). If you’re not a tequila person, they also have house wine for $5 or a red sangria for $6. Complement your drink of choice with a few tacos - at $3 each ($2 on Taco Tuesdays), Tamayo’s tacos are a steal on happy hour. The happy hour menu also includes other snacks like queso or guacamole, but I personally think the margs and tacos are the best deal here!
Postino is a feel-good wine and beer spot that’s perfect for connecting with friends or coworkers. They make connecting even easier by offering a couple amazing deals throughout the week. Everyday until 5 PM, enjoy glasses of wine and pitchers of beer for $6. To satisfy your hunger, Postino offers a variety of snacks, boards, and sandwiches to complement their wine and beer selection. If you want a deal on food, check out Board & Bottle nights every Monday and Tuesday after 8 PM - Postino offers a bruschetta board and a bottle of wine for only $25! Catch me at Postino LoHi every Monday evening because this might be my single favorite dining deal in Denver!
Mister Oso serves amazingly flavorful Mexican food in a colorful and energetic setting, and their happy hour is the best time to explore the menu on a budget! Although the happy hour menu is short, it features some amazing items - the mini queso ($6) is one of my favorites in Denver, and the death bear nachos ($8) are tasty and super filling. On the drink menu, you can enjoy their classic margarita (I like to order it spicy!) for $7, their sangria for $6, or their rotating frozen cocktail for $8. If you’re looking for a high-quality happy hour with great vibes, this is the one for you.
See Mister Oso’s happy hour menu
This modern Asian spot serves one of the most drool-worthy happy hour menus in Denver. Their decadent small bites like “General Cho’s” soup dumplings, french onion soup dumplings, pork belly bao buns, and wagyu beef skewers are all available from $11-$13, and if you’re in the mood to treat yourself, their thick-cut fried calamari is amazing and only $16 on happy hour! To sip, all signature cocktails are $3 off, or you can go with beer ($5), wine ($6), or sake ($8). If you miss the afternoon happy hours, you can get the same deals after 9:30 PM on Friday and Saturday!
If you’re looking to get your gourmet seafood fix on a budget, this is the happy hour for you! The $2 east coast oysters are always a hit, but my personal favorite is their pound of steamed pei mussels for only $16. You’ll also find 1/2 pound peel n’ eat shrimp, fried town dock calamari, gumbo fries, or a jax po-boy for less than $14 each. If you prefer to drink your oysters, you can try an oyster shooter for $5, or try any other happy hour cocktail for only $7 (I love the cucumber lemon press). I always have a blast at this happy hour, especially when I’m craving seafood.
As I explore more happy hours in Denver, I’ll make sure to keep this list updated with my favorites! Let me know if you have any favorites that I missed.
