Happy hour. Perhaps the best time of day. Scores of restaurants around Arlington agree, offering discounts on bar bites and adult beverages, from dragon shrimp to espresso martinis. If you’re looking for great spots to visit, take a peek at our top happy hour vote-getters from the Best of Arlington 2023 Awards. Not enough choices? Here are some more great options:
Barley Mac
Monday-Friday | 4-7 p.m.
Head to this Rosslyn tavern known for coccoli—doughnut balls served with prosciutto, truffle honey and fontina—and cocktails such as the gin-meets-lavender combo Italian Stallion. At happy hour, find a wide array of $5 drinks, including the Atlas Brew Works’ Dance of Days IPA; house sangria; spiked lemonade and rail drinks. And enjoy $2 off on all pizza and appetizers (Hint: Might be a good time to test drive an order of coccoli). // 1600 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Rosslyn)
Barrel and Bushel
Daily | 2-7 p.m.
This light-filled bar and restaurant at Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner pour 30-plus regional beers and more than 65 bourbons. As the weather warms up, pull up a seat on the patio or near one of the garage-style glass doors. The happy hour menu offers $2 off select appetizers (including deviled eggs and the jumbo hearth pretzel, served with cheese sauce and creole mustard), $2 off select beers, $6 house wines and $7 rail drinks. // 7901 Tysons One Place, Tysons
Dominion Wine and Beer
Monday-Friday | 4-6 p.m.
You may have popped by this shop in The Little City for a bottle of Jules prosecco rose or a four-pack of Commonwealth Galaxy Magic. But ICYMI, they’ve also got a restaurant and bar upstairs. During happy hour, try any of their wines by the glass or draft pours for 20% off, and take advantage of discounted pricing on several apps, from dragon shrimp with sweet chili sauce to pommes frites with rosemary, garlic, sea salt and parmesan. // 107 Rowell Ct., Falls Church City
El Paso Cafe
Monday-Friday | 3-6 p.m.
For more than 30 years, El Paso Cafe has brought Tex-Mex cooking to Arlington’s Buckingham neighborhood, serving dishes like pork pupusas and pescado frito (pan-seared Rockfish, butterfly shrimp, white rice, pinto beans, house-made corn tortillas). While you’re considering your dinner order, sip on domestic beer for $3, imports for $4, $5 glasses of wine, $6 sangria and $7 Juarez margaritas, made with Juarez silver tequila. Hungry for a snack? Snag guacamole for $4, and queso or taquitos for $5 each. // 4235 N. Pershing Drive, Arlington (Buckingham)
Kaldi’s Social House
Daily | 4-7 p.m.
It may be a prime coffee destination, but this Clarendon spot also runs a daily happy hour with food options that could sub for dinner in a pinch. Choose from crispy chicken, cheeseburger or seared salmon sliders (one for $5 or three for $14); spicy Thai peanut wings (six for $8, 12 for $15); roasted butternut squash hummus ($7) and shoestring fries ($6). And wash those down with discounted prices on espresso martinis, Moscow mules and other select cocktails, as well as $3 off select beer and wine. // 3100 10th St. N., Arlington (Clarendon)
The Liberty Tavern
Daily | 3-6 p.m.
Dig into deals on shareable plates and liquid refreshments at this cozy Wilson Boulevard eatery serving wood-fired pizza and house-made pasta (whose sister restaurant, Lyon Hall, was voted Best Happy Hour in our 2023 Best of Arlington Awards). The happy hour food options include arancini ($8), side Caesar salad ($5) and 10-inch red or white pies for $10. Accompany those with select $6 local beers, select $7 glasses of wine and $7 cocktails, such as the Kentucky mule or an Aperol spritz. // 3195 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)Â Â
Mussel Bar and Grille
Daily | 3-7 p.m. & Friday-Saturday | 10 p.m.-Close
This Belgian bistro from chef Robert Wiedmaier brings steak frites, clam linguine and (you guessed it) mussels to Ballston. During happy hour, nibble on margherita flatbread ($12) or blue crab dip ($14), or dive into a half-pot of mussels paired with select beer or wine ($20). Also find drink deals, such as the Spanish gin and tonic ($10) or barrel-aged old fashioned ($11). // 800 N. Glebe Road, Arlington (Ballston)
Parc de Ville
Tuesday-Friday | 5-7 p.m.
Like a side of jazz with your happy hour? Make your way to this swanky brasserie at Mosaic from restaurateurs Eric and Ian Hilton (Cafe Colline, El Rey), complete with a “vibey” rooftop that opens each spring. While happy hour runs four nights a week, Wednesday is jazz night, courtesy of local pianist Bobby Jasinski. The eats on the happy hour menu include prawn cocktail ($12) and smoked salmon rillettes ($12). Order drinks such as the French martini ($12) a la carte or take advantage of one of their food and drink pairings, such as a half-dozen oysters with two glasses of Chateau du Coing de Saint-Fiacre Muscadet ($32). // 8196 Glass Alley, Fairfax (Mosaic)
Piece Out Del Ray
Tuesday-Friday | 4-7 p.m. & Saturday-Sunday Noon-7 p.m.
This neighborhood pizzeria—part of the restaurant group behind Cafe Pizzaiolo, St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub and Market 2 Market—regularly hosts events such as Beer Bingo and Steal the Pint Night. It’s also got a patio and an extended happy hour on weekends, with deals including $2 off draft beers, $5 glasses of wine or sangria, a Piece Out pilsner and a slice for $8, and a $6 chicken tender basket. // 2419 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria
The Pinemoor
Weekdays | 4-6 p.m.
Calamari. Baked brie. Beef tartare. The selections at this Clarendon restaurant from Reese Gardner (Copperwood Tavern, Dudley’s Sport & Ale, Brass Rabbit, Quinn’s on the Corner) are hard to say no to. Luckily, you can say yes a bit easier during happy hour, when appetizers are buy one get one free, oysters are $1 and select wines by the glass as well as drafts are $6. // 1101 N. Highland St., Arlington (Clarendon)
Solace Outpost
Monday-Thursday | 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Had a rough day at work? Catch the end of this Falls Church brewery’s seven-hour happy hour, where bar snacks such as crispy chicken thighs and loaded tots are $7, mixed drinks and wine by the glass are $2 off, and beer pints are $5. (Psst … They’ve also got trivia nights and some pretty stellar IPAs.)Â // 444 West Broad St., Falls Church City