San Francisco's best happy hours
http://sanfrancisco.metromix.com/entertainment/2435895
Deep discounts at your fave restaurants and bars
By Amanda E. Snyder, Metromix San Francisco Ambassador
The problem: You gotta unwind after a long day – but how do you indulge without shelling out a lot of dough? Enter the world of happy hours, where the words “full price” don’t exist and there’s always something on the menu that fits the bill. San Francisco has a head-spinning array of choices when it comes to happy hours; read on to find some of the best in the city – and even some beyond its borders.
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Maya
303 Second St. 415-543-2928.
When: 4:30 p.m. until close daily in the bar
The deal: Get $3 draft beers (like Negra Modelo and Anchor Steam) and $5 select cocktails (think sangria, margaritas and mojitos) – and even a bucket and shot special on Maya’s Mexican-inspired menu. Food choices include $2 tacos with a ton of options (minimum order of two) and $3.50 sides such as black beans and rice.
Ponzu
401 Taylor St. 415-775-7979.
When: 4:30-6:30 p.m. daily in the bar and lounge
The deal: Ponzu promises a Zen-like happy hour with their discounted menu. Snag $3 select drafts and wine glasses, $5 sparkling wine flutes and $5 well cocktails on the rocks, in addition to a $3 daily happy hour special cocktail. Hungry? Grub a $3 menu of crab cakes, beef sliders, chicken wings, paprika fries and more.
City Tavern
3200 Fillmore St. 415-567-0918.
When: 3-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
The deal: Marina’s City Tavern is well-known for a light-on-the-wallet happy hour that brings in the locals. And when bar food and select beers are just $3 a piece, it’s right on target. Even better are Tuesdays - ahem, TWOSdays - when those goodies, even entrées like burgers and pizza, go down to just $2 each.
Tortilla Heights
1750 Divisadero St. 415-346-4531.
When: 4:30-6:30 p.m. daily
The deal: The down-to-earth bar and resto Tortilla Heights dishes out a revolving menu of happy hour specials. During the week, snag half-priced margarita pitchers; Saturdays offer up $10 Dos XX Amber pitchers, while they boast half-priced sangria pitchers on Sundays. Other days of the week offer additional specials: $1 street tacos and $10 beer pitchers on Tuesdays, $1 margaritas on Wednesdays and $2 Tecate cans and $4 shot specials on both Thursdays and Fridays.
Amélie
1754 Polk St. 415-292-6916.
When: 5:30-7 p.m. daily
The deal: Wine lovers adore Nob Hill’s Amélie for the relaxed but sophisticated atmosphere, killer wine selection and of course, the happy hour. Diners can choose any three wines and get a flight of them – with healthy pours – for just $10.
Lake Chalet
1520 Lakeside Drive, Oakland. 510-208-5253.
When: 3-6 p.m. and again from 9 p.m. until close daily
The deal: Oakland’s Lake Chalet offers up not just a rockin’ happy hour deal, but gorgeous views of Lake Merritt. Get in on their 3-6-9 Happy Hour: everything on the menu is (you guessed it) $3, $6 or $9. The ample menu includes sweet potato fries ($3), select premium cocktails ($6) and stick pork spare ribs ($9). A tip: Go on Tuesdays when Chalet also offers $2.50 tacos and half-priced margaritas.
The Graduate
6202 Claremont Ave., Oakland. 510-655-8847.
When: 4-7 p.m. daily
The deal: Yes, it gets packed. But Rockridge’s The Graduate offers up a host of happy hour deals – and some free popcorn never hurt anyone. Quench your thirst with $1.50 PBRs, $2.75 Sierra Nevadas, $3 well cocktails and $6 PBR pitchers.