Best Happy Hours in Newport Beach

There is nothing like a great happy hour. It’s that time of the day when you get to eat, drink and be merry…at discounted prices! Newport Beach is home to great restaurants with amazing happy hour deals.  As an Orange County native, here is my list of happy hours in Newport Beach (and nearby areas) where the people watching is prime, the drinks are strong and the food never disappoints.

FIG AND OLIVE

The Scene  Come here to shell out some serious dough on cocktails and snacks. This New York City restaurant, which prides itself on serving the best olive oils and cuisine from the Mediterranean region, is Newport Beach’s newest place to see and be seen.
The Hours  Daily, 4-6pm.
The Drinks  Varying prices for select cocktails. Try the cucumber cosmo – its sensational!
The Food  This place puts the “small” in small plates.

The Cannery

The Scene  This has been a local’s spot for years and there’s a good reason – the food is amazing, the people watching is entertaining and the waterfront location is perfect.
The Hours  Daily, 4pm – 6:30pm.
The Drinks  $2 off cocktails and wine, $3.50 for draft beers.
The Food  Half priced on entire upstairs lounge menu. The sushi is phenomenal and the calamari is a must.

Yard House

The Scene  Beer and sports lovers converge at this national chain, which opened its first location in 1996 in Long Beach. The center island bar, complete with flat screens, has an endless fleet of tap handles ranging from classic lagers to more obscure ales and averages between 130 to 180 brews on tap.
The Hours  Monday to Friday, 3pm – 6pm.
The Drinks  $2.25 – $5.50 Shortys; $3.75 Domestic Pints; $4.25 – $6.75 Craft, Import Pints & Goblets; $7.50 – $10.50 Half Yards; $4.25 – $4.75 Well Drinks; $6.50 House Martinis; $2.00 off Specialty Drinks; $2.00 off Wine By The Glass.
The Food  Select Half-Priced Appetizers and Pizzas. Try the California Roll which isn’t even a roll but rather a stacked sushi rice cake.

Fly ‘N’ Fish Oyster Bar & Grill

The Scene  People pile in here around happy hour to get deals on what can normally run a pretty penny. Known for serving some of the best clam chowder, Fly ‘N’ Fish is a seafood lovers dream come true.
The Hours  Monday – Friday, 3pm – 6pm.
The Drinks   House wine by the glass $5, domestic beer $4, premium beer $5 and well drinks $5.
The Food  Discounted prices on appetizers and small plates such as half dozen fresh shucked oysters for $8.

SOL Cocina

The Scene  Get there early or prepare to fight your way to the bar and if you can’t grab a seat, chances are you won’t find one.  This place is crowded for a reason.  The food is great, the drinks are strong and the people watching is prime.
The Hours  Daily, 4pm – 7pm.
The Drinks  Margarita specials, $5.50 well drinks, $3 any wine by the glass, $3.50 any bottle beer.
The Food  A special happy hour food menu with tacos, guacamole, shrimp cocktail and more at great prices.

The Crow Bar and Kitchen

The Scene  This has been a local’s spot for years and there’s a good reason – the food is amazing, the people watching is entertaining and the waterfront location makes
The Hours  3pm – 6pm daily and 10 pm – close on Thursday night.
The Drinks  Daily social hour includes select draft beers $4, well cocktails $5, select wine-by-the-glass $6, 25% off all bottled beer, 15% off bottled wine from our award winning wine list,
The Food  Discounts on select appetizers; Thursday night has similar discounts on beverages as well as $5 burgers and $8 flatbreads.

Wildfish 

The Scene  Fight for seats.  Come early to get seats or be prepared to stand while you wait for seats to open up.  Catch the game on the flat screens around the indoor or outdoor bar.
The Hours  Daily from 4pm – 7pm; all night Sunday & Monday
The Drinks  $6 wines by the glass; $6 select cocktails
The Food  Special happy hour menu with discounted appetizers. Try the crispy cashew calamari or the crab cake.

Tommy Bahama

The Scene  When all the other happy hour spots are packed, this low-key spot is your best bet. Sip on tropical drinks and dishes in an island setting. The outdoor patio also makes this a perfect spot to bring Fido.
The Hours  Daily, 4-6pm at Newport Beach location.  Monday – Friday, 4-6pm at Laguna Beach location.
The Drinks  Discounted prices on wine, cocktails and beer.  A must try is the grapefruit basil martini.
The Food  Special happy hour menu serving up reasonably priced small plates. Favorites include the halibut ceviche and fish tacos.

Canaletto by Il Fornaio

The Scene  Singles mingle and couples cozy up at this Italian haunt which draws a rather mixed happy hour crowd. What normally runs a pretty penny, the happy hour at Canaletto is a total steal.
The Hours  Monday to Friday, 4:30pm – 6:30pm
The Drinks  $5 Artisan Cocktails and Wines by the glass; $3 Draft Beer.
The Food  Select appetizers and pizza for $5.

Bayside Restaurant

The Scene  Not quite the place that would come to mind when you think happy hour.  This rather quiet restaurant is a great choice for a relaxed night. One thing to love is that happy hour is every day until close.
The Hours  Daily, 4:30pm to close.
The Drinks  Not a wide range of options – only wine and an apple martini on the happy hour menu all under $8 a glass.
The Food  With a rather large happy hour menu, you’ll find several small plates from the regular menu at discounted prices.

Muldoon’s

The Scene  It’s an Irish pub – enough said. Built in 1974, the Dublin Pub is entirely oak and brick giving it that old Irish tavern feel.  Play darts, listen to music and kickback in the courtyard at one of the OC’s oldest pubs.
The Hours  Monday – Friday, 4pm – 7pm and referred to as “Wilde Hours” in honor of Oscar Wilde.
The Drinks  $5 drinks from select menu.
The Food  Serving their usual menus.  You can order from the bar or regular menu.

Nearby Watering Holes

There are some other restaurants and bars that deserve a shout out.  If you’ve covered all the other spots in Newport Beach, here are some nearby locations that are a definite must.

The Rooftop Lounge

The Scene  This is happy hour with a view.  Post-up on the beachfront deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean while sipping on a cocktail and watching the sun sink behind the horizon.
The Hours  Monday – Friday 3:00pm-5:00pm
The Drinks  Half off all Mojitos, Beer, Wine and Well Drinks
The Food  Serving their usual menus.  You can order from the bar or regular menu.

Memphis

The Scene  People pile into this “southern hipster” café.  Be prepared for a somewhat overly packed bar.
The Hours  Daily, 3pm – 6:30pm. Late night Thursday, 10pm – 1am.
The Drinks  $5 select beers and wines, $4 classic cocktails and well drinks, $6 specialty cocktails.
The Food  Serving discounted appetizers.

Ecco Restaurant

The Scene  Casual and cool, not too crowded yet not too empty.  Pizza and wine — enough said.
The Hours  Monday – Friday, 5pm – 7pm
The Drinks  Discounted prices on select beers and wines.
The Food  Select appetizers between $5 and $8, such as eggplant caviar and bruschetta.

Price Key
$$$$: below $20
$$$$: $21 – $30
$$$$: $31 – 60
$$$$: $60 and up

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I’m always on the search for the best happy hour and continuously updating this page. Is there a happy hour not on this list? Tell me in the comments section below!