Field Guide: 8 Undiscovered Happy Hours in Philly

Happy Hour at Lloyd: It runs till 8 p.m. and includes cocktails, bites and frozen drinks.

Around the office, some of our co-workers have lamented that everyone knows about their favorite happy hours and perhaps the Foobooz crew has some undiscovered happy hours options where they could drink and eat cheaply without the crowds.

So here is our list of previously undiscovered Philadelphia happy hours.

If El Rey is too crowded with the hordes that show up for the bargain dollar tacos and cheap Tecate …

Head to Tequilas at 1602 Locust for a happy hour menu that is as extensive as happy hour is long (2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.). Tequilas offers house sangria and margaritas for $6 and Mexican craft beers for $4. The attractive restaurant also offers $5 wines and a full list of discounted appetizers.

If you dig the Asian food at Sampan but there’s no room at the bar, inside, outside or next door at Double Knot …

Snag a table, indoors or out, at SouthGate. At the edge of Rittenhouse, this Korean pub isn’t overrun with Center City workers and offers $4 Sapporo, $6 wine and sangria, plus SouthGate’s $5 take on the citywide — Sapporo with a shot of Soju. Give your stomach a base with housemade pretzels with gochujang mustard and of course the Korean fried chicken sandwich.

When you want the deals to continue even after happy hour ends …

Ela won a Best of Philly award for its bar menu, which is of course available during happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Ela offers $3 beers, $4 and $6 cocktails plus $5 sparkling and still wines. And on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, you can then get a three-course dinner for $30. Conveniently, when you finish dinner, happy hour will kick in again at 10.

When you want to feel fancy even as you save a few bucks …

Make your destination the sexy bar at Abe Fisher. The delicious cocktails and wine are discounted to a respectable $7, but the true reason to go is the “rye bites.” These mini sandwiches are three for $5, and one of the offerings is a pop-able take on the Montreal short rib that usually requires a party of four.

If you’re on the other side of town but that Abe Fisher deal sounds great …

Michael Solomonov’s Zahav has an under-appreciated happy hour, as well. Running from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Solomonov’s famous hummus is half off and beers are just $3. Rather a cocktail? They’re $4 off, and wines by the glass are $3 off, too.

Enough with these deals on glasses of wine! On a Thursday, if you’re ready for a bottle …

Southwark’s best deal of the week happens every Thursday, when a bottle of happy hour wine will only set you back $20. A list of reasonably priced bar bites will tide you over till dinner, which can be conveniently ordered right at the bar.

When that hankering for a deal also comes with a hunger for a burger …

Head to Jerry’s Bar in Northern Liberties, where the cocktails and wine are $5 and the always-expertly-curated beer list is $2 off. But make it dinner as well, since the apps are half off and the burger is just $5.

If you hop off the El at Girard after work and it’s already past 6 …

Find your way down Girard Avenue and into Lloyd. The Fishtown whiskey bar runs happy hour to 8 p.m. with discounted drafts, $6 cocktails and a dollar off frozen cocktails. And then there are the boilermakers and $3 High Life bottles, which don’t even need a discount. Apps are also discounted a buck. As a bonus, check Lloyd out on Instagram for weekly deals.