East Side Happy Hours
For more information on the experiences at these locations, tune into our Podcast on East Side Austin Happy Hours.
Our East Austin Happy Hour research was truly an experience that we think everyone should recreate. For this post, we really wanted to give you a sense of what it’s like popping around some local east side spots. Continue reading after—we still list the rest of our favorite spots!
Bufalina
*2021 Update – This location has closed but you can still find Bufalina on North Burnet!
We started off at Bufalina, where we had the $5 wine and 50% off pizza. The Red Pie add pepperoni was for awesome—really thin and crispy Neopolitan pizza; or as our founder Kristy calls it, “Skinny Pizza”!
Genre: Pizza
Location: E. Cesar Chavez
Time: Wednesday-Sunday, 4–5:30 p.m.
Special: 50% off pizza, $5 wine by the glass, 50% off bottles under $100
Favorites: Red Pie add pepperoni, Calabrese with Salami & Serranos, Mushroom White Pizza, Burrata with Pesto, Green Risotto with Mushrooms, the Pierre-Marie Chermette Gamay on HH (normally $49, on HH $25)
Check out our favorite pizza delivery spots in Austin!
Mongers
With some time to kill before our next spot opened, we decided to stop into another all-time favorite, Mongers. The owners, Julie and Shane, are always so welcoming and it truly is just like your neighborhood fish monger with fresh, seasonal dishes. We love the seasonal crudos, ceviches, and oysters! Be sure to ask for Forrest for your server.
Genre: Seafood/Raw Bar
Location: E. Cesar Chavez
Time: Tuesday-Friday, 4–6 p.m., Mondays all day – 1/2 off oysters, 1/2 off select wine bottles
Special:$5 wine glasses, $6 apps, $1 off oysters, $1 off beer, $2 off sangria carafes
Favorites: Peel & Eats, Angels on Horseback, any daily crudo, poké or ceviche, lobster roll, Fish Dip (get crackers and hot sauce on the side, too with the chips—its a game-changer!) and of course, Lobster Mac & Cheese with black truffle and cheddar
If it’s Monday and you love Oysters, this is the place. Check out Hillside Farmacy, too for discounted oysters and bubbles!
Our favorite places to get oysters in Austin is here, and for our full post on Mongers, read here.
Pitchfork Pretty
Next, we went on to try Pitchfork Pretty for the first time. Boy were we missing out! The vibe was amazing and they had great service, plenty of parking, an excellent covered patio area, inventive cocktails, and innovative dishes. We have decided to become regulars of this place! Our favorite was the crudo served over a seasonal sorbet. Sounds weird, but the sorbet made it so icy cold and delicious!
Genre: New American/Southern
Location: E. Cesar Chavez
Time: Monday-Friday, 5–6 p.m.
Special: $3 off cocktails and beer, $12 off bottles of wine, 1/2 off snacks and appetizers
Favorites: Snapper served over seasonal sorbet with habenero oil, Pimento & Cheese with Crab Crackers (kind of like pork rinds), and the Money Moves —a gin drink with averna (herby liquor), cardamom, and orange
On Wednesdays, you can pop over during HH to Sour Ducks Farmers Market from 4-7 PM!
Juniper
We finally ended our night at Juniper. As if we weren’t stuffed enough yet, we ordered the Cacio de Pepe which we learned is Italian for cheese and pepper. It was so creamy and delicious. We walked right in on a Friday night and the service was exquisite. The hostess went out of her way to make sure we found a seat at the bar right away, and the bartenders even gave us complimentary gelato! We earned ourselves a Gustavo spin class after this night of feasting.
Genre: Italian
Location: E. Cesar Chavez
Time: Monday, all night
Special: Amore Monday – $10 meat and cheese board with $12 entrees of Spaghetti, Chicken Confit, Bucatini, or Pesto Genovese, with $6 Spritzes
Favorites: Cacio de Pepe
Pop over to Whisler’s reverse happy hour after!
East Side Favorites
Mexican Favorites:
Lichas
Sit on the patio and get the queso (more like fundito in a skillet served with tortillas), and the Vampiro (tequila with grapefruit soda, jalapeno, and a spicy rim)! Pop over to Native Hostel to continue your HH.
Genre: Mexican
Location: E. 6th
Time: Tuesday-Friday, 4–6 p.m.
Special: $5 Happy Hour – $5 margaritas, palomas, mezcal mules, etc., $5 quesadillas and sopecitos (thick corn tostadas), $5 Huaraches (corn masa base and topping), $5 corn or sweet potato verduras
Favorites: All of the margaritas! Choriqueso or Champiqueso, Melted Queso Asadero in a Skillet served with Tortillas; Ceviche with Coconut Cream and Mango Pico; all of the tacos are great—Veggie, Pastor with Pineapple, Chimichurri Flank Steak and Lengua with Guajillo-Peanut salsa.
For our post on best margaritas in Austin, click here.
Suerte
Go right when they open and order all of the HH snackcidents and the taco of the day, share as a group! Their menu is always changing and seasonal. They also have parking in the parking garage!
Genre: Mexican
Location: E. 6th
Time: Every Day, 5–6 p.m., Mezcal Mondays for half-priced mezcal drinks
Special: $5 Snackcidents, $5 Taco of the Day, $6 cocktails, 25% off wine bottles, $3 draft beer
Favorites: Crispy Elotes—dip with chips; Ceviche with Chile oil & Miso broth; Aguachile with Habanero Broth; Beef Tartare Sopes with Chile Chilhuacle (kind of like mole)
Check out our list of 50+ places to drink Margaritas in Austin.
Grizzeldas
Go early on Tuesdays and get the $5 Grizz Mizz (Pink Margarita), the $3 Ceviche Tostada and $7 Tacos of the Day (2). There is a ton of parking on Tillery Street.
Genre: Mexican
Location: E. Cesar Chavez
Time: Tuesday-Friday, 5–7 p.m., Wednesday all night, Tuesday $5 Grizz Mizz (Pink Margaritas), Thursday $20 Chicken Fajitas
Special: $7 margaritas and cocktails, $3–8 appetizers, $2 off wine by the glass
Favorites: Their drinks are super cool—the Queen Bey, Bad Girl Ri Ri, and the Ride or Die; The $3 Ceviche Tostada, $7 Daily Tacos (2) & the Beer Battered Fish Taco with Charred Corn + Avocado, Mole Enchiladas, Queso Fundito, Street Corn Salad
Every third Monday, go Tango at Tillery right across the street from Grizzeldas. Or check out Jacobys!
Asian Favorite:
Old Thousand
Join them for “Happy Time” and have a mini dim sum with hip hop music playing and inventive cocktails flowing. Get the Rangoons, Chili Wontons, and Mala Fried Chicken. We also love their daily dumplings that are seasonal and always changing.
Walk over to King Bee on 12th after for a Frozen Bee’s Knees—gin, lemon, honey, plus pizza.
Genre: Chinese Asian Fusion
Location: E. 11th
Time: Monday-Friday, 5–6:30 p.m.
Special: 50% off all bubbles bottles, $7 cocktails, $7 wine, $7 snacks, $5–6 Beer
Favorites: Smoked Trout Rangoons with Pineapple Sweet Chili, Daily House Dumplings, Mala Fried Chicken with Szechuan Salt & Chili Oil, Kung Pao Cauliflower with Shishitos & Peanuts, Brisket Fried Rice
Fancier Favorite:
Launderette
Go early, sit on the patio, order the Burrata (always changing, fantastic during every season), anything with their house-made bread (Mussels, Grilled Octopus, Salmon Tartare Toast), and 100% order a dessert.
Genre: New American
Location: E. Holly
Time: Monday-Friday, 5–6 p.m.
Special: 1/2 off Drinks, $5 Snacks, Mondays Wine Bottles 1/2 off All Day
Favorites: Crudo, Pierogies with Ricotta & Romesco, Burrata (Seasonal – Now it is with Tomato Jam, Blackerry, Pistachio and their House-made Grilled Focaccia), Beet Hummus with Everything Crackers, Mussels with Pancetta & Green Chile Butter and House-made Grilled Sourdough), any dessert
Check out our favorite dog-friendly patios in Austin, here.
Random Favorite:
Lou’s
Another MMH spot. They have 1/2 off bottles of grab-and-go wine on Tuesdays. If you live on the East Side, this would be a great deal to go stock up on wine for your place. This is also the only retail spot (outside of new Swedish Hill) in Austin where you can buy the June’s Rosé!
For a guide to a full day of MMH restaurants—read our post here.
More North East Area Favorites:
(Mueller, Cherrywood, Manor, Airport Blvd.)
Salty Sow
Go early and sit at a tall table in the bar area by the window, get the Truffled Deviled Eggs, Honey Rosemary Dipped Fried Chicken with a Homeade Biscuit, Duck Fat Fries with a 110 Minute Egg & Aioli, and the Crispy Brussel Sprout Leaves with Golden Raisins. Drink it all down with a Curly Tail (spicy marg) or Flying Pig (play on a French 75). They have a huge food selection on the HH menu and they’re all shareable small plates. Great for a group and they have parking! Check out our full post on Salty Sow, here.
Genre: Gastropub/Pork (Sow = Pig)
Location: Manor Rd.
Time: Every Day, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
On Sunday head over to Austin Eastsiders Tasting Room first for HH from 2-3, then head to Salty Sow!
Special: $2 off cocktails, $5 wine, $4 beer, $5 tacos, $5 snacks
Favorites: Truffled Deviled Eggs with Bacon from their farm, Chicken Liver Mousse, Honey Rosemary Fried Chicken + Biscuit, Duck Fat Fries, Brussel Sprout Leaves (Super crispy), Eggplant Fries, The Curly Tail & Flying Pig cocktails.
Contigo
If the weather is nice, sit on the patio (the inside is fairly small and gets packed), bring your dog, get the Charred Avocado Dip with Jalapenos, Chicken Wings with Alabama White Sauce, Seasonal Pickled Vegetables, and wash it down with a $6 Frozen Painkiller or Frozen Margarita.
Genre: Farm to Table
Location: Manor & Airport Rd. (and the Fareground Location Downtown). More info on the Fareground here.
Time: Monday-Thursday, 5–6:30 p.m.
Special: 1/2 off – bar snacks, beer, wine, cocktails
Favorites: $3 for 6 wings, $4 Boudin Balls with Maple Tamari Sauce, $2 Pickled Seasonal Vegetables, $7 Pigs in a Blanket, $3.50 Ox Tongue Slider, Crispy Green Beans with Sambal Aioli, the Burger on Challah Bun, Frozen Margarita
Contigo is also featured on our favorite patios in Austin. Check out that guide here!
Hanks
Go on a Tuesday with friends, sit in the bright, beautiful bar area, order a 1/2 off bottle of wine (cheapest would be the Rosé from Burgundy $14/bottle) and get the Parker House Rolls, Baked Ricotta, and Smoked Salmon Board. This is one of the earlier starting HHs in town, so we like doing a 3 p.m. Friday situation, too! Plenty of parking.
Genre: New American
Location: Mueller
Time: Every Day, 3–6:30 p.m., Monday all day 1/2 off burgers, Tuesdays 1/2 off bottles of wine ($28–66)
Special: $5 Frozen & Tap Cocktails, $5 Wine, $3 off Apps ($5-12 after discount), $1 off Beer
Favorites: $8 Parker House Rolls with Pulled Pork (basically a kolache), Baked Ricotta with Pesto & Baguette, Smoked Salmon Board, $6.50 for the Veggie Burger with Feta on Mondays, $5 Frosé, and the 1/2 off Rosé from Burgundy on Tuesdays
Go over to the Goodnight afterward for bowling and more HH.
Our Random Favorites:
Last Straw
“Vacation by the Hour” – Go here before going out on E. 6th, bring a friend from out of town, get some Miami Vices or Pisco Punches, order the Spicy Garlic Noods, Crispy Orange Cauliflower and the Steak or Fish Tacos.
Genre: Tiki Bar
Location: E. 6th
Time: Sunday-Thursday, 5–7 p.m.
Special: $7 cocktails, apps $5-12, $4 beer and a shot
Favorites: $4 High Life Pony + Shot of Bourbon, $8 Miami Vice (Pina Colada + Strawberry Daiquari), Beach House Burger with Pineapple & Funyons (try it with an Impossible Patty), Crispy Orange Cauliflower, $5 Spicy Garlic Noods – Vermicelli Noodles (add the fried egg)
Salt & Time
Go for an early dinner date night on Wednesdays, get a 1/2 off bottle of wine, get a cheese board with a warm baguette and add whipped lardo, liver mouse. or pork rillettes. Share the Butchers Bolognese with Sonoran Wheat Pappardelle or the Farro Risotto with Dry Aged Beef Fat and Confit Chanterelle Mushrooms.
If you’re solo, get the Butchers Burger; it is their daily steak trimmings ground, with sour pickles on a brioche bun, served with beef fat french fries.
Genre: Butcher Shop
Location: E. 7th
Time: Everyday, 3:30–6 p.m., Wednesday 1/2 off wine bottles, Sunday all night
Special: $2 off Wine Glass, $5 Spritz & Sangria, $10 Charcuterie, $6 Pickle Board, $8 Baguette with Liver Mouse, Lardo + Pork Rillettes
Favorites: Cheese Board add Whipped Lardo, Liver Mousse or Pork Rillettes; Bolognese, Butchers Burger, Beef Fat French Fries, Steak Tartare
To see your restaurant featured, please contact erin@365thingsaustin.com.
