This list of the best happy hour in the East Village was written by Alejandro Beltran, co-founder of New York Simply (an official partner of Apple Maps) and a NYC local.
New York City is the most expensive city in the world, so locals and tourists alike are often looking for ways to stretch a dollar. Happy hours have become indispensable, and if you’re looking for the best in the East Village, I’ll go over everything you need to know in this post.
From inexpensive lychee martinis to the best happy hour bites, here are all the spots worth visiting based on my first-hand experience. We have a lot of ground to cover, so let’s jump in.
Visiting New York City? If you haven’t decided where to stay (yet) check out our helpful guide on Where to Stay in New York City (The best neighborhoods for first timers +3 to avoid). Don’t have time? Here’s our favorite hotel in NYC, hands down.
Best Happy Hours in the East Village
Table of Contents: East Village Happy Hour Guide
Table of Contents: Best Happy Hour Deals East Village
The Belfry
Website: The Belfry
Happy hour: Monday to Friday 5-7 PM | Menu
Address: 222 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003
The Belfry attracts locals with a subtle charm brought on by brick-lined walls, well-worn wooden floors, and a frequent rotation of live music. It also offers one of the best happy hours in the East Village, headlined by $2 beer and wine along with $10 espresso martinis and margaritas.
There are also half-off bottles of wine during happy hour, making it a popular destination for groups who can split the savings and enjoy a bottle together. The Belfry is also known for pickleback shots (a shot chased with pickle juice), which aren’t part of the happy hour promo but are less than $10.
Bar Veloce
Website: Bar Veloce
Happy hour: Daily from 4-7 PM | Menu
Address: 175 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
Resembling a European wine bar, Bar Veloce is one of the best happy hour spots in the East Village for a date night. It’s hard not be charmed by the brick walls, intricate wine displays and wooden accents.
The happy hour menu at Bar Veloce is small but does its job, guests are given the choice of prosecco, rosato or red wine for only $7 a glass. This East Village happy hour doesn’t have any food options available, but you can get salads and paninis off the menu at regular price.
Tile Bar
Website: Tile Bar
Happy hour: Monday through Thursday, 5 – 8 PM, 4 – 8 PM on Friday, 3 – 8 PM on weekends
Address: 115 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003
Tile Bar has dubbed itself the “best dive bar in the East Village,” and I’m inclined to agree. The bar is small, friendly, and unpretentious. They also have one of the best happy hours in the East Village, offering $5 select drinks, including well cocktails and beer. Because this is one of the latest running happy hours in the East Village, Tile Bar is a great destination to pregame before hopping to new bars.
Whiskey Town
Website: Whiskey Town
Happy hour: Monday through Thursday, from open until 8 PM | Menu
Address: 29 E 3rd St, New York, NY 10003
Dimly lit but full of life, Whiskey Town is a bar that knows how to party. The lively bar frequently has a DJ, which attracts a rowdy crowd with a contagious energy. The East Village dive bar vibe has friendly bartenders, straightforward drinks, a disco ball, and a constant rotation of great music.
As far as drinks go, this East Village bar offers a beer/shot combo, wine, and well drinks, all for $7 during their happy hour along with $4 Narragansett beers. The bar also offers a Narragansett beer and a slice of margherita pizza for only $10, which is a perfect post-work meal.
TLK by Tigerlily Kitchen
Website: TLK by Tigerlily Kitchen
Happy hour: Tuesday through Friday, 4 – 6 PM | Menu
Address: 58 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003
TLK by Tigerlily Kitchen started as a ghost kitchen (a restaurant only offering delivery) during the pandemic but thankfully survived and opened its doors in 2021. The women-owned restaurant puts an effort into making healthy, vegetable forward and (mostly) gluten free plates.
The East Village happy hour hot-spot offers small bites like grilled lemongrass wings and cassava fritters for only $10, and select cocktails at the same price. The restaurant also offers weekend brunch happy hour until 4 PM, where they have $10 cocktails & glasses of wine and $6 beer.
Bibi
Website: Bibi
Happy hour: Daily from open until 8 PM | Menu
Address: 211 E 4th St, New York, NY 10009
A charming wine bar, Bibi is almost always buzzing with locals, enjoying the small plates while on dates or catching up with friends. This is especially true during happy hour, where $8 glasses and $28 bottles of wine make Bibi a destination for inexpensive date nights. There is little in the way of food, so Bibi is a top-notch happy hour destination in the East Village for drinks before moving on to a restaurant for dinner.
Ama Raw Bar
Website: Ama Raw Bar
Happy hour: Daily from 5 – 7 PM | Menu
Address: 190 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009
A unique Asian-inspired seafood restaurant, Ama Raw Bar boasts one of the best happy hour oyster deals in the East Village. The $1.25 east coast oyster special draws in locals like moths to a flame. There’s also the option to enjoy west coast oysters for $2.25, and some folks even mix and match. All the oysters are served with house-made, Asian inspired sauces that add a special twist.
As far as drinks go, Ama Raw Bar has three happy hour cocktails to choose from, and the crowd favorite is the lychee martini (which is sweet with a nice, tart finish). The East Village happy hour spot also has $10 sake and wine.
The Winslow
Website: The Winslow
Happy hour: Monday through Friday, 4-7 PM (and 8 PM on Thursdays) | Menu
Address: 243 E 14th St, New York, NY 10003
The Winslow is a gin bar, with a full ginventory (see what I did there?) of delicious spirits for you to enjoy. If you visit this East Village happy hour you can expect $8 gin and tonics, as well as discounts on select wines and beers.
My suggestion is to visit The Winslow on a Tuesday afternoon. Happy hour ends at 7PM, but don’t be so quick to leave, you should stay until 7:30 for trivia. The place can get loud but if you like lively energy there’s nowhere better to be.
Upstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar
Website: Upstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar
Happy hour: Daily from 5 – 7 PM | Menu
Address: 95 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003
Upstate Craft & Oyster Bar has a subtle charm for those who appreciate a well-adorned restaurant. Not only do they have one of the best happy hours in the East Village, but the brick-lined walls, warm lighting, and all-wooden bars give the space a rustic appeal.
The happy hour deal is half a dozen oysters and a beer for only $12. Unfortunately, if you don’t like seafood, Upstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar might not be the best spot for you. Even their non-happy menu revolves predominantly around seafood.
Drop Off Service
Instagram: Drop Off Service
Happy hour: Daily 3 – 8 PM
Address: 211 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
Before Drop Off Service was a bar it was a laundromat, so the name is both fitting and cute. The main attraction is one of the most affordable happy hours in the East Village, headlined by $3 beer. The no-frills bar rarely feels crowded, I’d go as far as to call the joint a hidden gem. Heck it doesn’t even have a website (but they do have an Instagram).
Jose Luis
Website: Jose Luis
Happy hour: Sunday to Friday 4 – 7 PM | Menu
Address: 186 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009
For those unfamiliar, tapas are Spanish appetizers. As one of the best happy hours in the East Village, Jose Luis has all theirs half off. Popular options include grilled octopus and patatas bravas (pan-fried potatoes) that help locals savor Spanish flavor without paying an arm and a leg. The East Village happy hour destination also has select wine, beer, and sangrias for only $5.
A10 Kitchen
Website: A10 Kitchen
Happy hour: Tuesday to Friday 4 – 7PM, Saturday 4- 7 PM, Sunday 5-8 PM | Menu
Address: 162 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
A10 Kitchen has a $12 burger, $5 mac and cheese, $9 chicken wings (for five), and more bites that make it a prime destination for happy hour in the East Village. There’s also margarita pitchers for $20 to share with friends, or you can ride solo with $5 margaritas or wine. There’s even a beer and a shot combo for $8. The restaurant just about has everything covered, which is why it’s the best happy hour in the East Village.
East Village Happy Hours (Post Summary)
- A10 Kitchen
- Jose Luis
- Drop Off Service
- Upstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar
- The Winslow
- Ama Raw Bar
- Bibi
- TLK by Tigerlily Kitchen
- Whiskey Town
- Tile Bar
- Bar Veloce
- The Belfry
Best Happy Hours East Village (Map)
Further Reading for the East Village
Where to Eat in the East Village: 20 Memorable East Village Restaurants (Foodie’s Guide)
Happy Bars in the East Village: 12 Exciting Bars in the East Village (You Won’t Soon Forget)
East Village Bakeries: 10 Top-Notch Bakeries in the East Village
Best Bars in the East Village: 15 Exciting Bars in the East Village (You Won’t Soon Forget)
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Best Bars Tribeca: 15 Tasty Tribeca Bars (You’ll Keep Coming Back To!)
Best Bars Chelsea: 12 Charming Bars in Chelsea NYC (You’ll Keep Coming Back To)
And there it is, folks! The best happy hours in the East Village.
Cheers.
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