Top 8 Happy Hours in Little Italy
Anyone remember Myspace.com’s “top 8”? Little Italy is known for its vibrant food and drink scene, so to help you choose from the myriad of options, we’ve created our top 8 best happy hours in Little Italy. From craft cocktails to refreshing wines, here are a few places you and your friends should definitely try:
1. Craft & Commerce
Happy Hour:
Monday – Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Craft & Commerce offers a unique happy hour experience with its eclectic decor and cozy ambiance. Enjoy $2 off selected draft beers as well as $8 signature cocktails, such as the Crimes of Passion (tequila, passionfruit, honey, lime, mezcal) and Rome With a View (campari, dry vermouth, simple, lime, soda). A few of their popular happy hour eats are their C&C Corndogs and Blistered Shishoto Peppers.
Photos via Craft & Commerce Instagram
2. Queenstown Public House
Monday – Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Queenstown embraces its New Zealand roots with an inviting atmosphere and happy hour specials. Enjoy $9 drinks, including their beer flights, house red and white wines, sangria, margaritas, Moscow Mule, or a Whiskey Sour. For $8, you can get some fabulous New Zealand bar bites and appetizers including lamb burger sliders and NZ chips and dip.
Photo via Queenstown Instagram
3. Nolita Hall
Happy Hour:
Tuesday – Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Nolita Hall serves up industrial and energetic vibes along delicious cocktails. This 6,000 square foot restaurant has floor to ceiling windows and a skylight that brings the beautiful Little Italy indoors. As you sip on the happy hour specials, you’ll be surrounded by “airy and ethereal live greenery” and one-of-a-kind architecture.
Happy hour includes a cheese and charcuterie board, wood fired brussels, salmon crudo and other discounted dishes. For happy hour drinks, you can enjoy $12 sips such as the Army Navy (Beefeater Gin | Orgeat | Angostura | Lemon) and the Jungle Bird (Plantation 3 Star Rum | Campari | Pineapple | Lime | Demerara), along with $10 glasses of house wines.
Photos via Nolita Hall Instagram
4. Allegro
Happy Hour:
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily (Friday & Saturday Bar Counter Only)
The lemon-themed and decorated Allegro allows patrons to experience a fusion of Sicilian tradition and adventurous California inspired flavors. They use locally sourced seafood, and handmade pasta, along with ingredients from local markets.
Enjoy $9 Spritz drinks, $6 wines by the glass, $8 well cocktails and martinis, and $5 draft beers. If you’re an oyster fan, you can get a half dozen for $10, or one dozen for $15. Some of their more popular happy hour bites are their classic bruschetta (diced tomato, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, balsamic reduction), Penne Arrabbiata (tomato sauce, chili flakes), and their charcuterie board.
5. Waterfront Bar & Grill
Happy Hour:
Monday – Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Come by and visit San Diego’s oldest tavern, the Waterfront Bar & Grill. This iconic spot opened in 1933 the year prohibition was overturned, and has been the host for a good time ever since. Enjoy classic bar & grill eats like mini nachos, chili cheese fries, as well as entrees like the Bacon Bleu Cheese Burger (Half pounder, fresh baked bun, sauce, grilled onions, bacon, bleu cheese crumbles, with fries) as well as a surf and turf burrito, and grilled mahi tacos.
Happy hour deals includes:
$5 select wines
$5 select drafts
$5 wells drinks
Complimentary snacks
Photo via The Waterfront Bar & Grill Instagram
6. King & Queen Cantina
Happy Hour:
Monday – all day
Tuesday – Friday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m
Saturday – Sunday 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Right off Ketner, King & Queen Cantina is a modern twist on Mexican cuisine that brings fresh and innovative food along with Dio De Los Muertos vibes all year long. The vibrant decor coupled with top-notch Mexican food and drinks are the makings for an amazing night in Little Italy!
Enjoy Mexican dish favorites with a ton of flavor such as chips and guac, pork belly bites, pow pow wings, and fish tacos for $13. Drink up with $8 sangria and wine, $10 spirits, and $12 margaritas!
Photo via King & Queen Cantina Instagram
7. Bolt Brewery
Happy Hour:
Monday, Wednesday – Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m
All Day Tuesday
Bolt Brewery offers a slew of tasty craft brews, all made locally by San Diego County’s first ever commercial craft brewery after prohibition was lifted. This chill, friendly environment has games and is the perfect spot to bring the entire family — even your pet if leashed. Bolt Brewery is one of our favorite spots for craft beer when taking guests on a San Diego brewery tour.
They have their Bolt Craft Brews on tap ranging from pale ales to IPA, along with other unique concoctions to try including their Surf Lager (Rice Lager | ABV 4.7%), the Blood Orange Sour (ABV 4.7%), and the Mango me Crazy (ABV 5.2%). Pair it with one of their fan faves, the Giant Bavarian Pretzel served with their OG beer cheese! At happy hour you can enjoy discounted pints and bar eats, these change regularly so you will have a fun surprise when you arrive!
Photo via Bolt Brewery Instagram
8. Cloak and Petal
Happy Hour:
Monday – Friday from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Cloak and Petal is an aesthetic perfection, with pink cherry blossom trees in the middle of the dining room, that provides a modern twist on traditional Japanese dishes. Their bento boxes, gyoza, specialty rolls and cocktails have been recognized by the MICHELIN Guide. Stop by for happy hour and try out some of their fan faves, including the Saucy Boi made with tempura, seared ahi tuna, spicy mayo, cream cheese and avocado.
Their happy hour menu is robust, and includes all draft beers $1 off, $7 Sapporo and hot or cold sake, house wines for $9, and specialty cocktails for $12. For good food, get everything from $5 garlic edamame, $8 chicken gyoza, $6 California roll, $7 spicy tuna roll, and $12 specialty rolls.
photo via Eat, Drink Be San Diego
Now that you have the inside scoop on the top 8 best happy hour deals in Little Italy, San Diego, you can explore the delicious food and drinks this unique little pocket of town has to offer at a discounted price. Cheers!
Written by: Melissa
Melissa hails from San Jose, CA, and has been a San Diego local for five years now after a 10-year long pit stop in Los Angeles. In L.A., she began her writing career crafting digital content for a wide range of clients, including The Real Talk Show, Sharon Osbourne, Hank Azaria, Time Life, and Cardinal Financial. She’s excited to be able to use her passion for writing to introduce people to some of the best spots in San Diego, many of which she has already frequented or has on her ever-expanding list of things to do … In her spare time, she enjoys taking her puppy Milo to all of the best dog beaches in SD, grabbing a glass of wine or a cup of joe at new places, and hosting watch parties for The Bachelor/ette TV show.
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