Best Happy Hour Spots in Grand Rapids

City Built Brewing Company

Experience a taste of Puerto Rico at City Built Brewing Company , which serves pub grub and Puerto Rican fare (in a vibrant atmosphere that reflects its heritage. Snag $2 off starters – including tostones, yuca fries and Cajun shrimp – from 3-5pm Wednesday through Thursday, and wash them down with City Built’s handcrafted beers, seltzers, ciders, draft cocktails and zero-proof beverages.

Birch Lodge

Craving a laid-back atmosphere to relax and enjoy a drink? Head to Birch Lodge  in downtown downtown’s Medical Mile neighborhood. This down-to-earth bar offers a welcoming neighborhood vibe, ideal for catching a game TV or socializing with friends. But the real star is The Birch Happy Hour, weekdays from 3-6pm. Score deals as low as $1.99 on food and drinks.

The Holiday Bar

Mingle with locals at this classic West Side spot featuring a 40-foot horseshoe bar, vibrant outdoor patio and live music. Happy Hour – which The Holiday dubs Bites, Brews & Bevs –includes a selection of $5 appetizers, $4.50 wines, $3.50 vodkas, $2.50 domestic beers and more from 3-6pm Monday-Friday. Great daily drink specials, too.

New Holland Brewing’s The Knickerbocker

Located in the Bridge Street Entertainment District, The Knickerbocker offers a variety of different food and drink specials on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4pm-close. Sunday Funday means you can enjoy 50% off slushies and select $4 cans of New Holland spirits all day long.

Linear Restaurant

This cool, industrial-style spot fronting downtown’s Grand River knocks 25% off your bill from 3-5pm Tuesday-Saturday – which provides a perfect opportunity to try the restaurant’s seasonal American cuisine and craft cocktails. Linear is also much-loved for its Saturday and Sunday brunch.

7 Monks Taproom

Cozy, woodsy 7 Monks Taproom, located just east of downtown’s Medical Mile, invites you to enjoy such Happy Hour specials as a selection of $8 cocktails, $7 draft cocktails, $5 drafts and wines, $4 house spirits and $2 “retros. The pub also offers $2 off Brewery of the Month drafts and food deals ranging from $5 appetizers to a $10 small pizza. Available Monday-Thursday from 4-6pm and Friday from 3-6pm.

Butcher’s Union

A popular “meat & whiskey” restaurant in the city’s Bridge Street Entertainment District, Butcher’s Union serves up delectable food and drink deals from 4-6pm, Monday through Friday. Grab bites like their famous deviled eggs or a juicy cheeseburger for $6-$11. Wash it down with cocktail specials, deals on select draft beers and wine, and discounted sangria pitchers.

Bistro Bella Vita

“American Apéro” is Bistro Bella Vita’s take on Happy Hour, and it features $4 draft beers, $6 select glasses of wine, $6 apéro cocktails and $8 bistro martinis from 3-5pm Monday-Friday. This beloved French-Italian fusion restaurant also offers $6 snacks and $11 pizzas to accompany its Happy Hour drink specials.  

Max’s Seaside Hideaway

Stop into Max’s for Aloha Hour, Monday-Thursday from 4-6pm and Friday from 4-5pm, and step into a South Pacific island paradise. This Polynesian-themed restaurant offers an array of drink specials, from a $3 Michigan beer to $8 tropical drinks to a $10 glass of wine. Aloha Hour food specials range from $6-$13.

The Apartment Lounge

Michigan’s longest-running gay bar, The Apartment Lounge welcomes the LGBTQ+ community and allies for Happy Hour specials every day from 2-9pm. Michigan Monday, Sangria Tuesday, Wine and Well Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, Saturday Happy Hour and Sunday Bloody Mary Bar (2-6pm) offer all sorts of great deals on all sorts of great drinks.

One Bourbon

One Bourbon has been  serving up the good stuff  in the Bridge Street Entertainment District since 2016, with a menu that features more than 400 bourbons and whiskeys as well as an ever-changing menu of elevated comfort food. Happy Hour deals are available from 4-6pm Tuesday through Saturday, and include half off wine and beer, and $2 off house cocktails.

San Chez Bistro

San Chez offers a blend of European, Mediterranean and Latin American cuisine (and drinks!) in a laid-back, artful atmosphere. Enjoy half-off glasses of wine, drafts and sangria, plus $2 off specialty cocktails from 2-5pm Monday-Friday. You can also order from a $10 tapas menu during Happy Hour.

Social House Kitchen and Bar  

This casual restaurant offers New-American pub fare, brunch and a seasonal patio along with a simple and straightforward Happy Hour deal: Social House takes $2 off everything from 2-6pm Wednesday.

Flamingo Lounge

Every day from 10am-6pm is Happy Hour at the Flamingo Lounge, a classic local dive bar featuring stiff drinks, comfort food, pool tables, dartboards and other games.

Also mentioned:

• Fratelli’s Kitchen & Bar is a Bridge Street restaurant with an Italian-influenced food menu and an extensive beverage selection.

• Gin Gin’s, just off of Bridge Street, is an America bistro serving steaks, seafood, and pasta, plus cocktails, beer and wine.

• Logan’s Alley is a Medical Mile neighborhood pub renowned for its 200+ microbrews, all-day brunch, affordable prices and laid-back vibe.

Billy’s Lounge

Long a popular Uptown gathering spot for its live music and lively dance floor, Billy’s gets the party started early with $2 well drinks and domestic drafts, $1.50 bottles of Stroh’s and High Life, and 50 cents off everything else, from 3-7pm Monday-Friday.

The Green Well

Scratch-made dishes, inventive cocktails and satisfying desserts distinguish this Cherry Street favorite. Guests of The Green Well enjoy half off appetizers, draft beers, house wines and classic cocktails from 4-5pm Tuesday-Thursday and 2-5pm Friday-Sunday.

The Winchester

The Winchester, which bills itself as “Uptown’s neighborhood pub,” is known for its award-winning food, handcrafted cocktails and hospitable service. Happy Hour specials include $7 Winchester Mules, a $7 featured cocktail, $5 house red and white wines, and $2.75 PBRs from 3-6pm Monday-Friday.

Also mentioned:

• Pursuit of Happiness Co. is a casual-yet-chic champagne bar and market whose offerings include its very own champagne brand.
• Buffalo Traders Lounge is a cozy, Art Deco-inspired setting for intricate cocktails and craft beers.

Charlie’s Bar & Grille

Charlie’s is a laid-back bar and restaurant offering daily Happy Hour drink specials along with burgers, sandwiches and other comfort food made with as many Michigan ingredients as possible. Located on Plainfield Avenue, just north of the Creston neighborhood.

The Melting Pot

The Down to Fondue Happy Hour Experience at The Melting Pot includes half off cheese and chocolate fondues, $7 handcrafted cocktails, and beer & wine specials every day from 4-7pm. Take in a movie at Celebration Cinema North after Happy Hour – the multi-screen movie theater is just steps away.

Eastern Kille Distillery

Located in Rockford, about 20 minutes from downtown GR, Eastern Kille uses its own premium craft spirits to craft innovative house-created cocktails and expertly crafted classics. Guests enjoy 50% off some of those classics – like old fashioneds, espresso martinis and margaritas – all day Wednesday. Wood-fired pizzas and shareable plates are available to complement the beverages.

Archival Brewing

About 15 minutes northeast of Grand Rapids, Archival Brewing specializes in historic-style microbrews and seasonally crafted regional eats. Happy Hour is every Tuesday-Friday from 3-5pm, and it includes $1 off draft pours, $2 off cocktails, $5 shot ‘n pops, $12 bottles of wine and mimosa carafes, $10 cheese pizzas and $11 pepperoni pizzas.

Reds at Thousand Oaks

Reds is the public restaurant at private Thousand Oaks Golf Club, offering new American fine dining with scenic views. Happy Hour specials include $2 off all drafts and seltzers, $3 off all specialty menu drinks and Tito’s, and $4 off appetizers and wine by the glass, available daily from 3-6pm and all day Wednesday.

Gravity Taphouse Grille

Just off East Beltline Ave. about one mile south of Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Gravity Taphouse Grille features 65 rotating taps of beer, cider, seltzers and draft cocktails, along with a great selection of wines, handcrafted cocktails and an extensive food menu. Enjoy $2 off all drafts, seltzers, Tito’s, specialty menu drinks and wine by the glass, and $3 off all appetizers, daily from 3-6pm and all day Wednesday.

Rogue River Tavern

The Rogue River Tavern is a downtown Rockford sports bar and restaurant serving beer, cocktails and hearty fare in full view of plenty of TVs. Monday-Friday Happy Hour (2-6pm) features $3 bottled beers, domestic pints and well drinks, and $11 appetizers (except combo platters). There are additional food and drink specials throughout the week.

Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm

Ed Dunneback & Girls Farm in Alpine Township, about 15 minutes northwest of downtown GR, is the setting for Pink Barrel Cellars, which crafts beer, cider and wine (and homemade dishes) from farm-fresh ingredients. Happy Hour specials are available every Tuesday and Thursday from 3-6pm.

Long Road Distillers

The city’s oldest and largest distillery serves house spirits, craft cocktails and new American fare in its West Leonard Street taproom. Weekly specials at Long Road include $6 espresso martinis on Wednesdays from 4-11pm and a $20 burger–unlimited fries-and-draft cocktail combo on Thursdays from 4-11pm.

Schnitz Ada Grill

Schnitz is a casual fine-dining restaurant in downtown Ada that conducts Happy Hour from 3-6pm Tuesday-Friday and noon-6pm Saturday. Enjoy a selection of $4-$7.50 cocktails, select bottled beers for $2.75, $1 off draft beers, $1.50 off a glass of wine and $5 off a bottle of wine. All other adult beverages are 50 cents off. Great appetizer specials, too!

The Post Tavern at Ada Hotel

Hand-crafted tavern fare and locally brewed craft beers dominate the menu at The Post Tavern, located in downtown Ada’s namesake hotel. Happy Hour is Monday-Friday from 3-5pm.

Ju Sushi & Lounge

Serving premium sushi and traditional Japanese cuisine, Ju Sushi offers half off specialty cocktails, draft beers and glasses of wine from 3-5pm Monday-Thursday. Buy a Happy Hour drink and you can also get an appetizer for half off.

Gipper’s Bar & Restaurant

Enjoy great Happy Hour deals every day from 11am-7pm at Gipper’s in Cascade Township. They have two separate bars, a from-scratch food menu, pool tables, keno and more, less than 10 minutes from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

Cork Wine & Grille and FireRock Grille

Both operated by RedWater Restaurants, Cork Wine & Grille at Watermark Country Club and FireRock Grille at StoneWater Country Club offer identical Happy Hour specials: $2 off all drafts and seltzers, $3 off all specialty menu drinks and Tito’s, and $4 off appetizers and wine by the glass, daily from 3-6pm and all day Wednesday.

Lindo Mexico Restaurante Mexicano

Local and woman-owned Lindo Mexico is a casual restaurant serving a wide selection of Mexican dishes along with margaritas, domestic draft beers and more, many of which are featured in Happy Hour specials.  

Putt Putt’s Bar

The everyday prices at Putt Putt’s are already so low that a Happy Hour isn’t really necessary. Nonetheless, this west-side neighborhood bar around the corner from John Ball Zoo offers frequent food and drink specials.

Rush Creek Bistro

Another RedWater Restaurant, Rush Creek Bistro at Sunnybrook Country Club offers $2 off all drafts and seltzers, $3 off all specialty menu drinks and Tito’s, and $4 off appetizers and wine by the glass, daily from 3-6pm and all day Wednesday.