It should not surprise you that the city USA Today calls Americas Craft Beverage Capital serves up some mighty fine beers, wines, spirits, hard ciders and cocktails. Grand Rapids is also known for its affordability – Travel+Leisure ranked it the USA’s #2 Most Beautiful and Affordable City to Live In. Put those two together and what do you get? Happy Hour specials that deliver more delicious bang for your buck than just about anywhere else on the planet.

We asked our social media followers to recommend local Happy Hours that visitors should check out while they’re in town. These are the restaurants, bars and breweries that rose to the top – all perfect for meeting up with old friends or making new ones!

Downtown Grand Rapids Happy Hours

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The Holiday Bar

Mingle with locals at this classic West Side spot featuring a 40-foot horseshoe bar, vibrant outdoor patio and live music. It’s a great place to kick off the weekend! Happy Hour, which includes $5 bites and $2.50 domestic beers, occurs Mondays-Fridays 3:30-6:30pm.

Birch Lodge

Craving a laid-back atmosphere to relax and enjoy a drink? Head to Birch Lodge in downtown GR’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 $1.99 deals on delicious food and drinks.  (No, that’s not a typo, it’s really $1.99.)

Butcher’s Union

Wind down after a full day in Grand Rapids at Butcher's Union, a “meat & whiskey” restaurant in the city’s Bridge Street Entertainment District. Take advantage of delectable food and drink deals from 4-6pm, Monday through Friday. Grab bites like their famous nachos or a juicy cheeseburger for $6-$10. Wash it down with cocktail specials, deals on select draft beers and wine and discounted sangria pitchers.

A Group of Friends at a Local Brewery Bar Top

City Built Brewing Company serves up delicious Puerto Rican-inspired pub food, which pairs perfectly with their Happy Hour deals!

Photo by Paul Jendraisak for Experience GR

City Built Brewing Company

Experience a taste of Puerto Rico at City Built Brewing Company in downtown GR. This brewery and taproom serves pub grub and Puerto Rican fare (think tostones and yuca fries) in a vibrant atmosphere that reflects its heritage. Expect a friendly and casual space, perfect for unwinding with friends. Snag $2 off all full pours of beer, wine, cider and mead during Happy Hour, Monday through Friday from 3-5pm.

One Bourbon

Enjoy a taste of the South without leaving Grand Rapids at One Bourbon in the Bridge Street Entertainment District. Happy Hour deals last from 4-6pm Tuesday through Saturday, and include half-price drafts, 50% off bottles of wine and $2 off house cocktails. Named one of America’s Best Bourbon Bars by The Bourbon Review, One Bourbon is a fantastic spot for an after-work wind-down or a casual get-together with friends. 

Chicago Beef Joint

Authentic Italian beef sandwiches and Polish hot dogs go down better with Happy Hour specials like a $2 shot of the day, $3 bombs, old-style drafts and cans and $4 well drinks. Available Mondays-Fridays 3-5 p.m. Also a deal: free on-site parking in downtown GR!

CitySen Lounge at CityFlats Hotel

The lounge of this New American-style gastropub in downtown GR features an ample selection of craft beers, wine and cocktails, all of which pair nicely with a food menu that’s 50% off during Happy Hour, Tuesdays-Saturdays from 4-6pm. You’ll also enjoy half-off bottles of vino on Wine Wednesdays.

Fratelli's Kitchen & Bar

Fine dining meets fun at this Italian restaurant in downtown’s Bridge Street Entertainment District. Happy Hour specials are available every day from 3-6pm. Except Thursdays, when it’s 3-8pm. And Sundays, when Happy Hour is actually all day long.

Rockwell Republic

Known for its delectable craft cocktails and from-scratch cuisine, this downtown GR restaurant has also won several “Best Happy Hour in Grand Rapids” awards. Its Happy Hour specials include a selection of $9 Bites & Sushi and select $6-$8 cocktails along with $4 select local drafts and $6 select wine pours.

The Meanwhile Bar

The drinks at this Uptown GR dive bar are always surprisingly affordable – but they knock off another $1 off all Michigan products every day until 8pm. There are 15 Michigan beers on tap!

Tupelo Honey

Southern-style restaurant and bar in downtown GR presents Happy Hour specials from 3-5:30pm, Monday-Friday. Choose from a select menu of $3-$5 beers, $5 cocktails, $5 spirits, $7 wines, $6 snacks and more.

Uccello's Ristorante

This casual family restaurant in downtown GR offers a vast menu of Italian American eats and an array of adult beverages. Happy Hour specials run from 2-5pm Monday through Friday and include $2 domestic bottles & short domestic drafts, $3 short craft drafts & well drinks, $4 tall domestic drafts, select wines & bellinis, and $5 sangria, mules, mojitos & house margaritas. Lots of yummy Italian-ish appetizers, too. The same specials are available at the Grandville Uccello’s, East Beltline Uccello’s, Standale Uccello’s, Caledonia Uccello’s and Rockford Uccello’s.

Dining at New Holland Knickerbocker

Enjoy a full drink menu including craft beer, artisan spirits, handcrafted cocktails, wine and cider at New Holland Brewing Co.

Photo by Bob Neumann for Experience GR

New Holland Brewing’s The Knickerbocker

Another Bridge Street Entertainment District destination, this brewpub features $2 off cocktails, select pints and select appetizers during Happy Hour, Tuesday through Thursday from 4-6pm. You’ll also enjoy half-off slushies and $4 New Holland Distilling cans on Sunday Funday.

Vitale's Sports Lounge

Serving the city’s West Side for more than 50 years, Vitale’s is known for delicious Italian food made from old-world family recipes. Happy Hour specials are available from 3-6pm Monday-Thursday and 1-6pm Friday.

Happy Hours Near Grand Rapids

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Butcher Block Social

This bourbon-and-barbeque restaurant in Caledonia offers Happy Hour specials Tuesday through Saturday from 2-5pm and again on Friday and Saturday night from 10pm-midnight. Come for Happy Hour, stay for live music on Friday and Saturdays.

HopCat 

Once named America’s #1 Brewpub, this northeast-side beer bar offers select local drafts starting at $4 during Happy Hour, from 3-5:30pm and 9pm-close Monday-Thursday. The HopCat in downtown GR features the same specials.

NoCo Provisions

Happy Hour at this stylish, modern gastropub in southeast Grand Rapids runs from 2-6pm Monday-Saturday. You’ll find deals on food as well as $5-$6 glasses of wine, $2 off drafts, $2 off NoCo cocktails, $3 White Claw seltzer and $5 NoCo Rum Punch.

Schnitz Ada Grill

Casual fine-dining establishment in downtown Ada conducts Happy Hour from 3-6pm Tuesday-Friday and noon-6pm Saturday. Enjoy a selection of $3.95-$4.95 cocktails, select bottled beers for $2.50, $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!

Cantina Mexican Grill

A popular local destination for Mexican fare since 1976, this southeast side restaurant offers Happy Hour food and drink deals before 6pm every day.

HopCat Downtown

Happy Hours are a great atmosphere to enjoy the local food and drink scene.

Photo by Addison Causley for Experience GR.

Come on, Get Happy (Hour)

Grand Rapids has more than 1,000 restaurants, bars, breweries and cocktail lounges, so these aren’t the only Happy Hours in town – but they’re a great way to start exploring the local Happy Hour scene. With a wide range of atmospheres, drink specials and delicious bites, you're sure to find the perfect spot to unwind, raise a glass and experience the vibrant energy of Grand Rapids.

Note: Menus and prices are subject to change. Check restaurant websites and social media to confirm offers before you visit.