Foodie 15: Happy Hour Drinks & Bites in Tucson

Why limit happiness to an hour? That’s what I always say. And these 15 fabulous spots agree, showcasing noteworthy Happy Hour deals that give you even more reason to round up your homies and start your evening early.

If you’re looking for a larger list of Happy Hour specials, read our “45+ Hot Happy Hour Picks in Tucson” article.

Bottega Michelangelo

420 W. Magee Rd.

Bottega Michelangelo brings in a hip, contemporary breath of fresh air, though it’s still nice enough for a fancy date if you so desire.

Happy Hour takes place Tuesday – Sunday from 4 – 7 p.m. and offers $5 featured wines and well drinks as well as $4 draft beers. If you’re in the mood to munch, you can also get half off on all appetizers.

Look out for:

• Fritto Misto ($6) – Fried calamari, shrimp, broccoli rabe, lemon slices, peppers, calabrian chili aioli
• Porchetta Sliders ($5.50) – With pepperoncini relish and fontina cheese
• 10″ Margherita Pizza & a bottle of featured wine ($30)

For more information, visit bottegamichelangelo.com.

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Charro Steak & del Rey

178 E. Broadway Blvd.

Now, this is the Happy Hour we’ve been searching for!

Charro Steak & del Rey offers a daily half-off Happy Hour from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Get half off house wine, wells, drafts, The Charro Burger, and select aperitivos (does not include seafood).

Choices include:

• Cast Iron Mushrooms ($6.50) – 100% grass-fed chorizo, corn masa, and queso blanco
• Chile con Queso Mini Chimis ($6) – Mini Estillo Charro-style chimis
• Prickly Pear-Glazed Albondigas ($6.50) – 100% Arizona grass-fed meatballs, chiles mixta, and tres quesos

Phew, let’s just sip back on a house marg while we think about all of our options, shall we?

For more information, visit charrodelrey.com.

The Delta

135 S. 6th Ave.

The presence of Southern-style cuisine is expanding here in Tucson as downtown welcomes The Delta, the second concept under the owners of fusion gastropub, The Parish.

Served up Tuesday – Thursday from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. and Fridays until 7 p.m., you can get $3 off draft beers, specialty cocktails, and glasses of wine, and $6 Old Fashioneds while you nosh on some tasty dishes from a selection of $3 Honky Tonk Tapas.

A few of our favorites:

Cast Iron Corn Bread – Fresh out of the oven cornbread served with fermented candied pecan honey butter
Pimento Cheese Dip – Served with local honey and Tennessee buttered saltines
Cherry Kool-Aid Pickles – a Mississippi Delta original treat, always available

For more information, visit thedelta.com. Infused with the flavors and rebellion of the south, The Delta’s sister restaurant, The Parish, also offers a Happy Hour full of soul. 

The Dutch – DAM Good Food

5340 E. Broadway Blvd.

The Dutch is ready to help you kick off any night right with daily Happy Hour from 3- 6 p.m. Head to the bar area where you will be greeted with half price bar snacks and wine by the bottle as well as $5 well cocktails and draft beer.

For more information, visit thedutchtucson.com. 

El Chinito Gordo

2920 N. Oracle Rd.

The crew at El Chinito Gordo doesn’t just cook authentic Mexican food, they live and breathe it. And that kind of love can be tasted in every bite and every sip, from their salsa to their margaritas y frescas.

Happy Hour is served up daily from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., with drink specials including $7 house margaritas and $9 Gorda Marias and specialty margaritas. Their food deals are also something to make a fuss about, with $3 off all appetizers and $2 off wings and soup of the day.

Some of our go-to appetizers include:

• Chori-queso ($9.95) – House cheese blend with melted chorizo, poblano peppers, and green onions
• Esquites ($6.95) – Fire grilled corn with crema, queso cotija, chili guajillo, onions, garlic, and cilantro
• Rajas Con Crema ($6.95) – Roasted poblano peppers and sweet corn simmered in a cream-based sauce

For El Chinito Gordo’s full menu, visit elchinitogordo.com. 

Ermanos Bar

220 N. 4th Ave.

With Happy Hour specials that run noon – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, Ermanos is on a mission to make you rethink the time parameters surrounding the daily celebration.

Stop by for half off all bottles of wine, $1 off all draft beers, $2 off of their daily rotating “Happy Tap,” and $1 off of the rotating bottle/can of the day. Be sure to ask about the discounted Happy Hour food items while you’re there.

For more information, visit ermanosbrew.com. 

Flora’s Market Run

2513 E. 6th St.

From the masterminds behind Prep & Pastry and Commoner & Co. has come Flora’s Market Run, housed in what was previously Rincon Market.

Their Happy Hour specials can be ordered up daily from 3 – 6 p.m., with deals like $2 off all cocktails and well spirits, $5 draft beers, and $6 glasses of house red and white wine. It doesn’t stop there, though, as they also dish out a quality selection of food items.

Happy Hour faves: 

• Flora’s “Animal Style” Burger ($12) – Topped with secret sauce, pinot noir caramelized onions, American cheese, pickles, lettuce, and tomato
• Team Pineapple Wood Fired Pizza ($14) – Topped with pickled jalapeno, prosciutto, mozzarella, and wood fired pinapple
• Sage Pear Gimlet ($11) – Vodka, lime, sage simple, spiced pear puree

For more information, visit florasmarket.com. 

Istanbul Mediterranean Cuisine & Bar

2945 E. Speedway Blvd.

When it comes to authentic Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine, Istanbul is dishing it out here in Tucson. With quality hospitality also written into the heritage they’re serving up, Istanbul’s daily Happy Hour specials offer something for everyone.

From 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., everything on the menu aside from soups and appetizers is $1 off, from 3 – 5 p.m all items on their beer and wine lists are $1 off, and you can get two bottles of Bud Light, Budweiser, or Estrella Jalisco for $6 from open to close.

What time of day will your Happy Hour be?

Learn more at istanbulcafe.com.

The Jackrabbit Lounge

2000 N. Oracle Rd.

The Jackrabbit Lounge is adding some funk and flavor to Tucson, and their Hoppy Hour deals give you plenty of reasons to check it out for yourself.

Monday through Friday from 4 -7 p.m., they have $2 off of small plates, $5 wells, $1 off all draft beers, and $2 off signature and draft cocktails. What are you waiting for?

Happy Hours faves: 

• Spam Musubi ($6) – Grilled Spam over sushi rice with nori
• Chicken Chestnut Lettuce Wraps ($7.50) – Marinated minced chicken sauteed with carrots and chestnuts and served with Asian slaw in butter lettuce cups
• Herbed Goat Cheese with Garlic Toast ($6) – Goat cheese rolled in herbs and sliced almonds, topped with garlic confit and red wine gastric; served with toasted baguette

Check out their menu at thejackrabbitlounge.com. 

Kon Tiki Restaurant & Lounge

4635 E. Broadway Blvd.

Kon Tiki is always down to bring the fun, and their Happy Hour is no exception. From 4 – 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, they’re offering up $1 off draft beers and double wells, $3.50 aluminums, $4.50 glasses of wine, and a wide array of appetizers ranging from $6 to $8 each.

Happy Hours favorites: 

• Calamari ($7) – Buttermilk-marinated and lightly breaded calamari served with a spicy Asian sauce
• Ahi Poke ($8) – Yellow fin tuna and avocado cubed and marinated with orange Ponzu sauce, mixed with red onion and sesame seeds, and topped with chipotle aioli, macadamia nuts, nori strips, and wonton chips
• Bacon Wrap Shrimp ($8) – Mesquite smoked bacon wrapped around Black Tiger shrimp that’s been sauteed to perfection; served with sweet Asian chili sauce

The Monica

40 E. Congress

With a full-service bar featuring cocktails, local craft beer, and wine accompanied by a menu of both pantry and plated recipes, The Monica‘s Happy Hour menu is something to write about.

Offered Monday – Friday from 2 – 6 p.m., you can find specials that include $2 off shareable appetizers, house margaritas, wells, draft beers, and wine by the glass.

Happy Hour favorites: 

• Brussels & Carne Seca ($12.95) – Brussels tossed with El Charro carne seca, queso cotija, and lime zest
• Mini Chimis Banderas ($10.95) – Green chile cheddar chimis in red, green, and béchamel queso sauces
• Cauliflower & Corn Nuts ($10.95) – Crispy cauliflower and corn nuts, Tapatio, and agave glaze with goddess sauce

While you’re there, be sure to ask about their half-priced bottles of wine, which change monthly.

For more information, visit themonicatucson.com.

North Italia

2995 E. Skyline Dr.

North Italia, or North, is a classic Italian eatery with delicious pizza, pasta, salads, appetizers, and drinks.

Their Happy Hour, from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Monday – Friday, consists of $6 glasses and $22 bottles of red and white wine, $6 glasses and $22 pitchers of sangria, and all beers are $5. Swing by anytime on a Monday and you’ll also find all bottles of wine marked half-off — reserve wines not included.

They don’t stop at drink specials, though!

Popular Happy Hour eats:

• Bruschetta ($10) – With the choice of tomato or prosciutto
• Margherita or Cacio e Pepe Pizza ($12)
• Bottle & Board ($30) – Choose from pizza, bruschetta, or chef’s board (meats, cheeses, olives), served with a bottle of the featured red or white wine

For more on North’s Happy Hour, visit northitaliarestaurant.com. 

Proof Artisanal Pizza and Pasta

4340 N. Campbell Ave.

Nestled in St. Phillip’s Plaza, Proof is a Happy Hour destination for the Foothills dwellers (we see you up there!).

From 3 – 6 p.m. daily, catch draft beer, prosecco, and house glasses of red or white wine for $5 along with discounted apps and $10 cheese or pepperoni pizzas.

Happy Hour faves:

• Artichoke Dip ($7) – Artichoke, spinach, cream cheese, roasted red pepper, and house made filone crostini
• Pepperoni Pizza ($11) – Pomodoro, mozzarella, thyme, and black pepper
• Blood Orange Margarita ($6) – Tequila, triple sec, blood orange puree, and fresh lime

For more information, visit prooftucson.com.

The Royal Room

450 N. Sixth Ave.

From colorful glass windows to quirky zebra wallpaper, The Royal Room definitely has a vibe. And they mean business with their seasonally-changing menu of signature cocktails and daily Happy Hour deals.

Stop by from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. any day of the week and get $1 off any bottled wine or draft beer pour. Not to mention $5 Old Fashioneds, margaritas, and draft red or white wine from open to close, daily.

Talk about getting treated like royalty.

Keep up with The Royal Room on Facebook.

Zinburger

6390 E. Grant Rd. • 1865 E. River Rd.

Zinburger is an old-school burger joint with a twist.

While using only certified Angus, their assortment ranges from the Zinburger to the Bruce Lee Burger, with shakes, salads, and sides also deserving of attention.

From 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. daily, they offer a feast of discounted items to craft your ultimate Zin experience. Drink deals include half-priced wine glasses and bottles, $4 and $5 draft pints, and $6 wells. Get your food on with $4 sides, $5 premium sides, $6 Zini Burgers, and dessert options including $2 floats and $3 pie.

What are you waiting for?

Happy Hour items include:

• Hand-cut and Sweet Potato Fries ($4)
• Jalapeno Popper Zini Burger ($6) – Cream cheese, fresh fried jalapeños, lettuce, and chipotle mayo
• Tres Chiles Spicy Margarita ($6) – Jalapeño tequila, mango, habanero, yuzu, bell pepper, and chili lime salt

For more information, visit zinburgeraz.com.

If you’re looking for a larger list of Happy Hour specials, read our “45+ Hot Happy Hour Picks in Tucson” article.