If you want a lively bar scene, there are few places better than Santa Monica. With trendy new spots appearing next to long-standing classics, there’s a happy hour for everyone’s tastes. Whether you’re looking for unique dives, soulful jazz bars, or just the best bang for your buck, you’ve got more options than you may know what to do with, so go ahead and check this best happy hour in Santa Monica article, ridiculously usefuel when looking for the right cocktail spot in CA!

Always remember to double-check dates, opening times, and weather conditions before traveling.

The Best Happy Hour in Santa Monica that You Should Try!

The Independence

Address: 205 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Happy Hour: Wednesday-Friday, Sunday 4:00–6:00 PM

If you look at any list of Santa Monica’s best happy hours, The Independence is sure to be on it. The Independence is a local favorite for quality, price, and aesthetics.

For $10, you can pick from a list of craft cocktails that put a modern twist on classic drinks. Not seeing something that interests you? Draft beers and house wines are $7, and you have a full list of bites to pair them with. Their happy hour menu includes drinks and bites for all tastes, check it here!

The Craftsman Bar and Kitchen

Address: 119 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Happy Hour: 4:00–8:00 PM daily

It’s 6:00 PM and the happy hour at The Independence is over, so it’s time to go home. Just kidding; down the street is The Craftsman with a happy hour that goes until 8:00 PM! The Craftsman features one of the best happy hours in Santa Monica, and it has even more affordable drink specials with well drinks at $6 each.

If you’re looking for beer and wine, house reds, whites, and sparkling are $6 each, and certain draft beers start at $4. You won’t find happy hour specials on food here. Still, the regular menu offers appetizers and sandwiches under $10 no matter the time of day. Here some specialties.

Blue Plate Oysterette

Address: 1355 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Happy Hour: Monday-Thursday 4:00–6:00 PM

Do you want a happy hour with a bit more refinement? Not a problem! Blue Plate offers an “oyster hour” with $6 beer and wine and $10 specialty cocktails. If you want something light before dinner, you can get half a dozen oysters for only $16.

If oysters aren’t what you’re looking for, but you still want seafood, get the $12 albacore tacos! If you’re looking for a spot tomorrow morning, Blue Plate Oysterette also has brunch drink specials. Read the online oyster hour menu.

Mercado

Address: 1416 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Happy Hour: Tuesday-Thursday 5:00–7:00 PM, Friday 4:00–7:00 PM, Saturday-Sunday 4:00–6:00 PM

If you’re looking for a solid weekend happy hour in Santa Monica, Mercado has you covered.

And if you’re looking for quality Mexican food with a modern Santa Monica take, Mercado will not disappoint. Mercado has a slew of repeat customers for a reason.

Library Alehouse

Address: 2911 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 11:30 AM-6:00 PM

With all their happy hour drink options under $10 and most under $6, you’ll be sure to find something you like without breaking the bank. 7 of the 8 food options are $10 or less, and the Dos Gringas are raved about.

You don’t have to be an avid reader to enjoy this library. The best part about Library Alehouse is their 6.5-hour happy hour on all weekdays.

The only downside is the happy hour just applies to food, though every offering is between $5 and $7. That being said, there are very few beers over $10 here, and you get a wide selection. Specials operate on a rotating basis, so make sure to see what they have when you’re there!

The Brixton

Address: 2827 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Happy Hour: 3:30–7:30 PM daily

We see your 6.5-hour happy hour, Library Alehouse, and raise you 365 days a year of happy hours! Happy hour is nearly a religion at Brixton, with 28 hours a week of specials.

Well, cocktails come in at $7, and draft beers and house wines are $6 each. If you want something really fancy, specialty cocktails are $4 off. That same $4 discount is also applied to a handful of their tastiest food specials.

Still haven’t found where to eat in town? Head here to discover the best restaurants in Santa Monica.

Massilia

Address: 1445 4th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Happy Hour: Monday-Friday 4:00–6:30 PM

Every wanted to step off the streets of Santa Monica and into Southern France? While I can’t say I ever wanted it before I knew it was an option, I sure do now! Massilia blends French, Spanish, Italian, and Moroccan cuisine in a space meant to emulate Marseille, France.

The best way to enjoy Massilia is to stop by towards the end of happy hour and have an appetizer and drink before dinner. With an intricate and pleasing menu, you’ll want to stay even when the specials are done. You can get cocktails for $5 off, wine for $4 off, and beer for $2 off during happy hour. While not part of happy hour, pizzas are $12 past 10 PM. Go ahead and check their happy hour menu online.

The Misfit

Address: 225 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Happy Hour: From opening until 7:00 PM daily

The Misfit touts it has the best Santa Monica happy hour (though who doesn’t?) around. In defense of The Misfit, cocktails, spirits, and wine (by the glass) are all half off. With a happy hour that starts the moment the doors open each day, there are few competitors in terms of value.

The Misfit offers $6 bloody marys and $20 bottomless mimosas if you fancy brunch. Their food is a bit pricey, but the food prices don’t seem too bad when a $16 cocktail becomes an $8 cocktail.

The Upper West

Address: 321 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Happy Hour: Tuesday-Sunday 5:00–7:00 PM, all night Monday, 5:00–10:00 PM Tuesday (wines)

You may have to squint a bit to figure out the happy hour specials at the Upper West, but it’s worth the effort. Happy hour is 5:00–7:00 PM every day, with Mondays going from 5:00 PM until close and Tuesdays offering half-off bottles of wine from 5:00–10:00 PM.

This trendy establishment has a modern take on bar food, so you can enjoy happy hour comfort foods elevated. Tuesdays at the Upper West is the best happy hour around if you’re a wine connoisseur.

Jameson’s Pub

Address: 2702 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90405
Happy Hour: 3:00–8:00 PM daily
Late Night Happy Hour: Sunday-Thursday 10:30 PM-12:30 AM

Jameson’s takes two for one seriously. Not only are all drinks two for the price of one during happy hour, but you get two happy hours. Should you not want the same thing as your friend, you can get a double for the price of a single instead of the two-for-one option. If you’re looking for a no-frills pub to go with a friend, Jameson’s is the place, especially if you’re a sports fan.

So, where will we be seeing you at happy hour o’clock? Has you favorite Santa Monica happy hour spot made it to the list?

Where to stay in Santa Monica

Find more Santa Monica accommodation options on Booking.com.

Santa Monica is fairly easy to get around. We recommend renting a car and exploring all there is to see. You can find the best prices on rental cars by clicking here.

When you’re not discovering Santa Monica on your own, we suggest treating yourself to a tour. From private wine tours to kayak and SUP tours, cooking classes classes to tours of celebrity-owned homes, there’s a little something for everyone. Browse all the Santa Monica tours available on Viator by clicking here.

If you want to capture the memories from your trip to Monterey, we recommend hiring a professional photographer. A Flytographer photoshoot is one of our favorite souvenirs from our travels and we want to share them with you!

10 Epic (and Cheap) Happy Hours In Santa Monica