Sip Your Way Through Happy Hour at these 5 Venues!

The historical roots of Happy Hour date all the way back to the early 20th Century – the term is actually derived from American Naval slang in the 1920s. After World War I, happy hours were periods of time when sailors could engage in relaxing activities to relieve themselves of the drudgery of life at sea.

These days we head to our favourite venues for drinks and meal deals to make Happy Hour even happier…why limit happy to one hour?

Here are five places where every hour is happy:

Whether you are celebrating, catching up or just hanging out, it’s better with a drink in hand at Sasquatch Bar on Gympie Road in Brisbane. Chermside’s first craft beer bar and restaurant, Sasquatch is the place to see and be seen on the city’s Northside, with a moody vibe of polished concrete, communal tables, wall murals and hanging greenery setting the scene for inspired dining and drinking.

 

Pair a brew of choice with Happy Hour weekly specials such as delicious chilli and lime chicken wings – drop in on Wednesday for 16 wings and a schooner of beer for just $30; perhaps order a Canadian pub classic of poutine – real cheese curds, seasoned fries, pulled pork and chicken gravy - or potato and cheese perogies with caramelised onion, bacon and sour cream.

The Chippendale Hotel on Abercrombie Street, known lovingly by Sydneysiders as The Chippo, has transformed into Australia’s first fully vegan pub. Find more just a new lick of paint in this transformation, there will also be indoor pub seating as well as the bright and sunny courtyard guests have come to know and love.

 

Helmed by Bhavani Baumann – aka Mama B – expect a bistro menu with all the Aussie favourites along with weekly specials such as $18 schnitties or parmys on Monday, $20 pasta, garlic bread and wine on Tuesday, $18 burgers on Wednesday, $18 Philter XPA jugs on Thursday, or stop in on Sunday for the $32 roast. 

Get to know your neighbours over a drink or two at new bar on the Leichhardt block, Otis on iconic Norton Street. An impressive drinks list and food to satisfy all appetites await at this fun and funky venue, ideal for unwinding with friends or making new connections in rustic surrounds of distressed timber, trailing greenery and a lively atmosphere.

 

Join the Happy Hour gang every Friday from 7 pm-9 pm and kiss the work week goodbye with a $15 Espresso Martini along with grazing plates like a prawn roll with tom yum mayo, pickled onions and tobiko on a milk bun; perhaps chow down on a porchetta sandwich with sun-blushed tomato mayo, salsa verde and rocket, or a seven cheese truffle toastie with pickled onion and hot honey, on sourdough.

Great bar food and a Euro aesthetic await at Marrickville bar, We Three on Illawarra Road. Just a few minutes’ walk from Marrickville station, this Sydney venue spreads over two levels with bar and table seating downstairs as well as an alcove table area, boasting a cheery vibe of bright red chairs and rug, along with terracotta-coloured walls and potted greenery.

 

Take advantage of $8 house wine, schooners and tap beer from 4 pm-6 pm on Wednesday and Thursday and from 2 pm-6 pm on Friday; there’s also a weekend pour, where each Friday staff open a bottle of wine from their bottle-only range and pour by the glass for the weekend. Stop in on Sunday for cicchetti tastes with every alcoholic beverage, $22 jugs of tap beer and selected glasses of wine for just $12.

Kelp Restaurant, on River Street in Ballina, offers a fresh and modern dining experience, showcasing the best of local and sustainable Australian seafood. With a commitment to seasonal ingredients, Kelp prides itself on crafting dishes that highlight the natural flavours of the ocean, all while supporting local fisheries.

 

From Wednesday to Saturday take advantage of $6.50 schooners of beer and glasses of sparkling wine, $12 Margaritas and Negronis from 4 pm-6 pm; or liven up your Friday and Saturday nights with cheap cocktails all night to go with plates from the bar menu such as grilled prawns and mango BBQ salsa, Korean BBQ chicken or black spice squid with miso aioli.