New York City

The Best Happy Hour Deals & Cheap Bars In NYC

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Last Updated on 27th October 2024

This guide about the best happy hour deals in NYC contains affiliate links and mentions of previous collaborative work. All thoughts and opinions are my own please see my disclaimer for more.

In a city as expensive as New York, it’s easy to think that you’ll spend a small fortune on food and drink while you’re there. While that can often be the case, it’s also possible to find super affordable places to eat and drink, especially when you can take advantage of the city’s many happy hour bars.

In my guide below, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best happy hours in New York City, as well as the best cheap bars in NYC at all times, so you can still enjoy a drink or two without breaking the bank!

This guide is more aimed towards first-time visitors to NYC as I’ve mainly included bars in Manhattan, and not the other boroughs of New York City. You will be able to find a comprehensive list of cheap places to eat and drink in my upcoming NYC food and drink guide which will be going live in the next few weeks!

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How much is a cocktail in New York City?

Cocktails in New York City usually cost between $18 to $20, excluding tips and taxes/fees. The most expensive cocktail I’ve seen in NYC was $28, but at happy hour in some places, you can get a cocktail for as little as $9.

How much is a beer in Manhattan?

A pint of beer in NYC usually costs around $9 to $12. At happy hour, you can get a beer for as little as $4.

How much is a glass of wine in NYC?

A glass of wine in NYC will usually set you back between $15 and $20. At many happy hours in New York City, you can get a glass of wine for as little as $5.

What time is happy hour in NYC?

New York happy hour times vary depending on each individual bar, but most happy hour spots in NYC usually run from around 4 PM to 8 PM. Check out each place in my guide below for exact happy hour times.

Are under 21s allowed in bars in NYC?

While most drinking establishments will have a 21+ policy with a valid ID required for entry, there are a few places featured in this list that accept under 21s at certain times of the day. At a glance, here are some of the best cheap bars and happy hour places that allow people under 21:

  • Margaritaville Resort Times Square (allowed at all times – I think!)
  • 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar (before 7 PM on Saturdays & Sundays)
  • Treadwell Park (both locations at all times – I think!)
  • Mr. Purple (every day until 9 PM)
  • Roey’s (at all times – I think!)

Best happy hour deals in NYC for cheap drinks

Magic Hour Rooftop Bar at Moxy Times Square

Below, I’ve put together a list of the best happy hours in Manhattan so you can easily find the best NYC happy hours based on location.

The list includes details about the happy hour deals that each place offers, as well as happy hour times, days and where you can find each place!

The best happy hour bars in NYC – my personal favourites:

  • The Liberty NYC
  • The Fleur Room at Moxy Chelsea
  • Magic Hour Rooftop Bar at Moxy Times Square
  • 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar
  • McSorley’s Old Ale House
  • The Ready Rooftop
  • Mr. Purple Rooftop Bar
  • La Caverna
  • Vue180 Rooftop Bar & Lounge

Best happy hour deals in Midtown Manhattan

Midtown Manhattan Happy Hour map NYC

You can find the link to the complete NYC happy hour map here!

1. The Fleur Room at Moxy Chelsea

The Fleur Room at Moxy Chelsea

The Fleur Room is a rooftop bar situated on the 35th floor of the Moxy Chelsea hotel and offers one of the best happy hours in Midtown Manhattan.

Boasting 360° views of the Manhattan skyline, including impressive vistas of the Empire State Building and Summit One Vanderbilt, The Fleur Room is a 21+ venue only, but they do welcome walk-ins, so no need to make a reservation.

The Fleur Room happy hour details:

2. Bella Union Rooftop Bar – Sunday happy hours NYC

Featuring some of the best happy hour deals on food and drink in Midtown Manhattan, Bella Union Rooftop Bar should definitely be on your New York rooftop bucket list!

Not only do they offer exceptional deals on drinks from Monday to Friday, they also have various deals on food throughout the week, including $10 pizzas, $10 wings (12pc), and $10 espresso martinis on Sundays.

Bella Union also has a “Prohibition Hour” deal on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8 PM to 12 AM, which includes unlimited cocktails with a sampler platter for two people from $30 per person.

I believe they are a 21+ establishment only, but they do welcome walk-ins.

Bella Union Rooftop Bar happy hour details:

3. Magic Hour Rooftop Bar at Moxy Times Square

Magic Hour Rooftop Bar at Moxy Times Square

Magic Hour Rooftop Bar is one of my favourites rooftops in NYC. Not only do they offer an excellent brunch menu (think 2-foot long hot dogs and giant cookie croissants!), but their happy hour deals are some of the best in Midtown Manhattan!

The rooftop bar is 21+ only (apart from during brunch hours on Saturday and Sunday from 11.30 AM to 3.30 PM) and they accept and welcome walk-ins.

Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge happy hour details:

Read more: Magic Hour Moxy Times Square Rooftop Review

4. Margaritaville Resort Times Square

Located in Times Square, just a stone’s throw from Bryant Park and the New York Public Library, the Margaritaville Resort hotel boasts numerous drinking and dining facilities, including the LandShark Bar & Grill, Margaritaville Restaurant and Tiki Bar, and the 3rd floor Tequila Bar where you’ll find their Monday to Friday happy hour deals!

Margaritaville is a family-friendly hotel, so I believe that under 21s are permitted in the bar at all times, but you may have to double-check that before visiting.

Margaritaville Resort Times Square happy hour details:

5. Vue180 Rooftop Bar & Lounge – best happy hour NYC Midtown

Vue180 Rooftop Bar & Lounge

We loved the food, drink, and service at Vue 180 Rooftop Bar so much that we actually visited twice on our trip to NYC in October 2024; once during the day and once at night!

Happy hour at Vue 180 is actually one of the best in NYC as they offer a “reversed happy hour” where you can get incredible deals on drinks (including $10 cocktails!) from 7 PM until close, Monday to Friday! While they don’t have any happy hour deals on food items, I would seriously encourage you to order food along with drinks at Vue 180 as it’s absolutely incredible!

The lobster mac and cheese, beef satay skewers, and the charcuterie board are my personal favourites!

Vue 180 is strictly a 21+ venue and welcomes walk-ins on a first come , first serve basis.

Vue 180 Rooftop Bar happy hour details:

6. Side Door – best happy hour in NYC

You’ll find Side Door on East 57th Street between Lexington Avenue and 3rd Avenue and from the outside, you probably wouldn’t even think twice about going in. However, once you head inside, you’ll find some awesome happy hour deals on both food and drink.

I’m not 100% sure if under 21s are allowed at Side Door NYC, so it’s a good idea to reach out to them beforehand to double-check. They do accept and welcome walk-ins.

Side Door happy hour details:

7. The Liberty NYC – best happy hour in Midtown Manhattan

The Liberty NYC - best happy hour in Midtown Manhattan

We came across The Liberty NYC as we were wandering from one place to the next and had a bit of time to kill and it just so happened that we timed our visit with their happy hour deal!

The Liberty NYC has specific happy hour deals that include $7 beers and $8 wines from 4 PM to 8 PM every day, but they also offer “specials” all day/night every single day that include $10 frozen margaritas, $5 shots and $8 bowls of soup.

As The Liberty is a sports bar/pub, they do welcome families with children of all ages and they also welcome walk-ins, so no reservations necessary!

The Liberty NYC happy hour details:

8. Mercury Bar – late night happy hours NYC

Situated in Hell’s Kitchen, just a few blocks from Times Square, Mercury Bar is a brilliant sports bar with awesome happy hour deals on both food and drink. As well as their dedicated happy hour times from Monday to Friday, 11 AM to 8 PM, they also offer “Taco Tuesdays” with $5 tacos and $8 margaritas, and “Wing Wednesdays” with 10 wings for $12.

I think Mercury Bar is a 21+ venue only, but it’s worth checking before you visit.

Mercury Bar happy hour details:

9. 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar – best happy hour deals in NYC

230 Fifth Rooftop Bar - best happy hour deals in NYC

230 Fifth has long been one of my favourite rooftop bars in NYC as it was a place that we frequented multiple times when we spent one month in New York City.

The rooftop bar boasts more deals and offers than I can count, but their happy hour specials are particularly worth bearing in mind as you can get a variety of alcoholic drinks for very reasonable prices.

Their happy hours are only for three hours from Monday to Friday, but if you want to visit a rooftop bar with kids in tow and still enjoy relatively affordable drinks, this is the place to be as they allow under 21s apart from Friday and Saturday nights after 7 PM. They also accept walk-ins.

230 Fifth Rooftop Bar happy hour details:

Read more: 230 Fifth Rooftop Bar Review

Happy hour bars Downtown NYC

Lower Manhattan Happy Hour map NYC

Get the best NYC happy hours map here!

10. The Ready Rooftop Bar – happy hour Thursday NYC

The Ready Rooftop Bar - best happy hour deals in NYC

The Ready Rooftop is renowned for its incredible happy hour deals which include $1 tacos and $9 margaritas. When we visited at 5 PM on a Wednesday at the beginning of October, the rooftop was already absolutely heaving and there was nowhere to sit, not even at the bar!

We were happy standing for a little while to enjoy the super cheap food and drinks, but I would highly recommend making a reservation for happy hour at The Ready Rooftop as it’s by far one of the busiest happy hour rooftops in NYC! The Ready Rooftop is a 21+ venue.

The Ready Rooftop happy hour details:

11. Highwater Rooftop – Monday happy hour NYC

Perched 25 stories above the city, Highwater Rooftop is renowned for being one of the prettiest rooftops in New York City. With both indoor and outdoor seating, Highwater Rooftop boasts a fantastic food and drink menu at all times, but their happy hour deals of $7 beers and $12 cocktails and wine are too good to miss!

Happy hour only runs for two hours on Mondays and Tuesdays, so you’ll have to be there on time in order to take full advantage of the deals! I believe they are a 21+ venue and they do welcome walk-ins, but it might be a good idea to make a reservation in advance, especially if you’re visiting during the peak seasons.

Highwater Rooftop happy hour details:

12. Society Cafe – happy hour Sunday NYC

Society Cafe might just have some of the best happy hour deals in New York City. With $2 oysters, $6 beers and $8 wines, as well as excellent deals on food items such as pizza, burgers, and bar snacks, Society Cafe should definitely be on your New York happy hours list!

I believe that Society Cafe is a 21+ establishment and they do accept walk-ins.

Society Cafe happy hour details:

13. La Caverna – best happy hour in the Lower East Side

La Caverna - best happy hour in the Lower East Side

La Caverna was one of my favourite spots on our trip to NYC in October 2024 and I just know that it will be a regular bar that we visit every time we’re in the city!

This underground tavern is absolutely huge and very much resembles an underground cave, with awesome decor and delicious food and drink! We visited at around 6 PM for their Taco Tuesday deal which involves $3 tacos, $6 beers and $8 margaritas.

They also have dedicated happy hour deals on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and bottomless margarita dinners on Thursdays which includes bottomless margaritas and a main dish for $50 per person for 75 minutes.

La Caverna is a 21+ venue and they leave the bar area free for walk-ins, but it’s highly recommended to book a table online in advance if you want a dinner reservation.

La Caverna happy hour details:

14. Wicked Willy’s – best happy hour in SoHo

Located on Bleecker Street, one of the most famed streets in NYC for its nightlife, Wicked Willy’s is the perfect place to add to your New York bucket list if you’re looking for a fun bar with yummy food and fantastic happy hour deals!

It’s a 21+ venue, so no kids allowed and walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended.

Wicked Willy’s happy hour details:

15. Treadwell Park – best happy hour deals in NYC

Treadwell Park has two locations; one on the Upper East Side and one in Downtown Manhattan, so you get the choice of two places to enjoy awesome happy hour deals, including $6 beers and $8 wines.

Both Treadwell Park locations welcome under 21s, so it’s a great place to head for a bite to eat and drink as a family. They also welcome walk-ins, so no need to book in advance.

Treadwell Park happy hour details:

16. Mr. Purple Rooftop Bar – best happy hour deals in NYC

Mr. Purple Rooftop Bar - best happy hour deals in NYC

Located on the 15th floor of Hotel Indigo Lower East Side, Mr. Purple is one of my favourite rooftops for cocktails and mightily impressive views of the Manhattan skyline.

While the happy hour deals at Mr. Purple rooftop bar certainly aren’t as cheap as many other places listed throughout this guide, for a rooftop as prestigious and expensive as Mr. Purple, I think their offers of $6 bar snacks and $11 cocktails at happy hour is actually pretty good!

Under 21s are welcome at Mr. Purple every day until 9 PM. Reservations are recommended, but not essential as they do welcome walk-ins.

Mr. Purple Rooftop Bar happy hour details:

17. Mary’s NYC – best happy hour deals in NYC

Mary’s is a relatively new establishment in NYC, having only opened in 2024, but it’s fast becoming one of the best places to eat and drink in the city, especially during happy hour!

You’ll find awesome weekly specials at Mary’s, including Martini Mondays ($12 Martinis and $18 Grown-Up Happy Meals), Nacho Tuesdays (steak or veggie nachos for $14) and Wine and Wing Wednesdays ($12 wings and $12 glasses of wine).

I’m pretty sure Mary’s only permits guests over the age of 21, but it’s a good idea to check with them before you visit. They do accept and welcome walk-ins, but you can also book online in advance if you’d prefer.

Mary’s happy hour details:

18. Roey’s – best happy hour in the West Village

Situated just a few hundred metres from the famous building of Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment building in Sex and the City, Roey’s boasts one of the best and cheapest happy hour deals in the West Village.

From some of the cheapest beer and wine deals to $7 pizzas and light bites, Roey’s is a fantastic place to eat on a budget as a family. They even have a dedicated kids menu, so under 21s are absolutely permitted at Roey’s, along with walk-ins as reservations are not required, although they are recommended during happy hour.

Roey’s happy hour details:

19. Marie’s Crisis Cafe

Marie’s Crisis Cafe prides itself on being “the world’s only acoustic sing-a-long showtunes piano bar”, so if you’re looking for super cheap drinks and a fun and lively atmosphere, Marie’s is the place to be!

With excellent happy hour deals including $5 beers, wines and mixed drinks, Marie’s is a brilliant cheap bar in NYC that you should definitely check out while you’re in the West Village.

Marie’s Crisis Cafe happy hour details:

Best cheap bars in NYC

Best cheap bars map in NYC

Find the complete map to the best cheap bars in NYC here!

20. Rudy’s Bar & Grill

Rudy’s Bar & Grill is famed for being one of the cheapest dive bars in New York City and not only do they serve pints of beer for as little as $3, they also serve free hot dogs with any purchase!

21. Jimmy’s Corner

Jimmy’s Corner is another one of the most beloved dive bars in NYC, with crazy cheap drinks priced between $3 and $6! It’s located right in the heart of Times Square, so it’s an ideal option for a late night drink after a Broadway show!

22. McSorley’s Old Ale House

McSorley’s Old Ale House

For one of the coolest, oldest and most original bars in NYC, you need to add McSorley’s Old Ale House to your list of cheap bars in New York! The bar was established in 1854 and remains almost unchanged in the 170 years since it first opened, complete with sawdust strewn all over the floor! McSorley’s offer just two drinks; light or dark beer (they do also serve food at certain times).

If you order one beer, it will be served in two glasses and they only accept cash payments. They don’t accept reservations as they operate on a walk-in policy (no under 21s allowed after 6 PM) and you can expect quite the queue as it’s one of the most loved bars in the city! If you get the chance to visit McSorley’s, I would highly recommend it!

23. Lucky on B

Located in the East Village, just steps from Tompkins Square Park, Lucky is a bar that specialises in super affordable drinks at all times. You’ll find canned drinks for as little as $4 and cocktails for as little as $10, even when it’s not “happy hour”!

Bonus cheap bars in NYC

  • Whiskey Tavern
  • 169 Bar
  • Jeremy’s Ale House
  • One Star Bar
  • Nancy Whiskey Pub

Conclusion – best happy hour bars NYC

I really hope this guide to the best cheap bars and happy hour deals in NYC has been useful and hopefully it’s given you plenty of inspiration for where to find affordable places to eat and drink in the city!

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Do you have any more recommendations for the best NYC happy hour bars? Let me know in the comments or in my New York Facebook Group!

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