Galveston's Best Happy Hours
Any pub or restaurant can offer a few half-hearted drink specials, roll out some frozen fish sticks and call it “Happy Hour.” But true happy hour magic? Well, that my thirsty friends, is the province of establishments that understand what the term really means. There are seemingly countless Galveston bars and restaurants promising a great happy hour experience, and here are a few of my favorites.
Taquilo's Tex-Mex Cantina
Happy “Hour” is an all-day affair that runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Friday. A big reason why Taquilo’s has become a must visit for happy hour devotees is the $4.50 margaritas and $3.50 bottled beers. They also serve up world class margaritas—try the Taquilo Gran Mayor or their signature jalapeno-infused Caliente—along with some tantalizing appetizers like the shrimp besos and you’ll be good to go.
Lucky Lounge
This place knows how to throw a great party. Known for its award-wining Blueberry Basil Lemon Margarita—a winner of “Best Margarita in Texas” honors at Galveston’s Texas Margarita Festival—Lucky’s also boasts a top notch happy hour. Its Martini Mondays brings you $7 you call it martinis, while there are daily happy hour specials. Taco Tuesday, featuring $2 frozen short margaritas, gives you the chance to make your own tacos using their always-fresh ingredients, and 10 percent of all happy hour drink sales benefit the Resource & Crisis Center of Galveston County.
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Yaga's Cafe and Bar
A Strand District legend, Yaga’s has become an island happy hour mainstay thanks to Monday through Friday (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) specials, including $10 margarita pitchers, $1 off all draft beers and great bottled beer deals ($2 domestic and $2.50 imports). Plus, premium pitchers go for $7 and from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. every Friday, all drinks are just $2. The happy hour food menu is loaded with deliciousness, including the Caribbean Pork Nachos and the Flauta Bites. You really have to work at not having a good time at Yaga’s, thanks to regular live music and the chillest vibe on the island.
The Spot
A key member of the five-bars-in-one good time conglomerate called Island Famous, The Spot is as much a frame of mind as it is a bar. Located on the Seawall and just steps from the sand and surf, this place is as casual as the crowd at a Jimmy Buffet concert. In fact, if you dared to wear a shirt and tie I’m not so sure they’d even let you in! Happy Hour features an abundance of daily specials, including $4 margaritas and $2 longnecks. Don’t even think about leaving before trying the signature Crispy Calamari—it’s that good.
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Rod Evans
Rod Evans is a Houston freelance writer who enjoys getting down to the island as often as he possibly can. He has focused primarily on sports, music, fitness, cars and food during his career in print, broadcast and online media. He's the co-author with Houston blues legend Grady Gaines on the book, "I've Been Out There: On the Road with Legends of Rock 'n Roll."
