Broadway Bar

830 S. Broadway

Los Angeles, CA 90014

213.614.9909

www.broadwaybar.la

Parking: $5 at lot next door

Tuesday – Friday, 5-7pm, $5 Absolut Citron cosmos, $5 Hornitos margaritas, & $2 off all drinks for the Early Bird Special

Last week, we decided to take in a happy hour at Broadway Bar before networking the night away with some of LA’s fabulous fashion bloggers. We were set to attend a LA Fashion Week kick off party at 8pm so we decided to show up an hour early to investigate the happy hour scene since the website said happy hour was from 5-8.

We were immediately taken in by the décor of Broadway Bar. There was great detail in the wallpaper, lamps, and island bar. We wished the lighting were turned up just a bit so we could partake in our personal photo shoot like we did at Barbarella Bar, but as usual we managed just fine. We scored some real estate at the bar and asked the bartender for the happy hour deals.

Happy Hour was over at 7pm.

I told him that on their website it says that happy hour, or as they refer to it “Early Bird Special,” is from 5-8pm. He told us that happy hour has been 5-7pm for over a year, and JB repeated what I had told him: the website says 5-8pm. The bartender was nice enough to honor what we had told him. We weren’t lying, I swear. See the screen capture to confirm our research. (Photo is a bit small, but click link) We later found a sign within the bar (later placed outside) that also confirmed what the bartender said. Hopefully, after our encounter, the website will be updated. A lot people use the internet as a resource for everything, so after traveling into downtown from Hollywood (what some may consider an epic journey) to find out that happy hour is over, well… some may not have been as cool as us.

Once we scored our glasses of cabernet ($6) and barstools (thank you gentlemen!), we scanned the bar to get a feel for the crowd. To me, it appeared as if most people lived or worked in the neighborhood and that they didn’t stay much longer past happy hour. Since we arrived about 15 minutes after, I watched as many were closing out their tabs. Whether they needed to get home for the new Grey’s Anatomy episode or just weren’t budgeted for the regularly priced drinks ($12 for regular cocktails), I may never know. There is a DJ booth in the corner so I imagine that Broadway Bar must pick up at some point.

We’ve been venturing downtown more lately, and it seems 213 Downtown LA has a lock on the bar scene, owning 10 bars at architecturally creative locations. Here’s hoping our next adventure will be more successful. And next time, we’ll be sure to call first.

-JG

Rating: 2.75 Martinis

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We love our readers, especially the ones that write us to tell how we’ve fulfilled their happy hour needs! For that reason, we’ve been very hard at work on this St. Patrick’s Day roundup of drink & food specials. We’ve called, emailed & tweeted damn near every bar in Los Angeles. We’ve found deals at Irish pubs, sports bars, & more!

We also found defunct websites, disconnected numbers, bars with no specials, & bars that were deciding on specials the day of. If you’re a bar owner/manager/etc. that wants to be included in this roundup, as well as keep us posted on future specials, please email us at TheHappyHourTour@gmail.com.

We hope everyone has a great St. Patrick’s Day!

Cheers!

Jennie & Jessica

Beverly Hills

McCormick & Schmicks - 206 North Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

4pm – close, Happy Hour All Night

Downtown

Casey’s Irish Pub – 613 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90017

Opens at 6 am (with live KROQ Kevin & Bean broadcasting until 10 am), $5 green beer & $6 (non-green) beers available at 7 am, special food menu ($9-10 meals) served from 10 am – 5 pm

Chaya Downtown – 525 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

Per Ms. Caroline on Crack for SquidInk, From Monday, March 15th to Friday, March 19th, Chaya Downtown has an unusual all-things-Irish cocktail called St. Patrick's Goblet ($13). Since the Irish are notorious tea drinkers this cocktail involves Red Clover Blossom and Irish Breakfast Tea steeped in Hangar Potato Vodka and then mixed with Aperol and fresh sour, shaken and served up.”

Drago Centro - 525 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, CA 90071

$12 refreshing St. Patrick's cocktail made of Jameson, mint bitters, fresh mint, & fresh lemon

The Edison – 108 W 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

5-7pm, Murphy’s Red Irish Beer & Edison Reuben Sandwich for $10. Featured Centennial Cocktail: Any Mixer with Irish Potato Vodka for 100 cents (one per customers, drunkies!). After 7, potato vodka drinks for $9, Murphy’s Irish Red Beer for $5/glass.

The Must – 118 W. 5th St., Los Angeles, CA 90013

4-7pm Happy Hour, green beer & green wine and some Irish grub like bangers and mash or corned beef cabage, bartender Cameron will be dressed like a leprechaun!

Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse – 330 S. Hope St., Los Angeles, CA 90071

Opens at 3pm, happy hour specials through 9 pm – “Irish-inspired” appetizers, entrees, and desserts and $5 Irish beer

Royal Clayton – 1855 Industrial Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021

St. Patty’s Day fun from 5 pm til close, bagpipes (woohoo, bagpipes!) from 5-8 pm, St. Patty’s Punch for $6, Newcastle for $4, special food menu

The Standard Downtown LA – 550 S Flower St, Los Angeles, CA 90071

9 pm – 2 am, $10 cover, St. Patrick’s Day party on the rooftop from, no food or drink specials, but yay for rooftop party!

Weiland Brewery – 400 E 1st Street, Los Angeles 90012

Opens at 11 am, regular happy hours (3-7 pm and 10 pm – 2 am) with special St. Pat’s food & drink items

Yardhouse LA Live – 800 West Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90015
Open at 11 am, Green beers from$3.50 -5 during happy hour (3-6 pm, 10 pm-12 am), $4.25-7 for non happy hour, special food menu

East Side

Short Stop - 1455 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

$2 PBRs, $3 Well Drinks, $4 tap beers, $6 Guiness & Jameson

Hollywood

8oz. Burger Bar – 7661 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046

$8 Irish Car Bombs

Capital City - 1615 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Opens at 9am, All day Green beer specials, 9am – 12pm, $1 Green Beer specials; 12pm – 3pm, $2 Green Beer specials. Beer Pong, Karaoke, Flip Cup & More!

The Cat & Fiddle - 6530 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028

All Day, $2 Green Jello Shots, $4.50 Heineken; 4-7pm $3.95 Guinness pints, & a bagpipe player from 5-7pm!

Cinespace - 6356 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028

7:30pm, screening of The Departed, $3 Domestic bottles, $4 Stellas, $4 Rum & Vodka drinks, 2 for 1 Jameson

Dillon’s Irish Pub – 6263 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028

Opens at 6am, $3 draft beer, $4 well drinks, $8 premium drinks, special food menu. There will also be a breakfast menu for the early birds!

The Hungry Cat - 1535 Vine St., Los Angeles, CA 90028

All day happy hour! ½ priced drinks, $4 Murphy’s Irish Stout, $6 Picklebacks

The Well – 6255 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028

$3 Tullamore, $4 Guinness cans, $5 Irish Car Bombs, & $6 corn beef sandwiches.

The Woods – 1533 N La Brea., Los Angeles, CA 90028

$4 Guinness cans, $5 Tullamore, $6 Irish Car Bombs

Ye Coach & Horses - 7617 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046

$4 cans of Guinness, $5 Jameson shots, $7 Irish Car Bombs.

Note: This bar is CASH ONLY!

Mid-City

Tom Bergin’s - 840 S. Fairfax Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036

Opens at 6am, 4-7pm Happy Hour, serving Irish food til midnight

Pasadena

Beckham Grill – 77 Walnut, Pasadena, CA 91103

Opens at 4 pm, happy hour specials through 7 pm – $1 off beer (including green beer!), & wines by the glass, $4.50 well drinks, ½ off pub menu. St Pat’s dinner menu: $17 Corned Beef & Cabbage dinner, $5 Irish Coffees, also featuring Guiness Stout, Newcastle Brown Ale, Green Beer

Lucky Baldwin’s – 17 South Raymond Ave., Old Towne Pasadena, CA 91105

Opens at 8 am, $15 Guiness pints w/ Guiness t-shirt, Irish Stew and Corned Beef & Cabbage on lunch ($9.95) and dinner ($10.95) menu

West Hollywood

The Belmont - 747 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90069

Price TBD Green Beer, Price TBD Shepard’s Pie, & Karaeoke at 10pm!

Blue Palms Brewhouse - 6124 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028

Opens at 11am, $5 Irish Car Bombs

Cabo Cantina - 8301 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA

99 cent Mega Irish Margaritas

The Den of Hollywood – 8226 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046

$2 Coors Light, $5 Irish Car Bombs, TBD Price Corn Beef & Cabbage

The Hudson – 1114 N. Crescent Heights Blvd., West Hollywood, CA

Opens at Noon, $3 Green Bud Light, $5 Guiness Pints, $5 Jameson, $7 Irish Car Bombs, plus Irish dishes Bangers & Mash and Corn beef & Hash.

Micky’s - 8857 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069

$4 draft beer, $5 well drinks, & $5 specialty drinks at the patio bar. There will also be a leprechaun handing out gold coins that can be redeemed for a free cocktail!

The Rainbow Bar & Grill - 9015 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

Opens at 11am, $3 Beer, $4 Well Drinks, $5 Jager, & $14.95 all you can eat Corn Beef & Cabbage!

Red Rock - 8782 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069s

All night, $2.50 Green Beer, 5-7pm ½ off all drinks

Sunset Trocadero - 8280 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046

6-8pm Happy Hour, ½ off cocktails. Spoke with a nice manager that assured that there would be some type of green, Irish theme drink and/or shot

West Side

The Arsenal - 12012 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064

$4 Guinness, $4 Irish Whiskey, $4 Irish Cream, $8 2-for-1 Black & Tans, 2 for $10 Bomb Shots

Bar Food - 12217 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025

Opens at 12pm, No Green drink specials, but the bar is owned by a very friendly Irish lad who offers all night happy hour, starting at 5pm, with $3.50 beers, $5 house wine, & whiskey at various prices

Bodega Wine Bar - 814 Broadway St., Santa Monica, CA 90401

All Night, $3 Guinness

The Galley - 2442 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90405

Getting Guinness just for the day! $2 Galley fries, $2 baked potato, $3 onion rings, $4 fried calamari, $4 fish & chips, & $5 buffalo drumettes

Joxer Daly’s - 11168 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230

Opens at 8am, $4 Domestic Beers, $6 Import Beers, $5 Well Drinks, $6 Call Drinks, $7 Premium Drinks, $9 Top Shelf Drinks, $7 20oz. Guinness & cider; & $9 corn beef on rye, $13 beef stew, $ $13 “healthy sized portion” of corn beef & cabbage

Liquid Kitty - 11780 W Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064

$3 Jameson, $4 Guinness, $6 Irish Car Bombs

Rush Street - 9546 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232

$3 Bottle Beers, $5 Draft Beers

Saints & Sinners - 10899 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90034

9:30-10:30pm, Free Jameson

Wilshire Restaurant
- 2454 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403

10pm – 2am, $50 for Unlimited Drinks

Valley

El Bar – 3256 Cahuenga Blvd. W, Los Angeles, CA 90068

Opens at 5pm, $4 Guinness Draught cans, $5 shots of Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, $6 Irish Car Bombs

The Fifth – 4821 Whitsett Ave., Valley Village, CA 91607

$5 Jameson, $6 Irish Car Bombs

Henry’s Hat - 3413 Cahuenga Blvd W, Los Angeles 90068

Henry's Hat becomes O'Henry's Hat. Wear a green hat and we will take 50% off your food check and include a round of green beer. Enjoy our full regular menu with some St. Patrick's Day specials from Chef Nick.

Lucy’s 51 - 10149 Riverside Dr., Toluca Lake, CA 9160

$5 St. Patrick’s Day martini, $6 Guinness on tap

NoBar – 10622 Magnolia Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601

$5 Jameson, $6 Irish Car Bombs

*all bars & restaurants have regular hours unless noted

Borracho

8570 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 289-8809

Parking: Parking Lot off Alta Loma Drive (good luck) & metered Street Parking

Daily, 3-6 pm AND 10 pm-1 am, $5 martinis, $3 Gin & Tonics, $15 beer buckets and get this shit, ½ OFF ALL FOOD ITEMS!!!

I can't help but say the word "Borracho" as if I was the Taco Bell Chihuahua - Borrrrrrrrrrrr-acho! However, the name was kind of a misnomer for my first visit to Borracho - after a rough Friday night at the Woods (was lucky to make it out with only bramble scratches), I was happy to bathe in some Saturday afternoon sunlight and cool my heels with a Diet Coke & Grenadine. What's Spanish for teetotaler?

I always liked Tony's, the steakhouse that lived in this space just prior to Borracho - $5 martinis all the time, okay happy hour deals too. But I was even more excited to hear about this upscale Mexican bar/restaurant now inhabiting the digs! The afternoon happy hour lends itself to the location, the space looks gorgeous with the Western setting sun and its Mexican restaurant coloring.

And you have to love the deals - 1/2 off all food items (that means entrees too!), $5 martinis, $15 beer buckets (5 bottles, $3 apiece - your choice of Tecate, Heineken, Dos Equis, and Dos Equis Amber), and $3 Gin & Tonics (a little random, but who doesn't love a good Tanqueray & Tonic?!). Plus it's offered daily from 3-6 pm and then again from 10 pm - 1 am. Jennie enjoyed her refreshing margarita & me my Diet Roy Rogers and we both had full meals - she went for the short rib tacos and I had the delicious sweet corn tamale. Both were served with black beans and Spanish rice, plus our favorites - complimentary chips & salsa. And both meals were like $7 - sham-a-lang-a-ding-dong, that's a sweet deal! Next time, with God as my witness, I will feast upon the pomegranate guacamole.

The parking sitch isn't as lovable, well our experience wasn't. At the parking garage located behind the strip (on Alta Loma Road) JG & I drove down four parking levels searching in vain for a spot, only to have to drive back out and find parking on Sunset - which isn't even that bad as you can cover it with a debit/credit card! Word to the wise, find street parking first. Or if you go late and aren’t averse to valet, that’s another option.

Our waiter wasn't 100% lovable either, I know I drink my liquids fast (especially when replenishing fluids after a night in the Woods), but riddle me why Fred Armisen-lookalike-waiter didn't bring me a water or soda re-fill for 25 minutes?! Please note that we did ask for a refill, politely waited, and even put the empty glass on the edge of the table when it was clear he forgot.

Así es la vida, these are truly trivial matters though when it comes down to swell-priced menu items, a cool location, and some nice daily time frames.

--JB

Rating: 4.5 Martinis

Agura

514 North La Cienega Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90048
(310) 289-1940
www.aguradining.com
www.twitter.com/aguradining

Parking: Valet (we couldn’t find the valet guy to ask price, but…) metered street parking is readily available and free during the happy hour times

Monday – Saturday – 10 pm-Midnight, Sunday – 6 pm-10 pm, 50% off cocktails, $3-5 appetizer selection

By now, you know we love a good deal at any kind of bar or restaurant – fancy is fine as long as the deal is good! So we were happy to discover Agura on La Cienega, just south of Melrose when we met for a Sunday night Happy Hour Tour meeting (yes, we schedule website meetings!). On Restaurant Row where there are some happy hour hits and kinda-misses, this new Japanese fusion restaurant offers some nice deals in a mature, sleek setting, we like!

The vibe is urban cool – an open dining room with wood floors (a little annoying with the VERY attentive bus-boys constantly shuffling by – ha!), low hanging chandeliers, and the jazzy music selection. The menu says happy hour is served only at the bar and patio, but the friendly hostess sat us in the general dining area and our server assured us that we could order happy hour in the area, which definitely filled out with fellow patrons over the course of our two-hour visit.

Jennie & I ordered a dinner-like assortment of happy hour food items from their $3-5 happy hour menu: Salmon Nachos ($5), Seaweed Salad ($3), Popcorn Shrimp Tempura ($3), Shrimp-wrapped Spring Roll ($5), Spicy Yellowtail Roll ($3) and Albacore Salad ($5). The servings are slightly smaller than you might expect, but are a good value at the price. And unlike many restaurants and bars whose happy hour fare runs the gamut of chicken wings, chili cheese fries, and onion rings, Agura’s happy hour menu is made up of a great selection of items that are comparable to and whet your appetite for their dinner menu. For drinks, I enjoyed the Emperor’s Caiprinha with Elderflower Liquer, freshly muddled Shiso & orange and lime juice with a splash of ginger ale. I don’t know what Elderflower is, but I sure like it in drinks! Jennie had the Shiso Cucumber Martini – fresh & delish!

Besides the good food, good vibe, and good service, I’d also like to note that the restaurant’s owner is extremely friendly and totally not solicitous, just a business owner who wants to make sure his patrons are enjoying themselves.

--JB

Rating: 4 Martinis

Senor Fred

13730 Ventura Blvd.

Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

818.789.3200

www.senorfred.com

Parking: 1 hr. Metered Street Parking (bartenders will give change for meters!) or $5 Valet

Monday-Friday, 3-7pm and Friday & Saturday, 11pm – 2am, $5.50 select margaritas, mojitos, martinis, & glasses of house wine; $3.50 beers; $3.50 appetizers

True Happy Hour Confession: I should have written a review for Señor Fred a long time ago. I’ve been going to Señor Fred’s happy hour for months, but I always end up having such a tipsy great time that I don’t take the notes or photos needed for a proper review.

A couple of weeks ago, two separate friends had approached me for happy hour dates to entertain out of town guests so I rounded up everyone for a Sherman Oaks happy hour. After all, Señor Fred is a great happy hour for groups; with its comfy, large couches and ottomans, there’s always enough room for everyone.

My friends & I met around 4pm on a weekday and the place was far less happening than it has been on previous visits. In fact, we were the ones in the bar section until happy hour was almost over. I know everyone can’t have fabulous production breaks like us, but still. On weekday evenings (not happy hour) and on weekends (late night happy hour!), there is a nice mix of dates, guys catching a game at the bar, and friends kicking back in the bar lounge.

On previous visits, I usually went for a classic margarita ($5.50) but after sampling a friend’s passion margarita (also $5.50) I decided to switch it up. I’ve become a little weary of fruity drinks these days, but the passion margarita packed enough punch with the tequila and it was not weighed down with syrup. Between friends catching up and friendships being made, our party of six was never without the complimentary baskets of chips & salsa.

Señor Fred is a place that you can’t just stop in for a drink – you have to order something to eat. Not because that’s a rule, but because it’s that good. The happy hour menu offers 5 appetizers at $3.50 each. On my last visit, I had the tingas, two tostadas tops with beef, pico de gallo, & sour cream. The appetizers are not too small or too big, but just the right size, especially with a belly already half full on chips & salsa.

I’ve always had great service here. On other visits, I always seem to have the same female server. Unfortunately, I don’t remember her name because of my True Happy Hour Confession. I didn’t have the same server on the last visit, but he was just as friendly. The bartender even gave us change for the meters without any attitude. I don’t know what it is about making change, but some people act as if you asked them to help move a couch up a flight of stairs.

If you want to get the most of out Señor Fred’s happy hour, check out the late night happy hour on Friday and Saturday nights, 11pm-2am. Great crowds, amazing food & drink, and friendly service!

-JG

Rating: 5 Martinis