The Best Happy Hours in the Sacramento Area for Food & Drinks

This post was updated in January of 2022

Sacramento is a foodie town. After all, it’s the nation’s farm-to-fork capital, and its restaurants showcase the abundant agriculture produced in the surrounding counties. Enjoying a great meal while sipping on a local wine, craft beer or artisan cocktail is one of the best ways to relax and unwind at the end of a long day. That in itself is a bonus of living in the Sacramento area, but it’s even better to do so at a discount. Many area bars and restaurants offer the same great food and drinks at a reduced price during happy hour, generally weekdays in the late afternoon. During this time, you can fill up on appetizers (and in some cases full entrees) and enjoy an adult beverage at a fraction of the cost of busier times. Following are some of the best happy hours for both food and drinks in the greater Sacramento area.

Shady Lady Saloon | Midtown

Photo courtesy Shady Lady

This vintage-style bar in Midtown Sacramento is known for its swanky cocktails and upmarket comfort food, not to mention their weekend brunch. But they also have a popular happy hour from 3–6 p.m. Monday–Friday, with $2 off select small plates, including wings, house-made pork rinds and fried green tomatoes. You can wash it all down with a $5 house wine or well drink, or take $1 off a pint of beer.

Bar 101 Eats & Drinks | Roseville

Photo courtesy Bar 101

Located in downtown Roseville, this laid-back eatery is a good choice for live music, trivia and catching whatever sporting event happens to be on one of the 13 big-screen TVs. The menu features comfort food like burgers, sandwiches and tacos, plus 33 beers on tap. Happy hour is Monday­–Friday from 3–6 p.m., and features discounted small plates, select beer and wine and $1 off well drinks.

Scott’s Seafood on the River | Sacramento

Photo courtesy Scott’s Seafood

Scott’s is THE place to go for upscale seafood dishes in the Sacramento area. Located near the South Land Park neighborhood it boasts stunning river views. Happy hour is served Monday through Friday from 3–6 p.m., where you can get seafood bites such as calamari and coconut prawns for $10, or oysters for $2. Plus, they have wine, beer and cocktails for $5–$6.

Lenise’s Café | West Sacramento

Photo courtesy Lenise’s Cafe

This unassuming, European-themed café in West Sacramento has one of the best happy hours in town. It’s Monday through Friday, 2–7 p.m. and offers $5 wine, $3.99 beers and $3.99 mimosas. If you’re hungry, you can also order mozzarella sticks, potstickers or sliders for just $5. Saturday and Sunday, they have $3.99 mimosas all day, or unlimited mimosas from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. for $11.99.

Zocalo | Various Locations

Photo courtesy Zocalo

Regional Mexican fare in an upscale setting is the name of the game at Zocalo, which has locations in Midtown, Roseville, Folsom and the Arden Arcade area. Their happy hour is one of the best around, offering drinks and bites at price points ranging from $5–$8. Flautas, empanadas and ceviche can be paired with their famous blackberry margarita or sangria from 3–6 p.m. daily.

Riverside Clubhouse | Land Park

Photo courtesy Riverside Clubhouse

This longstanding Land Park restaurant offers creative, upscale cuisine in a modern setting. It’s been a popular stop for the happy hour crowd for years, offering discounted food and drinks from 4–6 p.m. every day of the week. In addition, if you order online, you can get happy hour prices all day, every day! The happy hour menu includes $5 wine, beer and well drinks, plus starters like ceviche, wings and Korean tacos for $7.

Mas Taco Bar| Sacramento & Folsom

Photo courtesy Mas Taco Bar

What better way to showcase global flavors than in a taco? Such is the thinking at Mas Taco Bar, which has locations in Arden Arcade, Midtown and Folsom. Happy hour, Monday through Friday 3–6 p.m., gets you $1 off tacos with fillings like Vietnamese pork, Romesco cauliflower and tamarind duck confit, plus half off starters and discounts on beer, wine and margaritas.

36 Handles Public House | El Dorado Hills

Photo courtesy 36 Handles

This friendly neighborhood bar/restaurant in El Dorado Hills features — you guessed it — 36 varieties of beer on tap. They also serve pub-style comfort food like burgers, wings and larger plates such as meatloaf and cottage pie. Happy hour is 3–6 p.m. daily, with discounted IPAs, house wine and well cocktails, plus bar bites including fries, pretzel bites and nachos.

Camden Spit & Larder | Downtown

Photo courtesy Camden Spit & Larder

If you’re looking for refined cuisine in a cosmopolitan atmosphere, look no further than Camden Spit & Larder in Downtown Sacramento. The London-inspired restaurant has happy hour — called Winston’s Hour — Tuesday through Friday from 3–6 p.m. The menu features bites like sausage rolls, salt cod fritters and steak tartare ranging in price from $8–$18, plus $10 cocktails like the Churchhill G&T and the Pimm’s Cup.

The Brass Tap | Rocklin

Photo courtesy the Brass Tap

Beer lovers will feel right at home at this mellow beer bar in Rocklin. They have dozens of craft brews on tap, not to mention bottled beer, wine and craft cocktails. The kitchen turns out flatbreads, tacos and burgers, plus brunch on weekends. Best of all, happy hour features $6 pints and house wine, $7 well drinks and discounts on shared plates.