We have gathered you all here today to talk about our favourite time of the day: Happy Hour. Two of our resident happy-hour experts have curated an impressive list of the best food and drink deals in Calgary. Here’s how their ideal week would go.
Monday: Anejo
Appropriately named “Halfy Hour,” you’ll find half-price tacos, half-price tequila and $6 margaritas and beer from 3-5pm.This is the place to head to Mondays since you’ll satisfy your Margarita-Monday requirements and your need for tequila shots after a rough day of work, all at once.
We go for: both the ginger and the chili coconut margaritas, paired with the chicken or pork tacos (ask for the pico de gallo with your tacos!).
2116 4 St SW, anejo.ca
Tuesday: National on 17th
National’s happy hour is daily from 3-6pm, but Tuesday is the best day because they also have two food features happening: buck-a-shuck and three fish tacos for $7 to pair with your beer (25 cents an ounce on any tap) and $5 cocktails. On a warm Tuesday, the patio is usually packed, but luckily they recently did a big expansion so there’s more room for everyone.
We go for: the Ntnl Caesar or a pint of our favourite beer of the moment with a lot of oysters.
550 17 Ave SW, ntnl.ca
Wednesday: Cibo
Nothing gives you that midweek boost quite like pizza does. That’s where Cibo comes in with it’s $5 Pizza Happy Hour — yes, $5 for a full pizza. If that doesn’t seal the deal for you, the $4 six-ounce glasses of wine, 12-ounce pints, and Scodellina (mini appetizers) might do the trick.
We go for: the sausage pizza and arancini scodellina with the house red.
1012 17 Ave SW, cibocalgary.com
Thursday: Cleaver
We think this is one of the best deals in the city, yet so many people have never heard of it. From Sunday to Thursday, Cleaver offers $5 cocktails (we’re talking the full cocktail list, not just a few select ones) and $3 sliders. This the perfect spot to start the weekend early because the happy hour is from 4-7pm, giving you plenty of time after work to get in on the deals.
We go for: the Banana Hammock and G-Spot (wait till you hear the rest of the drink names) with the veggie and lamb sliders.
524 17 Ave SW, cleavercalgary.com
Friday: Bridgette Bar
Still one of the newest restaurants in Calgary, Bridgette Bar has a happy hour that runs a little early, from 2-5pm, which gives you the perfect excuse to call an early quitting time on Fridays. All their super unique cocktails are 50% off. Order a lunch-menu pizza if you’re feeling peckish or, better yet, hold out until 5pm when they start serving their full menu and call it a dinner date.
We go for: the Mary Anne Smith and Great Scot with the chicken sausage pizza.
739 10 Ave SW, bridgettebar.com
Saturday: Goro + Gun
After a hot day of downtown exploring, Goro + Gun in Scotia Center is the perfect place to duck into to cool off. Their new All Day Saturday Happy Hour makes it extra easy to fit into your schedule. Refuel with the food menu, starting at just $3 an item during happy hour, and $5 drink specials.
We go for: the feature cocktail (a new unique creation every week) with the Happy-Hour Sashimi and ramen burgers.
Scotia Centre, goroandgun.ca
Sunday: Ox Bar de Tapas
Recently rebranded from Ox and Angela, Ox Bar de Tapas is well known for its awesome Spanish tapas. Sadly, it’s not really known for the killer happy hour. Take a seat at any high top table (to clarify, this is half the restaurant, at least, including the patio) and take in the newly renovated, high-end, Spanish-inspired interior while you feast on half-priced food and half-priced drinks. Yes, the whole menu is half price. With a deal like this, you can have an early dinner for two with drinks for around $40 — unheard of.
We go for: the Sangria Blanco and Rojo with a new selection of tapas every time because the menu is endless.
528 17 Ave SW, oxtapas.com
By Michelle Pijanowski and Ruth Lee
