The 10 Best Happy Hours in Santa Monica (2026)
Happy hour in Santa Monica is a lifestyle. Between the ocean breeze, the rooftop views, and the fact that half the city seems to clock out by 4pm, the after-work drink scene here is genuinely world-class. But not all happy hours are created equal — some are tourist traps with $2 off a $19 cocktail, and others are legitimately great deals at legitimately great spots. Here are the 10 best happy hours in Santa Monica right now, ranked by value, vibe, and how likely we are to actually show up on a Tuesday.
The Best Overall Deals
1. Elephante — The Rooftop King. Half-price cocktails from 4–6pm daily. That’s not a typo. The same negroni and aperol spritz that cost $18 after 6 are $9 during happy hour, and you’re drinking them with a fourth-floor ocean view. The best bar deal on the Westside, full stop. Arrive by 4:15 or you’re standing. Food specials include $8 burrata and $6 arancini. The catch: it ends at 6pm sharp, no exceptions.
2. Tar & Roses — The Wine Play. $10 wines by the glass from one of the deepest lists on the Westside, plus $5 off any small plate. The bone marrow at happy hour pricing is the best $13 you’ll spend this week. Monday through Friday, 5–6:30pm, bar seating only, no reservations. The bartenders know the list cold and will steer you right. One of the best restaurants in Santa Monica at a fraction of dinner prices.
3. The Misfit — The All-Rounder. $8 cocktails, $6 wines, $5 beers, and a $1 oyster special that’s been running for years and somehow hasn’t stopped. The space is gorgeous — exposed brick, moody lighting, the kind of place that feels more expensive than it is even at full price. Daily 4–7pm. The fried chicken sliders at happy hour are mandatory.
“The best happy hour isn’t the cheapest drink. It’s the place where you planned to stay for one and ended up staying for three.”
The Rooftop Happy Hours
4. The Penthouse at the Huntley — The View Tax. The 18th-floor happy hour isn’t the cheapest on this list, but $12 cocktails with a panoramic view from Malibu to Palos Verdes is still a deal when the regular menu starts at $18. Tuesday through Friday, 4–6pm. This is the happy hour for impressing visitors or celebrating something without committing to a full dinner budget.
5. The Bungalow — The Scene. $10 margaritas and $8 beers at the Fairmont’s beachfront bar. The happy hour crowd skews younger and more social than the dinner crowd, and the fire pits are first-come-first-served during happy hour (they’re reserved after 7pm). Weekdays 3–6pm. Go on a Wednesday when the crowd thins out enough to actually hear your friends talk.
The Neighborhood Gems
6. Chez Jay — The Dive Legend. The nautical-themed dive bar on Ocean Avenue has been serving stiff drinks since 1959, and the happy hour is beautifully simple: $3 off all drinks, $8 well cocktails, and a free bowl of goldfish crackers. No pretension, no small plates menu, no influencers. Monday through Friday, 4–7pm. The martinis are enormous at full price; at happy hour they’re a steal.
7. The Independence — The Craft Play. $12 for seasonal craft cocktails that would be $18 after 6pm. The bartenders treat every drink like a thesis project, and the happy hour menu rotates quarterly with the seasonal menu. This is the happy hour for people who care about what’s in their glass. Wednesday through Friday, 5–7pm. The old fashioned is always on the happy hour menu, and it’s always perfect.
8. Esters Wine Shop & Bar — The Natural Wine Move. Buy any bottle at retail, pay a $10 corkage, drink it on the patio. That’s not technically a “happy hour,” but it’s the best wine deal in Santa Monica every single day. They also run a proper happy hour Tuesday through Thursday, 5–7pm, with $10 pours from the natural wine list. The Main Street patio is perfect for a post-afternoon-coffee wind-down.
The Late-Night and Weekend Picks
9. Forma Restaurant — The Italian Steal. $9 spritzes, $7 Peronis, and — the real move — half-price pasta. The cacio e pepe at $11 during happy hour is one of the best values on the entire Westside. The Main Street location has sidewalk tables that are perfect at golden hour. Monday through Friday, 3–6pm. Come hungry.
10. The Galley — The Locals-Only. The Main Street institution that most tourists walk right past. Happy hour is $6 margaritas, $4 beers, and $8 fish tacos in a space that hasn’t changed since the ’80s. It’s not trying to be anything other than a good neighborhood bar with good prices. Daily 3–6pm. The regulars will make you feel like you’ve been coming for years.
