Doing fancy things feels that much better when you're not decimating your wallet.
Whether you're trying to impress a date, pull a Great Gatsby on your friends, or just treat yourself to a classy afternoon, these happy hours at fancy places will allow you to drink and dine in an elegant setting without breaking the bank.
Contributed by Kelly McComas
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photo credit: RedFarm
201 W 3rd St
Award-winning NYC restaurant, RedFarm, recently launched happy hour at their downtown Austin location. This contemporary Chinese spot serving supercharged dim sum offers a menu of discounted small bites as well as specialty cocktails during their happy hour, weekdays from 4-6 PM. This is the perfect time to try some of their top menu items, like Spicy Crispy Beef ($12), Three Color Vegetable Dumplings ($10), Pan-Fried Pork Buns ($6), BBQ Duck Lettuce Wraps ($12), and more.
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photo via facebook
1204 W Lynn St
Jeffrey's, one of the top fine-dining restaurants in Austin, has a great happy hour every Monday, all night long in their Lounge. Since their menu is on the pricier side, this is the perfect time to try out some of their bar food and glasses of wine for 25% off. On Sundays they also offer 50% off bottles of wine all night.
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Photo Credit: @drinkwellaustin
207 E 53rd St
This upscale pub is a sophisticated take on your favorite neighborhood dive. It's intimately dim and the stools are padded leather, but there's also a TV broadcasting sports or a weird throwback movie. It's kind of the best of both worlds, especially during happy hour (4 pm - 5:30 pm Mon - Thurs, 3 pm - 5:30 Fri - Sat) when classic cocktails are $8, $3 off wines by the glass, half-off all wine bottles, draft beers are $4, and $2 off all bar snacks. Drink.Well.'s whiskey selection is worth experiencing, as are the bar snacks and shareables - like their shockingly addictive chili-dusted ancho chickpeas.
801 South Lamar Blvd
No list of fancy anything in Austin is complete without a mention of Uchi. If you want to enjoy this polished sushi restaurant without leaving hungry or penniless, your best bet is the Sake Social (daily, 4-6:00 pm). During these lower-priced time frames, you can enjoy $6 sake, cheap beer and wine, and budget-friendly takes on Uchi's nationally renowned dishes.
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photo via facebook
3437 Bee Caves Rd
Sway's sleek kitchen and bar offer a grown-up take on classic Thai favorites with cocktails that feature fresh and tropical notes. Enjoy snacks ranging from $8-$12, and half-off all specialty cocktails, wines, sake and beer during their Sabai Sabai happy hour from 4-6 pm Monday - Friday!
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1108 E 6th St
Second Bar & Kitchen is a clean, modern space, now located in the East Austin Hotel, with a happy hour Sunday - Thursday 3-6 pm which includes $5 off pizzas, $4 off specialty cocktails, $3 off wine and draft beer, and $2 off snacks and shareables! Standouts on the New American food menu are the Truffle Pommes Frites and Crispy Brussels Sprouts with smoked bacon and feta.
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photo via facebook
1201 S. Lamar Blvd.
From highly acclaimed chef Bryce Gilmore of Barley Swine, Odd Duck is the brick-and-mortar realization of the former food trailer of the same name, which first earned Gilmore recognition. And it makes sense that the two restaurants share the same owner, as they share a similar food philosophy as well, with a focus on local, seasonal fare that results in a constantly evolving menu. To taste these delicacies on a budget, stop by happy hour from 4:30pm-5:30pm Sunday - Thursday, where you'll find $9 Draft Frescas, 25% off bottles of wine and large format beer (under $100), and $1 off all canned, bottled, and draft beer.
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photo via instagram
208 W 4th St
Péché is Austin's first and only absinthe bar - a distinct place to come and reminisce about the time you drank absinthe at Hemingway's bar in Prague (or to plan to do that, someday). During happy hour (Tues-Fri 4pm-7pm, Sun & Mon all night), you can enjoy $6 cocktails and 1/2 off select food (participating cocktails and food items are denoted by a * on the menu).
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photo via instagram
1917 Manor Rd.
This highly rated American Gastropub prides itself on farm-to-table cuisine they call “contemporary farmhouse fare” that is locally sourced. Stop by during happy hour from 4:30-6:30pm daily to sample their delicious grub ranging from $5-$7, $2 off draft beer and craft cocktails, and $6 glasses/$24 bottles rotating house wines.
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MORE FANCY HAPPY HOURS
Sushi Roku (Daily 4:00-6:00 pm)
405 Colorado St
1200 W 6th St
110 E 2nd St
Suerte (Mon - Thurs 5:00-6:00 pm, Sun 4:00-6:00pm)
1800 E 6th St
2215 E Cesar Chavez St
6555 Burnet Rd
Soto (M-F 4:00-6:00 pm, weekends 3:00-6:00 pm)
1100 South Lamar Blvd
624 W 34th St
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