Happy hour used to be all about giving diners a cheap way to fill up. Think fried apps, sugary drink specials, and empty calories at a bargain.
But with fierce competition and diners growing more discerning, pricing alone no longer cuts it. Many restaurateurs now build loyalty by focusing on consistently quality food, not just low prices.
Diners benefit from this shift, where happy hour has turned from a game of slumming it to becoming a mini-luxury where they can have fun, eat well, and still be home by 7pm (which is in fact, my idea of heaven!).
Here are three restaurants that deliver on the happy hour trifecta with experiences never feel like a compromise:
Xiquita
Neighborhood: Uptown
Cuisine: Mexican
Happy hour: Tue – Fri, 4-6pm
Xiquita brings a nice mix of delicious tacos priced between $5-6 and hearty sides to their happy hour “taqueria.” The taco de lengua is a must, with a striking presentation on a two-toned tortilla, and two different salsas that balance heat and acidity.
Other notable items include the vegan- and vegetarian-friendly sopecito ($7) – a shallow crispy masa bowl filled to the brim with a pool of black beans and salsa verde, and the charros ($5) – pinto beans stewed with chorizo. Don’t let the low prices fool you, there is no skimping on quality and miraculously you can leave here with a full belly for less than $20 per person (in this economy!).
Uncle: Highlands*
Neighborhood: Highlands
Cuisine: Ramen + Asian
Happy hour: Mon – Sat, 5-7pm
Happy hour at Uncle is a great reminder that this spot is more than just ramen. The menu pulls directly from the regular dinner offerings (minus ramen), letting you try new dishes or old favorites at a lower price.
The cold sesame noodles ($16) are my favorite: coated with mixture of tahini and soy sauce, with a touch of sweetness coming from the julienne cuts of apple. Other noodle options include the dan dan (flavorful, mild heat) and a pad thai that is the spiciest of the bunch. The garlic shrimp ($14), their take on Cantonese salt and pepper shrimp, was slightly over-salted but still satisfying. The chilled tofu remains one of my all-time favorites on the menu.
Note: Happy hour is at the Highlands location ONLY and runs now until Labor Day, Sept 1, 2025.
Cart-Driver: LoHi
Neighborhood: LoHi
Cuisine: Pizza, Italian
Happy hour: Daily, 4-5pm
The restaurant with a neighborhood feel buzzes during happy hour, with diners drawn to the crowd-pleasing menu. While the happy hour isn’t as exhaustive as the ones at Xiquita or Uncle, the satisfying options more than makes up for its brevity.
The Sardines Conserva ($10) is a runaway favorite. Served with warm piada bread, seasonal compound butter, and sambal, it’s the perfect little tinned fish pocket — savory, rich, and full of layered flavor. You can’t really go wrong with a classic like the Daisy pizza ($10) which goes with the tried and true combo of tomato, mozzarella, and basil.
Note: The LoHi location has a more extensive HH and the one I recommend. Their sister location, @cart_driver in RiNo has a daily HH 3pm-5pm + 10pm-12am, with the early HH food snacks only, but the late night happy hour includes pizza and sardines & bread options under $10.
* Disclosure: This meal was hosted. However, the restaurant has no influence over my coverage, which remains independent.