In 2025, some of The San Diego Union-Tribune’s most popular guides were about happy hour.
So, the guides team decided to share more of best places for deals on food and drinks with readers this year, starting with the northern part of the county, because who doesn’t like to save money?
Here are 14 restaurants, bars and a brewery with daily or late-night happy hour deals north of State Route 56.
333 Pacific: A mix of seafood, wine and draft beer is what 333 Pacific is presenting on its happy hour menu. There are eight appetizers and shareable plates for $10. These include shrimp ceviche, lobster bisque, black mussels, truffle fries and a Caesar salad. Glasses of wine are also $10, and draft beer is $8. 3 to 6 p.m. daily. 333 North Pacific St., Oceanside. 760-433-3333, 333pacific.com
Amalfi Cucina Italiana: This Italian restaurant offers 15 food items and 19 drink options on its daily happy hour menu. Amalfi Cucina Italiana’s food specials include a $13 mussels and clams appetizer, $13 10-inch margarita pizzas and $14 eggplant parmigiana. There are also $6 local craft beers, eight types of wine and eight cocktails on the happy hour menu, such as an old-fashioned for $11. 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the restaurant. 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the bar. daily. 4 to 6 p.m. daily. 5980 Village Way No. 106, San Diego. 858-461-0622, amalficucinaitaliana.com/cucina-carmel-valley
Brigantine Seafood and Oyster Bar: Seven is the lucky number at Brigantine Seafood and Oyster Bar in Del Mar. All happy hour menu items are $7. Guests can pick from three types of sliders: ahi tuna, fried fish and wagyu beef, and 13 appetizers such as oysters, clam chowder and potato skins. Beverage specials include draft beers, well cocktails, red or white wine, a Moscow mule and the house margarita. 3 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays. 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Friday. 3263 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar. 858-481-1166, brigantine.com
Ciao Ristorante Italiano: The bar is where to get the deals here every day. Ciao Ristorante Italiano’s happy hour bar menu comprises bottled beers for $5, wine and draft beers for $7 and well drinks for $8. There are also three types of $8 salads, shareable bites like $12 fried calamari and wood-fired pizzas ranging from $12-$14. 3 to 6 p.m. daily. 2015 East Vista Way, Vista. 760-630-7333, ciaovista.com
Cocina De Barrio: Mexican seafood, tacos, plant-based options and adult beverages are the highlights of the happy hour menu at Cocina De Barrio. Ceviche, mango habanero aguachile and vegan portobello mushroom tacos from $12-$16 are some of the food choices. There are also a variety of mezcal and tequila based cocktails for $7 and $9 and $5 margaritas. 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 967 North Coast Highway #101, Encinitas. 760-704-8625, eatcocinadebarrio.com
Cocina Del Charro: At the bar on the outside patio is where happy hour happens at Cocina Del Charro. House margaritas, house wine, and 16-ounce draft beers are all $6 each. Carnitas tacos, crispy tacos and fish tacos are $8 each and each serving is two tacos. There is also a four-piece shrimp chimichangas plate for $8. Cocina Del Charro has locations in Escondido and San Marcos. 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. 890 West Valley Parkway. Escondido. 760-745-1382,1020 W. San Marcos Blvd. No. 50, San Marcos. 760-471-6644, cocinadelcharro.com
Finney’s Crafthouse: A family-friendly sports bar with a rooftop terrace is the vibe at Finny’s Crafthouse. There are over 14 food choices priced between $7 to $16. Some of the specials are $7 chicken and waffles, $8 ahi poke tacos and $9 pepperoni pizza. There is also a selection of 30 draft beer cans for $6 each, $7-$9 glasses of wine and cocktails. Plus, all meals on the children’s menu are $9, every day, which includes pizza, mini cheeseburgers, yogurt, fries, juices and milk. 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 212 North Tremont St., Oceanside. 619-825-1400, finneyscrafthouse.com
Mission Ave Bar and Grill: Whiskey, burgers and more are on sale at Mission Ave Bar and Grill. Customers can get 50% off cocktails, draft beers and glasses of wine on the patio during happy hour. The menu also features several food items like $9 popcorn chicken, an $8 smash burger and a $6 short rib taco. Plus on Tuesdays, burgers are buy-one-get-one-free, and on Wednesdays, top-shelf whiskey is 50% off. 4 to 6 p.m. daily. 711 Mission Ave., Oceanside. 760-389-1648, missionavebarandgrill.com
Prey Brewing Company: For fans of daily deals and late-night happy hour, Prey Brewing Company is one place to explore in Vista. Every day from 3 to 6 p.m., the happy hour menu offers guests $3 to $5 Prey beers, $8 martinis, $9 glasses of red or white wine and either a margarita, paloma, daiquiri or old-fashioned cocktail for $10. Daily food specials include an $8 smash burger, a $9 chicken sandwich and $12 poutine fries. The night happy hour menu, available 9 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, is filled with similar items on the daily afternoon menu, plus $8 shots and $25 bottles of wine. 110 Main St., Vista. 760-593-2337, preybeer.com
SETS Kitchen & Bar: The magic number is $10.95. This is what each food item costs on the happy hour menu at SETS Kitchen & Bar. Customers can choose from short rib sliders, southwest egg rolls, pork belly bao buns, homemade pretzels, a half dozen wings and a blackened Caesar salad, each on sale from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Plus, all day on Tuesdays, a burger, a side of choice and a beer is $15.95, wine is $7 per glass and 30% off bottles from 4 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays, and cocktails are $10 from 4 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays. 1628 San Elijo Road, San Marcos. 442-515-3327, setskitchenandbar.com
Sounds By The Sea: For those who have a craving bubbles, Sounds By The Sea has a weekend special. Glasses of champagne and spritz are $8. The listening bar offers these options: The Sweetest Taboo mixes prosecco, a French liqueur and white wine, the Aperol Spiritz blends prosecco, Italian aperitif, orange and sparkling water, and three types of sparkling wine. Sounds By The Sea also hosts guest DJs on the weekends. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 325 South Coast Highway, Oceanside. 760-547-5441, soundbytheseaoc.com
The albacore special from Sushi Lounge in Poway brings together fried tempera, crab, eel and avocado. (Carlos Rico / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Sushi Lounge: In a strip mall in Poway, there is sushi on a budget with a decent selection of rolls. Customers can order five types of basic rolls on the happy hour menu, such as the salmon roll or spicy tuna roll for $8 each. There are also three rolls, one being the shrimp tempura roll, for $10 each, and three specialty rolls for $12 each. One of these specialty rolls is the albacore special, which has a sweet and spicy kick from the ponzu sauce and is savory from the fried tempura, crab and eel. The avocado adds a nice creaminess to the roll. The happy hour menu also has a $5 Sushi Lounge draft beer, which is a light blonde ale with a crisp finish. 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. 12622 Poway Road, Poway. 858-748-0070, sushiloungesd.com
Vintana’s Prickly Without the Pearl mocktail blends alcohol-free agave blanco, coconut cream, lime and prickly pear juice. (Carlos Rico / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Vintana’s $10 lobster bisque on the happy hour menu is creamy, rich and does not give off a fishy taste. (Carlos Rico / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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Vintana’s Prickly Without the Pearl mocktail blends alcohol-free agave blanco, coconut cream, lime and prickly pear juice. (Carlos Rico / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Vintana Wine + Dine: A somewhat hidden gem in Escondido for happy hour is Vintana Wine + Dine. It’s located on the roof of a parking structure behind a Lexus dealer. The happy hour menu is filled with small bites, speciality drinks, wines and mocktails. One of the non-alcoholic beverages is the Prickly Without the Pearl, which is super sweet and refreshing, giving tropical beach vibes in Mexico. It mixes alcohol-free agave blanco, coconut cream, lime and prickly pear juice. The lobster bisque is creamy, rich and does not give off a fishy taste. All happy hour items are $10. 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. 1205 Auto Park Way, Escondido. 760-745-7777, dinevintana.com
Waverly: Indoor and outdoor coastal vibes near San Elijo State Beach, with daily happy-hour deals, are found at Waverly in Cardiff. This modern American cuisine restaurant serves a mix of $5 to $9 appetizers such as trout ceviche, cheeseburger and kale salad. There are also six specialty cocktails, priced at $9.50 on the happy hour menu, including the Harvest Moon, which blends mezcal, lemon, cinnamon and Okinawan purple potato. Plus draft beers are $4.50 and $5, and wines range from $7.50 to $8.50 per glass. 3 to 5 p.m. daily. 2005 San Elijo Ave., Cardiff. 760-230-1682, thewaverly.com