Best Happy Hour Spots In Orange County

It’s been a rough day, week or perhaps even a rocky month and you’re looking for the perfect atmosphere to wind down with a great drink and good company at the end of the workday. Look no further, because Orange County is full of great happy hour spots that offer a two-hour mini-vacation to converse over the perfect cosmo. Whether your preferences include a chill sushi spot for a Friday date night, a relaxing rooftop deck to catch that Cali sea breeze, or a more swanky setting to take a business endeavor, the following list spills all on the best hot spots for that golden hour of any occasion. Get prepared to let go and let the good times roll.

Mesa
725 Baker St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 557-6700
www.mesacostamesa.com
Price: $10 drinks after 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Happy Hours: Tues to Sat – 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Click here for a calendar of events
Parking: valet

Five o’clock has finally come and you’re wondering where the gang should go for delicious eats, drinks and relaxing beats. If it’s a mid-week kind of happy hour you’re after, Mesa Bar & Lounge offers an awesome “Eats & Beats” happy hour on Tuesday nights from 9 p.m to 2 a.m. featuring local DJ talent. The sultry, sophisticated atmosphere is always available to parties, but is especially dedicated to Wednesday nights when the Todd Oliver Quartet presents “deep sexy jazz.” If it’s finally Friday or Saturday, you can find equally tantalizing mixology where specialty drinks are all $10 after 10 p.m. The combination of mysteriously modern artwork, dedicated service and comfy corners to chill out in make this spot great for groups who are feeling hip and jive enough to keep up with the “exquisite drinks” that Mesa provides.

Newport Beach Brewing Co.
2920 Newport Blvd.
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 675-8449
newportbeachbrewingcompany.com
Price: $1 off all pints and wells, $2 off all appetizers
Happy Hours: Mon to Fri – 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. to close
Click here for a calendar of events
Parking: 100+ car parking lot

You can never go wrong supporting local restaurants. Why? Because they know better than anyone what your tummy craves. At this Newport Beach gem, there are specials for every day of the week and the location, just a two-block walk to the beach from the spacious outdoor patio, can’t be beat. Newport Beach Brewing Co. offers $1 off all pints and wells and $2 off all appetizers during a double dose of happy hour every weekday from 3-6:30 p.m and 10 p.m-close. So whether you’re taking the kids with you for an early family dinner or going out with friends and leaving the kiddies behind, there are options. Take a trip down to the ole’ Co. and treat yourself to a brew or two while you watch the game or make it a pint-filled party.

Port Restaurant and Bar
440 Heliotrope Ave.
Corona Del Mar, CA 92625
(949) 988-0471
portcdm.com
Price: $4-5 off entrees, $2-3 off starters, cocktails and wines $6 and up, $3 off liquor/wines by glass
Happy Hours: Mon to Thurs – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Fri 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Sat to Sun 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Click here for a calendar of events
Parking: Private lot

Say you have to make a business pitch or want to catch a few hours with your beloved in a mystical seaside atmosphere. Port Restaurant and Bar will fill all those happy hour expectations. With this casual to elegant dining style, a quick after-work drink can turn into a full-on dinner party with ease. You’ll find an assortment of happy hour starters like a full tapas menu, green plates and sliders that are served daily, you can’t go wrong. Port also has one of the best Taco Tuesdays around with $2 tacos, the most delicious $6 Agave margaritas and $4 Mexican beers. Live for the weekend? During Port’s weekend brunch and lunch hours, find $10 bottomless mimosas during happy hour until 7 p.m. This dazzling coastal restaurant is worth the effort, not just for the perfect dose of drinks but, also for the refreshing, elegant air.

Ten Asian Bistro
4647 MacArthur Blvd.
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 660-1010
tenoc.com/restaurant
Price: $3-7 sushi rolls specials, $3 and up drink specials
Happy Hours: Mon to Sat – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.Parking: Parking lot, Valet

Ten Asian Bistro may be on the newer side of the Orange County restaurant and bar scene, but it makes up for lost time with its amazing waterfall décor and a bang-for-your-buck happy hour offered every day from 5 to 7 p.m. Don’t let the amazing prices of $3 beers, $5 apple martinis and $3-7 tempura, sushi and salad rolls fool you. The cuisine is completely exquisite, as is the colorful and tranquil vibe of the interior. Ten Asian Bistro is the ultimate get-away for two hours out of any day.

The Rooftop Lounge – Laguna Beach
1289 S. Coast Hwy (Cress Street)
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 484-6845
www.rooftoplagunabeach.com
Price: Half off all beer, wine, mojitos and well drinks
Happy Hours: Mon to Fri – 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Parking: Street

It’s a beautiful evening, just before sunset, and you imagine yourself watching this stunning scene drift into twilight with a delicious drink in hand and possibly a friend by your side. If this is something you dream of more than once during the weekday, then The Rooftop Lounge in Laguna Beach is just the place to enjoy happy hour every Monday through Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. Nothing beats an award-winning mojito and a breathtaking panorama of the Pacific. Without a doubt, this spot will remind you why you live in Orange County.

The science nerd and the woman that always has the prima donna hair, Stephanie Jones is a combination of both worlds. As a Bachelor of Arts graduate, she hopes to parlay her smarts into a career based on the world of writing, digital arts and marketing communications. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.