The Best Happy Hour Spots in La Jolla
Updated July 5, 2023
La Jolla is one of the most popular beach destinations in Southern California, surrounded on three sides by the ocean and backed by the steep slopes of Mt. Soledad; it boasts an abundance of natural beauty, outdoor activities and a plethora of shopping and dining choices. The La Jolla Village area has high-end upscale restaurants and shops as well as some of the best local casual hangouts. The La Jolla Shores area appeals to the beach-going crowd and offers places you can go straight from the beach or restaurants where you can get a little dressed up for a night out. No matter what you are looking for, we have the list for you of the best La Jolla happy hour spots! If you’d prefer someone else to show you around, consider booking a San Diego Tour or our signature La Jolla food tour– our expert, local tour guides will take you to their favorite places where you can sample top menu and beverage options and learn a little history while you’re at it!
Puesto
If tacos and margaritas are what you are looking for, this may be the spot for you!
Offering happy hour Monday – Friday from 3:00 – 5:00 pm, this casual spot offers $10 Puesto Perfect Margaritas, $6 Puesto drafts, $9 wines by the glass, and half off snacks and shareable items on the menu. And, no Mexican restaurant is complete without Taco Tuesday — from 3-9 p.m. on Tuesdays, they offer $2.50 off tacos. They serve a variety of dishes with delicious flavors. They’re known for their fish tacos and local favorites include the Maine Lobster, Chicken Al Pastor and the Zucchini and Cactus options. They have an indoor/outdoor bar and lounge and is the perfect spot for families with kids.
Dukes La Jolla
Duke’s offers festive Island Nights on three days of the week! Every Tuesday from 3 p.m. till close is Taco Tuesday, where you can enjoy your choice of two delicious fish, chicken, or pork tacos for $14, $8 margaritas all night and $5 pacificos all night! Thursdays from 5 p.m. to close are Surf & Turf Thursdays, where they offer lobster, steak, scallop & shrimp specials all night. Fridays from 3-6 p.m. you can join others and take in the Hawaiian spirit in the Barefoot Bar for Aloha Friday, where you can enjoy live music and $10 mai tai’s!
Georges at the Cove – LEVEL 2
Photo via George’s at the Cove
Offering happy hour specials Monday – Friday from 2-6 pm, this completely remodeled venue offers floor-to-ceiling windows with views out to the ocean. Their menu includes price reductions on their specialty cocktails, draft beers and white and red wine selections. Visit their site for current deals. Pair the beverages with one of their starters like the Ahi Tostadas or Burrata Cheese and sit back and enjoy the ocean views and people-watching.
The Shores Resturant
photo via The Shores Restaurant
If you’re up in the La Jolla Shores area, don’t miss this hidden gem, right on the beach! Enjoy Happy Hour on the Patio Monday-Thursday from 2 to 5 p.m. with $7 appetizers – including their asada fries, chips and guac, chicken tacos, and more! And, sip on their Happy Hour libations for $7 each as well. You can also get house wine by the glass for $7, as well as craft beers and signature cocktails! Talk about lucky number 7!
Mermaids and Cowboys
Photo via Mermaids and Cowboys
Located in Downtown La Jolla, Mermaids and Cowboys is a surf and turf restaurant with fresh seafood, several steak options and a casual atmosphere. Some of Mermaids and Cowboy’s most popular items are their aji amarillo ceviche and jerk-spiced lamb chops along with craft cocktails like the Calypso, which contains blueberry, rum, and cachaca. Their happy hour is from 3pm to 6pm, Monday through Friday. They offer discounts on appetizers, drinks, and wine.
Birds Eye
Birdseye, one of the newest rooftop restaurant/lounges on Prospect St., has sweeping views of La Jolla. According to their website, you can look forward to “stunning ocean views, irresistible drink specials and stylish patrons.” Their happy hour is from 4pm to 6pm, Monday through Friday. Enjoy $8 beers, $10 house wells, $10 house white wines, $9 house red wines, and $6 Topo Chico! When it comes to cocktails, they do it right! Sip on margaritas, mojitos, their lo-fi spritz, and their spins on martinis and Moscow Mules for $12. For eats, they have a cheese board for $18 or their Birdseye Shrimp for $15 off their Happy Hour menu.
Cove House
On the way to La Jolla Cove, you’ll pass by the rustic and beachy-themed Cove House. Stop by Monday – Friday from 4-6 p.m. to enjoy their Happy Hour, which includes discounts on apps, salads, and drinks. For $7, sip on Cove House’s signature Sangria, Cove Runner, and Adult Lemonade drinks. Enjoy house wine and beers for only $6 and take $3 off house specialties and margaritas. When it comes to eats, some of the more popular items off the happy hour menu are the crab cakes and avocado toast.
Beeside Balcony
Another newcomer to Prospect St. is Beeside Balcony. This casual, Mediterranean-inspired restaurant has ocean views to enjoy from the interior as well as the balcony. Enjoy touches of France in these dishes sourced from local farms, organic meats, sushi-grade seafood, and the Chef’s own farm-raised honey used in all the recipes.
The restaurant also has a full bar with cocktails, craft beer, wine and an onsite speakeasy called “The Hive”. Their happy hour is from 3pm to 6pm, daily. You can get more details on what’s included on their happy hour specials when you stop by in person!
The Marine Room
Last, but certainly not least … enjoy happy hour from 4-6 p.m. Monday to Friday at The Marine Room! This fine dining restaurant has stunning ocean views to soak up as you sip on discounted drinks — $9 glasses of wine along with the bartender’s daily drink as well as $14 bar appetizers. A few of their specialty drinks that you will be hoping the bartender chooses as the Whistle Pig Wagyu Old Fashioned (wagyu infused whistle pig 10yr, r&d aromatic #7 bitters, demerara sugar), as well as the Sassy Burro (absolut elyx, raspberries, simple syrup, ginger beer). A few of the lounge food faves are also the Moroccan Lamb Lollipops (red horseradish cream, tzatziki, pistachio-almond crunch, mint chimichurri), as well as the Jamon Iberico Toast (whipped goat cheese, buttered brioche, pomegranate molasses, mission fig).
Once you’ve visited our favorite La Jolla hotspots, continue the fun by checking out more trendy bars in San Diego! From weekend brunch in Pacific Beach, to fun activities in Coronado, we are never lacking on local suggestions! Contact So Diego today to learn more about custom tours and recommendations! We offer food tours all around San Diego, including but not limited to La Jolla, Little Italy, Old Town, and the Gaslamp Quarter.
Written by: Melissa
Melissa hails from San Jose, CA, and has been a San Diego local for five years now after a 10-year long pit stop in Los Angeles. In L.A., she began her writing career crafting digital content for a wide range of clients, including The Real Talk Show, Sharon Osbourne, Hank Azaria, Time Life, and Cardinal Financial. She’s excited to be able to use her passion for writing to introduce people to some of the best spots in San Diego, many of which she has already frequented or has on her ever-expanding list of things to do … In her spare time, she enjoys taking her puppy Milo to all of the best dog beaches in SD, grabbing a glass of wine or a cup of joe at new places, and hosting watch parties for The Bachelor/ette TV show.
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