Best Happy Hours: The Date Edition

Singles aren't the only ones who have to deal with stresses of Valentine's Day. If you are newly dating someone, Valentine’s Day can be a struggle as well. You can’t gloss over the day if you might actually want this new relationship to go somewhere. However, you don’t want to hit fast forward with a weekend away or dish out lots of cash money for pre-fix dinner either.

You need to go out. But where?!?!

JG is on the case, with a little help from JB.
Best Happy Hour for a First OkCupid/Match/Blind Date: The Woods

If I had a drink for every time I saw someone awkwardly searching for

the person they have been corresponding with online, it would be one hell of a drinking game. (Seriously. Try it!) It’s easy to see why people choose this bar as their first in-person date. The Woods is an intimate size, there’s plenty of seating, music is good but low enough for getting-to-know you chats, & you probably won’t get interrupted by anyone you know…unless me or JB know you.

Best Happy Hour for a Date in Downtown LA: Library Bar

Library Bar has a great happy hour for many reasons: the food is delicious, the drink pours are heavy, & it’s one of the only places I can find downtown without ever getting lost. For those three reasons alone, if going on a date downtown, then this is your spot. The bar is also dim & intimate with comfortable, leather seating to get lost in your own little date world. The food isn’t on happy hour special here, but the $5-9 menu has generous portions that are great for sharing.

Best Happy Hour for a Date on the East Side (JB’s Vote): Pop Champagne & Dessert Bar

What could possibly be more romantic than champagne and wine-soaked raisins on crostini w/ melted brie? How about a zillion variations of champagne cocktails in a inviting little bar nestled into a quaint Pasadena block just north of the always pleasant Colorado Blvd? Pop Champagne has got you covered with its $4- mimosas, bellinis, and draft beers; $5 select wines; $6 select cocktails; and 20% off beginning bites (eg the beguiling Chardonnay-soaked raisins delight). Cupid, draw back your bow!

Best Happy Hour for a Date in Hollywood: Boho

Happy Hour & a Movie is the new dinner & a movie! Why spring for a dinner that’s going to put you in a food coma when you can split some good appetizers and delicious drinks instead? Located in the same complex as the Arclight Hollywood, Boho’s happy hour is the perfect place for drinks not always found at other bars, such as $4 Lindemans Framboise and $7 Apple St. Germain. There’s plenty of seating in the bar area to get in those flirty chats that make early dates so fun.

Best Happy Hour for a Date in The Valley: The Fifth

If you like The Woods, The Well, or El Bar, then you will definitely like The Fifth. This bar is part of the Vintage Bar Group collection and like the others, it doesn’t disappoint. Happy Hour takes place pretty much all day, 12-8pm, so you can even hit it up for a liquor lunch date, if that’s your thing. But if drunken dates are not your thing, you can still go at a more appropriate hour since happy hour goes until 8pm. Like the other VBG bars, The Fifth is dark & intimate and also has a jukebox to show off your musical taste. If the date doesn’t go so well, there is always some old favorite playing on the TV, like The Great Outdoors, for entertainment.
Best Happy Hour for a Date in West Hollywood: BLT Steak

You want to do Happy Hour for a date, but you want more than a menu of fries & calamari? Go to BLT Steak’s Happy Hour for their amazing $5 menu. The drinks are pretty good, too, but the food is the draw. For $5 during happy hour, you can have fancy food like cast iron mussels and truffle mac & cheese. With a great view of the Sunset Plaza, you will feel far away from any old bar and on an actual date.

Best Happy Hour for a Date in West Hollywood (JB’s Vote!): Café La Boheme

With its romantic décor and cozy sofa seating (in addition to tables made for couples or threesomes – if that’s your thing), Café La Boheme is the perfect spot to impress that special someone in your life. Maybe a little too romantical for the first date (go w/ JG’s suggestion of the Woods!), but fantastic food deals ($5 sandwiches & fries?!) and $4-5 drink specials are just right for new couples or long-term loves looking for a little romance with a Happy Hour pricetag!

Best Happy Hour for a Date on the West Side: Basement Tavern

Basement Tavern is one of Main Street’s not so best kept secrets. If you are the one to suggest this spot, you are sure to earn cool points. The bar is low-key enough that the environment will definitely feel like an original date and not like you were too cheap to go to full-on restaurant. The bar is well decorated, the drinks are good & cheap, and you can order food from the upstairs restaurant to keep from getting too tipsy on your date. If the date is going really well, then spring for one of their $10 specialty cocktails. It’s worth it!

Happy Dating!

You know love The Happy Hour Tour. xoxo JG.

P.S. If you love us, please don't forget to "like" us on Facebook!