Best Happy Hour Restaurants in East Village (10003)
7 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: January 2026
Our Top Pick
SAINT Restaurant Bar & Speakeasy
A brasserie-meets-speakeasy feel with genuinely ambitious bar food.
Notable Picks
A chandelier-lit East Village brasserie with a playful, high-energy bar program and a happy hour that leans upscale. The kitchen swings global-modern, so you can snack lightly or turn it into a full dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Croquettes, Empanadas, Seasonal cocktails
What makes it special: A brasserie-meets-speakeasy feel with genuinely ambitious bar food.
A British-leaning gin house where happy hour feels like a proper after-work ritual, with sharp cocktails and sturdy pub plates. The room stays lively without turning chaotic, and the bar team keeps the pace snappy even when it’s packed.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fish & chips, Scotch egg, Gin & tonic flight
What makes it special: One of the neighborhood’s deepest gin selections paired with real kitchen output.
8.4
A long-running St. Mark’s institution, La Palapa delivers Mexico City–leaning home cooking alongside a deep margarita and mezcal bench. The menu reads classic but lands with confidence: hearty stews, expertly grilled proteins, and salsas that taste made, not scooped. It’s the kind of reliable, full-service dinner you bring out-of-towners to without overthinking it.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mole poblano chicken, Cochinita pibil tacos, House margarita flight
What makes it special: A veteran East Village kitchen for Mexico City–style classics.
8.4
A long-running East Village trattoria where lasagna and other red-sauce comforts feel both reliable and lively. The vibe is casual-buzzy, portions are generous, and the kitchen keeps things classic with a few seasonal flourishes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Classic meat lasagna, Tagliatelle bolognese, Wild boar ragu pappardelle
What makes it special: Big-hearted trattoria lasagna backed by years of steady local love.
8.2
A Flatiron institution where the happy hour is more about timelessness than trend—cold beer, classic cocktails, and sturdy Americana. The historic barroom gives every cheap-drink stop a little extra gravitas.
Must-Try Dishes:
Old Town Burger, Shepherd’s Pie, Chicken Pot Pie
What makes it special: Historic bar atmosphere with reliably good American pub fare.
Worthy Picks
7.8
A loungy Union Square tapas spot that riffs across the Mediterranean with a strong cocktail program and shareable plates. Come for a festive night out, settle into the plush room, and lean into the menu’s Turkish-Greek-Spanish mashups.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb shank baklava, Whipped feta & warm pita, Grilled octopus
What makes it special: Mediterranean small plates paired with a destination-level cocktail bar.
#7
Big Bar
7.6
An old-school East Village cocktail bar with a straightforward, bargain-friendly happy hour and a music-centric, no-pretense vibe. It’s best for drinks, not dining, but the classics are made with care.
Must-Try Dishes:
Perfect Manhattan, Draft beer special, Bar nuts & chips
What makes it special: A cash-and-cocktails East Village staple with honest prices.