Whether your team is celebrating a big win, welcoming a new employee or just connecting outside of meetings-as-usual, the happy hour provides a casual environment to relax and recharge in an ever-evolving, always-on-the-cutting-edge industry.
Given the size of Los Angeles County, however, finding a watering hole that offers both great deals and a location within walking distance of a company’s headquarters can be a challenge. To help you choose your next company happy hour destination, we’re sharing a list of our favorite happy hours in LA.
Santa Monica
The unofficial capital of LA tech, Santa Monica is populated by some of the finest establishments not just within Los Angeles, but in the country.
Father’s Office — 1018 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, Calif. 90403
If you’re willing to sacrifice a few creature comforts (like comfy booths or ocean views) for an incredibly diverse food menu and 36 rotating craft beers and small producer wines as well as classic cocktails, Father’s Office on Montana Avenue is the spot for your team.
The Chestnut Club — 1348 14th Street, Santa Monica, Calif. 90404
The Chestnut Club is a quaint, classy establishment featuring $5 craft beers, $5 appetizers, a wide selection of whiskeys and a soundtrack that will wear out the Shazam app on your phone. Then again, you work in tech, so you probably have a backup battery. Play on, techies. Play on.
Bodega Wine Bar, 814 Broadway, Santa Monica, Calif. 90401
With two locations in the LA area, Bodega Wine Bar offers an especially cost-effective happy hour, with $5 small pizzas, $3 off glasses of wine ($8 off bottles) and $2 off beer. Whether it’s just you and your colleague or the entire team, Bodega’s soft lighting and sea breeze are hard to beat.
Venice
As the local tech ecosystem diversifies, it seems that Venice and its neighbor to the northwest, Santa Monica continue to attract innovative new tech startups to their respective towns.
Simmzy’s — 37 West Washington Blvd., Venice, Calif. 90292
If beer’s your thing, check out Simmzy’s on Washington, where daily happy hours consist of $5-$6 food, a long beer menu and brewskis brewed at the establishment’s Burbank location.
The Anchor — 235 Main Street, Venice, Calif. 90291
Situated on Main Street just a few blocks from the beach, The Anchor is a well-established seafood restaurant that serves up a happy hour showcasing the seafood ($2 oysters) and locally-focused $5 craft beers theme.
The Venice Whaler — 10 Washington Blvd, Venice, Calif. 90292
Established way back in 1944 — and no, that’s not a typo — you won’t get a more “LA experience” anywhere other than The Venice Whaler. Just a few dozen feet from Venice Beach, The Whaler offers $7 appetizers (quesadillas, sliders and tacos), $8 cocktails, $2 off draft beer and $5 off draft beer pitchers.
Culver City
Long associated with famous movie studios and the Hughes Aircraft Company, Culver City has turned into the perfect outlet for innovative tech companies unwilling to cope with the steep rents of neighboring towns Santa Monica or Venice. In particular, the Hayden Tract has turned into one of LA’s most intriguing startup communities.
City Tavern — 9739 Culver Blvd., Culver City, Calif. 90232
A favorite of the Built In LA crew, City Tavern’s happy hour boasts specials like $4 appetizers, $4 canned craft beer, $2 off draft beer and $8 entrees. Whether you decide to sit inside or on the veranda, the City Tavern gives off a distinctly Paris vibe. Parking can be a challenge, but that’s just what we have to live with in SoCal.
The Culver Hotel — 9400 Culver Blvd., Culver City, Calif. 90232
While the $6 selected beer and wine, $5 appetizers, $9 cocktails might seem a little steep for a happy hour, the historic Culver Hotel Bar & Restaurant features an ambiance that will make you reminisce about the good ole' days of Hollywood — even for those of us millennials. The space also features live jazz acts every night of the week.
The Overland Tap + Kitchen — 3601 Overland Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90034
Known best for its homey, breakfast and brunch offerings, The Overland Tap + Kitchen also offers visitors $6 craft beer, wine and appetizers, as well as a late-night happy hour from 9:30 p.m. to close.
West Hollywood
Home to some of the finest music venues on the planet, a booming local tech scene and some of the most debaucherous times in the history of California, West Hollywood is jam-packed with awesome eateries and happy hours.
Froma on Melrose, 7960 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90028
Part wine and beer shop, part catering service and part café, Froma on Melrose offers daily happy hour specials featuring a robust list of pizzas and sandwiches for $6, as well as $3 off wine and $2 off beer.
Mercado, 3413 Cahuenga Blvd. W., Los Angeles, Calif. 90068
A classically-inspired Mexican cuisine blending classic and contemporary styles, Mercado also happens to host a pretty gnarly happy hour, with $4 cervezas and appetizers ranging from $6 to $12.
Sunset & Vinyl, 1521 Vine St., Los Angeles, Calif. 90046
Located at Sunset and Vine (get it?), Sunset & Vinyl is a new, hidden speakeasy with $5 well drinks, wine and draft beer where the ambiance is set by the rich tones of, you guessed it, a vinyl record player.
Pasadena
Located just northeast of downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena’s vibrant tech scene predates that of the celebrated Silicon Beach movement, thanks in large part to its proximity to CalTech and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Edwin Mills by Equator — 22 Mills Place, Pasadena, Calif. 91105
Located just off the historic Route 66, Edwin Mills by Equator is a gastropub that features $3 bottled beers, $3 martinis, $3 mixed drinks and $3 appetizers.
Congregation Ale House — 300 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, Calif. 91105
On the southern edge of classic Old Pasadena sits an American grill and craft beer establishment that serves $3 appetizers, $6 burgers, sausages or flatbreads, $1 off draft beers and $4 well drinks. With a prominent stained glass window situated right behind the beer taps, the place gives off a totally nonblasphemous church vibe.
The Mixx — 443 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, Calif. 91101
Just south of the Pasadena Museum of California Art, The Mixx offers $5 draft beer, sangria and martinis and $5 house-cured jars of everything from chicharónes or pickled vegetables to candied bacon. A quaint space with a comfy, hotel-esque bar and enough tables to pack in a good-sized team, The Mixx often features local musicians.
DTLA/Arts District
Quickly becoming known as a tech town instead of “that place where the Lakers and Kings play,” no part of Los Angeles has changed more drastically — for the better — than downtown Los Angeles and the adjacent Arts District.
Tony’s Saloon — 2017 E. 7th Street, Los Angeles, Calif. 90021
A known hangout for the Hyperloop One crew, Tony’s Saloon offers $4 pints every day and $3 slices of pizza from 5 to 8 p.m. every day. The space also features ping-pong and foosball tables on their outdoor patio area.
Everson Royce Bar (ERB) — 1936 E. 7th Street, Los Angeles, Calif. 90021
This spot offers $10 burgers and fries, a long list of $7 mezcal drink specials, as well as an outdoor space that’s perfect for large groups of people, ideal for those rapidly-scaling tech companies in our area.
Casey’s Irish Pub — 613 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90017
Located below street level in a building established in 1916, Casey’s Irish Pub offers specials on all the finest bar foods available, with $7 Guinness Stouts and a nice selection of local craft beer. At the bottom of the stairs leading down from the street is a lovely patio, and if the place gets too busy — which it does every March 17 — there are multiple bars, games like skeeball and pop-a-shot and — of course — darts.
