Food & Drink

16 Of The Best Happy Hours In Auckland To Kick Your Night Off For Less

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A delectable plate of pasta pomodoro and a glass of red.

Bargain bevvies, a bar snack or two and some quality yarns make for the ultimate after-work wind-down. And in this economy, happy hour's looking even more enticing than usual. We've scoured the city for the most atmospheric hangout spaces that'll give you the most bang for your buck so read on for Urban List's hot take on the best happy hours in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. 

Somm

Daily | 4-6pm 

Shed 22 Princes Wharf, Auckland CBD

You’ll be sipping pretty at Somm Sundowns on Little Creatures Catalina lager, wine, and Somm spritz that are actually cheaper than chips. That’s right, all this can be yours for seven bucks a pop. Get Somm (definitely not sorry). 

Side Hustle

Daily | 4-6pm & 8.30-9.30pm

16 McDonald Street, Sandringham, Auckland CBD

Looking for a relaxed, airy spot to kick back? Shimmy on over to newest kid-on-the-Morningside-Precinct-block, Side Hustle, for $8 tap beers, ciders, and house wines; $12 margaritas; and $12 G&Ts. Living.

The Parasol & Swing Company

Daily | 3-6pm

7/204 Quay Street, Auckland CBD

Snacks and cocktails with a Viaduct view at Parasol & Swing.
Image credit: The Parasol & Swing Company | Facebook

Swing… by The Parasol & Swing Company for stunning Viaduct views with a booze that won’t break the bank. Think aperol spritz, Tom Collins, mojitos, coconut margs, whisky sours, and espresso martinis for just fifteen bucks a pop. If cocktails aren’t your vibe, just about any other drink can be yours for ten bucks, and you can even get your mitts on a pair of bao or tacos for a tenner, too. 

Andiamo

Daily | 4-5pm

194 Jervois Road, Herne Bay, Auckland

Swish Italian eatery, Andiamo, has its own take on Happy Hour—Otto or Eight Hour. Why? You can sip on spritz (available non-alcoholic too), prosecco, pinot gris, rosé, chardonnay, pinot noir, or beer and it’ll only set you back a mere $8. Or perhaps it’s because if you flip an eight on its side you get infinity and that’s exactly how long you’ll be wanting to indulge for—to infinity, and beyond. Leshgo.

Atelier

Daily | 4-6pm (and all night Thursdays)

292 Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD

Bread, charcuterie, and wine—a very French happy hour at Atelier.
Image credit: Atelier | Facebook

For happy hour with a little je ne sais quoi head to ‘French After Work’ at Atelier. Throw down ten bucks and a stunning charcuterie and cheese situation will materialise at your table. Got a spare ten? Grab a wine or tap beer to go with it, or enjoy an actually affordable splurge in the form of a $17 cocktail. 

Advieh 

Monday-Friday | 3-5pm

Intercontinental Auckland, 1 Queen Street, Auckland CBD

For an especially luxurious happy hour, look no further than Advieh’s Afternoon Debrief where the atmosphere is elevated but the prices are not. A wine showcase of the week will set you back just a cool $12, cocktails are $15 a pop, and beers are $9. Bookings aren’t required, simply show up and sip the dream. 

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Bivacco 

Monday-Friday | 4-6pm

115 Customs Street West, Auckland CBD

Bivacco waitstaff brandish champagne bottles joyfully.
Image credit: Bivacco | Facebook

Another of Auckland’s best happy hours can be found beside the Viaduct Basin at Bivacco. With $15 flutes of Moët, $15 margs, $12 Peroni and complimentary bites that magically appear at your table, there’s a lot to love here. The joint’s spacious, too, making it one of the best spots to flock to with a large group. 

Brew’d Hawt

Monday-Sunday | 2-6pm

151 Victoria Street West, Auckland CBD & 12 Putney Way, Manukau City Centre, Auckland

Toasting happy hour over burgers and fried chicken at Brew'd Hawt.
Image credit: Brew'd Hawt | supplied

Coming in… hawt... on the lineup of Auckland’s best happy hours is Hawt Hour at Brew’d Hawt. When the work day’s got you craving a fix of fried chicken, this is the place to head. $8 will see you with a glass of Prosecco, wine, or beer in hand, and a crisp ten dollar note (or lithe swipe of the card—let’s be real, who carries cash these days?) will snag you a round of their highly sought after fried chicken or cauliflower bites.

The Birdcage

Tuesday-Friday | 4-6.30pm 

133 Franklin Road, Freemans Bay, Auckland CBD

Tucked at the foot of Franklin Road is The Birdcage and they sure do take the cake for sheer volume of specials. Get your mitts on $9 wines and spirits, plus various beer specials, with their classic happy hour and any of the daily add-ons your heart desires. We’re talking $19.50 pizzas on Tuesdays, $1.50 chicken wings on Wednesdays, $25 burger combo on Thursdays, and $25 fish n’ chip Fridays. Not forgetting, of course, their Super Saturday deal where you can grab a large beer or cocktail for $11, or throw down nine bucks for a lil’ something they like to call Ginsanity.

Bar Céleste

Tuesday-Saturday | 5-6pm

146b Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD

It’s pretty clear why French-inspired neo-bistro Bar Céleste, which has taken on a delectable alter-ego Pizzeria Celeste for the winter months, has made Auckland’s best happy hours. Head here to chow down on pesto and vodka pizza pies that’ll knock you back a mere fifteen bucks which is an absolute steal in the luxe pizza realm. Another fifteen will snag you a glass of organic wine, a beer, or a cocktail. Smitten.

Bar Non Solo 

Tuesday-Saturday | 4-7pm

Level 2, Seafarers Building, 52 Tyler Street, Auckland CBD

Clinking cocktails in celebration of happy hour at Bar Non Solo.
Image credit: Bar Non Solo | Instagram

Bar Non Solo’s a great shout for happy hour with an aperitivo hour where they’ll throw complimentary bites and drink specials at you. Better still, when Spark Arena’s popping off, you’ll do well to pop into this Britomart gem for their sought-after pre-show spread. Think: marinated olives, whipped ricotta with truffle honey on grilled sourdough, seasonal arancini, a selection of cured meats and cheese, and pizza, for thirty bucks per person. Bookings essential.

Coco’s Cantina 

Tuesday-Saturday | 4-6pm

374 Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD

Score a happy hour feed from Coco’s Cantina for between $15-$20. From a dreamy plateful of pasta pomodoro with parmesan and pangrattato (that’s fancy speak for crispy toasted breadcrumbs)—vegan and gluten-free options available—to a margherita pizza and an ever-evolving weekly special. Got a hungry beast to tame? Opt for their double happy combo of one of the above with daily antipasti.

Norma Taps

Wednesday-Sunday | 3-6pm

90 Wellesley Street West, Auckland CBD

Pizza and drinks at happy hour at Norma Taps
Image credit: Norma Taps | supplied

For happy hour with a sustainable twist (and the best happy hour for sports fans) head to Norma Taps, the pop-up bar and refillery that’s swapped single-use bottles for a curated collection of 24 taps. Take your pick of any of their scrumptious pizzas for a twenty and wash it down with $10 pints, $11 spirits, $15 cocktails, and $13 wines. Sorted.

Paname Social 

Wednesday-Saturday | 4.30-6.30pm

3 Lorne Street, Auckland CBD

For a happy hour amidst the sanctity of a booth bathed in ambient lighting and chill tunes, head to Paname Social. Bliss out with that summer feeling in a way only an aperol spritz can deliver ($12), or sip on wine ($10), or beer ($7) all of which would go very well with the crew’s cheeseboard, just sayin’.

ELMO’s

Thursday through Saturday | 9pm ‘til late

151 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland

An epically good-looking charcuterie and cheeseboard at ELMO's.
Image credit: ELMO's | Facebook

Step through ELMO’s funky red door and indulge in Aperitivo hour where you can discover three different types of spritz for $14 each or kick back with a $10 vino or tap beer. Select your antipasti of choice to accompany, from crunchy potato skins to burrata or calimari or go all-in on the cheese and charcuterie board. Shimmy on down later on—from 9pm, to be exact—and you'll find yourself in Disco Hour, a wonderland of $14 margs and martinis with freshly spun beats to sip to. 

Seoul Night 

Sunday-Thursday | 5-8pm 

Shop 1, 16/20 Fort Street, Auckland CBD

Pretty cocktails at Seoul Night's happy hour.
Image credit: Seoul Night | Alice Rich

Buzzy Seoul Night does some pretty showstopping cocktails at the wallet-friendly pricepoint of twelve bucks with their take on a long island iced tea going down particularly well. Plus, the menu’s stacked with anju (Korean bar food). Several plates of rice cake skewers are always a good idea. 

Looking for more fun in the city? Check out:

Main image credit: Coco's Cantina | Facebook

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