The words “happy” and “hour,” put together, evoke images of coworkers and friends gathering at a local watering hole and  cheerfully partaking in drinks and nibbles before continuing on to dinner or other evening commitments.

Even King Henry was on board with the concept.

In Act I, Scene 2 of William Shakespeare’s King Henry V, he says, “Therefore, my lords, omit no happy hour/That may give furtherance to our expedition …”

Henry was likely referring to a happy moment in time, not to drink specials and half-off appetizers. But the practice of celebrating happy hour dates back as far as 1913 and the U.S. Navy, when a group of homemakers called the “Happy Hour Social” organized gatherings on board the USS Arkansas.

During Prohibition, people would partake in “cocktail hours” or “happy hours” at speakeasys before eating at restaurants where alcohol could not be served.

Slowpokes

In some places in the U.S., the concept of happy hour is prohibited. Massachusetts enacted a statewide ban on happy hour in 1984, for example.

Happy hour is alive and well in Texas and especially in the Spring Branch District, where restaurants and bars offer up a variety of special menu items and discounts looking to entice customers to stop in and spread some cheer.

Here are some not-to-miss happy hours to be found around the District:

Happy hour at Lazy Oaks Beer Garden, 10158 Long Point Rd., is seven days a week because, well, why not? And it’s not limited to an hour. Happy hour(s) at Lazy Oaks features $1 off virtually every alcoholic beverage from opening until 8 p.m., said Chris McReavy of Lazy Oaks. That puts draft beers in the $4 to $6 range. Wines by the glass range from $6 to $11. Wells start at $4.50 and standards like Tito’s Vodka and Jameson Irish Whiskey are $5.50 and $6.50, respectively.

Cobble & Spoke, 1900 Blalock Rd., features an all-day happy hour every Wednesday. Take $2 off all 16-ounce pours of beer and also $2 off wine on hump day.

BORI, 1453 Witte Rd., offers not one, not two, but three happy hour events most days. The upscale Korean BBQ restaurant offers a happy hour every day during lunch, between 5 and 6 p.m. and a “reverse happy hour” Monday to Thursday between 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Happy hour at BORI features specials on beer, wine, Korean wine and soju and select cuts of meat.

In the same shopping center, Feges BBQ and Slowpokes also offer happy hour specials.

Feges BBQ, 8217 Long Point Rd., hosts happy hour Tuesday to Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The menu includes select beers for just $3, 1/2-off select wine and $5 frozen margaritas, as well as a $10 food menu.

Feges BBQ

At Slowpokes, 8147B Long Point Rd., celebrate happy hour Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. until close! Draft beers are just $4 and wine is just $5, but the real stars are the meat and cheese board at just $15, flatbreads for just $10 and a pretzel with dips offered up for $4. (We’re thinking you can just go ahead and refer to Slowpokes’ happy hour as “dinner.”)

Of course the Spring Branch District’s preeminent Irish bar, Hugh O’Connors, located in the Marq’E Entertainment Centre, offers a happy hour. All day Monday and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, enjoy $2 off all drafts, bottled beer and liquor, $5 house wine and seven different appetizers for $7 each until 7 p.m.

“All the boozes” are half-price, he said.

* Please remember to refrain from driving while intoxicated.

** Did we miss a happy hour in the Spring Branch District? Comment below or message us on social media with your faves! 

— by Dorothy Puch Lillig