For when it’s been a stressful day or you’re just catching up with friends, there’s nothing like a good ol’ fashioned happy hour — and November 12th is actually National Happy Hour Day. When 5PM rolls around, those discounted drink specials and great deals help ring in the evening. From bars to restaurants, we’ve rounded up some great happy hours in and around Montclair to help blow off some steam and reminisce with pals. Here are the best happy hours in Essex County for your imbibing pleasure.
Montclair
De Novo European Pub | 275 Bellevue Avenue
(Photo credit: @denovomontclair)
Attention Manhattan commuters, this is a particularly easy stop post-work since it’s right in the Upper Montclair train station and local bus stops Stop by Tuesdays through Thursdays from 3PM – 6PM and enjoy the following specials: $6 wines, $6 select drafts, $6 sangria, and $7 Tito’s mixed drinks. It’s also worth the trip for anyone traveling by car because there is plenty of parking, which is hard to come by in Montclair.
Egan & Sons | 18 Walnut Street
View this post on Instagram
(Photo credits: @eganandsons)
This beloved neighborhood gastropub has a happy hour between 3PM and 5PM Monday through Friday both at the bar and the indoor cafe. It includes $5 beer, wine, and mixed drinks. There’s also a $5 burger or bar pie available along with $2 sliders and even specials from the raw bar.
Just Jake’s | 30 Park Street
(Photo credit: @justjakes_montclair)
It’s not fancy — but it’s just what you need after work. Every Monday through Friday from 12PM-6PM, enjoy half-price shots and cocktails — and $2 off select beers and wines for $6. Just Jake’s is situated right in the middle of downtown, so whether you have dinner plans later in the evening or are looking to enjoy a few cocktails before a show at the Wellmont Theater, it’s only a short walk away.
Read More: The Best Mimosas in Montclair + Beyond
Bloomfield
Six Points Pub | 574 Bloomfield Avenue
Six Points Pub is a cool bar serving up delicious drinks — and it has happy hour every weekday from 3PM – 6PM. This includes $2 and $3 beer, $2 off wine by the glass, and $5 mixed drinks. It also has lots of yummy comfort tavern food to pair with these drinks.
The Brookdale | 1099 Broad Street
(Photo credit: @thebrookdalenj)
The Brookdale is an upscale bar and gastropub bringing new life to bar food and creativity to its drink menu. Monday through Friday happy hour specials apply to both food and drinks (but only at the bar). Between 3PM-6:30PM, you can enjoy $5 glasses of wine, $4 WhiteClaws and beers, $8 cocktails, and snacks ranging between $11 and $14.
Clifton
Sharky’s Wings & Raw Bar | 545 Highland Avenue
Sharky’s was named one of the best sports bars for watching the SuperBowl in NJ by CBS News a few years ago, and for some, that is still true today. Sharky’s serves an extensive seafood menu along with traditional bar fare. In addition to specials unique to every night of the week, Sharky’s celebrates happy hour Monday-Friday between 3PM-7PM with $0.90 wings and clams, domestic drafts for $3, small well drinks for $5, and some shots for $4.50.
Spuntino | 70 Kingsland Road
(Photo credit: @spuntinowinebar)
For an evening surrounded by wine barrels, dim lighting, and faint instrumental music in the background, Spuntino is the place to be. This tapas-style restaurant near the Clifton Commons train stop (NJ Transit) offers a few happy hour specials Monday-Friday from 3-7PM at the bar, which include deals on wine and on food (the specifics do change — but the hours do not!). Every Monday is bin night, so select wines ‘from the bin’ are available at $50 off. We don’t know what it is about this place, but the staff is always incredibly friendly and consistently goes above and beyond.
The Barrow House | 1296 Van Houten Avenue
(Photo credit: @thebarrownj)
Transporting into a cozy, dimly-lit wood cabin to post up next to a fire while relaxing with a cocktail isn’t as far away as it sounds — The Barrow House is exactly that. Happy hour at The Barrow House is in the wood-paneled bar, where from 3-6PM patrons can enjoy 2 off wines by the glass and draft beers, $5 deviled eggs, $8 wings, $8 hummus, plus a few specialty cocktails every day.
See More: A Guide to the Best BYOB Restaurants in Montclair
The Shannon Rose | 98 Kingsland Road
(Photo credit: @shannonrosepubs)
Happy hour is available at this Irish bar and restaurant. The Shannon Rose’s happy hour specials are Monday through Thursday from 3PM- 6PM. The selection includes $3 draft beers, $5 vodka drinks, and $10 seasonal rum buckets. There are also frequently additional daily happy hour specials as well. The Shannon Rose might just become your new local spot.
Nutley
Cowan’s Public | 229 Centre Street
(Photo credit: @cowans_public)
The vibes at Cowan’s Public remind you of a bar in a trendy Brooklyn neighborhood, and the beers are equally as enticing. During happy hour, 4PM-7PM Tuesday-Friday (and all night on Mondays!), select beer bottles are available for $5 or you can get $2 off select draft pours, a signature cocktail for $9, $6 house spirits, or $7 wine pours. Chow down on some loaded fries for $6 and it’ll be the perfect ending to any evening.
