11 happy hour deals at LoDo bars and restaurants

Happy hour deals are like Batman signals to downtown Denver offices in the summer.

On a Friday afternoon, when the sun is beaming down, and you’ve sent those last few emails at work, it’s easy to convince yourself that 3 p.m. is the new 5 p.m. Especially if you’re headed out to happy hour with your coworkers because that’s team building, right?

A cold glass of half-priced wine and discounted small bites are enough to make you forget how expensive — how really, really expensive — Denver can be.

Whether you’re picking up a visitor fresh off the train at Union Station, need to wait out the I-25 traffic with a bite, or just want to celebrate the week with a (relatively) affordable cocktail and some people-watching, here are our favorite 11 happy hour spots in Denver’s LoDo neighborhood:

Poka Lola Social Club

Every day is quite literally happy hour at Poka Lola Social Club (or at least for three hours).

Located in the Dairy Block’s Maven hotel, the old-fashioned speakeasy serves $8 wine and cocktails every day of the week from 3 to 6 p.m. Forget what you left at the office, while you sip on a half-priced daiquiri, old-fashioned, or hibiscus paloma with a $3 BBQ pork sliders.

“The drinks we serve are just as good as anything else on the menu,” said Poka Lola bar lead Lexi Parker. “We still put a lot of time and care into them, and we’re not just pouring out crappy wine.”

1850 Wazee St., Denver; pokaloladenver.com

Kachina Cantina

Also in the Dairy Block, Kachina Cantina is constantly shaking $6 margaritas for its daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. Coming with a group? Order $30 margarita pitchers for the table, while you share some open-faced quesadillas ($7) and churros ($4.50).

1890 Wazee St., Denver; kachinadenver.com

YumCha Dumpling & Noodle Bar

YumCha’s daily happy hour from 2 to 5:30 p.m. is the cheapest way to get some of owner and chef Lon Symensma’s famous French onion soup dumplings ($12 for 4). The dumpling bar also serves $9 cocktails, $6 wine and $5 beers.

1520 16th St. Mall, Denver; cholonconcepts.com/locations/yumcha

Bistro LeRoux

Bistro LeRoux, also owned by Symensma, adds a French twist to its happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and starting at 3 p.m. on the weekend. For $30, guests can enjoy a Parisian picnic with a house red, white or rose bottle and a charcuterie board.

1510 16th St. Mall, Denver; cholonconcepts.com/locations/leroux

Ultreia

With tapas, like bacon-wrapped dates and crispy calamari, ranging from $4.25 to $10 and drinks under $10, it’s easy to forget you’re not in Spain while on Ulteria’s Union Station patio for happy hour (Monday- Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.).

1701 Wynkoop St., Unit 125, Denver; ultreiadenver.com

Tavernetta

Tavernetta, one of Colorado’s Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand restaurants, offers a taste of its award-winning pasta for $20 and $9 wines by the glass during its daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. 

1889 16th St Mall, Denver; tavernettadenver.com

Sunday Vinyl

Next door, Sunday Vinyl, Tavernetta’s sister wine bar, hosts an upscale happy hour daily from 4 to 6 p.m. with $8 glasses of wine, $30 caviar and $20 wagyu beef tartare. For good reason, Esquire named it one of the best bars in America this year.

1803 16th St Mall, Denver; sundayvinyl.com

Wynkoop Brewing Company

Wynkoop keeps its happy hour simple with small bar bites, like crispy fish tacos and a half-pound of chicken wings, ranging from $5 to $7, plus take $2 off any craft beers, house wines and well drinks Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.

1634 18th St., Denver; wynkoop.com

Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar

Don’t let your Monday ruin your week, and start off strong with Jax Fish House’s all-night happy hour from 3:30 p.m. until close, featuring $2 to $3 oysters, discounted appetizers, and cocktails and wines by the glass starting at $8. Or just pop in any other day of the week from 3 to 5 p.m. for the same deal.

1539 17th St., Denver; jaxfishhouse.com