Happy hours are roaring back! 2020 and 2021 saw happy hours eliminated from restaurants across America. With Covid limiting dining in restaurants and keeping workers out of offices, there simply wasn’t much demand for happy hours.
However, today many restaurants are bringing them back on their menu. That’s great news for Tacoma residents, as happy hour provides a time to often sit outdoors and enjoy the waterfront or a view of Rainier while relaxing with a drink and a bite to eat.
Let’s run down the best happy hours in Tacoma. From places with views to the best cheap eats and drinks, this list has something for everyone!
The Best Happy Hours in Tacoma
- Brewers Row
- Red Star Taco
- Moshi Ramen Bar
- Top of Tacoma
- Matador
- Bar Rosa
- Katie Downs Waterfront Tavern
- Poquitos
Along with each restaurant we’ll link to their happy hour menu if available. Make sure to check the menu before making plans as prices and happy hour menus can change.
1. Brewers Row
- Monday to Friday from 2 to 5 p.m.
Brewer’s Row has a wide selection of tacos ranging from staples like carne asada and al pastor to sweet potato and jackfruit options. Their happy hour offers tacos for $2.50, chips and salsa for $3, deals on nachos and churros, and discounts on wine, beer, and cocktails.
If you’re near the University of Puget Sound and looking for an afternoon spot to gather, Brewers Row is one of the best happy hour options.
2. Red Star Taco
- Seven days a week from 4 to 6 p.m. & 10 to midnight
Let’s stick with tacos! This downtown taco shop is notable because they not only have happy hour seven days a week, but they also have an afternoon and late-night option!
The list of happy hour options is expansive. Margaritas are $7 while a can of beer can be purchased for as little as $3. There are a couple of ground tacos that go for less than $3, or you can choose from a wider selection (carnitas, chorizo, sweet potato, and more) that are $2 for $5.
Beyond just happy hours, Red Star Taco has daily specials like Margarita Monday and Taco Tuesday, so make sure to check out all their daily specials.
3. Moshi Ramen Bar
- 4 to 6 p.m.
The happy hour setup at Moshi is straightforward, which we can appreciate. Small plates and standard cocktails, draft beers, and wines are all 25% off.
That means you’re paying well below $10 for drinks like negronis, macha mules, and Manhattans. That’s the kind of happy hour pricing we can get behind! In addition, the draft selection is excellent and the restaurant features a surprisingly wide assortment of wines from regions across the world.
The food is the start of the show, though. You’ll receive a 25% discount on things like chili dumplings, pork belly bao, coconut sambal shrimp, and child garlic green beans. If you’re in the Stadium District, Moshi is one of the top happy hour options.
4. Top of Tacoma
- Seven days a week from 2 to 6 p.m. and also 10 to midnight (food only)
On happy hour lists, you’ll generally find a lot of options downtown, near the waterfront, and on the North End. This list is no different, there are simply a lot of happy hours in those areas!
But we also wanted to give some options across the city and in South Tacoma. Top of Tacoma sits on McKinley Street south of downtown. It has the look and feel of a dive bar with a long bar and not much light on the inside, but is a beloved neighborhood spot.
Its happy hour is notable because it runs from 2 to 6 PM every single day. Well drinks and select drafts are $6, and there are discounts on tacos, quesadillas, and nachos. Another happy hour benefit? Its also available from 10 to midnight, but only for food items.
5. Matador
- Seven days a week from 4 to 6 p.m. and also 10 to last call
We’ve featured Matador in some of our other best happy hour lists such as Redmond, and that’s for good reason. Their happy hour nachos are awesome. Yes, they cost more than they used to, but paying the extra $5 for marinated steak still produces some of the finest nachos you’ll find in the Northwest.
Beyond nachos, you’ll find a fairly impressive list of food options that includes quesadillas, tacos, black bean dip, brussels sprouts, shrimp, and stuffed jalapenos. If you’re looking for drink specials, you may want to look elsewhere. However, if you’re looking for great shareable food plates at reasonable prices, Matador is a top happy hour spot.
6. Bar Rosa
- Sunday to Thursday 3-5 p.m. and 9 to close
Bar Rosa is a Hill Top restaurant serving up wood-fired pizzas. Stopping here at any time is a good decision as the pizza is some of the best in Tacoma and they make outstanding cocktails. Their happy hour menu provides another reason to stop in.
The menu isn’t expansive, but it does provide some solid options. For a heartier happy hour meal, try the calzone that’s on special. Or, you can sample more sharable items like olives, burrata, or a kind of cheese bread created for their happy hour menu. In addition, cocktail specials put a number of drinks below the $10 mark.
7. Katie Downs Waterfront Tavern
- Time: 7 days a week from 4 to 6 p.m.
Katie Downs proves that there are still happy hour options along the waterfront. The best reason to come to the waterfront should be obvious: it’s all about the view! And Katie Downs provides some good drink specials to pair with your view. Draft beers are $2 off to go alongside specials on margaritas and bloody marys.
If you’re looking to add some food, Katie Downs also has specials on salads, pizza, and a few sharable options like bruschetta. If it’s a warm July day and you’re looking to bask in the best days the Pacific Northwest has to offer with a drink, our call is to head down to Katie Downs.
8. Poquitos
- 7 days a week 3 to 5 p.m. and 10 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
We end our list of the best happy hours in Tacoma with another stop in the Stadium District. It should be noted, some great happy hours that existed before Covid (such as Doyle’s Public House) have yet to restore their happy hours, but we’ll happily expand this list if they resume!
Poquitos makes the list because its happy hour food options are fairly cheap and expansive. There’s a taco duo for $4, pretzels, nachos, and some more adventurous options like mole fries. In addition, there are good drink specials on margaritas and other cocktails and beer also gets a slight discount.
