Thirteen of Toronto’s best new happy hours

As we settle into post-holiday routines and keep an eye on our spending, a good happy hour feels like the perfect pick-me-up (and these sub-zero winter days are just begging for a strong drink). So we put together a list of some of the city’s best happy hours to help get over this hump. Doing Dry January? That’s okay—consider this research for next month.

Related: The best places to fill up for $10 or less

David Rocco Bar Aperitivo

Where: Yorkville When: Daily, 3 to 6 p.m. The name of this place says it all—it’s committed to the Italian tradition of aperitivo hour. At the heart of the space is a long communal table, meant to foster connection between guests (and there’s nothing like a few drinks to get strangers talking). Arrive at the right time and you can get a classic Italian snack plate (parmigiano-reggiano, salami, taralli, Cerignola olives) and a glass of wine or the daily cocktail for just $20. If you’re not too hungry, that’s dinner and a drink. 95 Cumberland St., davidroccobaraperitivo.ca

Alma

Where: Bloordale When: Daily from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. There’s nothing wrong with half-price nachos or mozzarella sticks, but a little change in the appetizer department can be nice. During happy hour at Alma, Anna Chen’s cozy modern Chinese kitchen, $10 glasses of wine and $5 beers are paired with $4 Hakka sui mai dumplings. 1194 Bloor St. W., almatoronto.com

The Comrade

Where: South Riverdale When: Monday through Saturday, 5 to 7 p.m. This long-time Leslieville watering hole (now the sister bar to the critically acclaimed Wynona) recently underwent a change of ownership, but it remains the east-end icon it’s always been. Stop by during happy hour for $12 classic cocktails and $16 prime rib burgers. 758 Queen St. E., comradetoronto.com

Bar Volo

Where: Bay-Cloverhill When: Weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. Toronto’s best beer bar offers drink specials—like $13 Italian spritzes—for a few hours every day during the workweek. Tuesdays bring $6.50 house beers, and Wine Wednesdays mean $13 glasses and discounted bottles. 17 St. Nicholas St., barvolo.com

General Public

Where: Wallace-Emerson When: Daily, 4 to 6 p.m. Tucked away on trendy Geary Avenue, Jen Agg’s newest endeavour combines the charm of an upscale British pub with the relaxed elegance of an American brasserie (with a splash of Golden Girls flair thrown in for fun). Their happy hour features a selection of cocktails, beer and wine starting at just $8. It’s also the only time guests can enjoy the restaurant’s very good cheeseburger—but they make only 21 per day, so politely flag down a server at 3:59 p.m. and place that order or risk disappointment. 201 Geary Ave., generalpublic.ca

Casa Madera

Where: Wellington When: Sunday through Thursday, 5 to 7 p.m. Want to feel like you’re enjoying discounted drinks at a tropical beach bar without leaving the city? Casa Madera, inside 1 Hotel, brings the Riviera Maya to Toronto. Their Golden Hour menu features an assortment of cocktails, glasses of wine, and delicious dips for $10 each; $15 tacos; and—to really drive home those vacation vibes—a $50 sangria kit, perfect for sharing (or not, we won’t judge). 550 Wellington St. W., thecasamadera.com/locations/toronto-ontario

Related: Toronto bars are giving sangria—the ultimate summer sipper—a glow-up

Gusto 501

Where: Corktown When: Monday through Wednesday, 5 to 6 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 3 to 5 p.m. Get happy at this gorgeous Italian kitchen in Corktown with drink specials including $6 glasses of Moretti lager, $10 glasses of red wine and $12 negronis. The food menu is even more robust and lists some of the restaurant’s hits at prices $5 to $8 less than usual. Consider some house-baked focaccia ($5), carpaccio ($10), a burger ($16) or a margherita pizza ($14) to go with those discounted drinks. 501 King St. E., gusto501.com

Lulu Bar

Where: Wellington Place When: Daily, 2 to 5 p.m. Lulu Bar—a Calgary import that’s more tropical than it is western—brings the flavours and the feel of the South Pacific to the Well. “Honolulu Hour” takes place every day and offers an impressive menu of deeply discounted small plates and drinks. We’re talking $8 salt-and-pepper pork belly bites, $6 hot dog bao, $10 tropical cocktails, $7 draught beer and half-price wine. 427 Wellington St. W., lulubar.ca

Related: Tropical cocktails are taking Toronto by storm

Public Gardens

Where: King West When: Daily, 5 to 7 p.m. This new rooftop restaurant and patio aims to transport visitors from King West to Little Italy—the one in NYC, not our own. Happy hour here happens daily and features $20 frozen bellini pitchers and $15 braised meatballs with ricotta and garlic bread (which may be the more comforting option on days when it feels like minus 20). 577 King St. W., public-gardens.com

Death and Taxes

Where: Little Portugal When: Weekdays, 4 to 7 p.m. Happy hour highlights at this lively Queen West hangout include $7 glasses of wine, $12 espresso martinis and—wait for it—a $15 pizza-and-beer combo (that’s a whole pizza, folks, not just a slice). 1154 Queen St. W., @deathandtaxes.bar

Related: The city’s new coffee cocktails offer two types of buzz

Café Zuzu

Where: Regent Park When: Wednesday and Thursday, 4 to 6 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, 3 to 5 p.m. This Regent Park trattoria—the second of Janet Zuccarini’s restaurants to make this list—rolls out a very impressive list of discounted drinks and snacks every single day. For just $5, you can nosh on marinated olives, Tuscan fries or marinated veggies. An order of arancini, Brussel caesar salad or beets with stracciatella each clock in at just $10. And everything on the list of drink specials (sangria, espresso martini, Aperol spritz, house beer and wine) is between $5 and $10. Cin cin! 555 Dundas St. E., cafezuzu.com

Blue Bovine

Where: Financial District When: Weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. Exclusive to the lounge area of Union Station’s swanky steakhouse, happy hour here brings half-price house cocktails, highballs, martinis, champagne, beer and a selection of wine. Hungry? Try $10 lobster rolls and Wagyu beef sliders, $12 steak tartare or half a dozen oysters for $15. 65 Front St. W., bluebovine.com

Ficoa

Where: Little Italy When: Thursday and Friday, 8 p.m. to close “Pachanga Hour” at chef Gerry Quintero’s Latin American restaurant is less involved than its tasting-menu experience—but no less special. Each drink special, whether beer, wine or cocktail, is paired with a complementary snack. As guests order more drinks, the free snacks get bigger and better. Start at marinated olives, end with bites of rib-eye or duck wings. Who wouldn’t want to see what comes next? 585 College St., ficoa.ca