Ah, happy hour. Such a fitting name for such a great occasion; drinks on the cheap, typically right around that just-getting-off-work hour, that'll lift the stress of that long workday and get you feeling, well, happy in no time.
You can bet there's no shortage of great bars and restaurants in Tampa throwing great, affordable happy hours throughout the week. Here's a few of our favorites.
MacDinton's - Likely the most well-known happy hour in Tampa, the Crazy Happy Hour on Friday nights at MacDinton's brings in throngs of young professionals and college students from around Tampa to get their drink on from 6 to 8 p.m. $10 will get you a free pass to open bar status with your pick of as much draft beer, wine, and liquor you can stomach in this 2 hours.
If you get hungry, they throw in a 50-cent wing special during Crazy Happy Hour too.
Coyote Ugly - Enjoy happy hour at one of the liveliest bars in Ybor City. Coyote Ugly is a straight party every day with bartenders regularly chugging drinks, spitting fire, dancing on the bar, and whatever other crazy shenanigans they can come up with. Tuesday through Saturday, enjoy 2-4-1 drink specials on well liquors and domestic beers from 5 to 7 p.m.
The Retreat - The retreat is one of those great Tampa bars seeped in years of history. Opened in 1938 and recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for the most draft beers ever sold, the Retreat is the place for classic cocktails and a great happy hour. Monday through Friday, the Retreat will hook you and yours up with 2-4-1 well drinks, domestic draft beer, and wine from 3 till 9 p.m.
They've got you on the weekends too with Old School Saturdays. Enjoy $5 loaded Coronas and speedball shots; $3 Pbr Cans and Smirnoff Ice; and $3 Sex on Beach, Blue Hawaiians, and Midori Sours from 10 p.m. till they close.
Hyde Park Cafe - Flip Flop Fridays are another weekend kick-off happy hour event like Crazy Happy Hour at MacDinton's. Every Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. enjoy live music, drinks, and more out in the HPC Biergarten. All draft beers (there's 60 of 'em) are half off, house wines are $3, and, best of all, every mixed drink is a double pour.
If you're a beer lover, take advantage of their Flip Flop Happy Hour Special and pay $10 for a souvenir mug that'll grant you unlimited access to their selection of 60+ beers as well as a premium vodka bar.
