Where to find the best happy hour deals in Melbourne

Now that we’re out and about, it’s time to get happy without breaking the bank. Check out these tasty specials, from cheap movie tickets to $10 negronis.

$10 Margarita Mondays

Mejico don’t believe in just a happy hour – they believe in a happy day. And that day is Monday, when all margaritas are just $10. Settle in for a couple and some killer Mexican food. If you’re in for the long haul, they also do some great late-night snacks after 11pm.

$12 cocktails at Moat 

Everyone’s favourite subterranean bar, Moat, offers $12 cocktails from Wednesday to Friday between 4pm and 6pm. Choose from an espresso martini or a gin martini made with house-made lavender gin. There are also some lovely wines at only $8 a glass. 

More $12 cocktails at Time Out

After 3pm every day, Time Out Fed Square gifts us mere Melbourne mortals with a thirst-quenching deal. Espresso martinis, refreshing Pimm's, perhaps even a gin fizz? Ask the friendly staff what's shaking, pair it with their delicious signature parma or fried chicken burger and enjoy.

$10 Negronis

Campari House is reclaiming the classic negroni cocktail with their Negroni Time. They offer five different negronis at just $10 each. They’re all crafted with premium ingredients, so it’s time to find your favourite. (They also offer $13 cocktails and $10 Aperol Spritzes.) Available from Tuesday to Saturday, between 4pm and 6pm.  

Mexican drinks with snacks

Bodega Underground, that charismatic Mexican dive bar, has some excellent food and drink specials. These offers are available between 3pm and 5:30pm and midnight to 3am every day. You can get a mezcal Negroni and fried chicken for $29. You can get a cheeky Tecate and tacos for $15. Or an espresso martini with churros for $25. Not hungry? There are rotating mezcal specials for $10.

Cinema Nova happy hour

Head down to cult fave flick house Cinema Nova between 4 and 6pm, Monday to Thursday, for a pre-movie treat. Score $7 spirits and $10 cocktails from a select menu of liquid goodness. Pair with modern Italian faves from Tipo 00's own Andreas Papadakis and enjoy! No need to rush - you can bring your drink into the theatre. 

$8.50 movie tickets

That’s right. Add some movie magic to your Margarita Monday with $8.50 tickets at Kino. Every Monday, you can see the latest arthouse gem for less than a tenner.

$18 happy meals

Head to the lively Tessie Pearl Hotel down on South Wharf and bag yourself a happy meal. For just $18, you can get eight yakitori sticks, one side and a pint or spritz. Plus a Tessie Pearl toy. There’s also a daily happy hour between 4pm and 8pm, with up to 50 per cent off drinks. 

High-end happy hour

Okay, we’re pushing the boat out here. The lush Bar Margaux has a ‘Golden Hour’ between 5pm and 7pm. For $95 you can get a bottle of red or white Burgundy and two Margaux burgers. For $125, you can get a bottle of champagne, oysters, frites and steak tartare. Hey, that’s only, like, six ten-dollar margaritas each, right? 

Bottomless gin and tapas

At Pilgrim, you can spend two hours trying all the unique, all-Australian gins your heart desires. You’ll also get a yummy array of tapas, and beer and wine if you want a break from the gin. All this with a Yarra River view too, for just $59. 

Bottomless pizza and cocktails

Every Saturday at Trinket in Flinders Lane, you can enjoy bottomless pizza and cocktails for just $49. Pretty good, right? Go for an early lunch from midday till 2pm, or go for a later lunch at 2:30pm until 4:30pm. You get zesty cocktail jugs of sangria and spritzes, and plenty of pizza, including vegetarian or vegan options. 

Please drink responsibly.