The Best Happy Hour in San Mateo
Where to be at 5pm, from $2 oysters and $10 margaritas to a proper dive with cheap pours.
A good happy hour is half the deal and half the room. Here are the San Mateo spots worth showing up for, with verified times where we have them and honest notes where you should call ahead.
Verified deals worth planning around
Flores San Mateo
A Michelin Bib Gourmand Mexican spot with 50-plus tequilas and a sunny patio. Happy hour Monday to Friday, 3 to 5:30: $2 oysters, $10 margaritas, and cheap botanas. The best deal in town.
Avenida Restaurant
A lively modern Filipino restaurant and bar with craft cocktails and a fun parklet. Happy hour 4 to 6 (whole restaurant Monday to Thursday, bar and patio on weekends): $3 off cocktails, small plates $8 to $12.
Fogbird Lounge
A beautifully designed craft cocktail lounge on B Street, the go-to for a polished after-work drink. Happy hour Monday to Friday, 4 to 6.
The wine bars and patios
Pausa Bar & Cookery
Upscale modern Italian with house-made pasta and wood-fired pizza. Come for the aperitivo-style spritz hour and antipasti. Call ahead for current times.
The Barrel Bistro & Wine Bar
A cozy independent wine bar with charcuterie, seafood, and a deep wine and cocktail list. Call ahead for happy hour times.
B Street & Vine
A relaxed, long-running neighborhood wine bar with an outdoor patio and a big list of wines, beers, and cocktails. Call ahead for happy hour times.
Beer garden and dives
Fieldwork Brewing Company
A dog- and kid-friendly beer garden with 20-plus rotating taps and made-to-order Detroit-style pizza. The best after-work taproom hang.
Antone's Cocktail Lounge
A no-frills dive that's been around 50-plus years. Cheap drinks, pool, darts, and a shot-and-a-beer crowd. The real deal.
Bucky's Cocktail Lounge
A beloved early-open neighborhood dive with a loyal regular crowd and unpretentious, cheap pours.
Happy hour times change, so call ahead where we couldn't confirm them. Know a better one? Tell us at hello@sanmateolocal.com.