Two-sip martinis, chic snacks, Friday bargains: Melbourne’s 13 best happy hours

If the bursts of spring weather have you dreaming of sunny afternoons with a cold drink in hand, look no further. We’ve rounded up the city’s best deals for bright days and golden hours, from $3.50 arancini to $9.50 sour cherry negronis and $10 margaritas. Here’s cheers to some of Melbourne’s best happy hour specials this spring.

Taquito, Carlton

You might know about its $5 tacos on Mondays, but this Mexican bar and eatery also generously pairs them with a whole day of happy hour prices. Add $14 margs and $9 tap beers to tacos including cola-braised pork, Baha-style crunchy fish, and smoked and grilled beef cheek. The deals run each Monday from noon to 9pm, while drink specials continue Tuesday through Thursday, 4pm to 6pm.

350 Drummond Street, Carlton, taquito.bar

Blackbird, CBD

Brisbane steakhouse Blackbird has touched down in Flinders Lane with prime cuts, a hefty snack section and killer drink specials. Swoop into the restaurant’s sunken lounge for aperitivo hour – 4pm to 6pm daily – when you can get a mini martini and a snack (beef tartare, say, or fried stuffed olives) for $25. Or hit the bar 4pm to 6pm weekdays for $15 cocktails, $9 pints and $10 wines.

66 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, blackbirdmelbourne.com.au

Rocket Society, Brunswick East

Rumi’s spin-off bar has just launched Habibi Time with $4 oysters and $10 cocktails, 5pm to 6pm daily. Try a martini stained pink by a splash of Lebanese pickle brine, or go for the Fuji Fizz with its fruity mix of Turkish apple tea, orange blossom, Suze liqueur and vodka. Chicken ribs are $10, and a $5 skewer of pickled chilli, olive, roasted capsicum and bastourma, the air-dried and spiced beef, makes the perfect drinking snack. Guest DJs play on Sundays from 2pm to 6pm.

East Brunswick Village, 2 Village Avenue, Brunswick East, therocketsociety.com.au

Lona Misa, South Yarra

Shannon Martinez’s plant-based Latin restaurant throws a “Havana Nights” party on the first Friday of every month, headlined by Latin beats and $10 margaritas and Palomas. Snacks include empanadas, Cubano sandwiches (made with smoked tofu marinated in herby, citrusy mojo) and “lobster” rolls made with sauteed lion’s mane mushrooms. Too thirsty to wait for next month’s fiesta? Get drink deals 5pm to 7pm Tuesday to Friday, including $8 wines and $15 cocktails.

234 Toorak Road, South Yarra, ovolohotels.com/ovolo/south-yarra/lona-misa

Central Club Hotel, North Melbourne

The drinks at this historic pub opposite Queen Victoria Market lean local, with a focus on independent Australian beers and wines, and classic cocktails starring Aussie botanicals. Try some for a steal during the week, when you can score $5 pots, $10 pints, $8 house wines and $12 margaritas between 4pm and 6pm. On Tuesdays, you can also order bottles of wine at half price.

240-248 Victoria Street, North Melbourne, centralclubhotel.com.au

The Vic Hotel, Footscray

Meeting the crew for a few is even more enticing with prices like these. Pots of Hop Nation pale ale, the house draught and more are $5 between Monday and Thursday, 4pm to 6pm. Pints are $10, and you can also get $8 glasses of prosecco and pinot grigio, and $12 spritzes. Pick from Aperol, Campari, Limoncello and Elderflower. On Fridays, happy hour starts at 3pm and runs for three hours.

43 Victoria Street, Footscray, vichotelfootscray.com.au

Marameo, CBD

This Italian diner’s dinner party energy even encompasses afternoon drinks. From 3pm to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday (and 3pm to 5pm Friday and Saturday), sip on $10 prosecco, house wines, Peroni and Tommy’s Limoncello Spritz. Keep the good times going with wagyu tartare-filled cannoli, and cured meats with crunchy squares of gnocco fritto. Over summer, cool down with a $10 Lychee Slushtini from 4pm to 6pm daily.

6 Russell Place, Melbourne, marameo.com.au

Baby, Richmond

It’s spritz season at Chris Lucas’ enduring Church Street pizzeria, where you can enjoy four different styles, from the classic Aperol to a racy red strawberry, vanilla and Campari number, each $9.50. There are also $6.50 Peronis and $7.50 glasses of rosé. Available 4pm to 6pm daily.

631-633 Church Street, Richmond, babypizza.com.au

Barra, CBD

Alejandro Saravia’s pioneering Latin American diner Morena has shut its Melbourne site – for now – but its casual next-door sibling is kicking on with cantina vibes and drink specials. Cue $8 wines (from robust Argentinian malbecs to carmeneres, a red wine from Chile), and $14 cocktails including daiquiris and mojitos. Add snacks such as Peruvian ox-tongue skewers and arepas, the Venezuelan corn cakes, topped with spanner crab. From 5pm to 7pm, Tuesday to Thursday.

73 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, barramelbourne.com.au

O’Connell’s Hotel, South Melbourne

There are many reasons to revisit this south side icon: chef Aaron Brodie’s (ex-Oakridge) elevated menu of char siu octopus skewers, wild boar pies and Holstein schnitzels among them. But on Fridays, there are also $3 oysters and $15 glasses of Moet to lure you between 3.30pm and 6.30pm. Plus, every day between the same times, the bar pours $5.50 pots, $10.50 pints, $7 wines and $15 cocktails.

407 Coventry Street, South Melbourne, oconnells.com.au

Figlia, Brunswick East

The pizza-focused sibling of Tipo 00 has diners flocking for its mod-Italian sourdough pies, but it’s worth timing your visit for aperitivo hour (5pm to 6pm weekdays) when you can score $3.50 cacio e pepe arancini, $5 polenta with ’nduja and anchovy, and other bargain bites. Margherita pizzas are $16 and the drink deals are just as enticing, with $5 mocktails, $7 lagers, $9 mini Martinis, $10 spritzes, $7 vermouth and sodas, and $9 tap wines.

335 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, figlia.com.au

Astoria Bar Ke Grill, South Yarra

Get one step closer to sun-drenched Greek island life at this taverna, which has just upgraded its courtyard for the warmer months and launched a sweet deal to match. Two people can share a meze plate and get a drink each (wine, beer or mocktail) for $40, between 4pm and 6pm from Tuesday to Sunday. Olives, eggplant dip, taramasalata, pickled octopus and warm bread are included in the spread.

302 Toorak Road, South Yarra, astoriabarkegrill.com.au

Bar Spontana, Brunswick

Where better to head for happy hour than a past winner of Drinks List of the Year in The Age Good Food Guide? This Thai bar and eatery’s Golden Hour will see you into the evening with $9 cask wine from the game-changing Gonzo Vino and $10 schooners of locally brewed Keeper pilsner from 5pm to 6pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Stay fuelled with $8 charcoal sticks: glazed kangaroo, tamarind pork jowl and Brussels sprouts with mushroom sauce.

4 Saxon Street, Brunswick, barspontana.com