The quest for the best happy hour in Laguna Beach did not take long. In fact, we kind of knew before we started which restaurant would most likely win: Starfish.
With killer drink deals and even better food, there’s really no other restaurant in Laguna that comes close to Starfish’s well-rounded, delicious afternoon delights.
Fittingly called “Opium Hour,” Starfish’s happy hour is alluring and exotic. Its entire specialty cocktail menu is half off ($7), a rarity among its peers. Most places serve a limited cocktail menu or well drinks with subpar alcohol to cut corners during happy hour.
Not Starfish. Every day from 3-6 p.m. (repeat: every day, not just weekdays), you can get its popular Wild Lychee Martini (vodka, SoHo lychee liqueur, fresh lychee purée, and strawberry) or any of its 20 other signature cocktails.
Then there’s the food. For $9, you can get three Korean tacos, Singapore bamboo rolls, four pieces of nigiri or several other fresh appetizers. Bigger dishes are also available at discounted prices, including the addictive banh mi beef sliders, Thai coconut chicken satays or pork dumplings for $13.
Here is a full list of its happy hour menu.
Honestly, the rest of Laguna’s happy hour options are just OK. About half of the city’s restaurants don’t even offer happy hour. Some, like Nick’s and Carmelita’s, don’t have to. They are busy around the clock and don’t need to entice customers.
In fact, tempting people to day drink during the week does pose problems for obvious reasons. Happy hours are illegal in several states because of drinking-and-driving concerns. Massachusetts, for example, was the first to implement a statewide ban on happy hours in 1984.
But for now, you can drink responsibly in Laguna and get an early bite at the following places. Restaurants not listed do not have publicized happy hour deals. If we’ve missed something, let us know.
The best:
Starfish
30832 S Coast Hwy
- Daily from 3-6 p.m.
- $6 well cocktails and house wine, $7 (half off) “Starfish Libations,” $8 well martinis.
- Discounted shareable small plates, sushi rolls, dumplings, wontons and more.
The rest (alphabetical):
- Mon.-Fri., 2:30-5:30 p.m., excludes holidays.
- Limited selection of $6 beer, $8 wines, $10 cocktails.
- No food discounts.
- Daily 4-6 p.m.
- Limited selection of $5 beers and wine.
- Some $5 food bites: Bitterballen, small cheese croquettes, fries.
- Mon.-Fri., 3-6 p.m.
- $2 off drinks.
- Half price on appetizers.
- Daily 3-6 p.m.
- $5.50 domestic beers, $7 Mexican beers, $7 margarita.
- Mon.-Fri., 4-7 p.m.
- $5 drinks (assorted).
- $6 appetizers.
- Weekdays 3-6 p.m.
- $5 beers, $8 wines, $5 off margaritas, $8-$12 cocktails.
- Limited menu discounts, such as $7 esquites, $12 mango con chile, $15 bbq pork spareribs.
- Weekdays 3-5 p.m., bar only.
- $6 draft beers, $7-$8 wine and cocktails.
- Appetizers are $4-$10, $2 oysters.
- Mon.-Fri., 3-6 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 3-5 p.m., excludes holidays.
- $6 beer, $8 house wine and well cocktails, $10 Mozambique mojito and house margarita, $12 well martinis.
- Discounts on appetizers, such as $9 cheese fries, $12 calamari and $15 sliders.
Oak
1100 S Coast Hwy # 202
- Mon.-Tue., 4-6 p.m.
- $3 off beer, $4 off wine, $5-$6 off cocktails.
- $4-$7 off appetizers, such as $11 ahi tuna taco, $12 sweet and spicy ribs, and $13 meatballs.
Reunion
610 N Coast Hwy
- Weekdays 4-6 p.m.
- $2 off all beer, wine by the glass, well drinks and signature cocktails.
- No food discounts.
- Daily 5-7 p.m.
- Discounts on beer, wine and specific small plates.
- Daily 3-5 p.m.
- $6 beers, $6 house wines, $8 cocktails (limited).
- $6-$10 appetizers and small plates.
Skyloft
422 S Coast Hwy
- Daily 3-5 p.m.
- $6 draft beer, $7 house wines, $8 well drinks.
- Some discounts on appetizers, such as $9 cheese fries, $12 calamari and $14 pulled pork sliders.
- Weekdays 3-5 p.m.
- $1 off all beer, $2 off house wine, $2 off frozen drinks.
- $3 tacos, $4 chips and salsa, $5 quesadilla, $5 grilled elote.
- Tue.-Sat., 4:30-5:30 p.m.
- $5 draft pilsner, $2 off wines by the glass, $9 house wine: Neilson (Pinot Noir) & Spellbound (Cabernet or Chardonnay).
- Some food discounts.
