Family-friendly happy hour may seem like an oxymoron, but finding a sitter for an hour of downtime is sure to cost more than the money you save! Check out 5 of my favorite Family Friendly Happy Hour spots in Los Angeles where you’re promised relaxation and libations.
Drago Centro (DTLA)
Drago Centro in Downtown Los Angeles offers a Daily Happy Hour in their lounge area from 11:30 AM-10:00 PM Monday-Friday, and 5:00 PM-10:30 PM on weekends. Enjoy Wine specials for $8 and Specialty Cocktails like their White Negroni crafted with Bookers gin, bordiga vermouth, and amara for $9.
The food menu is expansive with Saga Wagyu Mini Burgers for $9 and Pizzetta con Burrata for $8 making the top of my list for their simplicity for little fingers.
The indoor/outdoor lounge area makes it a great place to bring the kids, as the adults on their own stick with the bar.
Masterminds Roy Choi and Matt Biancanielloto have designed a bar menu at The Pot Lobby Bar at The Line Hotel with Small Bites and Drinks that all cost less than the $10 valet. Pair an Old Fashioned on Tap ($8) with some Korean Spicy Chicken Wings ($6) for a third of the price you would pay at Pot. Happy hour runs from 2:30 to 8:00 pm daily.
Why is this great for kids? The expansive lobby area with an abundance of oversized chairs makes it easy to handle your kids. And being a hotel, patrons are more understanding that you have your kiddos with you.
Kettleblack in Silverlake offers their Happy Hour from 5 pm to 7 pm daily, and any fans of "the Manhattan" will be pleased to see it on the menu ($8). More traditional Italian beverages like Peroni ($4) and Negroni ($8) are also available. As far as food goes, I dare you not to order the Wood Fired Cauliflower bagna cauda, with golden raisins, capers & pine nuts ($8).
In a hurry? A Sip & Slice of cheese pizza with a choice of Peroni or House red, white, or rosé ($8) is worth finding the time for!
Now on to the kids! The gorgeous indoor/outdoor space makes it a relaxed dining experience for everyone. And management is more than happy to help seat you outside in the front, or a nice corner booth along the wall.
Happy Hour at Bourbon Steak at the Americana Mall runs daily here from 4:30 pm to 7 pm (and 3 pm on Sundays). The rarely used outdoor patio facing Brand Blvd is the perfect place to corral the kiddos and offers them an endless amount of car and people watching. Snacks on the lounge menu are all half off including Duck Spring Rolls with ginger-chili dipping sauce ($8) and Australian Lamb Lollipops with Chimichurri ($9). Butcher Cuts and Burgers are also specially priced at $22 and $14 respectively.
So what are you drinking? Enjoy 10 specialty cocktails for $7, Sommelier’s Select Juice (red, white, or bubbly) for $6, and their Daily Brew for $4.
Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern, or JFAT, is a great option for family friendly happy hour because of its HUGE booths and indoor/outdoor flex space facing Ocean Avenue.
Happy Hour takes place Sunday through Friday from 3 pm to 7 pm, during which you can order the always decadent JFAT Nachos with Sirloin Chili, Guacamole, and more for $8, Parmesan Garlic Fries for $5, and possibly the best Charred Brussel Sprouts in the city for $7.
Beers and Cocktails are $2, “Tap Wines” are $3, but my go-to has got to be ‘Sofia’s Skinny Partida’ Margarita crafted with Partida Blanco, Agave Nectar, muddled Citrus Cucumber and Mint $7. After all, you have to keep something skinny when you’re chowing down on nachos and fries (lol).
