Updated December 30, 2021. After a long day at the office, there’s nothing like meeting your closest friends at happy hour and sharing a drink with a side of office gossip. Whether you’re heading back to in-person work to start the new year or are in need of a new post-work watering hole, these Arlington bars have got you covered for your next happy hour excursion.
By Eliza Berkon, Sacha Cohen, Rachel Keeney, and Lynn Norusis
Editor’s Note: COVID-19 case counts are rising as the pandemic continues to evolve. Here are the CDC’s current recommendations on staying safe.
Ambar
This place is a total scene, with nary a seat at the bar. At every turn, another young, well-coiffed sophisticate is gabbing away, above the thumping groove of a soundtrack fit for an early episode of Sex and the City. A Belgrade mule arrives in a small stainless-steel glass with a sprig of mint. It’s strong (thanks to a generous amount of rakia) and suddenly the appeal of this place becomes more evident. Balkan kebab and lamb drunken mussels are on the menu. The bartender, while loading spoonfuls of Nutella into a beverage (inspiring intense curiosity), says the restaurant is about two years old and replaced an Italian restaurant. Then he’s pulled away to tend to the dozens of other guests clamoring for drinks. –EB 2901 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Arlington Rooftop Bar and Grill
Take in views of the surrounding city while imbibing outside at this bar’s rooftop option. But if you prefer to eat and drink indoors this winter, don’t worry about missing out on the sights and sun as large floor-to-ceiling windows keep the space feeling open and bright. Patrons—mainly 20- and 30-somethings—can enjoy finger foods like nachos, hummus, spinach dip, and wings while sipping on rail cocktails, beer, or wine from high top tables. –RK 2424 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Bar Bao
At 7:57 p.m., the waitress is kind enough to place an order for an El Guapo agave IPA (discounted) and a Bao bun (not discounted, but a mere $2). The scene is neither bumping nor dead, with most seats at the smallish bar taken. The facade feels a bit thrown together, a mix of industrial warehouse, graffiti (see mural of what looks like screaming panthers) and picnic furniture. Take a look at the robust sake and soju menu, featuring a bottle that soars past $100, and sample the fried avocado bun: crunch-coated avocado buried in a small, soft bun with a touch of carrots and spicy mayo on top—a.k.a., the ideal snack. –EB 3100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington
Barley Mac
Though there is ample seating at the large silver bar, standing is actually tempting as big wooden barrels are scattered throughout the space on which guests can rest their drinks. While choosing between eats the server recommended–margherita pizza and grilled, chili-bourbon-drizzled chicken wings–notice how the bar keeps with the sophisticated yet rough-around-the-edges theme with caged lights, ropes, and a pillar of stacked logs. If you’re looking to try something new, there’s a monthly featured cocktail as well as a whiskey smash, but for those playing it safe, there are also deals on draft beer and wine. –RK 1600 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Continental Pool Lounge/Continental Beer Garden
Though these neighboring sister entities share similar names, their food, drink, and entertainment options vary. At the Pool Lounge–a kaleidoscope of colors–find men and women in their 30s and 40s gathered around the glittery orange bar, playing arcade games or challenging one another to a billiards game. Meanwhile, in true beer garden form, ten long picnic tables fill a concrete space sprinkled with potted vegetation and adorned with overhead string lights at the outdoor drinking spot just down the road. There are two bocce courts there, plus an indoor bar with some additional seats. –RK 1901. N. Moore St., Arlington
Courthaus Social
Having three bars—one of them in an outdoor patio area that is split between bar service and table service—helps ensure that the 20- and 30-something happy-hour-goers are, well, happy. Upon entering, the first bar you’ll find is a small, L-shaped wooden one tucked into a corner opposite stone walls and a mix of both low, picnic-style tables and bulkier ones that sit a little higher. Another bar is situated at the back of the restaurant. Between the two indoor ones are several mounted TV screens. Be sure to try the Reuben rolls for a crunchier take on the classic, though if you’re not a fan of corned beef, the brat fitters are also an option for meat eaters. –RK 2300 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington
Don Tito
Yes, Don Titos has been called “bro central,” but non-bros are also welcome. While the average age on a Thursday night falls in the pre-millennial to millennial range, there are a few outliers. Now back to what makes it bro-y: The bartender definitely turns to Jersey Shore’s Pauly D for inspo, there’s a small fridge dedicated to Red Bull behind the bar, and techno pop emanates from the speakers at the downstairs bar. (There’s probably more of that upstairs, as Pauly D says the second-floor bar will grow clublike as the night continues, and the gentleman nearby says Saturday night is “lit.”) The margaritas are sweet and strong, and the guacamole goes down too easy at Clarendon’s tribute to college nightlife. –EB 3165 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Galaxy Hut
Since 1990, Galaxy Hut has been serving up a dizzying array of craft beers and comfort food, such as gooey grilled cheese sandwiches, subs, and hot dogs. Almost any menu item—from hot dogs to burgers—can be made vegan. Funky decor (think outsider art), cult movies playing on the tiny TV above the bar, and live music from local acts add to Galaxy Hut’s old school charm. Get there early and grab a spot at the bar or at one of the three old-school arcade game tables, where you can whittle away the night with a big plate of totchos smothered in regular or vegan chili and almost any kind of beer your heart desires. –SC 2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Green Pig Bistro
Just a few blocks from bustling Clarendon Boulevard, Green Pig Bistro is a welcoming respite for those seeking a welcoming atmosphere, friendly service, comfy bar stools, and tasty snacks like hand cut fries ($5), beef tacos de lengua ($8) and Tracy’s deviled eggs with bacon ($6). A newly expanded bar area and communal seating in both the front and back bar are ideal for small groups and couples. Select wine is $7 and select beer is $6. Several $8 cocktails, including their popular Dark & Stormy, are sure to make this one of your top happy hour spots. –SC 1025 N. Fillmore St., Arlington
Lyon Hall
It’s only Monday, but Lyon Hall is packed. The French-German restaurant, brought to Arlington by the folks behind Northside Social and Liberty Tavern, would do well on the Upper West Side. Lounge music accompanies the conversations of couples and larger groups, ranging in age from 20s to 40s, in this place to be seen. The bartender offers a generous pour of sparkling wine. The music suddenly fuses Euro pop with U2 as a DJ becomes visible near the front window. Monday never felt so good. –EB 3100 Washington Blvd., Arlington
Mussel Bar
Built in the former home of a Chevy dealership in Ballston, Mussel Bar approaches its mussels—and its beer—with precision. The diamond-shaped windows add a bit of allure to the U-shaped bar area, as does the spiral chandelier of beer bottles hanging from above. A quiet conversation would be hard to achieve in a space with concrete floors and a cavernous ceiling, as the ’80s alternative tunes bounce off the hard surfaces, a reminder that Gen X and older millennials are the target audience for this post-work crowd. But this is a great spot to people-watch and admire the aesthetics of the bar (cocktail chalkboard, lovely rows of glassware) while you’re at it. Stop by for a post-work beer (try a Straffe Hendrik Quadrupel for a boozy Belgian experience) and you’re likely to forget all about that God-awful meeting from the afternoon. –EB 800 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington
Palette 22
No where else in Northern Virginia can you eat and drink while watching artists work. At Palette 22, the large space is covered in intriguing, colorful pieces, and in the corner of the bar an artist works on their craft right in front of you—a sign even reads: Please talk to the artist. But a bit of creative insight isn’t the only reason to stop in, especially during happy hour. Here, items from the globally inspired menu get a deep discount: Chili shrimp tacos and “K-Town” boneless wings are reduced to just $4 each and BBQ pork pizza go for $5. The majority of drinks (house wines, house-made sangria, well liquors, and seasonal drafts) run $4.22 with cocktails coming in at just $7.22. –LN 4053 Campbell Ave., Arlington
Pamplona
There’s a well-defined buzz at this Clarendon tapas restaurant on a Thursday night, with only a handful of tables free and limited seating at the bar. The patrons are mostly in their 20s and 30s, smartly dressed, and chatting away, which mostly masks the music. From the view of a small rustic table nearby that seems to fuse an antique pedestal tabletop with a thick wooden plank, encased in metal, the bar seems vibrant, with small groups of friends catching up and a couple perhaps on an early date. As the place fills up, someone comes over to request extra chairs, and no one comes by to grab the check until it’s brought to the bar. They’re too busy to be concerned with such things. –EB 3100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington
Samuel Beckett’s Irish Gastro Pub
There are a lot of Irish pubs in the area, but you know you’re headed to the right one if you run into Ireland’s president at the bar. A spotting point for the head of state, Samuel Beckett’s puts its mark on traditional Irish fare in the massive, two-story space decked out in wood and red. In step with every pub, there is live music, trivia, and a focus on community. How to make everyone happy? Offer deals. The happy hour food menu gives nine options to choose from, and drink deals run from craft cocktails and wines to plenty of, not surprising, beer options. –LN 2800 S. Randolph St., Arlington
SER
Craving Spanish tapas in a lively and fun setting? SER’s “Neighborhood Hour” is the place to be. A wide variety of dishes from all over Spain—like classic Papas bravas, Croquetas de Puchero, and Tortilla de patatas—are just $8 each. White, rose, red, and sparkling wine is $8, specialty cocktails are $8, and draft beer is $6 a pint. Of course, what goes better with tapas than sangria, which is $8 a glass or $26 for a liter bottle. The expansive space can get noisy, so skip it if a quiet post-work respite is what you’re after. –SC 1110 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington
Verre Wine Bar
In a small, opulent space a few blocks from the Court House metro stop sits Verre, a new wine bar with lights strung from the ceiling, and a whole lot of wine in racks on the wall. The crowd is most-definitely a post-work one, with most of the men in suits or sweaters and the women in work pants. It’s a standing-room-only situation at the bar, and the modern, white dining room is filled. Apps are served on wooden boards; this place is going for swanky. The Talamonti Moda Montepulciano is a nice, well-rounded red, which the bartender calls out for its notes of chocolate. In this gallery-like space, there isn’t much character yet, but there’s a whole lot of scene. –EB 2415 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Westover Market & Beer Garden
If you’ve stepped foot in North Arlington without visiting this beer garden, don’t tell anyone. In what is truly the ultimate neighborhood spot in the suburbs—and a much-praised tradition among locals—strings of lights in the trees, picnic tables, and a short picket fence are all that’s needed to make magic happen. It’s crowded, but that’s made up for by the sheer grace of a double grapefruit IPA. Come forget your troubles with friends, and definitely look into the pie flights. (Did someone say four slices?) Try the brisket, which comes charred with a side of barbecue sauce, and take a look around. This is what living looks like. –EB 5863 Washington Blvd., Arlington
Wilson Hardware
On a Thursday night at this establishment, things are lively. Though it’s got a touch of the post-college vibe—with three flatscreens and a giant projection screen airing sporting events—the combination of candles, artwork, and ornate light fixtures make for a somewhat elegant experience. –EB 2915 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
(May 2018)
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