Madison’s Not-So-Hidden Happy Hours
Where there’s restaurants, there’s happy hour specials — especially in Madison. From local news stories to grassroots Reddit threads, the people of Madison love to share their favorite happy hour deals in the area — and pledge their undying loyalty to their favorite $6 cocktails and affordable bites. There isn’t a happy hour special that hasn’t been covered somewhere.
This isn’t an exhaustive, comprehensive, “under the radar,” or “best of” list of happy hour specials. It merely offers you a few happy hour specials we love that often get lost in the shuffle in the sea of solid happy hour deals. For more great happy hour ideas, do a simple Google search or walk to your nearest neighborhood restaurant. But for now, enjoy a few expert recommendations from the Madison food tour experts at Madison Eats.
Tex Tubb’s Taco Palace
2009 Atwood Ave., Madison
Half-priced tacos and margs from 2-5pm? Every single day? This is one of the best happy hour deals out there. With a vast selection of tacos to choose from — pork carnitas, grilled flank steak, and avocado frito, to name a few — Tubb’s has the perfect happy hour bites for any taste (and budget). Plus, the taco portions are just as big as the savings.
Hey, wanna slip out of work early and grab some tacos?
Heritage Tavern
131 E Mifflin St, Madison
Some happy hours are just perfect. Heritage Tavern is one of those happy hours. From 4-6pm Tuesday to Friday, enjoy cult classics like the “old fashioned” ham sandwich ($6), two braised pulled pork tacos ($8), and $2 off specialty cocktails and wine by the glass. Feeling extra hungry? Let your eyes wander to the bar menu, where the perfectly priced $10 smash burger with Hook’s cheddar cheese will do the trick.
Lucille
101 King St., Madison
As an anchor of the Capitol Square and King Street food scenes, most everyone has dined at Lucille at some point. Even still, Lucille’s “Cheap Date Night” special on Wednesdays from 5-10pm, somehow flies under the radar.
A couple (or two foodie friends) can share a bottle of wine, appetizer, entree, and dessert for $50. For an additional $10, you can upgrade your entree to a 14’ wood-fired or steel pan pizza. When you factor in just how tasty the food at Lucille is, combined with the happy hour pricing, it’s *checks calculations* an insanely good deal for insanely good food.
The best time to go to Lucille was yesterday — the second best time is Wednesday nights.
Madison’s
119 King St.
Let’s face it: we can’t always leave the responsibilities of our lives in the mid-afternoon to grab some happy hour bites and beverages — even if we really, really want to.
That’s why Madison’s “Late Night” menu might be the happiest hour of them all — if you’re a night owl. On Th./Fri./Sat. from 10pm-midnight, enjoy drink specials, some of the best late night food in Madison (dry rub wings and $5 tacos are a great start), and a lively atmosphere without the primetime prices. After you take down some wings or a burger, you can always head next door for a scoop of Good News Ice Cream — the ultimate way to put the “happy” in happy hour.
The best happy hour special… is the one you go to!
Whether it’s on the Capitol Square, the edge of the city, in the suburbs, or at the end of your block, your new favorite happy hour deal is out there. Taking advantage of these deals is a great way to support local restaurants, enjoy some tasty local bites, and of course, save some dough. We’ll see you at happy hour — cheers!
Published on Sep 02 2024
Categories: Local Restaurants, News