Date nights in Austin don’t have to break the bank if you know where to look (hint: it’s Zappy). We’ve rounded up 14 great places (across 16 locations) with Friday happy hours that last until at least 6:30 PM and include food specials, making it easy to enjoy a romantic night out without overspending. Whether you’re in the mood for oysters, steak, Korean, Mexican, or craft cocktails, these spots offer both ambiance and affordability. And since we know Valentine’s Day can be a tricky time for deals (since many happy hours exclude holidays), think of this as your go-to list for the dozens of other Fridays when you want to spoil your date and keep your budget intact.
Date night happy hours that end at 6:30 pm on Fridays
Lonesome Dove Austin
Lonesome Dove is a western bistro in Downtown that specializes in “game” meats. They have discounts on over 15 appetizers and entrees, as well as tons of beer and cocktail happy-hour specials.
CARVE American Grill
CARVE American Grill Central & Barton Creek locations have a variety of American staples like pizza, burgers, and steaks. Their happy hour features several appetizers as well as a handful of $9 wines and $9 cocktails.
Perry’s Steakhouse
Perry’s Steakhouse Downtown & at The Domain is a steakhouse that is also famous for its pork chops. During the happy hour in their bar area, they have 7 apps, 7 wines, and 7 cocktails for $9 each.
VERDAD
VERDAD is a modern Mexican restaurant in Rosedale that features many unique seafood dishes. Their patio-or-bar-only happy hour features several apps, wines, and cocktails for $9, as well as 3 Filet Mignon Tacos for $19.
Oseyo
Oseyo is an East Side Modern Korean-American restaurant offering high-end Korean dishes. Their happy hour has a wide variety of appetizers, 25% off wine and sake bottles, specialty cocktails, and a couple of beer discounts.
El Raval
El Raval celebrates the diverse cultural influences of Barcelona’s iconic El Raval neighborhood, located in the iconic Zilker neighborhood. Their happy hour features over 15 food specials across a wide variety of dishes, $1 off beers, wine discounts including 25% off all bottles under $100, and cocktail specials including Vermut (the Spanish spelling) and Sherry flights.
Date night happy hours that end at 7 pm on Fridays
ALC Steaks
ALC Steaks is a steakhouse in West Austin known for its unique combination of a relaxed atmosphere with high-end cuisine. Their bar-only happy hour has everything from Green Chile Frito Pie for $9 to a $20 steak sampler. Their drink specials include $4-6 beers, $8 glasses of wine, $10 classic cocktails, and $7 wells.
BarChi Sushi
BarChi Sushi is a Downtown sushi restaurant with one of the largest happy hour menus on Zappy. Nearly their entire menu is discounted during happy hour, including dozens and dozens of food items, $4-5 beers, $6 wine glasses, $6.50-9.50 cocktails, Sake specials, and even discounts on Red Bull and Pure Coconut Water. They offer 90 minutes of free validation parking at Austin City Hall Parking Garage (take your ticket into the restaurant to have it validated).
Casa do Brasil
Casa do Brasil is a Brazilian steakhouse in North Austin that brings fresh cuts of meat to your tableside. They also have an expensive happy hour that runs from 11 am-7 pm and includes 11 food items ranging from empanadas to crab cakes, $4 beers, $7 wines, and $8-10 for many classic cocktails.
J.Prime Steakhouse
J Prime Steakhouse is a modern Texas steakhouse in the heart of Downtown Austin that also flies in fresh seafood daily. They offer 7 unique appetizers for $10 each, $9 glasses of wine, and $9 cocktails including an assortment of High Balls.
Péché
Péché is Austin’s first absinthe bar, with food influenced by French and New Orleans cuisine. Their happy hour offers 50% off 11 different food items ranging from escargot to their half-pound burger. They have 9 cocktails for only $6, which is a combination of classics and their unique take on some classics.
Saltgrass Steakhouse
Saltgrass Steakhouse is an Austin Hills take on open campfire cooking, including steaks, chicken, seafood, and daily scratch-made desserts. In their “no bull lounge” (bar area) you can find 11 appetizer specials from fried mushrooms to bacon-wrapped quail. They offer $3-4 beer deals, $7 sangrias, and a lot of classic cocktails and frozens ranging from $4-7.
Vince Young Steakhouse
Vince Young Steakhouse is a locally-owned fine dining spot in downtown Austin. While they recently updated their happy hour specials and retired a couple of fan favorites, they still offer impressive discounts. All 11 items on their Bar & Lounge menu are half-off, bringing prices down to $9–$19 including their Wagyu Brisket Burger and their Steak Frites.
Bonus: A late-night date night happy hour that ends at 10:30 pm on Fridays
Fogo de Chão
Fogo de Chão is a Brazilian steakhouse in downtown Austin. Their all-day happy hour starts a 11 am and ends at 10:30 pm. The menu features $5 beers, $8 South American wines, and $10 Brazilian-inspired cocktails, including their signature Caipirinha. If you grab a seat at the bar or on the patio, you can also enjoy $6 bar bites like empanadas and polenta fries, plus a $10 picanha burger.
Why pay full price when you don’t have to? These happy hour deals make date night more affordable without sacrificing quality, and you can find even more great specials like these on Austin’s largest happy hour finder–Zappy. Unlike other lists that become outdated quickly, we regularly review and update our listings, so you’ll always have the most up-to-date happy hour info at your fingertips. Share this article with someone you want to have a date night with.