These Fresno-area bars, restaurants have the best happy hours, readers say. See the deals

Bethany Clough
·4 min read

A cold drink after work and some munchies that won’t break the bank?

Sounds like an ideal happy hour.

We have some suggestions about where to find just that, courtesy of Fresno Bee readers. We asked them to nominate their favorite happy hour bars and restaurants, and then vote on a poll for the top ones.

Riley’s Brew Pub in Clovis won, blowing away the competition with 55% of the vote. Everyone else essentially split the vote. We’ve listed all the finalists and their happy hour deals below.

Happy hour in Fresno, Clovis

Some interesting things to note about happy hours in Fresno and Clovis? First, they can be a great way to try the food at a nice restaurant when a full meal might be out of your budget. Manhattan and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse both have good deals on menu items.

And some places are family friendly. Both Riley’s and Papi’s Mex Grill tout their kid-friendly atmospheres — because if anyone needs a discount and some downtime, it’s parents, right?

Also, don’t rule out Sundays and late nights. Although after work on a weekday is the standard, restaurants schedule happy hours for when business is slow as a way to reel in customers.

Here’s a look at which businesses in town readers said had the best happy hours around.

Bartender Jean Jacobsen prepares a bloody Mary at Riley’s Brew Pub in Clovis in this Fresno Bee file photo. The drink includes a garnish of bacon, a chicken wing, olive, cheese cube, onion and pepperoncini.
Bartender Jean Jacobsen prepares a bloody Mary at Riley’s Brew Pub in Clovis in this Fresno Bee file photo. The drink includes a garnish of bacon, a chicken wing, olive, cheese cube, onion and pepperoncini.

Riley’s Brew Pub, 2674 Owens Mountain Parkway, Clovis

When: From 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

It includes $1 off beer, wine and cocktails, and $6 well drinks. Food: $9 cheese curds, quesadillas, pulled pork nachos and more.

Manhattan Steakhouse & Bar, 1731 W. Bullard Ave.

Manhattan Steakhouse & Bar is pictured in this Fresno Bee file photo from 2020.
Manhattan Steakhouse & Bar is pictured in this Fresno Bee file photo from 2020.

When: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays in the lounge.

Manhattan’s happy hour can attract crowds so be prepared. You can choose three dishes off its happy hour menu for $25, ranging from garlic fries to sliders, according to its website. Manhattan also has Tito’s Thursdays, where cocktails made with Tito’s vodka cost $5 during happy hour in the lounge or dining room.

Cosmopolitan Tavern & Italian Grill, 625 O St.

The Cosmopolitan restaurant shown at its new location on Ventura and O streets in downtown Fresno on Tuesday, March 27, 2018.
The Cosmopolitan restaurant shown at its new location on Ventura and O streets in downtown Fresno on Tuesday, March 27, 2018.

When: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays at the bar.

You can get $4 bottled beers, $5 house wines and well cocktails, and $3 off all specialty cocktails. As for food, Cosmo’s happy hour features $4 off all appetizers and pizzas and $5 off all entrees and pastas.

Papi’s Mex Grill, Fresno and Madera

Papi’s Mex Grill will have $5 margaritas made with Patrón tequila all day Friday for National Margarita Day.
Papi’s Mex Grill will have $5 margaritas made with Patrón tequila all day Friday for National Margarita Day.

Papi’s has a restaurant at Champlain Drive and Shepherd Avenue in Fresno, and another at Riverwalk, the new shopping center at Avenue 12 and Highway 41 in Madera. Happy hour is the same at both, from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and all day Sundays and Mondays.

Happy hour is family friendly here and applies to the entire restaurant. It includes various discounts on drinks — including its margaritas — and small meals and appetizers, such as tacos and quesadillas.

Restaurant Tipico Oaxaqueno, 4773 E. Belmont Ave.

Oaxaca Mexican Restaurant on Belmont near Chestnut in Fresno was chosen as one of the winners in The Fresno Bee’s call for best happy hours.
Oaxaca Mexican Restaurant on Belmont near Chestnut in Fresno was chosen as one of the winners in The Fresno Bee’s call for best happy hours.

Sometimes just called Oaxaca Restaurant, this place offers a bucket of six of any of its beers for $20 on Fridays. It’s got a huge menu of Mexican food, including Oaxacan specialties.

Yard House, River Park

Yard House, a American fusion cuisine restaurant offering over 100 beers on tap opens at River Park in this file photo.
Yard House, a American fusion cuisine restaurant offering over 100 beers on tap opens at River Park in this file photo.

When: From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Includes half off select appetizers and all pizzas, $2 off draft beer, wine, spirits and cocktails, $3 off 9-ounce wines.

A late-night happy hour also happens with discounts from 10 p.m. to close Sundays through Wednesdays.

Colton’s Social House, 1150 Shaw Ave., Clovis

Colton’s Social House in Clovis has a late-night happy hour in its bar and on its patio.
Colton’s Social House in Clovis has a late-night happy hour in its bar and on its patio.

Colton’s near Sierra Vista Mall (which won the best patio in town poll recently) has a late-night social hour. It runs from 10 p.m. to midnight inside in the bar top seating area and on the patio.

Its menu is online and includes $1 or $2 off cocktails, beer and wine. It also has 25% off appetizers such as flatbreads, chicken wings, and nachos.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House, River Park

Ruth’s Chris Steak House in River Park was chosen as one of the winners in The Fresno Bee’s call for best happy hours.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House in River Park was chosen as one of the winners in The Fresno Bee’s call for best happy hours.

When: From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays, only in the bar.

Cocktails and wine starts at $9 at the Ruth’s Chris happy hour. A selection of food starts at $9 too, including sandwiches, zucchini fries, and goat cheese and artichoke dip.