With so much to do around Lake Tahoe, working up a beer-etite can happen quickly. And when you’re tired and thirsty, finding an adequate drinking hole can result in backseat bickering, Yelp-fatigue or worse—like settling on the closest spot rather than the best spot.
But we know as well as you do that not all bars are created equal, especially between the hours of 3-6pm, when you’re well within the happy hour window if you know where to look.
We’re here to help with that. So you can move quickly from your bike seat to a bar seat, we’ve put together a list of our favorite fall time happy hours around South Lake Tahoe.
1. Brook’s Bar & Deck, Edgewood Tahoe
Monday-Friday, 4-6pm
- 50% off appetizers, $5 draft beer and $7 house wine
Mondays & Thursday during NFL games
- 10 wings + draft beers combo for $12
Just over the stateline, The Edgewood’s luxury hotel and golf course sit lakefront, making it the perfect place to put down a frosty pint. The views are so good, it hardly takes a deal to get us in the door, but the happy hour at Brook’s Bar & Deck takes this spot to the next level.
Happy hour runs Monday to Friday, 4-6pm, except during NFL weekday games, when it’s extended and includes a delightful discount on wings and draft beer. What we love about the happy hour at Brook’s is that you’re getting quality food, ice cold taps and an upscale feel all for an incredibly affordable price.
While the lakefront seating is reserved for Edgewood Restaurant, Brook’s boasts sky-high windows facing the wooded golf course and peek-a-boo views of the glistening lake. Not too shabby.
2. Riva Grill
Monday-Friday, 4-6pm
Extended happy hour for Monday night NFL games
- $6.50 well drinks, $6.50 house wine, $7.50 Wet Woodys
- 30% discount on all appetizers and wood-fired pizzas
Topless Tuesdays, all day and night
- $7.50 Wet Woodys with double the float, served on the side
A South Lake Tahoe classic with an exceptional location, Riva Grill pairs lakeside dining with one of the area’s best happy hours. Typically, views like these come with a price tag to match, but Riva’s happy hour allows you the best of both worlds.
Although Riva Grill offers a sophisticated menu, it might be best known for a deliciously intoxicating concoction known as the Wet Woody. The Woody’s slogan, “Drive ‘em hard and put it away wet,” is the inspiration behind a long menu of Woody variations, all complete with bawdy descriptions that’ll have you blushing as you order.
Still, you can get a Wet Woody for almost half the normal price during happy hour and all-day on Tuesdays. Strong cocktails, fair prices, flawless views and a sense of humor? They’ve got it going on.
3. South of North Brewing, Basecamp Hotel
Daily, 4-6pm
- $3 off most draft beers
Does the perfect beer garden exist? Let South of North Brewing be the one to show you that yes, yes it does indeed. Although technically a part of Basecamp Hotel, South of North more than earns its rank as a South Lake Tahoe mainstay.
The energy here is high, with effortless mountain vibes to match the rest of Basecamp’s rooms and common spaces. If you’re staying at Basecamp, this happy hour is a no-brainer. You can literally roll out of bed and onto a barstool. And if you’re not staying there? Well it’s still a no-brainer.
There’s fire pits, Adirondack chairs, cafe lights and cornhole. It’s dog-friendly, a quick walk from the casinos and honestly, just cute as shit. It delivers on pretty much everything you’d expect from a mountain brewery hangout. And to think we haven’t even gotten to the bratwursts and live music yet…
4. Kalani’s
Monday-Friday, 4-6pm
Saturday-Sunday, 3-6pm
- $7 specialty cocktails, $6 wine by the glass
- Appetizers from $3-$9
If you’re staying in Heavenly Village, happy hour at Kalani’s Puka Lounge is nothing short of a must. Their upscale island fare dips down to (almost) kama’aina prices during happy hour, making it an hour that is indeed very happy.
Their specialty cocktail list includes tropical classics like Mai Tais and Painkillers, but the real draw here is the weighty list of island appetizers and small bites. The Pulehu Kalbi Ribs and Fried Ahi are crowd favorites, but really all of their eats are well worth the stop in.
5. Flight Deck Sports Bar & Grill
Daily, 3pm-6pm
- $4 drafts, 2-for-1 Coors Light drafts
- $4 house wine, $1 off well cocktails
- $5 happy hour totchos, half-off wings
Listen, we don’t really want to share this one with you. But for the sake of a good deal, we will. Besides a very happy, happy hour and reliably friendly service, we love the Flight Deck for its location.
Sitting a little outside of town, the Flight Deck is an unpretentious, hidden gem of a bar tucked inside the South Lake Tahoe airport. To answer your first question, yes Tahoe has an airport. To answer your second question, no it’s not weird to go to an airport bar. At least not this one.
The bar sits directly off the tarmac, making for sprawling mountain views at worst and a front row seat to the coming-and-goings of the private planes, helicopter tours and flight schools that use the airport at any other time. Bright, spacious and just as into sports as you are, the Flight Deck is a solid choice for no-fuss, cold beer and great prices.