227 drinks226 cocktails1 mocktails71 flavor profiles12 food pairings
Best starting points
| Drink | Flavor | Best for | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bitter Orange Spritzer | 185 | — | BitterCitrus | Alcohol-free |
| 2 | Dry Martini | 125 | 39.2 | BotanicalCitrus | Happy Hour drink |
| 3 | Dry Martini (5-to-1) | 311 | 30.1 | BotanicalCitrus | Happy Hour drink |
| 4 | Dubonnet Highball | 195 | 4.2 | SweetSparkling | Happy Hour drink |
| 5 | French Negroni | 151 | 25.8 | HerbalCitrus | Happy Hour drink |
| 6 | Gin Tonic | 217 | 12.5 | CitrusBotanical | Happy Hour drink |
| 7 | Martini | 125 | 39.2 | BotanicalCitrus | Happy Hour drink |
| 8 | Martini (Dry) (5-to-1) | 311 | 30.1 | BotanicalCitrus | Happy Hour drink |
| 9 | Martini (Medium) | 302 | 25.6 | HerbalBotanical | Happy Hour drink |
| 10 | Negroni | 189 | 28.3 | HerbalAperitif | Happy Hour drink |
| 11 | Rum Highball | 172 | 21.7 | SparklingVanilla | Happy Hour drink |
| 12 | Spritz | 142 | 14.3 | SparklingAperitif | Happy Hour drink |
| 13 | Traditional Martini (Dry) | 106 | 29.7 | CitrusBotanical | Happy Hour drink |
| 14 | Aperol Spritz | 169 | 9.2 | OrangeSparkling | Happy Hour drink |
| 15 | Bourbon Highball | 184 | 22.3 | SparklingCaramel | Happy Hour drink |
Refine these drinks
Cocktails
- Dry MartiniHappy Hour drinkBotanicalCitrusHerbal
- Dry Martini (5-to-1)Happy Hour drinkBotanicalCitrusHerbal
- Dubonnet HighballHappy Hour drinkSweetSparklingGinger
- French NegroniHappy Hour drinkHerbalCitrusWine
- Gin TonicHappy Hour drinkCitrusBotanicalHerbal
- MartiniHappy Hour drinkBotanicalCitrusHerbal
- Martini (Dry) (5-to-1)Happy Hour drinkBotanicalCitrusHerbal
- Martini (Medium)Happy Hour drinkHerbalBotanicalCitrus
- NegroniHappy Hour drinkHerbalAperitifBitter
- Rum HighballHappy Hour drinkSparklingVanillaLemon
Beer styles
Wine styles
Build with
- GinSpiritBotanical and approachable; classic for early-evening cocktails.
- VodkaSpiritNeutral and versatile; the most common bar spirit.
- TequilaSpiritMargaritas and Palomas are happy hour staples.
- Triple SecLiqueurOrange liqueur adds citrus lift to most happy hour cocktails.
- AperolLiqueurBitter-sweet profile; popular in spritzes and aperitifs.
Preferences
Food & flavor
- Bar SnacksFood pairingNuts, chips and fried snacks are a happy hour standard.
- OlivesFood pairingA bar-classic nibble that pairs well with gin and vermouth drinks.
- Small PlatesFood pairingSharing dishes are common at happy hour venues.
- CitrusFlavorBright citrus flavours run through most happy hour cocktails.
- BitterFlavorAperitif-style bitterness; characteristic of spritzes and Negronis.
Beer styles for Happy Hour
Wine styles for Happy Hour
Build Happy Hour drinks with
- GinSpiritBotanical and approachable; classic for early-evening cocktails.
- VodkaSpiritNeutral and versatile; the most common bar spirit.
- TequilaSpiritMargaritas and Palomas are happy hour staples.
- Triple SecLiqueurOrange liqueur adds citrus lift to most happy hour cocktails.
- AperolLiqueurBitter-sweet profile; popular in spritzes and aperitifs.
Preference paths for Happy Hour
Food and flavor matches
- Bar SnacksFood pairingNuts, chips and fried snacks are a happy hour standard.
- OlivesFood pairingA bar-classic nibble that pairs well with gin and vermouth drinks.
- Small PlatesFood pairingSharing dishes are common at happy hour venues.
- CitrusFlavorBright citrus flavours run through most happy hour cocktails.
- BitterFlavorAperitif-style bitterness; characteristic of spritzes and Negronis.
What drinks suit happy hour?
Easygoing drinks for happy hour, early evening meetups and casual rounds, favouring approachable cocktails, highballs, spritzes and balanced classics.
Happy Hour drinks — common questions
- How many drinks suit happy hour?
- There are 227 drinks in the WhatDrink database suited to happy hour — including 226 cocktails and 1 mocktails. Browse and filter by drink type above.
- What are the best cocktails for happy hour?
- Top cocktail choices for happy hour include Dry Martini, Dry Martini (5-to-1), Dubonnet Highball. The full ranked list above shows options ordered by how well they match the occasion.
- How are drinks ranked for happy hour?
- Drinks are ranked for happy hour based on flavor profile, strength, drink type and typical serving context. Alcohol-free options are clearly labelled.
Last updated
Occasion suggestions are approximate and based on recipe flavour profile, ingredients and typical serving context. Actual suitability can vary by personal preference and preparation.