BGG Happy Hour Hop: Ventura Blvd.

While it's no longer considered uncool to be "rolling with the homies" at a Val party, it's still rare to journey over the hill with any regularity unless your offices happen to be located in the 9-0-whatever-it-may-be, north of LA proper. This happy hour hop is dedicated to those tortured commuters, who we assume are in desperate need of a few affordable places to wait out traffic in the post-work hours given that "everywhere in LA takes 20 minutes" only if you're still living in the year Clueless was made.  And while some of our valley faves (The Local Peasant, Laurel Tavern, Black Market) don’t have happy hours, Ventura Blvd is packed with, like, totally more than enough bars and restaurants to keep you occupied while traffic dies down.  Just don't hitchhike home alone in your Alaia (or ASOS) dress, ok?

Boneyard Bistro: Bikini season is almost over, right?  We hope so, because Boneyard Bistro's comfort food is not-to-be-missed. During happy hour, some of our favorites are served up at a steep discount, including the Fried Mac n’ Cheese ($4), Bacon-Wrapped Kobe Meatloaf Sliders ($7), Kobe Beer Chili Cheese Donuts ($9), and the Rib Basket (served with a side for $12)*. On the beverage side, Boneyard Bistro has $4 well drinks, 25% off of all draft beer and wine by the glass, and an ever-changing weekly cocktail special during happy hour.

When to get happy: 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
Address/Phone: 13539 Ventura Blvd, (818) 906-7427

Athenea Bar & Grill: Athenea Bar & Grill may be located in a strip mall, but that’s kind of a thing in the valley, so...when in Rome!  Enjoy the kitsch factor along with a selection of cocktails (including margaritas) for just $4 all night.  If hookahs are your thing, Athenea offers over seventy flavors to choose from, but if they're not, don’t worry: hookah-smoking is quarantined to the outdoor patio.

When to get happy: All night, Sunday - Thursday
Address/Phone: 14755 Ventura Blvd, (818) 380-3180

Mad Bull’s: Despite the aggressive name, Mad Bull’s Tavern has some of the best handcrafted cocktails in the neighborhood. During happy hour, these specialty cocktails are discounted by $2, as are draft beers and well drinks. Golden Cadillac Margaritas are $5, and the entire appetizer menu (which, luckily, is inexpensive to start with) is half-price. Enjoy their Crispy Calamari, Pancetta Mac & Cheese, or Beer-Battered Crawfish for $4.50; their Sweet Potato Fries or Beer-Battered Onion Rings for $4; or a Sausage & Cheese Board (meant for 2, but we won’t judge if you eat the whole thing by yourself) for $6.50.

When to get happy: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., daily
Address/Phone: 14649 Ventura Blvd, (818) 379-9511

Dixie Tavern: If sports are your jam, you’ll find them aplenty at Dixie Tavern, along with some solid happy hour specials. With both early-evening and late-night happy hours, Dixie Tavern gives you plenty of time to enjoy their food and drinks at 30% off. We love Dixie's Spicy Hot Wings ($7), French Fries ($3.50), and Mussels in Yellow Aji Mint White Wine Reduction Sauce ($8.40).  Their discounted wines range from just under $5 to just under $8, and beers are $3.50 to $5.

When to get happy:  4 - 7:30 p.m., Monday - Friday; noon - 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday; 10pm - midnight, Sunday - Thursday (drinks only)
Address/Phone: 13359 Ventura Blvd, (818) 986-2000

Casa Vega: Open since 1956, Casa Vega has been serving Mexican food and margaritas to Angelenos for over 50 years. So, it’s pretty much your historical duty as an L.A. resident to get in there for happy hour, when the house margarita and the cranberry margarita are just $4.95(!!!), and all other cocktails and beer are 20% off.  As an added bonus, this happy hour lasts for over four hours.  

When to get happy: 2:30 - 7 p.m., daily
Address/Phone: 13301 Ventura Blvd, (818) 788-4868

Ye Olde King’s Head: This classic British pub has been in Santa Monica longer than any of us (over 35 years!), but the Ventura Boulevard location just opened earlier this year. During Happy Hour, the pub offers $3 pints of domestic beer, $3.50 pints of imported beer, $4.50 imperial pints, $4 well drinks and house wine, $5 margaritas, and $3.50 bottled beer. On top of this, pub snacks are discounted; we love the $5 Potato Skins, $4 Cornish Pastie, and the $4 Scotch Egg. And if all of that's not enough, there's always the possibility of meeting a man with a British accent at no extra charge.  

When to get happy: 4 - 7 p.m., Monday - Friday
Address/Phone: 12969 Ventura Blvd, (818) 990-9055

The Six:  We love that The Six supports the Slow Food movement by sourcing their ingredients locally and preparing their food with care, and we really love that said slow food is just $6 during happy hour.  In fact, all menu items, including wine and beer, are discounted to $6 (get it? The Six?) during happy hour.  Might we recommend the Sloppy Joe Sliders, Margherita Pizza, or Salmon Cakes?

When to get happy: 4 - 6 p.m., daily
Address/Phone: 12650 Ventura Blvd, (818) 761-2319

Rocco’s Tavern: A great place to watch sports (read: teeming with men), Rocco’s Tavern offers Italian food in a comfy pub setting. During happy hour, all drinks are 2 for 1, so bring a friend (or make one there -- wink, wink, nudge, nudge). On Thursdays, Rocco’s pairs its late-night happy hour with comedy; head in for a set and enjoy $4 draft beers and half-priced appetizers after 10 p.m. on Thursdays.

When to get happy: 3 - 7 p.m., daily; after 10 p.m., Thursday
Address/Phone: 12514 Ventura Blvd, (818) 985-9876

Kiwami: You didn’t think we’d leave the valley without stopping for sushi, did you? While the happy hours are short-lived at this Katsu-ya group spot, the deals are well worth rushing out of the office for.  A generous variety of tapas are available at a discount, including Shumai Dumplings ($4), Popcorn Shrimp ($5), Baby Spinach and Albacore Salad ($5), Hand Rolls ($6) or Nigiri/Sashimi (both $7). Draft Beer, Hot Sake, and Nigori Sake Shots are just $1.50, and a variety of wine and large sake (hot and cold) are available for $3.  Also available all summer is “Summer Beer,” which combines beer with lemonade or strawberry.  

When to get happy: 5:30 - 7 p.m., Monday - Wednesday; 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., Thursday - Saturday; 3 - 5 p.m., Sunday
Address/Phone: 11920 Ventura Blvd, (818) 763-3910

*Not calculated in listed prices: the cost of a trainer and gym membership to work off the discounted food at Boneyard Bistro

contributed by Caila Ball