As one of the best college towns in America, Athens is always a good place to have some yummy food and score some great drink deals. For many students at The University of Georgia, the city’s downtown restaurants and bars play a big part in their overall college experience. If you’re looking to explore Athens on a budget, or just love a great deal, happy hour is your best friend!
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There are a number of great spots around Athens with happy hour deals that are great for UGA students. Here, we’ve compiled a list of places in and around downtown Athens with excellent food and drink specials.
The 8 Best Places for Happy Hour near UGA
1. El Barrio
Area: Five Points
Distance from Rambler: 5-minute Uber
Address: 1331 S Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30605
El Barrio is located in Five Points and has great food and happy hour deals. It is a popular place for UGA students to go to before football games or a night out. Every day of the week from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. El Barrio’s happy hour consists of:
- $6 House Margaritas
- $10 Dos Equis Amber Pitchers
- $12 Sol Mexican Lager Buckets
- $32 Large House Margarita Pitchers
2. Magnolias
Area: Downtown
Distance from Rambler: 8-minute walk
Address: 312 E Broad St, Athens, GA 30601
Magnolias is located downtown, just steps from North Campus. Mags is a popular destination on game days and offers free games of pool everyday! Aside from gamedays, Mags is a great place to chill out with your friends during happy hour and enjoy these deals:
- Mondays: ½ off wells and $10 wine bottles with The Bachelor on the projector at 8 p.m.
- Tuesdays: $2 Tequila shots, $5 Mags Margaritas, $3 off any tequila
- Whiskey Wednesday: $3 Slane, $4 Jack Daniels, $4 Jameson
- Thursdays: Half off seltzers, $3 Beers or Well Liquor
3. Saucehouse
Area: West of Downtown
Distance from Rambler: 4-minute walk
Address: 830 W Broad St, Athens, GA 30601
Saucehouse is the most popular place in town to score some great BBQ and an even better happy hour! Throughout the week, you can get happy hour deals on food while getting these great deals on drinks:
- Wednesday – Sunday: Reverse happy hour! 9-11 p.m. with $2 wells
- Wednesday: ½ fried rib basket with trivia at 7 p.m.
- Thursday: $2 off seltzers, ½ off champagne bottles, buy one get one ½ off boneless wings
- Sunday: $5 off Mimosa and Bloody Mary pitchers, ½ off rib tips and egg rolls
4. Paloma Park
Area: Downtown
Distance from Rambler: 6-minute walk
Address: 235 W Washington St, Athens, GA 30601
Paloma Park is a popular brunch place, or the ideal place to host an event. This aside, Paloma has some awesome Tuesday through Sunday happy hour deals that you can’t miss out on:
- $3 Paloma on draft; $12 pitchers
- $3 Sangria; $15 Towers
- $8 Espresso Martinis
- $15 Draft Beer Towers
5. Pauley’s
Area: Downtown
Distance from Rambler: 6-minute walk
Address: 134 E Clayton St, Athens, GA 30601
Pauley’s is one of the most popular places to find UGA students before a night out. Pauley’s crepes and cocktails pair perfectly with:
- Monday through Wednesday: all day happy hour
- Thursday: 4-10 p.m. $1 off crafts & drafts, ½ off all wine for Ladies night
- Sunday: $2 Mimosas, $3 Manmosas, $4 Bloody Marys
6. Clarke’s Collective
Area: Downtown
Distance from Rambler: 8-minute walk
Address: 225 N Lumpkin St, Athens, GA 30601
Clarke’s is a fun place to watch a live band and grab some drinks. Clarke’s has two full service bars, 4+ TVs, and a covered back patio with outdoor seating. Even better are their happy hour deals on Monday through Friday from 5-9 p.m., where you can grab $4 classics and frosés, $3 house wine and $2 tallboys.
7. Blind Pig Tavern
Area: Downtown
Distance from Rambler: 13-minute walk
Address: 312 E Washington St, Athens, GA 30601
Blind Pig Tavern is a great place to grab some food and score some happy hour deals. Their happy hour is 2-7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and you can even score some deals on the weekend. The deals include:
- Mondays: $4.50 local beers
- Tuesdays: $3 Tallboy cans and Well Drinks
- Wednesdays: $4 George Dickel #12, $3 Wine, $4 Ciders and 8 p.m. Trivia
- Thursdays: $4 Mexican Beers and Wing night!
- Fridays & Saturdays: $6 Bartender’s choice cocktail
- Sundays: $4.50 Jameson & Slane Irish Whiskey
8. The Pine Bar
Area: Five Points
Distance from Rambler: 5-minute uber
Address: 1235 S Milledge Ave, Athens, GA 30606
Pine Bar is a nicer restaurant located in the Five Points area. It is the perfect place to share some plates with your friends and take advantage of the happy hour deals. You also can head downstairs from the Pine Bar to The Root’s entrance where you can enjoy The Pine Bar’s food, pub games, and big screen TVs. The happy hour deals at Pine Bar include:
- Tuesdays: 50% all open bottles of wine by the glass
- Wednesdays: $12 chef selection cheese & charcuterie boards
- Saturday & Sunday Champagne Brunch: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Sundays: Extended Happy Hour: 5-9 p.m.
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We hope that this list of some of our favorite spots to enjoy happy hour helps you continue to explore Athens! If there is anything else the Rambler team can help you with, please contact our leasing office.