Broadway and Beyond: Lubbock’s Best Happy Hours

Most bars and restaurants in Lubbock, especially near campus, offer drinks specials and happy hours. But where is the happiest of hours?

Check out “Broadway and Beyond,” an interactive map of local bars, for which The Hub@TTU verified all specials and prices were through phone calls to each establishment:

Broadway

Chimy’s Cerveceria now has locations around Texas and in Norman, Okla., but the bar famous for serving “chimichangas and coldies” originated right here in Lubbock. Texas Tech grad Kyle Wright opened the first Chimy’s location on Broadway in 2002, and it quickly became Lubbock’s 20-something bar hot spot. It has become since notorious for Dr. Pepper shootouts, strong margaritas and insanely long lines.

Chimy’s vs. Fuzzy’s: A side-by-side analysis of happy hours and drink specials.

The taco-and-margarita joint is closed Sundays, but customers can enjoy happy hour all day Mondays and Tuesdays as well as from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. The happy-hour deals will save you some money, but, really, the normal drink prices are decent enough to avoid wincing as you hand over your credit card.

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop  just down the street from Chimy’s offers similar Mexican food and cold drinks. Fuzzy’s, however, is open Sundays with an all-day happy hour — along with Mondays and Tuesdays. Normal happy hours are from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Unlike Chimy’s, Fuzzy’s offers different drink specials each day. For more details on the two bars’ happy hours and drinks, look no further than this side-by-side analysis.

Across the street from Chimy’s sit two more well-known Lubbock drinking holes. Cricket’s Draft House is known for the largest beer selection in Lubbock, according to the bar’s Facebook page. Regular happy hours are from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Cricket’s vs. Local: A side-by-side analysis of happy hours and drink specials.

A couple of doors down is the Local Bar and Grill, one of the newer bars to open on Broadway. Regular prices are $3 for domestic beers and for wells, so “it’s always happy hour,” said an employee. The bar is known for its potent Texas Teas and has daily drink and shot specials that differ from day to day.

Mesquite’s Bar and Grill, Chimy’s next-door neighbor, does not have a set happy hour schedule either. However, every Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. the bar hosts a “power hour,” featuring $1 wells and drafts. Mesquite’s also has daily drink specials that differ from week to week.

Another area favorite, a small, smoky joint featuring live music, is located just around the corner, on University Avenue. Bar PM‘s happy hour is enjoyed from 5 to 7 p.m. every day (including the weekend). It features $1 Pabst Blue Ribbon beers. Daily drink specials accompany the happy hour.

Nick's location at 98th and Quaker Avenue.

Nick’s location at 98th and Quaker Avenue. Photo from their official website.

Here is Bar PM’s daily breakdown:

Mondays: $2 wells; Tuesdays: $2 Texas beers; Wednesdays: $2 wells (again); Thursdays: any bourbon drink for $2; Fridays: $4 Long Island Ice Teas and $3 Fireball; Saturdays: $4 Blueberry Lemonade cocktails and $3 pickle shots; Sundays: $2.25 domestic beers, $3 Fireball, $3.50 Reno Bombs and $3.50 Beelers.

Beyond

Broadway may be a college-student hot spot, but it’s not the only street to find a good deal for a good buzz.

Nick’s Sports Bar and Grill, whose first location is at 9806 Quaker Ave., recently opened on Mac Davis Lane across the street from the Overton Hotel and Conference Center, close to the university and student housing. Its happy hours last much longer than other local bars’ specials — from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m Mondays through Fridays. The happy-hour deals include $2.75 wells and domestic drafts and bottles.

CrafthouseVCaprock

Crafthouse Gastropub vs. Caprock Cafe: A side-by-side analysis of happy hours and drink specials.

Caprock Cafe, located at 3405 34th St., has racked up local notoriety since its opening in 1996. It was named the “Best Place to Have a Beer” by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2009 and 2010, according to Caprock’s website. However, the restaurant is much more than just a place to have a beer, considering its lengthy menu of tantalizing dishes. Suffice to say, the drinks are just as mouth-watering.

Its happy hours are every day from 3 to 7 p.m., featuring a long list of discounted drinks. Caprock also has daily specials on many of its popular cocktails. For details, see another infographic comparing Caprock Cafe and another restaurant just down the street.

The Crafthouse Gastropub, at 3131 34th St., is basically a hipster magnet with its large craft beer selection, unique food menu and mason jars galore. Crafthouse’s happy hours are every day from 2 to 6 p.m., featuring $1 off any and all drinks. It also offers “Texas Tuesdays,” when Texas beers are discounted by $1, and “Wine-o Wednesdays,” with $1 off wine by the glass and $5 off bottles.

oyster-bar-34

Lone Star Oyster Bar on 34th Street.

Also located on 34th Street is Lone Star Oyster Bar: “The Original Yacht Club.” Happy hours are from 4 to 7 p.m. every day, featuring $2 domestically bottled beers and wells. From Sundays to Thursdays, the bar also sells $1.75 schooners from 4 to 11 p.m. On Mondays, the Oyster Bar hosts a $1 pint night during regular happy hours. On Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., you can get $2 Mexican beers and $1.50 Tecate and C Blanca. Thursdays offer $4 Bombs.

Last but not least is a bar that has become a Lubbock tradition since its opening in 1986. Bash Riprock’s is known for introducing musicians, such as Pat Green and Cory Morrow, and for its inexpensive drinks. Bash Riprock’s offers happy hours Monday to Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., featuring $2.25 wells and domestic bottled beers as well as $4.75 pitchers.

Like many other bars, Bash Riprocks also has daily drink specials: Mondays: 2-cent pints from 9 to 11 p.m.; Tuesdays: $3 jager, fireball and rumple shots; Wednesdays: $3 domestic “Big Beers” from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Thursdays: $4 you-call-its also from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Fridays: $4.75 domestic pitchers until 11 p.m.; Saturdays: $2.50 domestic drafts and $3 wells all day; Sundays: $3 import beers and microbrews all day.

To say the least, drink deals are all around in Lubbock. Now, it’s up to you, the reader/drinker, to decide where to go. Or just visit all of them. Feel free to review any other bars or specials in the comments section below.

Happy happy hour!

About Nicole Crites

Entertainment Director - Senior journalism major from Fort Worth, TX