Happy Hour in Downtown Wilmington, DE
Happy Hours are plentiful in downtown Wilmington. By the riverfront and theater district, around Trolley Square and Little Italy. We’ve identified some of best, worth a visit this summer and beyond. Take a trip across the state line and unwind with a cold drink, tasty bites and good company.
Along the Riverfront
There are so many reasons to hang out by the Christina River this summer. Maybe you’ve hit a Blue Rocks game or visited the Kalmar Nyckel tall ship. Or you’ve worked up a thirst on a bicycle ride along the Markell Trail, through the Peterson Wildlife Refuge. One thing is certain: by 4 o’clock, you’ll be thirsty and likely hungry as well. Lucky for you, there are several convenient options to satisfy you — and at a discount.
Try Big Fish Grill. For Happy Hour, 4 to 6 p.m. on weekdays, it offers draft beer, wine by the glass or a pineapple infusion martini for $1 off regular prices. Its margaritas are $9, and most cocktails are $6. For $10, you can have Buffalo shrimp, crispy fish sliders, Riverwalk wings or several other versions of finger food. 720 Justison St. BigFishRiverfront.com
Right next door is a branch of Iron Hill Brewery, with Happy Hours on weekdays, 4 to 6. Draft beers are $2 off. Wine and cocktails are $7.50. A fried chicken sandwich is $3.50, and fried zucchini sticks, spicy tuna nachos, hummus dip, chicken satay skewers and pimento cheese dip are $7.50. 710 Justison St. IronHillBrewery.com
Another Happy Hour on the riverfront is at Timothy’s. For $3.50, you can get a Bud Light, Miller Lite or Yuengling. Craft beers are 50 cents off. And, mixed drinks are $4.50. For appetizers, choose a chicken quesadilla, pizza, mac & cheese bites, Tuscany flatbread, boneless chicken wings or loaded fries for about $9. 930 Justison St. MyTimothysRestaurants.com
Around Market Street
After work or before an evening at the theater, gather your crew at one of several Happy Hours on Market Street and nearby. It’s only a short walk from Riverwalk and near The Grand Opera House.
Merchant Bar offers its Happy Hour at the civilized hours of 5 to 7 p.m. Sip an old fashioned, margarita or glass of wine for $10 or a Mexican beer for $5. For food, enjoy calamari, tuna crudo, guacamole or a taco-of-the-day for $3 to $10. 426 Market St. MerchantBarWilmington.com
For an elevated Happy Hour in a hotel, The Quoin is an excellent choice, 4 to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Friday. Crispy octopus, tuna tartar, dry-aged sliders are $12. Other plates cost less. Bartender’s selections of beer, wine and cocktails are, respectively, $6, $8 and $10. 519 N. Market St. TheQuoinHotel.com/Dining-Bar
A short distance away is the Chelsea Tavern, offering its Happy Hour on weekdays, 3 to 6 and late night at 11 to 1. Mixed drinks are $5, house wines are $6, and select craft beers are $4. (Bonus: all the 33 craft beers are $4 if there’s a Phillies game on!) Choose a flight of any beers on tap for $8, or a 16-ounce beer with a shot of Irish whiskey for $9. A pizza will cost you $10. 821 N. Market St. ChelseaTavern.com
The Stitch House Brewery is also in the vicinity. Serving Happy Hour from 4 to 7, Monday through Friday, it offers draft beers or wine for $5, five-beer flights for $12 and house cocktails for $12. 829 N. Market St. StitchHouseBrewery.com
Two blocks off Market Street, Nomad Bar marks Happy Hour from 4 to 7, Wednesday to Friday. It’s fairly crowded and noisy, but you can enjoy live jazz, blues or reggae, as well as 20 ounces of Guinness Imperial Stout for $5. House wine and cocktails are $4. Tito’s cocktails are $5. But you’ll have to bring your own food. 905 N. Orange St. Facebook.com/WilmingtonJazz
Not far, and near the Hotel du Pont, Tonic Seafood & Steak offers a large food menu for its Happy Hour, 3 to 6, Monday to Friday. First, it takes $4 off its small plates, including mussels, short rib eggrolls, fried goat cheese and about 10 other dishes. Then, for drinks, it’s $2 off on Mondays for espresso martinis, on Wednesdays for glasses of wine, on Thursdays for rail drinks, on Fridays for draft beers. On Tuesdays, it serves infusion cocktails for $10. 111 W. 11th St. TonicSNS.com
It’s a three-block walk from there to Washington Street Ale House, with Happy Hour Monday through Saturday, 4 to 6. Sip $8 specials, from honey ol’ fashions to sangrias, or $1 off a glass of wine or beer. Enjoy a plate of mussels, BBQ pork sliders, pickle lovers flatbread or nachos. For $11, get a blackened chicken quesadilla, plus other bites from $8 to $12. 1206 Washington St. WSAleHouse.com
Trolley Square
Trolley Square offers a cluster of Happy Hours. Stop in at Catherine Rooney’s and next-door Trolley Tap House from 4 to 7 on weekdays. You’ll get $1 of all draft beers and $2 off seasonal cocktails. For mixers, it’s $3 and $4 for wine by the glass. 1616 Delaware Ave. CatherineRooneys.com, TrolleyTapHouse.com
If you’d like something more nourishing, a block away, try the Trolley Square Oyster House on Tuesday through Friday, from 4 to 6. In addition to oysters at a “buck a shuck,” you can have burger sliders, fried calamari, popcorn shrimp tacos, mac & cheese, firecracker chicken wings, stuffed jalapeños or cheesesteak eggrolls for $11 to $14. That’s in addition to $1 off wine or beer and $6 for rail drinks. 1707 Delaware Ave. TrolleySquareOysterHouse.com
Another nearby option is Kelly’s Logan House. You’ll get a Bud Light for $3 and draft beers — Goose Island, Golden Road Mango Cart, Kona Big Wave — for $4. Seltzer, White Claws or bottles of Corona are $4. Top it off with a shot of vodka or tequila for an extra $4. House wine will run you $5. For food, try flatbread pizza or Buffalo chicken spring roll for $7. 1701 Delaware Ave. LoganHouse.com
In the neighborhood, but a couple blocks away, Kid Shelleen’s will knock $1 off your alcoholic beverages for Happy Hour, from 4 to 6 on weekdays. At the bar, get three wings for $5. 1801 W. 14th St. HarrysHospitalityGroup.com/Kid-Shelleens
Around Little Italy
Dead Presidents offers the least expensive beer we found in downtown Wilmington: $2.50 for a Miller Lite or Yuengling draft, weekdays, 4 to 6, and 3 to 6 on Fridays. It also has Fireballs for $4 and Jameson shots for $5. It doesn’t offer Happy Hour food deals but has a host of all-day specials, like $8 burgers on Mondays, $9 flatbreads on Tuesdays and so on. 618 N. Union St. DeadPresidentsPub.com
If you like Italian food and sports, head to Rocco Italian Grill between 3 and 6 on weekdays, noon to 3 on Saturdays. It serves $3 drafts, $5 wines and various $5 plates and daily specials. A great place to enjoy a ball game. 701 N. Union St. RoccoItalianGrill.com
Like many restaurants and bars, Santa Fe Mexican Grill emphasizes Mexican cuisine at its Happy Hour. For instance, it’s got 18-ounce Modelo or Dos Equis drafts for $3, an 18-ounce margarita for $7 and a skinny margarita or pineapple diamond margarita for $9. A glass of wine costs $5. Its plates range from $3 for queso blanco and chips, $5 for cheese quesadillas, $7 for guac-quitos, to $9 for nachos. Add $3 for chicken or beef to the quesadillas or nachos. 2000 Pennsylvania Ave. MexicanGrillWilmington.com
*Note: Specials can change. Information was gathered at press time.
More Fun In and Around Wilmington
Through August 28
Wednesdays
Summer Nights at Hagley Museum & Library. Bring a picnic to enjoy at the picnic pavilion on Workers’ Hill or at a table along the Brandywine. Dogfish Head craft beer and Woodside Farm Creamery ice cream are available for purchase. 200 Hagley Creek Rd. 5 to 8 pm. $5. Hagley.org.
Through September 8
Delaware Art Museum. Through Sept. 1, “Give Me My Flowers — Soft Petals: exploring the mother wound,” photographs by Shakira Hunt. Through Sept. 8, “Suspended Spins: Dennis Beach.” 2301 Kentmere Pkwy., Wed, 10 to 4; Thurs, 10 to 8; Fri–Sun, 10 to 4. $6–$12, Sun, free. DelArt.org.
Through September
The Music School of Delaware. Hosting over 100 performances, events, workshops and master classes at several locations. Performances include diverse musical styles and feature expert faculty, regional artists, internationally acclaimed guests and students. Most are free. 4101 Washington St. MusicSchoolOfDelaware.org.
Through September
Daniel S. Frawley Stadium. Home to the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the High A Affiliate of the Washington Nationals, who play 66 home games per year. The stadium also hosts concerts and various corporate and nonprofit events. 801 Shipyard Dr. FrawleyStadium.com.
Through October
Kalmar Nyckel, Tall Ship of Delaware. Find adventure and outdoor fun, maritime history and cultural events with annual community festivals. July 13, Captain Kidd’s Pirate Adventure Day, noon to 4 pm; Oct. 19, Halloween Ghost Ship, noon to 4 pm. Copeland Maritime Center at the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard, 1124 E. 7th St. KalmarNyckel.org.
Through November
First Sundays
Auburn Heights Steamin’ Days. Climb into an antique automobile, board one of the trains and experience what it was like to travel at the turn of the 20th century. Tour the magnificent 1897 mansion that was home to three generations of the Marshall family. 3000 Creek Rd., Yorklyn, DE. 12:30 to 4:30 pm. $10–$15. AuburnHeights.org.
Through October 31
Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport. The Passport provides access to 12 of Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley’s top attractions, including thousands of acres of gardens, the grand estates of the du Pont family, incredible works of art and rich American history. $49–$99. VisitWilmingtonDE.com.
Through December
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library. Winterthur hosts many events throughout the season. Visit their website for everything from garden walks, special events, workshops, demonstrations and much more. 5105 Kennett Pk., Winterthur, DE. Tues–Sun, 10 to 5. $15–$30. Winterthur.org.
July 11, August 8 & September 12
Sip & Stroll at Brandywine Zoo. Go a little wild at the family-friendly event. You’ll sip, stroll and learn while enjoying beer and touring the zoo after hours. Fun animal encounters and activities for all ages. Limited number of tickets. Beer sold separately. Brandywine Park, 1001 N. Park Dr. 5 to 7. BrandywineZoo.org.
July 13, August 2, September 13
Wilmington & Western Railroad — Brews on Board. Local craft brews are served aboard the train for your tasting pleasure on a leisurely 2-hour round-trip through the Red Clay Valley. Must be 21. WWRR.com.
July 13–August 25
The Fantasticks at The Candlelight Theatre. A magical journey, part fairy tale, part fable and entirely enchanting. 2208 Millers Rd. Times and tickets, 302-475-2313; CandlelightTheatreDelaware.org.
July 25, August 29
Family Fun Night at Brandywine Zoo. The zoo offers special evening hours with a reduced admission fee of $2. Enjoy $1 hot dogs and $1 soft drinks. Brandywine Park, 1001 N. Park Dr. 5 to 7. BrandywineZoo.org.
August 18–25
August Quarterly Festival Celebration. The nation’s oldest African American festival celebrating freedom of religion and speech and the right of assembly. Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park, Rosa Parks Dr. AugustQuarterly.org.
August 24
Annual Delaware Burger Battle. Delaware’s top chefs offer their best burgers. Benefits Food Bank of Delaware and Delaware ProStart. Rockford Tower, Rockford Park, 2000 Lookout Dr. Noon to 3:30. Pay one price to sample burgers all day, $12– $50. DEBurgerBattle.com.
September 7
Historic Odessa Brewfest. Enjoy 50 local, regional and national craft breweries, live music, gourmet food and artisan vendors. Benefits Historic Odessa Fdn. 202 Main St., Odessa, DE. OdessaBrewfest.com.
September 7 & 8
Brandywine Festival of the Arts. Over 200 artisans from all over the country display and sell their work. 1001 N. Park Dr. Sat, 10 to 6; Sun, 10 to 4. $5. BrandywineArts.com.
For more fun things to do, check VisitWilmingtonDE.com.