Studio City's best happy hours

You can stumble into pretty much any restaurant or bar on Ventura Boulevard and find a happy hour. But if you don't want throat-burning than well booze or weak macro beers, this list is for you. We've got the scoop on where to go in Studio City to find $5 craft beers, discounted classic cocktails, half-price bar bites and bottomless rosé for just $20.

Laurel Tavern

The casual Studio City gastropub, known for serving one of the best burgers in the Valley, has a happy hour that can't be missed. Fill up on $3 fish tacos and fried chicken sliders as well as an $8 charcuterie (soppresatta and proscuitto) and cheese board with fruit, preserves and bread. They only offer a few discounted libations to choose from — select $5 beers, $8 red or white wine and two $8 specialty cocktails — but one of those cocktails is an Old Fashioned made with Old Forester bourbon and Averna amaro. What else do you need? Parking is tough to find on Ventura Boulevard and although there's no handicap parking, there is a valet for $6 to $8. The restaurant, which is dimly lit and raucous at night, is crowded with chairs. The path to the handicap-compliant restroom is lined with stools from the bar and the facing communal high-top table, so it may be difficult to maneuver through that. Those who don't like sitting on bar stools can find ample seating at the low two-tops along the wall.

• Happy Hour: Monday - Friday, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
• 11938 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. 818-506-0777.

Stout

You can't go wrong with half-priced food and at Stout, those burgers only cost about $7 each. That includes the Stout Burger with blue cheese, gruyere, rosemary bacon, caramelized onions, roasted tomatoes and horseradish cream. If salads are your thing, a Caesar goes for $4.50. As for cocktails, Old Fashioneds, Moscow Mules and Margaritas are only $6. Swing by from 9 to 11 p.m. and beer is a mere $5 (specialty ales excluded). Most of the indoor seating is high tables and bar stools but the larger outdoor space offers low tables. Like many places on Ventura Boulevard, finding parking is tough. The lot has one handicap spot and valet costs $6.

• Happy Hour: Monday - Friday, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., late night daily, 9 p.m. - 11 p.m.
• 11262 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. 818-505-0076.

The Front Yard

This place is a little outside Studio City — it's technically in North Hollywood — but its drink options are impressive. Beers like Lagunitas and Ballast Point are only $4, wines such as a Justin Sauvignon Blanc are $7 and Moscow Mules and Old Fashioneds are $7 to $8. If you're cray for rosé, the Front Yard has a bottomless option for $20 (with an entree) available every day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fill your belly with bites like $4 adobo fries, $8 pastrami sliders and a $12 Royale with cheese. Those who enjoy dinner conversation may want to grab a seat outside since the indoor dining room, bar and lounge can get loud. Since this is in the Garland Hotel, there's a valet option ($4) and self-parking (three hours free with validation) with handicap spots available.

• Happy Hour: Daily, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. - close (Friday - Saturday 11 p.m. - close).
• 4222 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood. 818-255-7290.

The Fox and Hounds

The popular British pub keeps expats and neighborhood regulars coming back with generous daily happy hour deals. Appetizers like mac and cheese bites, beer-battered mushrooms and sausage rolls are half-price. Draft beers, of which there are 16 on tap, are $4.50. Besides the usual Brit staples like Guinness and Bass, the Fox and Hounds also pours Green Flash, Firestone and Lagunitas. Indoor it can be loud and is mostly barstool seating at high tables. The outdoor patio is more accommodating of wheelchairs and a bit quieter. There is no valet option but there is a small lot out back with one handicap spot.

• Happy Hour: Monday - Friday 4 p.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday - Sunday 12 p.m. - 7 p.m.
• 11042 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. 818-761-8301.

The Bellwether

For elegant eating, this always packed gastropub offers mac and cheese with garlic bread crumbs for $7. You can also choose between a tuna tostada or a chicken sandwich for $8. The $9 wine and tap cocktails might be pricey for happy hour but at least there's $4 draft beer from California craft breweries like Modern Times and Bear Republic. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible with plenty of low tables. There's metered street parking as well as a lot out back with one handicap spot. But there isn't a rear entrance, so you'll have to walk up the block to the front of the restaurant to access the venue.

• Happy Hour: Monday all night, Tuesday - Friday 5 p.m. - 6 p.m.
• 13251 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. 818-285-8184.

Wood & Water

Technically, you're in Sherman Oaks but what's one block when 99-cent oysters are involved? From 4 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, devour up to 24 oysters for about a buck each (beverage purchase required). There are also $9 short rib tacos and $15 lobster sliders. Wood & Water wins hands-down for the fanciest happy hour offering: $17 for Tattinger brut champagne and shoestring pomme frites. Other drink specials include an $8 gin martini, Boulevardier or margarita and $5 craft beers like Firestone-Walker's Velvet Merlin and Ballast Point's Sculpin IPA. On Wine Wednesdays, bottles are half-price all night. Choose from a variety of stylish, mid-century seating options, with tufted booths along the wall and low tables in the main dining room behind the double-sided fireplace. There's valet parking for $7 that starts at 6 p.m.

• Happy Hour: Monday - Friday, 4 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
• 13359 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. 818-855-1661.