99 Bottles of Beer
110 Walnut Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA  831 459-9999
More than 40 beers on tap, California wines and hard ciders. Weekday happy hour 4-6pm; also  Wednesday after 10pm and all day Thursday. Karaoke on Monday; "Pint Night" on Tuesday, with happy hour prices for selected beer all night.

Blue Lagoon Cocktail Lounge
923 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, CA
A dance club with two pool tables, weekday happy hour from 6-9pm. Open until 2am. On the dance floor there is gothic industrial, hip-hop disco, the Big ‘80s, pop and techno all under classic strobe lights.

Boardwalk Bowl
115 Cliff St., Santa Cruz, CA 
Bowling alley, restaurant and bar. Atomic bowling Thursday 10pm and Sunday 8pm. $2 off pitchers after 9 pm Monday and Tuesday.

Bocci's Cellar
140 Encinal Street, Santa Cruz, CA
Free bocce every night, tournaments and $3 pints every Tuesday. Friday happy hour until 6pm. Outdoor patio and a low, dark cellar for dining. This little gem is like a not-so-secret bat cave.

Clouds Downtown
110 Church St., Santa Cruz, CA 831
An elegant restaurant bar with award-winning martinis. Weekday happy hour 4-6pm.

Club Dakota
1209 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, CA
Weekday happy hour 4-7pm. Slated as a gay-friendly bar, and dance club. Club Dakota has a locals-only feel, even though it attracts its fair share of out-of-towners.

Costa Brava
1222 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, CA
Upscale pan-American cuisine with Carribean, Spanish and Mexican themes, plus an extensive list of specialty drinks.

El Palomar Taco Bar
1336 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, CA
Cantina and cocktail lounge adjacent to El Palomar restaurant. Happy hour 4-6pm Mondays-Thursdays in the taco bar.

Fast Eddy's Billiards
4300 Capitola Rd., Capitola, CA
Billiards hall with beer and wine, video games, pinball and sports on TVs behind the bar. Weekday happy hour is 4:30-6:30pm. Free pool for ladies Tuesday after 6:30pm. Open until 2am.

Henfling's Firehouse Tavern
9450 Hwy 9, Ben Lomond, CA
A veritable institution, the little log cabin up in the woods attracts some of the most interesting and incredible folk music from around the world. Classic roadhouse with weekday happy hour 4:30pm to 7 pm on draft beers and well drinks.

Ideal Bar & Grill
106 Beach St., Santa Cruz, CA
Located at the entrance to the Santa Cruz Wharf, Ideal Bar & Grill features live music and a full bar with beach views.

Kuumbwa Jazz Center
320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz, CA  831 427-2227  
Non profit jazz concert venue features top national touring acts, including many jazz legends. Good wine list, bottled beers.

Moe's Alley
1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz, CA
This blues club has the comfy feel of a revival tent out in the bayou. Weekday happy hour 4-8pm. Open until 2am.

Pearl Alley Bistro & Wine Bar
110 Pearl Alley, Santa Cruz, CA
French bistro-themed restaurant and cocktail lounge with extraordinary wine list. Intimate with soft warm lighting, it's well suited for romantic dinners, socializing and conversation.

Poet & Patriot Irish Pub
320 Cedar St., Santa Cruz, CA
Downtown neighborhood bar with real room-temp Guinness. Darts, open-mic offerings on Saturdays. Weekday happy hour 5-7pm.

Red Room
1003 Cedar St., Santa Cruz, CA
Cocktail lounge with jukebox with mix of '70s soul, adrenal rock and lounge music. Weekday happy hour 4:30-6:30pm. Open until 2am.

Rosie McCann's Irish Pub
1220 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, CA
Cocktail lounge. Happy hour all night Tuesday. Weekday happy hour 4-6pm. Live music on Saturday nights. Open until midnight on weekdays and until 1:30am on weekends.

Sea Cloud Restaurant & Social Club
50 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz, CA
Cocktail lounge with specialty drinks and extensive wine list. Great views for watching sunsets, pelicans and seals alongside the wharf, and lights of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Weekday happy hour 3-6pm.

Soif Wine Bar & Merchants
105 Walnut Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA
Extensive wine bar and gourmet dining. Live jazz Tuesday and Wednesday. Open weekdays until 11pm, bar open as long as customers are still drinking.

The Catalyst
1011 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, CA
This legendary music venue is one of the top nightclubs anywhere. Was chosen by Pearl Jam to warm up for two national tours. A real treasure that still retains its authentic 1970s rock club feel with excellent acoustics, capably poured drinks, and food serving and garden areas. Three bars, pool tables. Friday happy hour 4:30-7pm. Open until 2am.

The Crow's Nest
2218 E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz, CA
A harbor landmark featuring high-energy local live music four nights a week and comedy night on Sunday. Cocktail lounge with indoor and outdoor decks overlooking Yacht Harbor. Happy hours weekdays 4-6pm.

Zelda's
203 Esplanade, Capitola, CA
Back deck overlooks Capitola beach. Dance floor, TVs, live music. Weekday happy hour 2:30-5pm. Martini Night Wednesday after 5pm. Open until 1am on weekdays and until 2am on weekends.