The 8 Best Happy Hours in Bethesda, MD

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There’s nothing like a festive happy hour to brighten your mood after a long day. It’s nice to unwind after a day at the office with a few drinks and maybe a bite to eat. Happy hour deals are easy on your wallet, whether they’re at a cozy bar in the winter months or out on a bright terrace when the weather is warm.

How did happy hour come to be a favorite past-time of the working masses? It actually began as a scheduled social event aboard naval ships in 1914. As time went on it evolved into a restaurant special as restaurateurs began to offer deals as a way to appeal to consumers and bring in more traffic. Next time you go out for a happy hour drink, remember that you are doing more than just relaxing with your mates. You’re supporting local businesses and participating in a longstanding tradition!

Bethesda, MD offers many exciting venues for enjoying this pre-dinner ritual. We’ve done the digging and found the best that the city has to offer. If you live in Bethesda or you’re just visiting, you’ll want to check out the restaurants on this list to see what the local hype is about. 

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What Does Happy Hour in Bethesda, MD Look Like?

Bethesda is a thriving community with an exciting art and entertainment district, several delicious restaurants, and plenty of nightlife and shopping opportunities. You’ll find residents out and about enjoying happy hour deals on any given evening. Here are some of the happy hour specials that locals love.      

Alatri Bros Pizza

pizza from alatri bros pizza in Bethesda

Alatri Bros is the town pizza joint. Their gourmet wood-fired pizzas pair perfectly with their beer and shot happy hour deal – “one pizza, one beer, one shot” offered every Tuesday from 4 to 9 p.m. In addition to pizza and drinks, they have mouth-watering bites such as buffalo-style Brussel sprouts, whipped feta and white pizza bites, and salsiccia. 

4926 Cordell Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

Barrel and Crow

Food from barrel and crow in Bethesda, md.

If you’re looking for a great place to mingle after work, look no further than Barrel and Crow. This highly-rated local favorite prioritizes ingredients from locally-sourced, small farms. They bill themselves as a contemporary approach to regional cuisine. Their craft beer menu features tons of beers to sample, from IPAs to ales to cider and fruit-infused beers. Their happy hour is Tuesday – Friday, 3 – 5:30 p.m. It has delicious, special menu options like rosemary duck fat fries, Parisienne gnocchi, and classic organic chicken wings. It also offers wine, beer, and rail drinks, like Beefeater gin, for $5. 

4867 Cordell Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

Gringos and Mariachis

Cocktail from gringos and mariachis in Bethesda, MD.

Are you in the mood for some authentic Mexican street fare that specializes in street tacos, tequila, mezcal, and whiskies? Gringos and Mariachis, which was started by the same family that owns Alatri Bros, is the place for you. Their reasonably-priced shared plates menu features tantalizing entrees like mole poblano wings, chicken sopes, and bacon-wrapped jalapenos. Share a bite and a smokey margarita from their libations menu on their heated patio or order takeout, including 16 and 32 oz. house margaritas online. 

4928 Cordell Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

Olazzo

Pasta from Olazzo in Bethesda, MD.

Do you crave classic Italian cuisine? Olazzo, which is also owned by the family who runs Alatri Bros and Gringos and Mariachis, is serving up fresh dishes in a cozy atmosphere in the heart of downtown Bethesda. Their fettuccine alfredo, penne primavera, and lasagna are comfort staples. Their craft cocktails, like the Negroni Blanco, made with Greenhat Gin, Cocci Americano, Suze, and lemon peel are really refreshing. Monday nights feature half-priced wine bottles and Tuesdays are $7 martinis. 

7921 Norfolk Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

Summer House Santa Monica

Tacos from Summer House Santa Monica in Bethesda Md

Summer House Santa Monica brings the West Coast to Bethesda. It’s located in the city’s Pike and Rose neighborhood. Summer House’s happy hour is a great option for those looking for a warm, laid-back atmosphere. It’s the perfect place to unwind after a busy day with delicious happy hour starters, a list of California wines, and crispy, tavern-style pizza. Their happy hour is Monday – Friday, 2 – 5 p.m.  

11825 Grand Park Avenue
North Bethesda, MD 20852

Wildwood Kitchen

Cocktail from Wildwood Kitchen in Bethesda, MD.

Wildwood Kitchen is a fan favorite located at the Wildwood Market Pop-Up in Bethesda. This restaurant highlights seasonal, fresh ingredients in meals prepared with care and influenced by over 25 countries. Their limited menu features tantalizing flavors like whipped garlic hummus, red lentil and candy roasted squash soup, and slow-roasted aromatic pork shoulder. All of their dishes are fresh and made with an artisan approach. The food is perfect for a happy hour evening spent in good company, paired with a selection from the extensive wine menu. 

10223 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda  MD  20814 

Hanaro Sushi

Sushi from Hanaro Sushi in Bethesda MD.

Downtown’s Hanaro Sushi is a top choice for the city’s happy hour crowd. It has a welcoming, casual atmosphere and a variety of sushi, noodles, entrees, and alcoholic beverages. Their happy hour is Monday – Friday, 3:30 – 6:30 p.m., and features $3 beers, $4 shots, and $5 sushi. Hanaro’s is the perfect location if you’re in the mood for Asian cuisine. 

7820 Norfolk Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

Brickside Food & Drink

Bacon cheeseburger from Brickside Food & Drink in Bethesda MD

Brickside Food & Drink is all about creating a fun, relaxed environment to enjoy tasty, eclectic food, unique drinks, and neighborly service. Their happy hour is Tuesday – Friday, 3 – 6:30 p.m. and offers $2 off all starters, like nachos, firecracker chicken, and old bay crab dip, $1 off fries and wings, and a variety of under-$5 drinks. 

4866 Cordell Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

Ready to Experience Bethesda?

There are many exciting happy hours in Bethesda and it’s easy to see why the city is rated one of the nation’s best places to live. If you’re ready to experience all that the area has to offer, Nomadic Real Estate is here to help with leasing, property management, and sales services for both individual owners and investors of residential property in Washington D.C., Northern Virginia, and parts of Maryland.

Contact us today to set up a free property management quote. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Enhanced Rent Roll Report
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Month over Month Statement

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You can use your owner portal to communicate with our team. Any messages you send through the portal will go straight to your Account Manager. When we reply, you’ll get an email notification and you’ll also see the message in your portal next time you log in. 

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Click "Communications" and navigate to "Conversations":

Commincation Dashboard Screenshot
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Owner Portal New Message Screenshot

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Portal Conversation Response Screenshot
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Portal Conversation Snapshot

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Please scroll through the sections below to get a better understanding of how to interpret the ledger. 

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Owner Ledger Dates
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Ledger Property Column
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The Description column displays the transaction type:

Owner Ledger Description Column
  • BILL: this is an expense transaction, such as for repair costs or management fees.
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The Amount column shows the dollar value of each transaction:

Owner Ledger Amount Column
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The Account Balance column shows a sum of positive/negative transactions at a given point in time:

Owner Ledger Account Balance Column
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Navigating the Propertyware Owner Portal

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Scroll through the snapshots below for an overview of portal navigation! If you need more help or have specific questions about using the portal, you can reach out to your Account Manager any time for a screen share. 

You can filter all info by date range or property:

PW Portal Filters

View a snapshot of income and expenses on your dashboard:

PW Owner Dashboard View

See every transaction in real-time on your ledger:

Owner Portal Ledger View

Statements and forms will be posted to your documents library:

Owner Portal Document Library

View a suite of real-time financial reports:

Portal Reports View

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Owner Portal Bills View

Under Bill Details, you'll find dates/descriptions/amounts and more:

Portal Bill Details

You can also communicate with your Account Manager through the portal:

Owner Portal Communication Tools

How do net distributions work?

Net distributions keep your accounting clean and simple. Each month we’ll collect rent from the tenants, deduct any repair expenses for the previous month and any management/leasing fees for the current month, and credit the remaining net operating income to your account. 

Net Distribution

You’ll receive a statement via email each time a net distribution is processed, and can view all transaction details in your Propertyware owner portal.