10 Off the Beach Happy Hours Perfect for a NJ Teacher’s Budget
Summer is here, and whether you’ve got the entire summer off, or have a fleeting days to yourself — you’ve got some opportunities to head to the beach for a day of sun, and fun.
And, if you’re so inclined, maybe you’d like to partake in one of the many off the beach happy hours that happen at so many restaurants and bars at the Jersey Shore. If you’re looking to save a couple of bucks, but still enjoy yourself post-beach, we’ve done some digging and came up with a list of 10 Jersey Shore spots where you can eat and drink (responsibly, of course) on a Jersey teacher budget, thanks to some great seasonal specials and discounts.
Of course, if you’re thinking of having more than one beverage, we highly recommend you get a designated driver, call a cab, or have the Uber, or Lyft app at the ready. We want you getting to your home/hotel/shore house safely, so you can contain to be the greater New Jersey educators that you are.
Do you know of a good off-the-beach happy hour in Monmouth and Ocean County that can save teachers a couple of bucks? Let us know in the comments!
Donovan’s Reef – Sea Bright
The Reef returns to the Jersey Shore this summer after being destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The newly renovated indoor bar and restaurant is a far cry from the old Donovan’s with the airbrushed Orca on the outside (not a knock, it was awesome). What’s cool about this spot is you can be on the beach, hang out in the Atlantic, and then literally mosey on over to a beachfront bar just steps from your blanket. Happy here runs Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. $3 domestic cans and bottles being served up as well as $5 well drinks. Not a bad price for a bar literally on the beach.
It’s Greek to Me – Pier Village Long Branch
This chain might not be the first, or second, or even third place you think of when you think of off the beach happy hours. But, trust us on this one, as you’ll be yelling “Opa!” when you hear about what they’re serving up. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. this Greek Taverna by-the-sea serves up $3 beers (any draft), $5 glasses of house wine, and $6 Tito’s Handmade Vodka drinks. Then there’s the food. For $6.95 you can snack on — calamari, falafel, fried zucchini chips, pizza, meatballs, spinach salad, or hummus.
Asbury Ale House – Asbury Park
Hump days are the day to head over to this wildly popular downtown Asbury spot — just a quick walk from the beach. From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. it’s $2 domestic drafts, $3 glasses of house wine, and $4 mixed drinks. At 7 p.m. they do $4 house wines, plus half-price mac and cheese bowls, and a $10 beer and Stillhouse whiskey shot (flavors include: chocolate chip mint, peach tea, apple crisp, & coconut). Don’t forget that this bar has a ton of cool stuff inside like air hockey, a basketball shooting game, darts, and tons of TVs. It’s highly interactive, and don’t forget to try the drunken chicken.
Bar Anticipation – Lake Como
Where summer never ends. Bar Anticipation (or Bar A as it’s affectionately known) has steep specials on food and drink everyday. However, it’s Fridays that we want to focus on. Every Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. patrons are treated to simply one of the best buffets out there. Don’t confuse this buffet for some lukewarm chaffing stations — this is the real deal. Everything is delicious, and it varies from week to week, depending on the theme of the happy hour, or choice from the kitchen. The best part? It’s free. You can literally have a full meal based on this buffet — not a bad way to save a couple of bucks. You can wash everything down with $2.25 Bud and Bud Light pints from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. There’s also live entertainment inside, and outside.
D’Jais – Belmar
I know what you’re thinking. D’Jais? Isn’t that just a nightclub? Well, it is, but it also serves as a restaurant, and locals hang during the day. If you’ve got a Friday off you can enjoy their happy hour which runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant serves a full menu, and the side “to-go” counter is serving during this time as well. Around 4 p.m. there’s a free buffet. The bar serves up $2 Coors Lights, $2 Miller Lights, $3 Coronas, and $4 mixed drinks. There are also extended happy hours on Saturday (with Budweiser specials), and Sundays too.
Klein’s – Belmar
Fresh seafood. A gorgeous view of the Shark River. Can’t beat that. You also can’t bear the fact that Klein’s Tiki Bar and Raw bar are serving steep specials from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. every single day. On the food side of things clams, oysters, and shrimp are discounted. Major win there. There’s also a special $5 menu (exclusive to the bar area) which serves appetizers, and their new 10 inch bar pies. The bars are serving half-priced well drinks, and house wines, and discounted Bud Light drafts, and Landshark cans.
Parker House – Sea Girt
This historic restaurant and bar is going to feed you like a king when you come off the beach. Go to the Parker House’s famed back patio, and you can score “little food” for “little money.” See, this place is know for their “mini” sandwiches — they were selling these out long before the slider craze hit a few years ago. On the patio you can score a: mini cheeseburger ($2), mini BBQ chicken sandwich ($3), mini sausage sandwich ($3), mini softshell crab sandwich ($4), a hot dog ($2), as well as peel & eat shrimp ($5-$9), a dozen steamed clams ($9), and clams on the half-shell ranging from 25-50 cents per clam. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Jenkinson’s – Point Pleasant Beach
Again, I know what you’re thinking — this is just a club. But trust us, you’re going to like what we’re about to tell you. Monday through Friday from 3p.m. to 6p.m., Jenks serves up steep food, and drink specials. See, most may forget that Jenks not only has a food court, but a full service restaurant with outdoor oceanfront dining. Here’s how the week at Jenks breaks down. On Mondays it’s a $3 special – $3 pretzel nuggets, chicken pot sticks, and Coors Light, and Blue Moon aluminum bottles. On Tuesdays, it’s (you guessed it) Taco Tuesday. Chicken or beef tacos are $2 as are Coronitas (mini-coronas), and margaritas. Wednesdays is 50 cent wings, and $3 whiskey drinks. On Thursdays things go back South of the Border with $4 quesadillas, and $3 Michelob Ultras. Then on Friday, get ready to assume the role of King Neptune as clams on the half shell are 50 cents each, oysters on the half are $1 each, and there’s a $2.50 jumbo shrimp special. There’s also $2.50 Coors Light, and Miller Lites. There’s also live entertainment every happy hour to keep you entertained.
Beachcomber – Seaside Heights
The two-level restaurant and bar has been a staple of Seaside Heights boardwalk fun for decades. One of the things it’s known for it’s all day, everyday $2 Budweiser special. This has been one of the most consistent and legendary Jersey Shore “can’t beat it” bar specials going. To boot, the menu at Beachcomber is stacked. You want a big slice? They have you covered. How about some seafood? Done and done. A burger? Of course. Literally outside of a rack of lamb, and fondue — there’s not much you can’t find on their menu, and for reasonable boardwalk prices.
Joe Pops – Ship Bottom
This long-standing Long Beach Island nightspot is your hook-up coming off the beach. Every day from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. inside the bar you can enjoy $3 domestic beers, $4 import and craft beers, $4 well drinks, and $5 Coors Light personal pitchers. Monday through Friday they offer a special $5 happy hour food menu which varies by day. If you’re hungry, the full menu is available with everything from ribs to flat breads to steaks and seafood at your fingertips. Outside, at “Tiki Joe’s” they serve up $5 frozen drinks (flavors vary by day), and $20 Corona buckets.
