Guide To The Shore: Top Happy Hour Spots

After a magnificent day at the beach, a stroll on the boardwalk or a shopping trip, relax, unwind and treat yourself to happy hour. If lounging under the sun and in the sand at a beach bar isn't for you, try an in-door destination for creative cocktails and light fare. There are many happy hour hot spots at the Jersey Shore awaiting your arrival and prepared to grant your every wish. - Veronica Dudo

The Palm Restaurant

2801 Pacific Avenue
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 344-7256
www.thepalm.com/Atlantic-City

Since 1926, the Palm Restaurant's philosophy has been to "Treat guests like family, serve great food, and always exceed expectations." Located inside The Quarter—the Tropicana Casino's entertainment destination—the Palm has "Prime Time," their version of a happy hour, with great deals on light fare.

This popular establishment is known for the colorful caricatures on the walls. In exchange for their meals during the 1920s, artists would often draw their own creations on the walls of the Palm's original Manhattan location. The artwork quickly became an attraction at the Palm, and now, the tradition of decorating the walls with caricatures has expanded to other locations both domestically and internationally.

The Palm Atlantic City serves great food and tasty drinks. The restaurant offers a "Bar Bites" menu, featuring some of their signature items in a brand new way. Prime Time is available Sunday thru Friday, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the bar. While cocktails are the same price as they are during normal hours, the Bar Bites menu features deals on popular food items for $4.50.

The Palm's menu includes Prime Steakburger Sliders; a charcuterie plate with calabrian salami, prosciutto, parmigiano reggiano, Danish blue and pepper relish; chicken strips with a panko and parmesan batter and sweet and sour chili sauce; Mini Broiled Crab Cakes with chipotle tartar sauce; Chicken Parmigiana Sliders; Crispy Blue Corn Rried Oysters; Nova Scotia Lobster BLT Sliders with Nova Scotia lobster salad, applewood smoked bacon, oven dried tomatoes, avocado, and micro greens; oysters on the half shell; and shrimp cocktail.

With classic cocktails and signature food, The Palm Atlantic City offers a hot menu inside their cool location at the Jersey Shore.

The Ebbitt Room

25 Jackson Street
Cape May, NJ 08204
(609) 884-5700
www.virginiahotel.com/ebbitt.html

The Ebbitt Room at the Virginia Hotel in historic Cape May is a must-visit when traveling to this lovely seashore resort. Located in the heart of the Jersey Cape, this Victorian-themed restaurant offers a great happy hour.

With plush accommodations such as cozy sofas, a sexy fireplace, classic décor with trendy accents, guests at the Ebbitt Room can enjoy live entertainment and favorite drinks in an inviting ambiance. The romantic atmosphere indoors is accentuated by palm trees and colorful flowers along with classical music, while the outdoor porch has a tranquil vibe for those who enjoy cool ocean breezes, star-lit skies and the magic of the seashore air.

Whether it's a drink before dinner, happy hour fun, or a night-cap, the Ebbitt Room has something for everyone. Enjoy happy hour with delicious food and exciting cocktails that contain fresh ingredients from the Beach Plum Farm, like raspberries, strawberries and mint mixed with top-notch liquor, organic vodkas and gins. An Ebbit Room original, the Snappirinha--with sugar snap peas, gin and club soda--can be easily whipped up for you by expert bartenders. Other signature drinks to look forward to are the Bellini on the Beach (made with gin, peach schnapps, and champagne), or the Pomegranate Martini, with freshly muddled pomegranate seeds, vodka, triple sec and lime juice.

Daily happy hour is from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and includes half-price wines by the glass, specials on different cocktails, their signature "Porch Punch," bar food and half-price appetizers.

Whatever your taste buds desire, satisfaction awaits you at the Ebbitt Room.

SeaBlue

One Borgata Way
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 317-1000
www.theborgata.com

SeaBlue, located at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, offers a delicious and nautical-themed happy hour. The restaurant combines creative seafood dishes and delicious cocktails, all under guidance from restaurateur and chef Michael Mina.

Fresh, seasonal fish from all over the world is available and cooked over a wood-burning grill. When entering, guests walk through the lounge, which has an aquatic blue color scheme and a beautiful blue-speckled marble bar. Chef Mina is known for pairing savory and sweet ingredients with exotic spices from the Middle East and North Africa.

SeaBlue's version of happy hour is called "Social Hour" and takes place Wednesday thru Monday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. All of the items on the bar menu are half price, specialty cocktails are $8, and wines by the glass are specially priced. Some of the SeaBlue specialty cocktails include the Tangerine Cosmopolitan with Hangar One Mandarin Blossom, Cointreau, fresh lime and tangerine juice; the White Cosmo with Stoli Cranberry, Cointreau, fresh lime and white cranberry juice; the Pear Martini with Grey Goose La Poire, Malthide Pear Liqueur, pear nectar and fresh lemon; the Cappuccino Martini with Stoli's vanilla vodka, Van Gogh Espresso Vodka and coffee; and Jersey Lightening #2, with Laird's Applejack, canton ginger and fresh orange.

Some available bar snacks include the truffled popcorn with parmigiano reggiano; warm marinated olives with toasted almonds and citrus; tandori naan with warm goat cheese, pepper fondue and grilled bread; and deviled eggs with white anchovy and pickled onion. Platters include the SeaBlue Angus Burger with shallot marmalade and gruyere; a shrimp cocktail; and Fritto Misto with shrimp, calamari and aioli.

Multiple sparkling, white, red and rose wines are offered, along with specialty beers like Anchor Steam, Bass Ale, Becks, Duvel Strong Ale and Franziskaner Hefeweissen. Draft beer selections include Stella Artois Ale, Victory, Yuengling and Guinness Stout.

The next time you're at the Jersey Shore, indulge in Social Hour at SeaBlue for a satisfying and sophisticated happy hour experience.

Sofia's

9314 Amherst Avenue
Margate, NJ 08
(609) 822-9111
www.sofiaofmargate.com

Sofia's in Margate serves up savory selections of eclectic and traditional Mediterranean, Greek, and Continental fare. The restaurant's philosophy is to celebrate life, and the perfect way to honor that sentiment is at their happy hour.

With its embrace of diverse flavors and decor that includes a real olive tree, Sofia's looks and feels as though you've been transported to the Mediterranean. With high ceilings and a wrought iron gate alongside Mediterranean-styled furniture, this is a unique dining experience.

Happy hour specials run every day from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with reduced priced drinks at the bar. Patrons can also select from a long list of wines. Enjoy the authentic setting while relaxing at the bar alongside the olive tree, and try some items from the bar menu such as fried calamari, clams casino, chicken souvlaki, lamb gyros, chicken wings or "keftethes," which are pan fried beef meatballs flavored with mint and served with tzatziki.

There are also small plate items like steak bruchetta; buffalo shrimp; a traditional Greek salad; the Pasta Sofia with chicken, spinach, red peppers, and porcini cream sauce; crab cakes; mousaka, or layered eggplant, zucchini, potatoes, tomato ground beef; Kefalograviera Béchamel served in an iron skillet; petit filet mignon and Scottish organic salmon.

Serving up traditional and authentic Greek and Mediterranean dishes, as well as hosting a tasteful and versatile happy hour, Sofia's is a charming place to visit during you're next trip to the Jersey Shore.

The Cellar 32

3119 Revere Boulevard
Brigantine, NJ 08203
(609) 264-WINE
www.thecellar32.com

The Cellar 32 in Brigantine offers quality spirits, fine wines and beers for guests to enjoy in its chic setting. An extensive array of wine is available for patrons to purchase while they're dining in, or for guests to drink during happy hour.

The 33-seat bar has a cozy feel and features a large granite top, leather stools and a plasma televisions. The dining room, with its rustic vibe, envelops the bar, and is accented by mosaic tiles, ceramic-tile floors and a copper ceiling. Another unique feature is the packaged-goods area, which sells spirits and beer. Guests can select from over 1,200 bottles that sit on the custom-made wood shelves along the walls that line the restaurant. On "Wine Down Wednesdays," customers can purchase bottles of wine at retail value. There are hundreds of options.

Happy hour is offered every day and includes reduced price cocktails, wine and beer. During the summer, there are daily drink specials on craft beers, specialty cocktails, and mason jars filled with drinks such as sweet tea and mojitos.

There are also lots of delicious tapas to enjoy, like Kobe beef sliders, sesame crusted chicken, Philly cheesesteak egg rolls, baked crab macaroni and cheese, jumbo lump crab cakes with roasted red pepper sauce, blackened ahi tuna, sea scallops and coconut shrimp.

Pizzas are made in 9- and 16-inch sizes with savory toppings like mozzarella, sliced tomato, fresh basil and tomato sauce. There is also a Chicken Caesar Pizza, and an Exotic Mushroom Pizza topped with mushroom cream sauce, red peppers, wild mushrooms and mozzarella cheese. Sandwiches, salads and wraps are also available.

Flip Flopz Beach Bar & Grill

Spruce & Old New Jersey Avenues
North Wildwood, NJ 08260
(609) 522-3350
www.flipflopzbarandgrill.com

Flip Flopz Beach Bar & Grill serves American cuisine with Caribbean flair in North Wildwood. Located in the Champagne Island Resort, this establishment encourages patrons to enjoy happy hour, relax, and of course, wear their flip flops!

Happy hour runs Monday thru Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and includes reduced drink prices and live entertainment. On Fridays, it's "Fabulous Friday" happy hour features drink specials and half-price appetizers like crab bites, chicken skewers, crispy chicken tenders, nachos, jumbo shrimp cocktail, steamed clams, onion rings and a crab quesadilla.

Come out and enjoy the ocean breeze on one of the two outdoor patios, where you can order your choice of 28 varieties of ice cold beer, or a specialty cocktail--like the frozen pina colada, mudslide, Miami Vice or strawberry daiquiri. Coors Light, Miller Light, Yuengling Lager, Landshark, Blue Moon, Stella Artois and Guinness are on tap, and over a dozen bottled beers available.

When the sun sets after happy hour, guests can dance the night away with "DJ Entertainment" at 9 p.m. from Thursday to Monday during the summer season. There is also an outside bar, Tiki Topz, by the pool, with views of the Hereford Inlet, and a raw bar with additional snacks.

Flip Flopz Beach Bar & Grill is also known for its homemade signature King Crab Soup. All of the food is homemade on the premises, and doors open at 8 a.m. for breakfast. Lunch begins at 11 a.m., and dinner starts at 4:30 p.m., with fresh seafood dishes and Caribbean-inspired fare. Daily specials and late night snacks are available until midnight.

The Flip Flopz Beach Bar & Grill at the Jersey Shore has a light and entertaining atmosphere during happy hour that delights its patrons.

Phillips Seafood

One Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 348-2273
www.phillipsseafood.com/index.cfm?page=menus&id=7

Phillips Seafood Restaurant in Atlantic City is the place to "turn crabbiness into happiness" with their fantastic happy hour. Located inside the Pier Shops at Caesars on the dining level, the popular seafood spot offers great deals on lots of lovely libations, as well as sweeping views of the ocean.

Over the past 50 years, Phillips Seafood has held fast to their promise to "serve the freshest, finest seafood available, provide outstanding service, and create a memorable dining experience for our guests."

In addition to serving lunch and dinner, Phillips Seafood hosts happy hour Monday thru Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Specials include $4 wines, beers and drinks, as well as half-price appetizers. Try their signature Bloody Mary with Absolut Peppar vodka, Ocean Spray and Bloody Mary mix and rimmed with Phillips seasonings and a garnished skewer; or the Blue Crab Margarita, with Lunazul Reposado tequila, Cointreau, DeKuyper Blue Curacao, orange juice and Finest Call Sweet and Sour.

Looking for something a little fruitier? Guest favorites include the Tropical Escape, with Cruzan Mango Rum, mango puree, Peachtree schnapps, banana liqueur, pineapple juice, and a floater of Mt. Gay rum; the Chesapeake Bay Cosmo; and the Acai Berry Mojito.