Where to Go for Happy Hour Near NoMa
Photo Credits: Cordelia Fishbar
NoMa sits between several of Northeast DC’s busiest dining and entertainment areas, with Union Market to the east and the H Street corridor just beyond it. That gives the neighborhood a broad mix of options for an after-work drink, from oyster bars and neighborhood restaurants to cocktail spots and lively Union Market destinations.
Whether you’re meeting coworkers, looking for discounted food and drinks, or starting an evening in Northeast DC, these happy hour spots in and around NoMa are worth knowing.
CR NoMa
CR NoMa is a locally owned neighborhood kitchen and bar with a menu influenced by Middle Eastern and North African flavors. Along with house-made food, the bar offers local draft beer, wine, and seasonal cocktails.
Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 3–7 PM, with discounted cocktails, wine, beer, and bar-only food. A weekend “Après Pool” happy hour is also offered Saturday and Sunday from 3:30–7 PM.
Location: 140 M Street NE
Happy hour: Monday–Friday, 3–7 PM; Saturday–Sunday, 3:30–7 PM
Best for: After-work drinks, cocktails, and happy hour food
King Street Oyster Bar
King Street Oyster Bar brings a seafood-focused happy hour to NoMa, with oysters, cocktails, wine, beer, and a long list of discounted small plates.
The current NoMa menu lists happy hour every day from 3–7 PM, making it one of the more flexible options in the neighborhood. Happy hour offerings include house oysters, cocktails, beer, and dishes such as fried oyster sliders, shrimp bites, and crab cake sliders.
Location: 22 M Street NE
Happy hour: Daily, 3–7 PM
Best for: Oysters, seafood, and an early evening meetup
El Presidente
Located in the Union Market District, El Presidente is a Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar with an agave-forward drinks program and a menu built around tacos, seafood, shareable plates, and other Mexico City-inspired dishes.
Weekday happy hour runs from 3–6 PM at the bar and includes food and drink specials created specifically for happy hour.
Location: 1255 Union Street NE
Happy hour: Monday–Friday, 3–6 PM at the bar
Best for: Margaritas, Mexican food, and group drinks
Cordelia Fishbar
Cordelia Fishbar is a seafood restaurant in the Union Market District with a menu influenced by coastal cooking traditions from Spain, Portugal, Asia, and the Americas.
Happy hour runs Tuesday through Friday from 4–6 PM, with a separate late-night happy hour Tuesday through Sunday from 9 PM to close. The restaurant also offers half-price oysters and shellfish towers during happy hour.
Location: 550 Morse Street NE
Happy hour: Tuesday–Friday, 4–6 PM; Tuesday–Sunday, 9 PM–close
Best for: Seafood, cocktails, and later-night drinks
The Haymaker Bar
For a more intimate neighborhood bar, The Haymaker sits along the H Street NE corridor. The bar focuses on cocktails, whiskey, draft beer, and a menu of bar food and small plates.
The Haymaker advertises happy hour from 5–7 PM, making it an easy option for transitioning from dinner or drinks in NoMa toward the restaurants and nightlife along H Street.
Location: 1015 H Street NE
Happy hour: 5–7 PM
Best for: Cocktails, whiskey, and a neighborhood-bar atmosphere
Happy Hour Around NoMa and Union Market
One advantage of NoMa is that happy hour options extend well beyond a single commercial strip. Restaurants and bars cluster around M Street and First Street NE, while the Union Market District adds an increasingly dense mix of restaurants, cocktail bars, breweries, and specialty food destinations.
The H Street corridor broadens the options again, particularly for anyone who wants to continue into dinner, live entertainment, or a later night out.
For residents of The Hale, that puts several different dining and nightlife areas within the surrounding neighborhood. Explore more nearby destinations in our guide to NoMa hot spots within walking distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find happy hour in NoMa, DC?
NoMa has several happy hour options around M Street NE and the surrounding neighborhood, including CR NoMa and King Street Oyster Bar. Union Market and H Street NE add more options nearby.
Does Union Market have happy hour?
Yes. Restaurants and bars throughout the Union Market District offer happy hour, including El Presidente and Cordelia Fishbar. Individual days, times, and specials vary by venue.
Where can I get oysters at happy hour near NoMa?
King Street Oyster Bar in NoMa offers oysters during its daily happy hour. Cordelia Fishbar in Union Market is another seafood-focused option nearby.
What areas near NoMa are good for drinks after work?
In addition to NoMa itself, Union Market and the H Street NE corridor both have a concentration of restaurants and bars that work well for after-work drinks, dinner, or a longer night out.
Happy hour schedules and specials can change, so check with each venue before visiting.
