The Best Happy Hours in Fort Greene/Clinton Hill

Though buy-backs are mostly a thing of the past and cocktails often hit the $12 mark, there remains a tradition that will still shave a few dollars off your tab. Happy hour is that magical window of time when drinking establishments reward your (always smart) decision to get drunk after work. With that storied custom in mind, we've decided to focus on the best happy hours, neighborhood by neighborhood. To kick things off, we head to Brooklyn's Fort Greene/Clinton Hill area. These are ten of our favorite watering holes where cheap drinks are de rigueur 'till dinner time.

RELATED: The 10 Best Mexican Restaurants in NYC
RELATED: Say Goodbye to Bitter: The 10 Best Sour Beers in America
RELATED: 15 Classic Food & Beer Pairings: The Best of Gastropub Grub

Location: 415 Myrtle Ave.
Ambiance: Airstream trailer meets trendy bar
Best deal: $5 pastrami buns

Splitty is a relatively new bar from the owners of Williamsburg's Pete's Candy Store. Designed with the retro look of an airstream trailer (or, as NYMag says, a VW Bus), it's quickly become one of the best bars on Myrtle. Splitty offers a solid happy hour Monday through Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. The menu includes $4 drafts, $5 rose, and $4 bottles of Singha. But the best deal is probably the dollar they knock of their buns (made with pastrami from Katz's Delicatessen!).

Location: 925 Fulton St.
Ambiance: Neighborhood cocktail bar with great vibes
Best deal: $4 draft beer; $5 well; $6 wine

Hanson Dry isn't super fancy, as one might gather from their custom cocktails that are reasonably priced at $9. Still, the drinks are delicious and the bartenders are always friendly. Happy hour runs Monday through Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m., while Friday through Sunday it's noon to 8 p.m. There's usually decent music, enough room to chill, and a happy hour that chops a buck off your beer. What more could you ask for?

Location: 30 Lafayette Ave.
Ambiance: Neighborhood institution, with great food and drinks
Best deal: $5 beers; $6 cocktails

BAM is a Fort Greeene gem that hosts some of the best music, film, and theater events in Brooklyn. It also happens to have a nice weekend happy hour (a rarity these days) for those who want to grab a drink before a show. It should be noted, however, that its happy hour really is weekend only, running 6 to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Still, as most BAM events happen on those nights, you'll still find plenty of opportunities to take advantage of the deals.

Location: 7 Greene Ave.
Ambiance: Shmancy gastropub
Best deal: $3 fried broccoli tacos

No. 7 is a Greenpoint staple that has all the New American fare and classic cocktail vibes you'd want after work. Happy hour runs 5:30 to 8 p.m. You can either sit in the front area and order food from the bar menu—more than adequate for a dinner-and-drinks type of situation—or get a table in back. While there are standard drink specials, the best thing on the happy hour tip is certainly the fried broccoli tacos. Lightly battered and perfectly crispy, they're simply delicious (if not as healthy as they sound).

Location: 266 Adelphi St.
Ambiance: Dark and intimate cocktail joint
Best deal: $8 cocktails; $7 wine; $1 off beer

Dick & Jane's is the perfect place to take a date: It's dark, homey, and has some of the best classic cocktails in New York. Better yet is its happy hour, which sports cheaper mixed drinks and great deals on beer and wine. If you're hankering for a Manhattan or sazerac on a Tuesday evening from 5 to 8 o'clock, there's no better bar in the neighborhood.

Location: 561 Myrtle Ave.
Ambiance: Pratt students and pool tables
Best deal: Two-for-one drafts and $2 off well drinks

With a happy hour that runs 'till 7:30 p.m. and two-for-one drafts, The Emerson (named after Ralph Waldo Emerson, who lived nearby) is a serious contender for the best bar to get seriously sloshed at an early hour. The Emerson also sports pool tables—a rarity in Brooklyn these days—and plenty of room to spread out. Overall, it's one of the best choices on Myrtle if your goal is to get a serious buzz on and have some space to move around.

Location: 660 Fulton St.
Ambiance: Old-school Brooklyn favorite
Best deal: $1 off every drink

Frank's is a long-time Fort Greene establishment known for its Motown dance parties and reasonably-priced bar. Happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m. and knocks a buck off every drink on the menu. In a neighborhood where new bars and restaurants open every other week, Frank's keeps the soul of Fort Greene alive and kicking.

Location: 825 Atlantic Ave.
Ambiance: Industrial-cool with a spacious patio
Best deal: $4 drafts; $5 well drinks; $6 wine

Located right on Atlantic Ave. bordering Prospect Heights, Hot Bird was once a famed BBQ chicken joint. Now, however, it's been reimagined as a hipster hangout inside a 1930s gas station, complete with antique woodworking tools and vintage signage. It's a favorite neighborhood spot for folks looking for a drink after work, with a patio that's especially nice in warmer months. And for those looking for signature cocktails, the menu always has a fine selection. Happy hour runs weekdays until 8 p.m.

Location: 248 Dekalb Ave.
Ambiance: Delcious food and drinks with a classic cocktail vibe
Best deal: $4 drafts, $5 well drinks, $6 wines

When it opened across the street from the (now defunct) Fort Greene staple Brooklyn Public House, The Great Georgiana's fate was unclear: Did Dekalb really need another "rustic" cocktail spot? Apparently, yes. Since opening, The Great Georgiana has become one of the neighborhood's most indispensable bars, with a fantastic comfort-food-heavy menu and top-tier drinks. While happy hour is pretty standard (basically a buck off everything until 8 p.m.), a beer with a bucket of truly outstanding chicken wings makes for the perfect after-work snack.

Location: 171 Lafayette Ave.
Ambiance: Funky Mediterranean
Best deal: $1.50 oysters; half off wine, beer, and sangria

If I were forced to choose my favorite happy hour in Fort Greene or Clinton Hill, Olea would take the cake. The unassuming vibe, fantastic Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine, and refreshing sangria make for one of the best menus anywhere in Brooklyn. But while the $1.50 oysters always get me in the door, it's the half-off drinks specials that keep me there. From weekdays 4 'till 7 o'clock.