Planning to host a happy hour at home? This is the guide for you! Having friends over for a few drinks and appetizers is easy to do and you can keep it as simple or elaborate as you like.
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Ideas for happy hour at home
Happy hour is always a fun time. A little rendezvous with sips and snacks is a great way to wind down after work. Just about everyone is down for a margarita and some chips and salsa after a long day!
But all those beverages and bites can add up, so having happy hour at home is a great way to save some money. Think of it like a mini cocktail party, where you get to be the bartender and your house is the bar!
Transform your home, patio, balcony or yard into the perfect setting for a memorable cocktail hour gathering with friends.
More party ideas: Hot Chocolate Party • British High Tea • Wine Tasting Party
Planning your happy hour
First things first: When is happy hour going to be? Pick the day and time. Usually, happy hours take place in the evening on a workday, right after work but before dinner time.
Happy hour is a time to enjoy a few appetizers and drinks, but typically, there is not enough food for a whole meal. Sometime between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. is ideal. It can be just an hour long, or you can extend it to two or three hours.
Next, figure out your budget. How much do you want to spend on drinks and appetizers? Many bars and restaurants charge somewhere between $5-10 for a serving of beer or wine, $10-15 for an appetizer and $10-20 for a mixed drink during happy hour, give or take. Once you have that in mind, you can figure out how many people to have over.
Note: If this is something you are going to do regularly with a few friends or coworkers, it’s fair to ask your friends to BYOB (bring your own beverage) and an appetizer so you aren’t always providing everything. They could also contribute some money to cover the cost of the drinks and food.
Finally, set your guest list and send out some invitations. It can be as casual as a text to come over or even a verbal invite in person or on the phone. But if you want a fancier affair, an invitation in the physical mail or email inbox sets a more formal tone.
Setting up your space
Happy hour is all about hanging out, so you’ll need to pick an area of your home where people can sit and be comfortable while the chat and enjoy snacks. That could be your living room, patio, deck, porch, balcony, yard, etc.
Arrange seating in a circle-ish way, if you can. Since the idea is to chill out together, my favorite way to serve the snacks is on a coffee table or other surface between everyone, or you can set it up on a countertop or table nearby.
And you’ll also want to create a bar area to serve drinks. (We’ll talk about which drinks in a little bit!) You could allocate a section of your countertop or kitchen island, or even a sideboard or table.
Lastly don’t forget to set the mood. Dim the lights, ignite some candles and turn on a playlist of your favorite tunes.
Essential bar tools
Next, you’ll need to make sure you have all the tools you need for your happy hour! An ice bucket and tongs is a good place to start, but you can even keep things very casual with a cooler. Here are some things you may need, depending on what you plan to serve:
- Cocktails and mocktails: Cocktail shaker, jigger and a strainer
- Beer: Bottle opener and koozies
- Wine: Corkscrew, wine bottle chiller and a bottle stopper
- Punch & pitcher drinks: Punch bowl or large drink pitcher
essential bar tools
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Glassware options
And don’t forget glassware to serve drinks in! However, the right glassware depends on what you serve. If you’re just serving cans and bottles, then there’s nothing to worry about here, for example.
But if you’re having wine, you may want wine glasses, and cocktails may warrant cocktail glasses. Stemless wine glasses are my go-to, as you can serve both wine and cocktails in them.
And depending on the formality of your event, you can go with real glass or plastic for less clean-up (and less chance of broken glass!).
Happy hour drink menu
Now onto the drinks themselves! There are lots of ways you can set up your menu, but a good start is to offer beer, wine and a few non-alcoholic options. But many people associate happy hour with mixed drinks, so that’s up to you if you want to include a cocktail.
Beer and wine
Offering beer and wine is pretty standard. Usually, having a bottle or two of each red and white is enough for wine. Don’t go for anything super sweet or too dry — somewhere in the middle, like Chardonnay (white) or Cabernet Sauvignon (red).
When it comes to types of beer, it’s smart to include an easy sipper, like a Mexican lager or wheat ale. If you like brews that are more cloying like stouts and IPAs, it’s fine to offer them, but most will stick to what they know.
Spirits
You can also set up your home bar with a few types of liquor such as vodka, rum, bourbon and tequila (for $100 or less at that) to make tons of drinks.
This is great if you want to make simple drinks like a gin and tonic or whiskey and Coke. But if you don’t want to man the bar all evening or let guests serve themselves, then a signature cocktail or bar is a great idea.
Signature cocktails
A signature cocktail could be a punch, like lemon champagne punch or jungle juice, or a pitcher of a classic cocktail, like a pitcher of classic martinis or strawberry margaritas.
Ideally, you will pre-mix these as much as possible — most ingredients can be mixed ahead of time and stored in the fridge, but save anything with bubbles (like champagne or ginger ale) and only add those right before the party starts.
favorite punch bowls
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Buy Now → Non-alcoholic options
Finally, be sure you have some non-alcoholic alternatives for your non-drinking guests. Sodas, sparkling water and lemonade are all great options, but something special like a mocktail or a cocktail made with a zero-proof spirit will make them feel extra appreciated and welcome.
Food menu: Appetizers and bar snacks
Drinks are one thing, but food will lure people together to talk to each other! Easy finger foods are a must at happy hour, so people can hold a plate while they chat, versus having to use a knife and fork. Serving food alongside alcohol is always a good idea, as it helps guests handle their drinks more effectively and enjoy the occasion responsibly.
Make-ahead options are ideal, especially if you are rushing home after work to have people over — you don’t have time to make anything from scratch!
- Chip and dip duos (like tortilla chips and guacamole or pita bread with hummus or whipped feta dip) are always satisfying for everyone, and it keeps people hanging around the bowl as they get to know each other. Warm dips like pizza dip are nice in the colder months.
- Who needs plates? Platters of finger foods — like caprese skewers or a cheese & charcuterie board with lots of options and crackers — are always popular with guests. Crudités (AKA raw veggies with a dip) are also great for those seeking a healthier option.
- Consider the heaviness of foods, too. Bar snacks like Chex mix or candied nuts are great light options. If you want to offer something heartier, go for comforting, filling appetizers like sliders or totchos.
Host with the most
Always ask your guests about any dietary restrictions. This ensures everyone can enjoy the food without worry.
Tips for success
Here are some helpful tips and creative tricks to ensure you host the ultimate happy hour experience right in the comfort of your home!
- Make things ahead as much as possible. From making a signature cocktail or punch to the appetizers, anything you can do the day before or the morning of the big day will make your life easier come happy hour night.
- Keep clean-up to a minimum with plastic cups and paper plates and napkins.
- On a budget? It’s okay to ask guests to bring their own beverages and/or snacks! You’re providing the hangout spot, after all.
Safety considerations
When hosting any event, it’s important to prioritize the safety and well-being of your guests. From responsible alcohol service to thoughtful food handling and transportation planning, these tips will help ensure everyone has a fun and safe time.
Alcohol consumption: Of course, anytime you are serving alcohol, it’s important to make sure people don’t overdo it. Pre-batch cocktails and serve in smaller glasses to help manage portions and ensure everyone enjoys responsibly.
Transportation options: Encourage safety and suggest your guests use public transport or rideshare to and from your place. A carpool with a designated driver works too.
Food safety: Make sure you have a way for people to serve the food without spreading germs. Make sure dips have a spoon for doling out scoops, and offer things like skewers and toothpicks for cheese and meatballs.
Seasonal happy hour ideas
Happy hour can ebb and flow with the seasons. When the weather and your space allow, enjoy your happy hour outside. In the winter, an indoor happy hour is extra cozy.
Plan your happy hour on a theme or around a holiday, if you like! It will help you limit your recipe ideas to things that match your theme. A few examples:
- Taco Tuesday happy hour: A happy hour of Mexican foods is always fun. Serve things like queso fundido with classic margaritas.
- Italian happy hour: Serve a few different bottles of wine and breadsticks and marinara sauce.
- French happy hour: A cheese board with wine or a French cocktail like a French gimlet or French 75 is always festive.
- Holiday happy hour: Make a Christmas charcuterie board to serve with cocktails like jingle juice, Christmas sangria and virgin yule mules.
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