Try These Places for $1 or Less

In a city where $15 cocktails have become the new norm, it’s hard to believe you can find a drink for less than $1. And even.

These Houston restaurants and bars can only offer the deal on a certain day, within a certain time frame, or if you’re wearing Astros gear, but hey, in this economy, we’ll take it.

Here are five places where you can grab a drink for less than a dollar.

Often called the “best kept secret in town” (or the worst, depending on who you ask), Brennan’s continues a Big Easy tradition with 25-cent martinis at lunch. The Midtown Creole restaurant offers a choice of standard gin or vodka, cosmopolitan, melon or blue Curaçao-laced Commander’s Palace martini for 25 cents from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday with the purchase of a lunch item. While martinis were previously served in a slightly smaller coupe, the restaurant is transitioning to a full-size martini glass with a two-drink limit (instead of three). The lunch deal has been around since Brennan’s of Houston opened in 1967, although its history dates back further to its sister restaurant in New Orleans.

This month, Karne Korean Steakhouse in the Heights introduced 75-cent martinis all day Thursday. Offer only applies when ordering at the bar and must be purchased with food. Customers can choose between an espresso, vodka or gin martini. A maximum of three martinis can be ordered. The deal will last at least until the summer. Bar bites include spicy tteokbokki rice cakes, pork lettuce wraps, Korean fried chicken baos and lump crab cakes.

Newly opened Nickel City invites Astros fans to its rustic-chic bar with 99-cent Jim Beam highballs on game days. Customers can get a 99-cent highball if they wear Astros gear or show their game ticket coupon. Nickel City also serves classic bar food such as burgers, hot dogs and wings.

Shots such as the PB&J (Skrewball and Malibu Strawberry) can cost $8, but “champagne shots” are only $1 at Underground Hall. It’s the perfect way to kick off happy hour, the weekend, or any other celebration.

Friday lunchtime means dollar daiquiris at Winnie’s in Midtown. To qualify for the offer, items must be ordered from the menu featuring sandwiches such as the Shrimp Po-Boy, Nashville Hot Mushroom and the famous Winnie’s Red Bean Burger. A maximum of two daiquiris can be purchased per person.