Restaurant Happy Hour Email template

A happy hour email works best when it is short and specific: which days, which hours and what is on offer. This template keeps the wording relaxed and responsible, and leaves room for your terms so there are no surprises at the bar.

Goal: Bring in guests during your quieter early evening hours.
When: Send it early in the week so guests can plan, or the morning of for a same-day reminder. Avoid late-night sends.
Tones: Warm, playful, polished
Includes: HTML, plain text, SMS

Juniper & Salt · Inbox

Happy hour at Juniper & Salt: come unwind · Good drinks, small plates and no rush. Here's when to come by.

Customize with your details

Preview uses a fictional restaurant, Juniper & Salt. Every detail is yours to change.

Restaurant Happy Hour Email subject lines

Warm

Happy hour at [Restaurant name]: come unwind
Unwind with us after work
Early evening, easy drinks, good company

Preheader: Good drinks, small plates and no rush. Here's when to come by.

Playful

Clock out and come hang at [Restaurant name]
Your after-work plan is sorted
Happy hour: a very good reason to leave on time

Preheader: Snacks, sips and a seat with your name on it.

Polished

An early evening at [Restaurant name]
An invitation to our bar
Drinks and small plates at [Restaurant name]

Preheader: A considered selection of drinks and small plates, served at a leisurely pace.

The happy hour email copy

Words in braces are placeholders. The generator fills them in, and drops any line whose detail you leave blank. “Copy text” gives you [bracketed] placeholders to replace by hand.

Warm version

Unwind with us after work

Hi {first_name}, our happy hour is the easy way to end the day at {restaurant}: a seat at the bar or a table with friends, and no rush. Please enjoy responsibly.

Happy hour runs {hours}.

We're offering {offer}.

Fine print: {offer_terms}

Playful version

Happy hour, sorted

Hey {first_name}! The workday is done and {restaurant} has a seat waiting. Take your time, share a few plates and drink responsibly.

The clock to watch: {hours}.

The deal: {offer}.

Small print, because we have to: {offer_terms}

Polished version

An early evening at the bar

Dear {first_name}, we invite you to unwind at {restaurant} before dinner, with a considered selection of drinks and small plates. We ask that you enjoy responsibly.

Our early evening service runs {hours}.

We are pleased to offer {offer}.

Conditions: {offer_terms}

Details you can add: Hours, Offer, Offer terms.

Tips for your happy hour email

Write the days and exact hours in plain text. 'Weekdays, 4 to 6 PM' is clearer than 'early evenings'.
Lead with one concrete deal, such as a set price on a drink or a food pairing, instead of a vague promise of savings.
Keep the tone relaxed and responsible. Skip 'unlimited', 'bottomless' and anything that encourages guests to drink more or faster.
Alcohol advertising and drink-special rules differ by state and city, and some places restrict happy hour promotions. Check your local rules before you send.
State that guests must be 21 or older to order alcohol, and feature food and non-alcoholic options so everyone feels invited.
Say if the offer is bar only, dine-in only or limited per guest, in the email itself and not behind a link.

Mistakes to avoid

Using language that encourages heavy drinking. It is bad for guests, and it can conflict with local alcohol rules.
Leaving out the days or hours. Guests will not call to ask. They will go somewhere that tells them.
Hiding limits like 'bar only' or 'one per guest' behind a link.

Matching SMS

{restaurant}: Happy hour {hours}, with {offer}. 21+ for alcohol. Details: {cta_url} Reply STOP to opt out.

Text messages need their own, explicit opt-in. An email subscription does not cover SMS.

FAQ

Restaurant Happy Hour Email questions

What should a happy hour email include?

The days and hours, one clear offer, any limits such as bar only or one per guest, a reminder that alcohol is for guests 21 and older, and a button to the menu or a booking page.

Can I advertise happy hour by email?

Usually yes, but alcohol advertising rules vary by state and city, and a few places restrict drink specials. Check with your local alcohol authority or your license paperwork, and keep the wording responsible.

When is the best time to send a happy hour email?

Early in the week so guests can plan, or the morning of for a same-day reminder. Late-night sends tend to be skipped, since guests are not deciding where to go that evening.

Should I mention non-alcoholic options?

Yes. Naming mocktails, soft drinks and food specials makes the invitation work for guests who do not drink, and it keeps the focus on the evening rather than the alcohol.

New menu announcement

Introduce a new menu with a launch date, one hero dish and a short list of what's changing.

Weekly specials email

Share this week's specials with one featured dish, a short list and an end date.

Monthly newsletter

A short monthly roundup of one event, one featured dish and what's on the menu.

Part of our free kit for email marketing for restaurants.