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Northern Virginia’s Chasin’ Tails offers $1 oysters on Monday and Tuesday.
Chasin’ Tails/Facebook

D.C.’s Best Oyster Happy Hours

Where to find cheap bivalves around town

by Tierney Plumb and Eater Staff Updated
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Northern Virginia’s Chasin’ Tails offers $1 oysters on Monday and Tuesday.
| Chasin’ Tails/Facebook
by Tierney Plumb and Eater Staff Updated

It's nearly guaranteed there's a local restaurant offering an oyster deal whenever the craving strikes. While the ever-popular $1 oyster is harder to find these days, the dollar deal definitely still exists — if you know where to look (Chasin’ Tails, Dogwood Tavern, J. Hollinger’s, and Code Red, to name a few).

Many seafood establishments offer half-priced raw bar deals for briny and buttery bivalves on ice alongside cheap beer, bubbly, and cocktails. Others deeply discount oysters — sold a la carte or in sets of six and 12 — as part of normal weekday, late-night, or daily happy hours.

Months with the letter “r” (September to April) are arguably the best time to slurp oysters from regional waterways. So in honor of shucking season, here’s an updated guide to must-try oyster happy hours around D.C.

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All Set Restaurant & Bar

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Find $2 oysters six days a week at downtown Silver Spring’s seafood standby. The deal runs Tuesdays to Sundays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; must order a minimum of six.

8630 Fenton St, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 495-8800
(301) 495-8800

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J. Hollinger's Waterman's Chophouse

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The surf-and-turf destination in downtown Silver Spring has one of the most epic oyster deals in town. Starting at 4 p.m. on Tuesdays to Sundays, slurp $1 oysters all night long alongside $5 bites and cocktails, beer, and wine ($5-$10). Available at the bar only.

8606 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 328-0035
(301) 328-0035

Also featured in:

The Salt Line Bethesda

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The New England-style seafood restaurant just debuted in Bethesda with half-off oysters during late-night happy hour (starting at 9:30 p.m. daily). Fridays at the Navy Yard original call for half-off Virginia and Maryland oysters from noon to 4 p.m. Over at Salt Line Ballston, bivalves are $18 for six or $30 for a dozen from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the entire restaurant on weekdays, as well as 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during brunch.

7284 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
(240) 534-2894
(240) 534-2894

CODE RED

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Adams Morgan’s snazzy ode to the Prohibition era offers $1 oysters every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to close.

2440 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 265-0590
(202) 265-0590

Also featured in:

The Imperial

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Head to the foot of Adams Morgan to enjoy the Imperial’s oysters two ways (raw or Rockefeller style) for $2 each from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily. And on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., all first-floor guests can partake in half-priced seafood towers. The single-level petite ($15) comes with six oysters, four jumbo shrimp, and trout rillette. The price tops out at $100 for an extravagant multi-tier medley of 24 oysters, 10 jumbo shrimp, snow crab legs, lobster, crab imperial, oysters Rockefeller, trout rillette, and Old Bay fried saltines.

2001 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 299-0334
(202) 299-0334
The Imperial offers $2 oysters daily and half-off seafood towers on Wednesdays.
The Imperial

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Boundary Stone

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Regulars flock to Bloomingdale’s neighborhood pub after work for a half-dozen oysters for $11 or a dozen for $21 (Monday to Thursday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.).

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 621-6635
(202) 621-6635

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Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

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Enjoy oysters in royal fashion at Pearl Dive Oyster Palace for $1.40 a pop (12 max per person) during its popular happy hour. Available at the bar only from Monday to Thursday (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and Fridays starting an hour earlier at 3 p.m.

1612 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009-4307
(202) 319-1612
(202) 319-1612

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Hank's Oyster Bar (Multiple Locations)

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Hank's has always been a go-to specialty oyster happy hour around town. And with three locations, it's relatively easy to get cheap oysters there. A rotating selection of freshly shucked East Coast oysters ($2.50 each) arrive with lemon, Hank’s cocktail sauce, mignonette, and oyster crackers. Available weekdays 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Wharf and Tuesday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Old Town. The Dupont original, now open Mondays, runs the weekday deal from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays starting at 11 a.m. On Saturday, September 23, the Wharf’s end-of-summer soiree features AYCE oysters, seafood, and booze for $100.

1624 Q St NW, Washington, D.C., 20009
(202) 462-4265
(202) 462-4265

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King Street Oyster Bar

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The Virginia-born raw bar draws big happy hour crowds for $1.25 East and West Coast oysters (3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily) in Middleburg, Leesburg, Potomac, and NoMa ($1.75 each); must order in increments of three with a 90-minute time limit. Another location is en route to City Ridge.

22 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 621-8513
(202) 621-8513

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Brasserie Beck

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Downtown’s reliable European brasserie showcases $2 Maryland Sweets from the Chesapeake Bay every day from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

1101 K St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 408-1717
(202) 408-1717
Brasserie Beck’s sleek bar.
Scott Suchman

Also featured in:

P.J. Clarke's

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It's half-off East Coast oysters during weekday happy hour at P.J. Clarke’s ($11 for six or $19.50 for 12). The deal (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) also includes $5 beers, $6 wines, and $8 cocktails.

1600 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 463-6610
(202) 463-6610

Tony & Joe's Seafood Place

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Waterfront institution Tony & Joe's slings $2 Chesapeake Bay bivalves during weekday happy hour at the bar (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.). Its 10th annual Shuck It festival is slated for Saturday, October 21 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.), with endless oysters and beer for $75.

3000 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 944-4545
(202) 944-4545

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Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

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Head to the bustling former bank for half-off oysters during daily cocktail hour from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

750 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 489-0140
(202) 489-0140

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Brine H Street

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H Street’s essential raw bar shaves $1 off its East Coast oysters all day on Tuesday and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. all other weekdays. A newer location sits in Dupont.

1359 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 591-1739
(202) 591-1739

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Clyde's (Multiple locations)

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Clyde’s is known for its twice-a-day raw bar happy hour, and the Oyster Bar recently resurfaced in Georgetown. The daily deal (3 p.m. to 5 p.m.; 10 p.m. to close) features half-dozen oysters for $14.99 and a dozen for $26.99. All other Clyde’s locations (Chevy Chase, Gallery Place. Mark Center, Willow Creek Farm, and Tower Oaks Lodge) have similar deals.

707 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 349-3700
(202) 349-3700

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Old Ebbitt Grill

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Clyde’s Restaurant Group’s crown jewel near the White House is a great setting to enjoy raw bar discounts for four hours every day (3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and again from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.). That’s when oysters are $14.99 for six or $26.99 for 12. Tinned seafood is $5 off during the same time, served with crusty bread, whipped salted butter, pickled vegetables, piquillo peppers, Maldon sea salt, lemon.

675 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 347-4800
(202) 347-4800
Exploring Our Nation’s Capital: Washington D.C. Photo by George Rose/Getty Images

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Chasin' Tails

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Head to the Asian-influenced seafood restaurant on Monday and Tuesday for $1 oysters (sold in sets of six) and 50-percent off bottles of wine. And additional location sits in Centreville.

944 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046
(571) 777-9596
(571) 777-9596

Lyon Hall

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This Clarendon haunt serves $1.50 a la carte oysters seven days a week. The daily deal (4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and starting at 3 p.m. Friday to Sunday) includes six for $9 or 12 for $18.

3100 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 741-7636
(703) 741-7636

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Dogwood Tavern

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Tuesdays are Raw Bar night at Falls Church’s longstanding neighborhood tavern, when oysters are just $1. Find other all-night deals on steamed Alaskan snow crab legs, peel-and-eat shrimp, and white wine-steamed mussels.

132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 237-8333
(703) 237-8333

Rappahannock Oyster Bar

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Weekday happy hour at the Wharf’s go-to raw bar calls for $1.75 oysters (Rappahannock River,

Rochambeau, and its own Olde Salt variety), with a minimum of six per order. The 4 p.m.-to-6 p.m. deal also includes $1 Olde Salt clams.

1150 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 484-0572
(202) 484-0572

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The Grill

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Head to the Wharf’s elegant American restaurant for $2 oysters during weekday happy hour (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) with a choice of smoky-tomato cocktail sauce or cucumber-champagne mignonette. Pair the waterfront deal with a $5-off martini.

99 Market Square SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 916-5996
(202) 916-5996

Also featured in:

Open Road

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This Falls Church roadhouse shucks $1 oysters on Tuesday nights (by the dozen or half-dozen) from 4 p.m. to close. There’s also Open Road locales in Reston and Rosslyn, but the original is the only one with the weekly deal.

Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042
(571) 395-4400
(571) 395-4400
Open Road offers $1 oysters on Tuesday nights.
Open Road

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Copperwood Tavern

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Shirlington’s longstanding tavern slings $2 oysters from Virginia during weekday happy hour (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) alongside $1 off draft beers and wine.

4021 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 552-8010
(703) 552-8010

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The Fish Market Restaurant

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Around since 1976, the Old Town stalwart celebrates its decades-long run thus far with a new “throwback” happy hour at its Anchor Bar from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. That’s when local oysters are $10 for six or $20 for 12.

105 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 836-5676
(703) 836-5676

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All Set Restaurant & Bar

8630 Fenton St, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Find $2 oysters six days a week at downtown Silver Spring’s seafood standby. The deal runs Tuesdays to Sundays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.; must order a minimum of six.

8630 Fenton St, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 495-8800
(301) 495-8800

J. Hollinger's Waterman's Chophouse

8606 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910

The surf-and-turf destination in downtown Silver Spring has one of the most epic oyster deals in town. Starting at 4 p.m. on Tuesdays to Sundays, slurp $1 oysters all night long alongside $5 bites and cocktails, beer, and wine ($5-$10). Available at the bar only.

8606 Colesville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 328-0035
(301) 328-0035

The Salt Line Bethesda

7284 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

The New England-style seafood restaurant just debuted in Bethesda with half-off oysters during late-night happy hour (starting at 9:30 p.m. daily). Fridays at the Navy Yard original call for half-off Virginia and Maryland oysters from noon to 4 p.m. Over at Salt Line Ballston, bivalves are $18 for six or $30 for a dozen from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the entire restaurant on weekdays, as well as 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during brunch.

7284 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
(240) 534-2894
(240) 534-2894

CODE RED

2440 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Adams Morgan’s snazzy ode to the Prohibition era offers $1 oysters every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to close.

2440 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 265-0590
(202) 265-0590

The Imperial

2001 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Head to the foot of Adams Morgan to enjoy the Imperial’s oysters two ways (raw or Rockefeller style) for $2 each from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily. And on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., all first-floor guests can partake in half-priced seafood towers. The single-level petite ($15) comes with six oysters, four jumbo shrimp, and trout rillette. The price tops out at $100 for an extravagant multi-tier medley of 24 oysters, 10 jumbo shrimp, snow crab legs, lobster, crab imperial, oysters Rockefeller, trout rillette, and Old Bay fried saltines.

2001 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 299-0334
(202) 299-0334
The Imperial offers $2 oysters daily and half-off seafood towers on Wednesdays.
The Imperial

Boundary Stone

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Regulars flock to Bloomingdale’s neighborhood pub after work for a half-dozen oysters for $11 or a dozen for $21 (Monday to Thursday, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.).

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 621-6635
(202) 621-6635

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

1612 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009-4307

Enjoy oysters in royal fashion at Pearl Dive Oyster Palace for $1.40 a pop (12 max per person) during its popular happy hour. Available at the bar only from Monday to Thursday (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and Fridays starting an hour earlier at 3 p.m.

1612 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009-4307
(202) 319-1612
(202) 319-1612

Hank's Oyster Bar (Multiple Locations)

1624 Q St NW, Washington, D.C., 20009

Hank's has always been a go-to specialty oyster happy hour around town. And with three locations, it's relatively easy to get cheap oysters there. A rotating selection of freshly shucked East Coast oysters ($2.50 each) arrive with lemon, Hank’s cocktail sauce, mignonette, and oyster crackers. Available weekdays 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Wharf and Tuesday to Friday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Old Town. The Dupont original, now open Mondays, runs the weekday deal from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays starting at 11 a.m. On Saturday, September 23, the Wharf’s end-of-summer soiree features AYCE oysters, seafood, and booze for $100.

1624 Q St NW, Washington, D.C., 20009
(202) 462-4265
(202) 462-4265

King Street Oyster Bar

22 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002

The Virginia-born raw bar draws big happy hour crowds for $1.25 East and West Coast oysters (3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily) in Middleburg, Leesburg, Potomac, and NoMa ($1.75 each); must order in increments of three with a 90-minute time limit. Another location is en route to City Ridge.

22 M St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 621-8513
(202) 621-8513

Brasserie Beck

1101 K St NW, Washington, DC 20005

Downtown’s reliable European brasserie showcases $2 Maryland Sweets from the Chesapeake Bay every day from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

1101 K St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 408-1717
(202) 408-1717
Brasserie Beck’s sleek bar.
Scott Suchman

P.J. Clarke's

1600 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20006

It's half-off East Coast oysters during weekday happy hour at P.J. Clarke’s ($11 for six or $19.50 for 12). The deal (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) also includes $5 beers, $6 wines, and $8 cocktails.

1600 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20006
(202) 463-6610
(202) 463-6610

Tony & Joe's Seafood Place

3000 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Waterfront institution Tony & Joe's slings $2 Chesapeake Bay bivalves during weekday happy hour at the bar (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.). Its 10th annual Shuck It festival is slated for Saturday, October 21 (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.), with endless oysters and beer for $75.

3000 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 944-4545
(202) 944-4545

Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

750 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Head to the bustling former bank for half-off oysters during daily cocktail hour from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

750 15th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 489-0140
(202) 489-0140

Brine H Street

1359 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

H Street’s essential raw bar shaves $1 off its East Coast oysters all day on Tuesday and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. all other weekdays. A newer location sits in Dupont.

1359 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 591-1739
(202) 591-1739

Clyde's (Multiple locations)

707 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Clyde’s is known for its twice-a-day raw bar happy hour, and the Oyster Bar recently resurfaced in Georgetown. The daily deal (3 p.m. to 5 p.m.; 10 p.m. to close) features half-dozen oysters for $14.99 and a dozen for $26.99. All other Clyde’s locations (Chevy Chase, Gallery Place. Mark Center, Willow Creek Farm, and Tower Oaks Lodge) have similar deals.

707 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 349-3700
(202) 349-3700

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Old Ebbitt Grill

675 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005

Clyde’s Restaurant Group’s crown jewel near the White House is a great setting to enjoy raw bar discounts for four hours every day (3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and again from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.). That’s when oysters are $14.99 for six or $26.99 for 12. Tinned seafood is $5 off during the same time, served with crusty bread, whipped salted butter, pickled vegetables, piquillo peppers, Maldon sea salt, lemon.

675 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 347-4800
(202) 347-4800
Exploring Our Nation’s Capital: Washington D.C. Photo by George Rose/Getty Images

Chasin' Tails

944 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Head to the Asian-influenced seafood restaurant on Monday and Tuesday for $1 oysters (sold in sets of six) and 50-percent off bottles of wine. And additional location sits in Centreville.

944 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046
(571) 777-9596
(571) 777-9596

Lyon Hall

3100 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201

This Clarendon haunt serves $1.50 a la carte oysters seven days a week. The daily deal (4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and starting at 3 p.m. Friday to Sunday) includes six for $9 or 12 for $18.

3100 Washington Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 741-7636
(703) 741-7636

Dogwood Tavern

132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046

Tuesdays are Raw Bar night at Falls Church’s longstanding neighborhood tavern, when oysters are just $1. Find other all-night deals on steamed Alaskan snow crab legs, peel-and-eat shrimp, and white wine-steamed mussels.

132 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 237-8333
(703) 237-8333

Rappahannock Oyster Bar

1150 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024

Weekday happy hour at the Wharf’s go-to raw bar calls for $1.75 oysters (Rappahannock River,

Rochambeau, and its own Olde Salt variety), with a minimum of six per order. The 4 p.m.-to-6 p.m. deal also includes $1 Olde Salt clams.

1150 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 484-0572
(202) 484-0572

The Grill

99 Market Square SW, Washington, DC 20024

Head to the Wharf’s elegant American restaurant for $2 oysters during weekday happy hour (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) with a choice of smoky-tomato cocktail sauce or cucumber-champagne mignonette. Pair the waterfront deal with a $5-off martini.

99 Market Square SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 916-5996
(202) 916-5996

Open Road

Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042

This Falls Church roadhouse shucks $1 oysters on Tuesday nights (by the dozen or half-dozen) from 4 p.m. to close. There’s also Open Road locales in Reston and Rosslyn, but the original is the only one with the weekly deal.

Lee Highway, Falls Church, VA 22042
(571) 395-4400
(571) 395-4400
Open Road offers $1 oysters on Tuesday nights.
Open Road

Copperwood Tavern

4021 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206

Shirlington’s longstanding tavern slings $2 oysters from Virginia during weekday happy hour (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) alongside $1 off draft beers and wine.

4021 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 552-8010
(703) 552-8010

The Fish Market Restaurant

105 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Around since 1976, the Old Town stalwart celebrates its decades-long run thus far with a new “throwback” happy hour at its Anchor Bar from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. That’s when local oysters are $10 for six or $20 for 12.

105 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 836-5676
(703) 836-5676

Related Maps