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Photo: Senart's Oyster and Chop House

Eater's Ultimate Oyster Happy Hour Guide

by Eater Staff
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by Eater Staff
7 comments / new
Photo: Senart's Oyster and Chop House

More and more oysters are popping up locally— oyster farming has been encouraged to preserve and clean the Chesapeake Bay watershed, as well as to restore its formerly robust oyster populations. And now is the best time to enjoy them, even though the rule of only eating oysters in months with an "r" in them is outdated due to improved technology. But during the summer spawning season, the flesh becomes mushier and and milky.

Oysters display a unique range of flavors — brine, mineral, cucumber, sweet, iodine, melon. And what better way to explore the range of flavors than to try all the oyster happy hours around town? Here's a roundup of the deals, from $1 oysters to half-priced raw bars.
—Jamie Liu

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Black's Bar & Kitchen

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Chef Jeff Black's restaurants have become a force in the oyster world with two signature oysters. And at Black's Bar and Kitchen, Chesapeake Bay oysters are 2 for 1 or $1.99, Monday-Friday, 4-7 p.m.

7750 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 652-5525
(301) 652-5525

Clyde's of Gallery Place

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Clyde's (Gallery Place, Tower Oaks and Tysons Corner) feature happy hours when all raw bar items are half price. Choose from a variety of platters with oysters, Jonah crab claws, lobsters, shrimp, and littleneck clams. The deals run 3 to 6 pm and 11 p.m.-1 a.m. on weekdays.

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

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Old Ebbitt Grill

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Old Ebbitt Grill holds the same raw bar happy hour as its sister Clyde's restaurant, and the classic restaurant's oyster bar is a great setting to enjoy half-off raw bar options, including oysters, from 3-6 p.m. and 11 p.m.-1 a.m., weeknights.

675 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 347-4800
(202) 347-4800

Hank's Oyster Bar

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Hank's has always been the go-to specialty oyster happy hour around town. And with three locations, it's relatively easy to get to one for $1 oyster happy hour. The Alexandria location's happy hour runs Tuesday-Friday from 5:30-6:30 p.m., and the deal runs Monday-Friday at the Dupont and Capitol Hill locations from 5-7 p.m.

1624 Q St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 462-4265
(202) 462-4265

J. Paul's

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Along with $1.50 oysters (minimum order of six), J. Paul's is the only place with oyster specials that also serves duck fat fries. Also available Monday-Friday, 4-7 p.m., $3 rail drinks and drafts, and $5 cocktails and wine.

3218 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-3450
(202) 333-3450

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Legal Sea Foods

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Legal Seafoods might be a chain restaurant, but with respect to raw oysters it means a steady supply chain of great oysters. Get half a dozen for $6, Monday-Friday, from 4-7 p.m.

704 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 347-0007
(202) 347-0007

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

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Enjoy oysters in royal fashion at Pearl Dive Oyster Palace with 2 for 1 oysters during its Monday-Friday happy hour from 4-7 p.m.

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

Sea Catch Restaurant & Raw Bar

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In the middle of pricey Georgetown, Sea Catch is a savior. Get $1 oysters and half price drinks during its happy hour, which runs Monday-Friday, 5-7 p.m.

1054 31st St Nw, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 337-8855
(202) 337-8855

Senart's Oyster & Chop House

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For more than just oysters, Senart's runs the gamut with lobster for $14, and a four-piece jumbo shrimp cocktail for $8, daily from 5-6:30pm. And of course a half dozen oysters are $7 or $12 for a dozen.

520 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 544-1168
(202) 544-1168

Urbana

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Always ready with a great happy hour deal, Urbana features oysters for $1 during happy hour, daily from 4-7 p.m. And on the first Friday of the month from now until May, oysters are only 50 cents each, or get six oysters and a pint of Port City for $6.

2121 P St NW, Washington, DC 20037
(202) 956-6650
(202) 956-6650

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Black's Bar & Kitchen

7750 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814

Chef Jeff Black's restaurants have become a force in the oyster world with two signature oysters. And at Black's Bar and Kitchen, Chesapeake Bay oysters are 2 for 1 or $1.99, Monday-Friday, 4-7 p.m.

7750 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 652-5525
(301) 652-5525

Clyde's of Gallery Place

707 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Clyde's (Gallery Place, Tower Oaks and Tysons Corner) feature happy hours when all raw bar items are half price. Choose from a variety of platters with oysters, Jonah crab claws, lobsters, shrimp, and littleneck clams. The deals run 3 to 6 pm and 11 p.m.-1 a.m. on weekdays.

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

Old Ebbitt Grill

675 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005

Old Ebbitt Grill holds the same raw bar happy hour as its sister Clyde's restaurant, and the classic restaurant's oyster bar is a great setting to enjoy half-off raw bar options, including oysters, from 3-6 p.m. and 11 p.m.-1 a.m., weeknights.

675 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 347-4800
(202) 347-4800

Hank's Oyster Bar

1624 Q St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Hank's has always been the go-to specialty oyster happy hour around town. And with three locations, it's relatively easy to get to one for $1 oyster happy hour. The Alexandria location's happy hour runs Tuesday-Friday from 5:30-6:30 p.m., and the deal runs Monday-Friday at the Dupont and Capitol Hill locations from 5-7 p.m.

1624 Q St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 462-4265
(202) 462-4265

J. Paul's

3218 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007

Along with $1.50 oysters (minimum order of six), J. Paul's is the only place with oyster specials that also serves duck fat fries. Also available Monday-Friday, 4-7 p.m., $3 rail drinks and drafts, and $5 cocktails and wine.

3218 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 333-3450
(202) 333-3450

Legal Sea Foods

704 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Legal Seafoods might be a chain restaurant, but with respect to raw oysters it means a steady supply chain of great oysters. Get half a dozen for $6, Monday-Friday, from 4-7 p.m.

704 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 347-0007
(202) 347-0007

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

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

Enjoy oysters in royal fashion at Pearl Dive Oyster Palace with 2 for 1 oysters during its Monday-Friday happy hour from 4-7 p.m.

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

Sea Catch Restaurant & Raw Bar

1054 31st St Nw, Washington, DC 20007

In the middle of pricey Georgetown, Sea Catch is a savior. Get $1 oysters and half price drinks during its happy hour, which runs Monday-Friday, 5-7 p.m.

1054 31st St Nw, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 337-8855
(202) 337-8855

Senart's Oyster & Chop House

520 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003

For more than just oysters, Senart's runs the gamut with lobster for $14, and a four-piece jumbo shrimp cocktail for $8, daily from 5-6:30pm. And of course a half dozen oysters are $7 or $12 for a dozen.

520 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 544-1168
(202) 544-1168

Urbana

2121 P St NW, Washington, DC 20037

Always ready with a great happy hour deal, Urbana features oysters for $1 during happy hour, daily from 4-7 p.m. And on the first Friday of the month from now until May, oysters are only 50 cents each, or get six oysters and a pint of Port City for $6.

2121 P St NW, Washington, DC 20037
(202) 956-6650
(202) 956-6650

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