At the end of a recent school day that I spent lecturing all day during my high school classes, I was done pretending I didn’t need a reset.
So, it made me very excited that my close friend Mariana and I had been invited to enjoy and try out Del Mar Fort Lauderdale’s happy hour menu. And it did not disappoint.
You know that South Florida late-afternoon light, the one that hits just right and makes you want to, go somewhere pretty? That’s exactly how we felt and what we found at the outside lounge at Del Mar for their weekday happy hour. Happy Hour is offered on Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., for those of us who plan our joy strategically. The lounge has that polished-coastal energy I love. It feels grown, but not stiff. Chic, but welcoming. The kind of place where you can walk in with your work bag still on your shoulder and immediately feel the stress slip away.
We started with specialty cocktails, half off, along with beer, wine by the glass, and even zero-proof cocktails. This I genuinely appreciate because inclusion matters, even at happy hour, and they were extremely delicious and refreshing! The first sip of the drinks? Bright. Intentional. Not syrupy or rushed. It felt like someone cared about what landed in the glass.
Then came the hummus.
Listen. I’ve had hummus everywhere. But this one deserved its moment. Creamy, smooth, generously drizzled with olive oil, served with warm bread that practically demanded to be torn apart and shared. There’s something about passing a plate of hummus across the table that instantly shifts a conversation from “How was your day?” to the real stuff. And with $5 off dips and spreads during happy hour, it feels like the universe gently nudging you to order it.
Of course, we couldn’t stop there.
We had to try the ceviche, even if was not on the happy hour menu. We realized you cannot, ever, go to Del Mar as a ceviche aficionado and not even try it. Let’s just say that it’s perfect.
It’s fresh, citrus-forward, clean in a way that makes you pause and go quiet for a second. The kind of bite that tastes like it belongs near the water. It balanced beautifully with our drinks and made the whole experience feel a little elevated, like we weren’t just grabbing happy hour, we were intentionally choosing a moment in a place that made us feel welcome and happy.
Del Mar also offers $5 off starters and flatbreads, plus $3 oysters and shrimp cocktail. Three-dollar oysters in the middle of the week? That’s main-character energy. That’s “life is short, order the seafood” energy.
What I love about this happy hour isn’t just the pricing (though half off anything well-made is a win). It’s the vibe. It’s the way the lounge invites you to stay a little longer. To breathe. To laugh. To unwind without chaos.
By the time 6 p.m. rolled around, the golden light outside had deepened, our glasses were nearly empty, and the stress I walked in with felt miles away. And it was all thanks to this beautiful seaside lounge at Del Mar in Fort Lauderdale.
Del Mar is located at 500 E. Las Olas Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information and to make reservations, call 954-945-1660 or visit for https://delmarmediterranean.com/locations-menus/fort-lauderdale/menus for reservations, and happy hour details.
