Happy hour surges in Toronto as office workers seek deals and social connections

TORONTO — Happy hour is surging in Toronto as workers return to offices, with late-afternoon reservations up 30 percent so far this year.

According to OpenTable’s 2026 Restaurant Dining Trends Report, reservations between 4 and 4:59 p.m. increased by 30 percent between January and the end of August 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.

“A lot of that growth is just from happy hour,” said Andrej Holly, general manager of Cactus Club Cafe in First Canadian Place. “People looking for a deal on drinks, food, and a good vibe and service.”

READ MORE: Grocery price growth slows to 1.7 percent as inflation rate edges up

READ MORE: Inflation ticks up to 3.1 percent as gasoline prices surge 27.8 percent

Holly said the restaurant has seen a 30 to 35 percent growth in reservations from last year.

The trend is expected to grow, with 42 percent of Canadians surveyed for the OpenTable report saying they would like to see more happy hour and value promotions in 2026.

Katherine Baldock, a salesperson with staffing firm Tundra Technical Solutions, said the atmosphere of a happy hour venue is part of the draw. “You need this energy: the music, the atmosphere. It makes me seem more fun as a salesperson because I’m in a fun environment,” she said.

Sebastian Rosado Mustafa, a 29-year-old senior software engineer, created an interactive map of 421 Toronto restaurants and their current happy hour offerings. His site, cheaperdrinks.now, had 1,400 clicks in September and 450 unique visitors in the first week of October.

“I think people resonate with the idea of finding a good deal and putting down their phone to connect,” said Rosado Mustafa, whose favourite happy hour in Toronto is at Mexican restaurant Anejo, featuring $4 tacos and $7.50 margaritas.

Edward Slingerland, a University of British Columbia professor and author of the book Drunk: How we Sipped, Danced and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization, said alcohol can aid social co-operation. “Alcohol helps people relax and feel more comfortable sharing ideas with others,” he said.

Slingerland said the pandemic interrupted human sociality and that Gen Z workers in particular reported feeling their social skills were stunted. “After years on Zoom calls and of working in hybrid environments, getting together socially in person can provide opportunities for career networking and building relationships,” he said.

In Canada, alcohol consumption among Gen Z rose to 73 percent this year, up from 56 percent three years ago, according to the latest Bevtrac survey by IWSR. The survey also found that Gen Z drinkers were the most likely to consume alcoholic beverages with five or more people on their last occasion.

Millennials remain the generation with the highest participation numbers for drinking, at 81 percent, followed by Generation X at 77 percent and Boomers at 71 percent.

Colleagues Ravish Kamath and Nathan VanWyk, who work in insurance, attend happy hour about twice a month. “I think the biggest reason we come out for happy hour is happiness,” said VanWyk. “We’re not all from the same team, so it’s nice to go out for an hour with people from our office around our age and grab a cheap drink and just talk for a bit.”

Slingerland warned that alcohol can cloud judgement. “There are ways to capture the benefits while mitigating the risks,” he said, pointing to tools such as mocktails and non-alcoholic beers.

Restaurants expand happy hour menus

Restaurants are expanding their happy hour offerings to meet demand. Joyride Taco House in Gilbert, Ariz., has brought back happy hour specials including $6 handcrafted margaritas and $1.50 off all tacos on weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m.

Beginning Nov. 5, the restaurant will offer a new Bandit Platter for sharing and introduce a rotating Taco of the Month, starting with birria in November and pork pastor in December.

With files from The Globe and Mail and Arizona Foothills Magazine