Cafe d’Alsace Happy Hour: $7 Beers and a 130-Bottle List on Second Ave
Cafe d’Alsace has anchored the corner of Second Avenue and 88th for nearly two decades, serving hearty French-German Alsatian cooking and one of the most serious beer programs in the city. Its happy hour — $7 beers plus discounted wine, aperitifs and small plates — is a quietly great way into a 130-bottle list curated by an in-house beer sommelier.
Tue–Sat 5–8 PM (food until 7 PM); Sun–Mon 5 PM–close (food until 7 PM)
$7 beers, plus happy-hour wine, aperitifs, and small plates
About Cafe d’Alsace
Named for the Alsace region of northeastern France, this UES corner brasserie has been a neighborhood cornerstone for close to twenty years — its current home once belonged to the legendary Elaine’s. The look is pure brasserie: a curved pewter bar hung with antique seltzer bottles, colorful tiled floors, an indoor fireplace, and windows that fold open to the sidewalk in warm weather.
What sets it apart is the beverage program. Cafe d’Alsace keeps a 110-to-130-bottle beer list — heavy on sours, wild ales, and Belgian and German imports — and staffs a dedicated beer sommelier (cicerone) who’ll pair a brew with anything on the menu. It’s a destination for beer geeks as much as for Alsatian food.
The Happy Hour in Detail
Happy hour runs Tuesday–Saturday 5–8 PM (food deals until 7 PM) and Sunday–Monday from 5 PM (beverages run later, food until 7). The drinks list features $7 beers alongside discounted wine, aperitifs, and small plates — an easy, low-key way to sample a serious beer program without committing to a full sit-down dinner.
What to Order
Ask the beer sommelier for a pairing and let them surprise you. On the plate, the Tarte Flambée (Alsace’s answer to thin-crust pizza) and Choucroute Garnie (sausage-studded sauerkraut with white wine and juniper) are the must-orders, and the bone marrow with grilled toast is a classic. The bread service alone is worth showing up for — regulars compare it to the best bistro bread in the city — and the croque madame is a standout at brunch.
The Space & Vibe
Chaotic in the charming, Godard-film way: tables close together, robust portions in oversized vessels, an upscale-but-friendly neighborhood crowd. It’s cozy and lively rather than quiet and romantic — better for a beer-and-snacks evening at the bar than a hushed date. It’s a longtime Restaurant Week participant and a reliable UES brunch.
The Yorkville Angle
Cafe d’Alsace sits on the southwest corner of Second Avenue and 88th, a block from the Q at 86th. It’s one of the neighborhood’s most distinctive happy hours — see the rest on our Upper East Side happy hour guide.
Who It’s For
| Occasion | Why it works |
|---|---|
| After work | Weekday happy hour pricing makes it an easy post-work stop. |
| Catching up with friends | Low-key enough to actually hear each other. |
FAQ
Does Cafe d’Alsace have a happy hour?
Yes — Tuesday–Saturday 5–8 PM (food until 7 PM) and Sunday–Monday from 5 PM, with $7 beers plus discounted wine, aperitifs, and small plates.
What is Cafe d’Alsace known for?
Hearty Alsatian French-German food — tarte flambée, choucroute garnie, bone marrow — and a 110–130 bottle beer list curated by an in-house beer sommelier.
Where is Cafe d’Alsace?
On the corner of 2nd Avenue and 88th Street (1703 2nd Ave, 10128) on the Upper East Side, a block from the Q at 86th St.
Is Cafe d’Alsace good for beer lovers?
Very — it keeps one of the deepest beer lists in NYC, with a dedicated cicerone on staff to pair brews with the menu, and the happy hour is a low-cost way in.
Happy hour details change — confirm directly with the venue before you go.