El Pingüino: A Greenpoint Spanish Seafood Bar With Daily Oyster Happy Hour
El Pingüino opened on Greenpoint Avenue in 2021, right as the city went deep on tinned fish and martinis — and leaned all the way in. It’s a narrow Spanish seafood bar with a raw bar, a curated wine, sherry and amaro list, a cartoon poster of a wine-drunk penguin behind the bar, and an indie soundtrack (sometimes piped into the bathroom via transistor radio). There’s a backyard. The booths are tiny. It’s exactly as good as that sounds.
It’s not a full-dinner spot so much as a drinks-and-snacks spot — which is precisely what makes the happy hour the headline. This is one of the better oyster-and-martini deals in north Brooklyn.
The Happy Hour
Two windows, seven days a week — and the deals are real, not a token discount:
- Daily, 4–7pm — half-off oysters, $12 martinis, half-off glasses of sherry
- Late-night, 10pm–12am — $10 sardines, $12 Midori Sour, $10 Faccia Brutto Ferrari
- The combo to beat — a half-dozen oysters and a $12 martini makes a complete early evening for not much money
Bar seating and the backyard are first-come, first-served, so you can usually walk in for happy hour even when tables are reserved.
The Drinks
Martinis are the house specialty — dirty, classic gin with a twist, the seasonal ramp martini regulars rave about — alongside a deep sherry pour, a list of amari, and a wine selection that skews thoughtful and a little off the beaten path. Frozen passionfruit daiquiris show up in summer. The bartenders are the kind who’ll build you a half-size cocktail of whatever they’re tinkering with.
The Food
A genuine raw bar — oysters, shrimp, gildas — plus tinned-fish conservas, boquerones, steamed clams, chorizo, and a black bass ceviche that gets called out by name in reviews. For a splurge, there’s the multi-tiered seafood plateau. Save room for the Basque cheesecake; it’s the dessert everyone tells you to order.
The Room
Small, candle-lit, and buzzy without being loud — tiny wooden booths, a short bar, and a backyard patio near WNYC Transmitter Park. It reads as a first-date spot and a regular’s spot at the same time: inviting and lively, but you can still hold a conversation. The crowd is exactly the Greenpoint you’d picture.
Who El Pingüino Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Oyster happy hour | Half-off oysters and $12 martinis, daily 4–7pm |
| Date night | Candlelit, narrow, buzzy-but-quiet — a reliable first-date room |
| Late-night drinks | Second happy hour 10pm–12am with $10 sardines and $12 cocktails |
| Tinned fish & martinis | Conservas, sherry and a serious martini program in one narrow room |
More NYC Happy Hours
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El Pingüino FAQ
Does El Pingüino have a happy hour?
Yes — 7 days a week, 4–7pm: half-off oysters, $12 martinis, and half-off sherry. There’s also a late-night happy hour from 10pm to midnight.
Where is El Pingüino?
25 Greenpoint Avenue in Greenpoint, Brooklyn — a short walk from the G train at Greenpoint Avenue, near WNYC Transmitter Park.
Do they take reservations?
Yes, on Resy, but the bar seating and backyard are kept walk-in, first-come, first-served — good news for happy hour.
What should I order?
The oysters and a martini during happy hour, plus the Basque cheesecake. The tinned-fish conservas and black bass ceviche are local favorites.
Happy hour times and deals last verified June 2026. Details can change — confirm with El Pingüino before visiting for a specific deal.