Willet’s Corner: An Upper West Side Bistro With a $7-Draft Happy Hour
Willet’s Corner is the New American bistro that took the corner of Amsterdam and 80th in late 2025, and it already runs one of the better early-evening deals on the Upper West Side. From 4:30 to 6pm, drafts are $7, select wines are $10, and the cocktails — a spicy passion fruit margarita, a brown butter old fashioned — are $12.
This isn’t a dive and isn’t trying to be. It’s a warm room of wrap-around windows, exposed brick, and wood, with an 11-seat bar and banquettes, from Ken Halberg, who used to run Harding’s down in the Flatiron. The happy hour is the smart way in: you get the room and the kitchen — $12 smoked wings, $12 beef sliders, $15 flatbreads — without committing to the full dinner check.
The Happy Hour
The window is 4:30 to 6pm. Drinks: $7 for any draft, $10 select red and white wine, and $12 for the spicy passion fruit margarita or the brown butter old fashioned. Food: $12 smoked chicken wings, $12 grass-fed beef sliders, and $15 for any flatbread. One honest caveat — the venue’s happy-hour sheet lists the window and the prices but not the days. It lines up with dinner service, which runs Tuesday through Saturday, so if you’re making a special trip, confirm the day first. Prices can shift seasonally; check before you go.
The Room
It sits right on the corner of Amsterdam and West 80th — wrap-around windows, exposed brick, warm wood, an 11-seat bar up front and banquettes in the back. The crowd is Upper West Side locals: early-evening regulars, pre-dinner couples, people who live within a few blocks. Refined without being stuffy. Nearest train is the 1 at 79th Street, a block west; the B and C at 81st Street–Museum of Natural History are a short walk east.
Who Willet’s Corner Is For
| Occasion | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| A drink before dinner on the UWS | The 4:30–6pm window is priced for it — $7 drafts, $12 cocktails — at the bar or a table. |
| An early date | Warm room, real cocktails, and a kitchen that goes well past bar snacks. Grab a banquette. |
| Cheap-ish bites that aren’t nachos | $15 flatbreads and $12 smoked wings during happy hour beat most bar food in the neighborhood. |
| Weekend brunch | Brunch runs Friday through Sunday — same room in daylight, minus the happy-hour pricing. |
More NYC Happy Hours
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Willet’s Corner FAQ
Does Willet’s Corner have a happy hour?
Yes — 4:30 to 6pm, with $7 drafts, $10 wines, $12 cocktails, and happy-hour food from $12. The deal sheet lists the window and prices but not the exact days; it aligns with dinner service (Tuesday–Saturday), so confirm the day before a special trip.
Where is Willet’s Corner?
420 Amsterdam Avenue, on the corner of West 80th Street on the Upper West Side. Nearest train is the 1 at 79th Street.
What kind of food is it?
New American bistro — shareable, ingredient-driven plates like fig toast, za’atar cauliflower, Levantine flatbread, campanelle bolognese, and short rib, plus a natural-leaning cocktail and wine list.
Do you need a reservation?
Not for happy hour — walk in and grab a seat at the bar. For dinner, especially on weekends, a reservation helps.
Happy hour times and deals last verified July 2026. Details can change — confirm with Willet’s Corner before visiting for a specific deal.