The Mermaid Inn - Chelsea

"When: Daily, 4:30-6:30pm The Deal: $1.50 “Chef’s Choice” Oysters You should get to the Mermaid Inn Happy Hour early. If it’s a nice day out, their Cape Cod cottage-themed dining room will get more and more crowded until it spills out through the French doors and it becomes impossible to tell the difference between the dining room, patio, and the street. But that’s OK, because you did the planning. You sat down at 4:30pm, and you’re already on your third round of $1.50 oysters from one of the most reliable seafood restaurants in Manhattan. Pair them with a hot sauce martini to mirror the cocktail sauce that’s dousing your oysters." - willa moore, neha talreja, will hartman

"The lobster meat is, of course, the most important part of a lobster roll. But at Mermaid Inn in Chelsea, butter is also key. Their buttery brioche bun at this classic Oyster Happy Hour spot is well-toasted and finished off with a generous pour of melted butter, resulting in something like a big, semi-soft crouton. Inside, there’s fresh, tender lobster meat mixed with minimal mayo, relatively big slices of celery, and a blend of salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder. The fries on the side are a big draw too—like slightly well-done McDonald's fries, but with Old Bay seasoning." - willa moore, bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, neha talreja

"You can’t talk about oyster Happy Hours without mentioning the Mermaid Inn. The reliable seafood spot has several locations in the city, and this one is conveniently located right by the High Line and several Hudson Yards high-rises. Whether you’ve spent the day on shopping or on spreadsheets, Mermaid Inn has the $10 cocktails and $1.50 oysters you need to transition into the evening. On a sunny day, the dining room up front opens out onto the street, becoming increasingly louder as people fill up on hot sauce martinis before Happy Hour ends at 6:30pm. After that, it’s sort of a carriage-into-pumpkin situation. Though the food is fairly decent—especially their famous, buttery lobster roll—this location isn’t as romantic as the one in Greenwich Village, despite using the same upscale clam shack decor for their Cape Cod cosplay. photo credit: Alex Staniloff" - Neha Talreja

"This nautical seafood spot serves a raw bar menu that includes a well-priced $72 Grand Platter, complete with oysters, clams, tuna crudo, shrimp cocktail, and half a chilled lobster. The Baby Grand Platter is less than half the price and comes with the former three items. A la carte options for all of the platter components are available, too, to mix and match with seafood-focused small plates and entrees, such as seared calamari, roasted skate, and crab cakes. It’s a solid date-night choice, and there’s substantial sidewalk seating. Other locations exist in the East and Greenwich Villages, and there’s a daily happy hour with $1.25 oysters and $8.50 cocktails." - Alexandra Ilyashov

"It’s hard to eat cheese when you’re busy eating oysters, and it’s easy to eat oysters during the Mermaid Inn’s Happy Hour (every day from 5-7pm), when they’re only $1.25 each. Round out your meal with some of the reliable - but less cost-effective - fish entrees, like grilled salmon, fish tacos, or a lobster roll." - emma mustich