Photo by Saquan Stimpson/Flickr

Just because times are tough, it doesn’t mean you have to stay home feeling sorry for yourself drinking Old Milwaukee Beer. Actually, the challenging economy has inspired businesses ranging from high end restaurants to low-down bars to offer drink specials every day of the week.

San Diego has a plethora of bars and restaurants that are here to ease our financial pains and not shrink our skinny wallets! Here are some of our favorite spots to drink on the cheap.

MONDAY

Pacific Coast Grill ^[1]
A fun, bright restaurant with playful works of contemporary art has a dog-friendly garden patio lets you drink with your pooch. Mondays bring $5 Gold margaritas, 25% off bottles of wine and $1 off draft beers, well liquors and wines by the glass from 4 to 7 p.m.
437 S. Highway 101,  Suite 112 Solana Beach. (858)794-4632.

Woodstock Pizza ^[2]
An SDSU favorite and constant winner of San Diego’s best pizza serves $1 pints of Pabst Blue Ribbon all day and pizza specials.
6145 El Cajon Blvd., College Area. (619)265-0999

Yard House ^[3]
Find casual dining in an upscale atmosphere with over a 100 beers on tap and tons of flat screens.From 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, domestic pints are $3.50, imported beers $3.75, goblets of beer $4.75 and wines by the glass are $2 off. 
1023 4th Ave., Downtown San Diego. (619)233-9273

TUESDAY

Moondoggies ^[4]
A Ohio State hangout during college football season, this staple in any beach-bar lover’s diet serves Dos Equis and Sol beers for $2.50; $2 well drinks and house wines, $5 specialty margaritas on the rocks and $2 steak, fish and shrimp tacos from 11 a.m. to closing.
832 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. (858)483-6550

Stingaree ^[5]
This swanky restaurant and night club with great DJs and gourmet food and drinks takes 50 percent off specialty cocktails, $3 draft beers and a half-priced lounge food menu from 5 to 8 p.m..
454 6th Ave., Downtown San Diego. (619)544-9500

Sbicca pours every wine on its list - including the Schramsberg Brut Rose - for 50 percent off on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (Courtesy photo)

Sbicca ^[6]
An American restaurant with a romantic ocean views, Sbicca offers 50 percent off on all bottles of wine including Duckhorn sauvignon blanc, Schramsberg Brut Rosé and Patz & Hall pinot noir on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
215 15th St., Del Mar. (858)481-1001

WEDNESDAY

Kensington Grill ^[7]
This posh casual eatery in the heart of Kensington offers 50 percent off all wines priced over $45.
4055 Adams Ave., Kensignton (619)281-4014

Nine-Ten ^[8]
Every single bottle of wine on the well-chosen list is half off on Wednesdays at this upscale and quietly chic restaurant serving seasonal cuisine. Champagne anyone?
910 Prospect St. La Jolla. (858)450-5880.

Zocalo ^[9]
Selected bottles of wine are half off at this inviting restaurant with Nuevo Latino cuisine.
2444 San Diego Ave., Old Town. (619)298-9840

THURSDAY

Cucina Urbana ^[7] (formerly Laurel)
Sangria is $5 a glass from 5 to 6 p.m  every day at the bar of this new version of Laurel in a rustic Italian style setting; Thursdays pair your sagria with half-prize pizzas at the bar.
505 Laurel St. Banker’s Hill (619)239-2222

George’s on 5th ^[10]
This steak and seafood spot with live music by Grammy nominated pianist Tom Barabas offers 50 percent off well drinks, premium draft beers and house wines from 5 to 7 p.m.
835 5th Ave., Downtown San Diego. (619)702-0444

The Prado ^[11]
This colorful restaurant in the heart of Balboa Park offers $3.50 well drinks, draft beer pints, house wines, passion fruit margaritas and house margaritas from 4 to 6 p.m. and 8 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
1549 El Prado Balboa Park. (619)557-9441

Azul ^[12]
Another member of the Brigantine family, this Italian style steakhouse offers unobstructed ocean views in a refined atmosphere as well as $6 select martinis and margaritas, $2 off wines by the glass and $1 off beers from 4 to 7 p.m..
1250 Prospect St., La Jolla. (858)454-9616

FRIDAY

The Arizona Café
This confirmed dive bar with style and the second oldest bar in San Diego serves half price pitchers of beer, $3 domestic and microbrew draft beers and $3 glasses of house wine from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
1925 Bacon St., Ocean Beach. (619)223-0847

The Cougar cocktail at The Quarter Kitchen at the Ivy is one of the drinks available for just $5 during their Happier Hour. (Photo by Maria C. Hunt)

Quarter Kitchen at The Ivy Hotel ^[13]
A luxury boutique hotel with the hottest nightlife in the Gaslamp offers $5 mojitos and other cocktails and half off select glasses of wine  during the Quarter Kitchen’s Happier Hour from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Friday.
630 F St Gaslamp Quarter. (619)814-1000

Pacific Beach Bar & Grill ^[14]
Yearly voted San Diego’s best beach bar, this casual hang out always serves up good times and $2.50 beers of the month as well as margaritas on the rocks, well cocktails, wines and draft beers for $3 from 3 to 9 p.m.
860 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. (858)272-4745

SATURDAY

Johnny V’s ^[15]
Chic atmosphere mixed with beach style and delectable appetizers make this spot a great choice for half-priced bottles of wine and $3 well cocktails, wines and draft beers from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturdays.
945 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach. (858)274-4833

94th Aero Squadron ^[16]
A charming restaurant and sometime pick-up joint overlooking Montgomery Field Airport filled with WWI memorabilia offers half-priced bottles of wine on Saturdays.
8885 Balboa Ave, Clairemont. (858)560-6771

SUNDAY

Fiesta Cantina
It’s happy hour seven days a week with two-for-one drinks 4 to 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m to 12:30 a.m. at this somewhat raucous Mexican-style restaurant and bar in the heart of Boy’s Town. Fiesta also features bottomless mimosas and bloody mary’s from 11 to 3 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for just $9.95.
142 University Ave. Hillcrest (619)298 2500

Red Pearl Kitchen ^[17]
This hip pan-Asian restaurant with dramatic lighting and striking Asian art motifs offers 50 percent off bottles of wine on Sundays and a Social Hour from 5 to 7 p.m. daily with $6 glasses of wine, $3 draft beers and $6 vodka cocktails.
440 J St., Downtown San Diego. (619)231-1100

South Park Bar and Grill ^[18]
Bottles of wine are 50 percent off on Sundays at this neighborhood hangout with minimalist ambiance, upscale comfort food and live jazz and blues.
1946 Fern St., South Park. (619)696-0096

Lauren Palazzo is a bargain-hunting freelance writer based in San Diego.