Best Happy Hour Near RTP: Two-for-One, Every Day

Most happy hours make you work for the deal. Show up between 4 and 6 on a weekday, or the price goes back to full. Miss the window and you're paying full price for the same drink you could've gotten for less an hour earlier. That's not how it works at La Taqueria by Katsuji in Boxyard RTP — margaritas and mezcal cocktails run two-for-one every single day, no clock to watch, no fine print.

If you're searching for the best happy hour near RTP, here's the actual case for stopping in, whether you're wrapping up a shift at a Research Triangle Park office or driving over from Durham, Raleigh, Cary, or Morrisville.

Why This Happy Hour Deal Is Different

Two-for-one, every day, at $12 — that's the whole deal, and it applies to both the House Margarita and the Signature Mezcalinas. There's no specific 4-to-6 window to catch, no separate "happy hour menu" with watered-down pours, and nothing that flips back to full price if you show up at 7 instead of 5. It's built to be the easy, default stop after work rather than something you have to plan your schedule around.

Both drinks are made in-house with real ingredients — real citrus in the margarita, real mezcal in the mezcalinas — rather than a flavored-syrup shortcut standing in for either. That matters more at happy hour than at any other time of day, since a weak, mix-based cocktail is exactly the kind of thing a two-for-one deal usually gets used to hide.

What to Order

If you haven't been before, here's the fast version: the House Margarita is the bright, citrus-forward option — a safe bet if you already know you like tequila cocktails. The two Signature Mezcalinas — Mango Habanero and Passion Fruit Coconut — lean smokier, built on real mezcal instead of tequila. Passion Fruit Coconut is the more approachable entry point if you've never had mezcal before; Mango Habanero is the move if you want a little heat in the glass along with the smoke.

If you're ordering for a group and can't agree, a round of House Margaritas is the safer bridge — it won't clash with anyone's food the way a heavier cocktail might.

What to Pair It With

Happy hour at La Taqueria isn't just drinks — it's a legitimate excuse to eat, too. A few pairings worth knowing:

• Suadero with a margarita — the acid and salt cut through the richness of the slow-braised beef

• Chorizo Tacos with a mezcalina — bold, spiced pork against real mezcal smoke is the single best pairing on the menu, and we go deeper on exactly why in our guide to chorizo tacos near RTP

• Pollo Pibil with either drink — the citrus-and-achiote marinade is subtle enough to work with both a margarita's brightness and a mezcalina's smoke

• NC Sweet Potato Tacos with the Mango Habanero Mezcalina — the natural sweetness in the potato mirrors the mango, a good match if you want heat without too much heaviness

Order a Single Taco ($7.50) if you're just grazing, or the 2 Taco Combo ($15.99) if happy hour is turning into dinner. Full details on everything else are on the menu.

Non-Alcoholic Options for the Table

Not everyone at the table is drinking, and that shouldn't mean sitting out. Both the margarita and either mezcalina can be made non-alcoholic (N.A.) on request for $9 — same flavor profile, minus the alcohol. It's an easy way to keep a mixed group together at one table instead of splitting who's ordering a cocktail and who isn't.

How Far Is It From RTP, Durham, Raleigh, Cary, and Chapel Hill?

La Taqueria is inside Boxyard RTP at 900 Park Offices Drive, Suite 100, Durham, NC 27703 — close enough to make it a realistic after-work stop from most of the Triangle. Rough drive times, traffic depending:

• From most Research Triangle Park offices: a few minutes to under 10

• From downtown Durham: roughly 15 to 20 minutes

• From downtown Raleigh: about 20 to 25 minutes via I-40 West

• From Cary or Morrisville: typically 15 to 20 minutes, often less from Morrisville specifically

• From Chapel Hill: around 25 to 30 minutes via I-40 East

Parking at Boxyard RTP is free and plentiful, so there's no added friction once you get there. Boxyard RTP itself is worth lingering at beyond the drinks — it's a food hall built from repurposed shipping containers with a dog park (the Barkyard) and regular live music, which is part of why it's become a repeat after-work stop rather than a quick one-and-done. If you're coming straight from an RTP office and want to time it around lunch instead of happy hour, our guide to the best lunch spots near Research Triangle Park covers that side of the day.

Planning a Group Happy Hour or Office Send-Off

If you're organizing something bigger than a casual after-work drink — a team celebration, a client entertainment budget, a going-away happy hour — taco bar catering can bring the food side of the equation to your own office or event space anywhere in the Triangle, bookable through ezCater. For everyone just meeting up at Boxyard RTP itself, no reservation is needed — just show up.

FAQ: Happy Hour Near RTP

Stop In After Work

No reservation, no time limit to catch — just order online ahead if you want food ready when you arrive, browse the full menu, or get directions to Boxyard RTP. Planning something bigger? Ask about taco catering for your next Triangle event.