The Brooklyn If you've already got your tie on, and your seats are saved across the street at Benaroya Hall, the Brooklyn's cheap drinks and snacks are on your radar. But if you're headed for the underground transit tunnel en route to the U District, this chophouse isn't as out of reach as you think (at least between 4 and 6:30 p.m., Sunday–Friday and 3–6:30 p.m. on Saturday). Bombay, Jim Beam, and Bacardi wells are $4, and the oyster du jour is a buck apiece. It may get a little crowded around the bar, and standing room only is the norm. But what is a steakhouse today if not a glorified bus stop with affordable martinis and phenomenal finger food? CHRIS KORNELIS 1212 Second Ave., 224-7000, thebrooklyn.com. DOWNTOWN
Cactus on Alki offers a great happy hour on warm days, with pull-up glass doors to welcome summer breezes. Happy hour is 3–5 p.m., seven days a week; a bit too soon for some, but for others a great excuse to get out of the office early. Bebidas include $5 margaritas and mojitos, made with such tangy, fresh juices you'll be hard-pressed to have just one. (Five-dollar sangria, wine selections, and $3.50 Dos Equis beckon those looking for something a little less exotic.) Bocaditos include perfectly balanced $4 grilled jalapenos filled with herbed goat cheese, wrapped in bacon, and served with buttermilk crema; blue corn calamari; and smoked chicken quesadillas ($1 more will get you a Quesadilla de Hongos—"mushrooms" for vegetarians.) For $6 you can gorge yourself on a happy-hour serving of nachos: fresh chips smothered in cheese, roasted corn, black olives, jalapenos, chipotle-tomato salsa, buttermilk crema and guacamole, or camarones d'el diablo, crispy white Mexican prawns with spicy diablo sauce and mango-pineapple mojo. The food at Cactus is reminiscent of that amazing road trip down south you once took—or have been jonesing for. You can't help but leave with a full belly, a burning mouth, and a warm glow to take you out into the night. ZIBBY WILDER 2820 Alki Ave. S.W., 933-6000 (multiple locations), cactusrestaurants.com. ALKI
Cafe Solstice For anyone wanting to escape the drunken frat boys hanging outside Earl's on the Ave, Cafe Solstice offers a retreat with plenty of hookup potential—for those digging artsy girls or vintage-clad guys poring over chemistry notes, that is. Just as its name suggests, Solstice is a rarity: a cross between an art gallery and lofty lounge, with those manning the counter serving as both baristas and bartenders. And there's no better time to show off your glamorous, nerdy style than during one of Solstice's happy-hour stretches, 4–6 and 9–11 p.m., featuring $1 off drafts such as Stella or Elysian ESB. Even on a busy weekend, you won't have to worry about fighting the crowds for your pint, although you might coax a raised eyebrow from last year's professor sitting nearby, because his latte cost more than your brew. LAUREN LYNCH 4116 University Way N.E., 675-0850. UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
The Capitol Club is a rare creature in a neighborhood crowded with hipster hangouts and gay dance clubs. Adorned with velvet curtains, satin throw pillows, and candles, it exudes a casual yet sexy Mediterranean vibe. Hence, it draws an eclectic crowd that includes intimate couples, drunken brides-to-be, musicians, and even belly-dancing troupes. During happy hour (5–8 nightly, all day Sunday), the bar pours $3 wells and beer, plus $4 housemade sangria. You can also nibble on $5 Spanish tapas, featuring mussels, calamari, and roasted potatoes. (If you feel especially indulgent, order the breaded, deep-fried bacon with—wait for it—chocolate-chipotle dipping sauce.) The Capitol Club is best experienced while seated on the outdoor balcony overlooking the neighborhood. But come summer, be prepared to wait for a table. ERIKA HOBART 414 E. Pine St., 325-2149, thecapitolclub.net. CAPITOL HILL
Chapel looks like it belongs in The Shining. Blame history: The sinister space is housed inside a mortuary built in the early 1920s. (Apparently, the dead aren't big fans of natural light.) But Jack Nicholson would have to be insane[r] to order a bourbon on the rocks at this bar, as Chapel arguably boasts the most distinctive martini menu in the city, offering 40-plus options infused with every ingredient imaginable, including rosewater, sweet tea, coffee, and blackberries. Getting through the list is a daunting but plausible feat, given that all martinis are $5 during happy hour (5–9 p.m., midnight–close Monday–Thursday and all day Sunday). If you want guidance, the most popular drink is the Chloe, a vodka/vanilla/lavender potion with a sugar rim, named after a resident bartender bearing a striking resemblance to actress Chloë Sevigny. Be careful, though: It's easy to overlook your tolerance when downing glasses of liquid candy in a haze of pretty bartenders, throbbing house music, and darkness. Then again, feeling like death after spending the night in a funeral home may just be inevitable. ERIKA HOBART 1600 Melrose Ave., 447-4180, chapelseattle.com. CAPITOL HILL
Daniel's Broiler Once Seattle's premier fine-dining steakhouse, Daniel's now attracts a crowd that prefers traditional hearty fare, big portions, and a killer view over linen-draped tablecloths and expensive stemware. It's the 180-degree view of Lake Washington and the Leschi Marina that continues to make this one of Seattle's best destination restaurants. That view comes with a price, however—which makes Daniel's happy hour one of the best bargains in town. From 4–6:30 p.m. daily in the bar, you can sample some spendy appetizers for half-price. You can't lose with anything on the menu, but the bacon-wrapped scallops ($8), the jumbo Gulf prawn cocktail ($8), and Daniel's popcorn shrimp with Sriracha chili sauce ($7.50) are crowd-pleasers. There are also martini, draft beer, and wine specials. Though Daniel's has a reputation for catering to a well-heeled crowd, the staff couldn't be more hospitable and accommodating to folks there solely to take advantage of this awesome deal—proof that a spectacular view and good, cheap food puts everyone at ease. JULIEN PERRY 200 Lake Washington Blvd., 329-4191 (multiple locations), schwartzbros.com. LESCHI
