A dark and lofty Mission barThe Place:

Mission, 2325 California Ave SW, 937-8220, WEST SEATTLEThe Hours: Daily from 4-6 p.m., and 10-midnight The Deal: Anyone looking to avoid big meals before the holiday feasts can head over to the Latin-inspired lounge and spend an evening snacking away on happy hour plates for cheap. For under two bucks, you’ll be able to munch on a basket full of corn chips with house made pico de gallo, three pinchos (steak skewers with cumin greens and mole roja) for $6, along with tacos, nachos, and roasted sweet potatoes for $5. Well drinks, draft beer, and house wines are $1 off, as well as all margaritas that’ll cool down any spicy encounters. The Digs: Outside, skeletons keep watch on the front doors from the intricate Dia de los Muertos shrine filled with toys and glittering decorations, while inside, patrons are met with a more lively atmosphere filled with colorful light fixtures hanging from the ceilings, cozy wooden booths, and an impressive bar stocked high with liquor. The dimly lit bar has hardly any windows, so reading by candlelight is a must–and thankfully, the Mission has a votive on every table. Diners can enjoy an aerial view of the bar from the loft level that is often reserved for private parties and comes fully equipped with a posh leather sofa and second bar.Yes, it’s watching you while you slurp your margaritaThe Verdict: The perfect upscale establishment minus any snobbery and overpriced dishes. Bustling even on a Wednesday night, the wait staff takes time to explain foreign dishes in plenty of detail, although when asked about the randomly placed memorabilia, answers seem hard to come by. “They’re just weird little Mexican figurines,” one server said with a smile in reference to stuffed dolls above the kitchen doors. Whatever their meaning, no one seems to mind the eerie decor as soon as their food and drink arrive.