BALLARD
ACORN EATERY AND BAR On the outdoor patio at the Acorn, lily pad-like umbrellas stand over the tables, keeping the patrons cool, contemplative, and indifferent to their crummy view of McDonald’s and Chevron across the street. Little pots of grass sit on each table, reminding everyone that nature does in fact exist. Good microbrews are on tap, and from 4 to 6 p.m. daily, everything is dirt cheap: Pints are $2.50, margaritas $3.50, and salads, pizza, and calamari range from $3 to $9. OUTDOOR SEATING! 9041 Holman Rd. N.W., 206-297-0700.
AZTECA The cheesy, grande Mexican chain’s Ballard outpost has happy hour every day, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., offering $3 beers and a few Mexi-American snacks for the same price. Ol鮠2319 N.W. Market St., 206-782-7079.
LOCKSPOT CAFE Part sports bar, part hunting lodge, and part longshoreman’s tavern, this ain’t no hipster joint. The bartenders chat with the regulars and take long drags off their cigarettes behind the bar. The clientele, all sporty and Seattle-like, sit at wooden tables with old friends and watch ESPN on elevated TV sets. The fish and chips are deliciously golden and crisp on the outside, soft ‘n’ tasty on the inside. A tub of tartar and a domestic draft beer ($1.75 from 4 to 7 p.m. and midnight till 2 a.m. daily) or a well drink ($2.25/$2.50) make it a meal. 3005 N.W. 54th St., 206-789-4865.
THE PEOPLE’S PUB Wouldn’t things be better if every day was like Oktoberfest? Well, the gute life is now only a trip to Ballard away, courtesy of the People’s Pub’s happy hour (4 to 7 p.m. daily). All well drinks and most of the beersѷhich include German favorites from Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, and Bitburgerѡre just $2.50 a pint, and house wines are but $3 a glass. And Monday through Thursday, appetizers (deep fried pickles! saut饤 mushrooms!) are 50 percent off. Prost! 5429 Ballard Ave N.W., 206-783-6521.
BELLTOWN
AXIS Bar menu items include Jamaican jerked chicken wings with creamy dill sauce and the one-third-pound Angusburger on an Italian roll with choice of New York cheddar or Oregon blue. Happy hour pizzas from the wood-fired oven are just $2.99, and nice appetizers like calamari, steak salad, Thai wok-seared shellfish, and a prime rib sandwich with fries are half-price, $4.50-$6. OUTDOOR SEATING! 5-7 p.m. daily, 10-midnight Tues.-Thurs., and 5 p.m.-close Sun.-Mon. 2212 First Ave., 206-441-9600.
BRASA Brasa gets extra friendly every weekday from 5 to 7 p.m., with half-priced tapas-style Spanish appetizersѦish stew, Morrocan olives, grape pizza, savory empanadas, duck and shellfish paella. Order a couple and pass ’em dim-sum-wise round the table. 2107 Third Ave., 206-728-4220.
BRASSERIE MARGAUX With tapas served from 4-10 p.m. weekdays, you’ll have plenty of time to try the bruschetta with tomato and basil, steamed mussels, or grilled foccacia with goat cheese fondue. If you care for vigorous drinks order a well, half price weekdays between 4 and 7 p.m. Or forego the special prices and order a Margaux Manhattan ($7.25). Just one will take you from zero to happy in about three sips (and you will need to sip it). Hotel bars always pour a good strong drink. Hmmm, maybe it’s because they’re so darn depressing. Margaux’s probably depressing most the time, too, but its happy hour is pleasant, thanks to a good turnout, a friendly bar staff, and festive, blown-glass light fixtures. 401 Lenora St., 206-777-1990.
CASCADIA If it’s between 5 and 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and you’re not a vegetarian and you’ve nothing better to do than drink and eat unbelievably good mini hamburgers and you’re not at Cascadia’s stupendous happy hour, something is wrong. Five-dollar sommelier-selected wines, $3.50 wells, and $2 drafts are a pretty good deal, but the offering that puts Cascadia atop the happy hour lot is chef Kerry Sears’ signature burgers. They’re made-to-order from fresh-ground chuck steak (no frozen patties here), seasoned perfectly, and served on cute, tiny buns with cuter, tinier rounds of tomato, red onion, pickle, and lettuce. And they’re only $1 apiece! That means five for $5! Ten for $10! Park your empty stomach at the glamorous bar and eat up. Oh, and iron your shirt, kiddo. Cascadia’s no dive bar. OUTDOOR SEATING! 2328 First Ave., 206-448-8884.
EN SEATTLE A short and extremely worthwhile walk from downtown, En is a prime post-work retreat. Happy hour is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m Monday through Friday. The house wines ($3.95) and imported beers ($2.95) don’t mess around, and the modern Japanese appetizers (two-for-one during happy hour) will knock you on your ass if the drinks haven’t already. The food, like the decor, is exquisitely understated. The agedashi’s tofu cubesѧolden on the outside, silky soft on the insideѢask in a pond of salty fish-broth goodness. The ample portions and happy prices will make you feel like you’re getting away with something. Get to know Wei, the owner. 2429 Second Ave., 206-770-0250.
FANDANGO Are the margaritas there to wash down the tacos, or are the tacos there to help soak up the margaritas? Both pass freely through the mouths of the post-work crowd in this colorful, high-ceilinged bar where it’s always carnival between 5 and 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. Mini tacos, salbutes (black beans, lettuce, and habanero salsa on a thick, flat, corn tortilla) and oyster shooters are all $1, and quality is not forgottenѴhe mini tacos are little delights. Order five and you’ve got dinner. Careful, though. It’s one of those tricky happy hours with cheap food but full-price drinks. The margaritas and mojitos (the house specialty) aren’t the cheapest in townѡnd with all the premium spirits available here, it’s tempting to get fancyѢut they’re some of the best. 2313 First Ave., 206-441-1188.
OHANA A menu of selected sushi nigiri, rolls, and hot appetizers for $3, sake for $2.50 and blue Hawaiian for $4. Great looking staff and patrons, great place. Just try to get the happy hour times straight: Monday all day, Tuesday and Thursday 5-7 p.m. and 9-11:30 p.m., Wednesday and Friday 5-7 p.m., zip on Saturday, Sunday 9-11:30 p.m. Whew! 2207 First Ave., 206-956-9329.
TIA LOU’S You mosey into Tia Lou’sєuesday through Saturday between 5 and 7 p.m.ѡscend the stairs to the Lico Lounge, and take refuge in the cool, dark cantina or venture out to the gigantic rooftop deck and bask in the early evening sun. “Hola, amigo,” you say to the waiter and, with a wink and a smile, you let him know you’d like a margarita (just $3) and some chunky, juicy mini chicken tacos (also just $3). He delivers them to you speedily, and you partake of the fine food and beverage and are reminded of the time you spent on the coast of Mexico so many years ago. You’re surrounded by tables of geeky young graphic designers and glossy Belltown scenesters, but close your eyes and you can hear the surf in the distance. Happy now? OUTDOOR SEATING! 2218 First Ave., 206-733-8226.
TOI Toi’s all posh: red walls, deep mahogany trim, and a bar inlaid with what the bartender describes as “deep-healing river stones.” The happy hour well drinks ($4.50) are stiff as the starched collars of the businessmen who come here for their end-of-the-day fix, and all Toi’s appetizers (which are so delicious they will make you insane) are half price. Prawn spring rolls ($5) are incredible and almost an entr饻 pork tenderloin satay skewers ($3) are about the best happy hour snack you could ask for and perfectly complement the liver-numbing whiskey sours. Mon.-Fri., 5-7 p.m. 1904 Fourth Ave., 206-267-1017.
WASABI BISTRO Upscale bar and restaurant; happy hour with downscale prices. Sushi rolls, sushi, tempura, etc. from $3-$6. $3 for beer, $3-$6 for cocktails, wine, and sake. OUTDOOR SEATING! 4-6 p.m. daily and Sun.-Thurs. 11-1 a.m., 2311 Second Ave., 206-441-6044.
CAPITOL HILL
THE BAD JUJU LOUNGE “Dark” and “scary” might be the words most applicable to Juju’s d�de-los-muertos-style d飯r, but like that goth girl everyone shunned in high school, this place is more than meets the eye. Wall hangings adorned with snakes and bats nicely complement oversized candelabras covered in melted wax, but the cheerful, talkative bartenders and friendly regulars offset the bar’s appearance. From 4 to 7 p.m. daily, prices are cheery, too, with $2.50 well drinks, $3.75 well martinis, and $1 off draft beer. The regular bar menu offers $2 tacos and an overflowing nacho platter ($6) absolutely must be shared. The design concept here is simple: “You’re already in hell, so you might as well drink.” 1518 11th Ave., 206-709-9951.
THE BROADWAY GRILL There’s something weird and fun about getting drunk in the middle of the dayѰarticularly at the Broadway Grill. With Broadway’s bizarre foot traffic a mere stone’s throw away, the bar seems an oasis, and it’s got all the ingredients: real live tropical trees, hanging plastic fruit, midday game shows on the big screen, and good, stiff drinks. Happy hour’s from 2 to 6 p.m. daily, with $1.75 draft beer, $2.50 well drinks, and $3.25 wines; if you haven’t had your fill (or even if you have), you can come back for a second round between 11 p.m. and last call. One appetizer special is half-price dailyѴry the Dungeness crab and artichoke dip, or the toasted baguette with Cambozola cheese, almonds, and tomato-basil salsa. OUTDOOR SEATING! 314 Broadway Ave. E., 206-328-7000.
THE CAPITOL CLUB Harley: “Ah, yes, it’s a fine evening, isn’t it, Kensington?” Kensington: “The finest, my dear chap. I do so enjoy sipping a fine brandy on this lovely outdoor veranda.” Harley: “And these low happy hour prices are irresistibleѴhe aforementioned fine brandy [$6] and the delectable sausage plate you seem to be so enjoying [$6] are easy on an old boy’s bank account.” Kensington: “Yes, feels a bit like thievery! And the Pike-Pine scene is bumping this evening, isn’t it, my good man?” Harley: “Mmmm, yes. Quite.” Happy hour’s from 5 to 7 p.m. nightly. OUTDOOR SEATING! 414 E. Pine St., 206-325-2149.
COBALT CAFE Ever since black and red Ing became blue and yellow Cobalt Caf鬠this lower Capitol Hill spot has looked a lot less clubby and a lot more lunchy. But don’t be fooled by the shiny new appearance: Cobalt is a drinking spotѷith a happy hour (and a hard-to-miss sandwich-board advertisement on East Pine) to prove it. Stop in between 5 and 9 p.m. on any given day and behold $2.50 drafts and domestics, $3 micros and imports, and $3.50 wells. Then take notice of the PBR in a can. It’s only a buck. Food options ($2 off from 5-7 p.m.) range from a house salad to a cute little $4.95 pizza-of-the-day. Word has it that pot stickers and egg rolls might make their way onto the happy hour menu soon. 1530 Bellevue Ave., 206-329-5388.
DE LUXE BAR AND GRILL Three reasons to enjoy the De Luxe’s lovely outdoor seating area: 1.) The sounds of Broadway can drown out the less pleasant sounds of the Backstreet Boys and Celine that taunt indoor patrons; 2.) It’s a narrow margin, but the distant smell of incense beats having cigarettes puffed in your face at the bar; and 3.) The De Luxe has charming baskets of flowers in fancy decorative cages for your viewing pleasure. Outdoors or in, at happy hour you’ll get 75 cents off microbrews, $3 well drinks, and a fine selection of appetizers under $4ѡnd the De Luxe is happy twice a day, seven days a week, 3-6 p.m. and 10-1:30 a.m. OUTDOOR SEATING! 624 Broadway Ave. E., 206-324-9697.
GALERIAS Not your usual Mexican place, Galerias is all big and fancy in a really good way. Happy hour’s every day from 4 to 7 p.m., with $3 margaritas and extremely delicious if pricey appetizers. OUTDOOR SEATING! 611 Broadway Ave. E., 206-322-5757.
HONEYHOLE Capitol Hill’s sweetheart sandwich shop now has a full bar (what’s left without one now? Just Dick’s, maybe?), an expanded dinner menu (pasta, grilled chicken kebabs, steak, salads), and a new, sharper look. Happy hour here means $2.50 wells and drafts, and $5 appetizers. 5-7 p.m. every day. 703 E. Pike St., 206-709-1399.
MANRAY If the Jetsons were two men who had sex instead of a family, they’d be the owners of Manray. The interior is stylish and futuristic, much like the deck of the starship Enterprise, with most occupants wearing clothes as tight as Picard’s jumpsuit. And Manray serves up $3.75 happy hour double (!) wells and $1.50 domestic beers all week long between 4 and 8 p.m. (till close on Sundays and Mondays). But what’s the real reason to come here? A FREE BUFFET SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY DURING HAPPY HOUR! And if you’re good-looking and male, the other patrons will be buying your drinks. OUTDOOR SEATING! 514 E. Pine St., 206-568-0750.
SATELLITE LOUNGE Just up the street from the Comet is its more mature cousin the Satellite, with its pretty bar, interesting ironwork, and, well, terrible upholstery; but no matter, Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., enjoy $2.50 well drinks and $2.25 microbrews, and 50 percent off buffalo wings and nachos, although you might be lured by the mysterious “Deep Fried Goodness” for $3.25. 1118 E. Pike St., 206-324-4019.
TANGO Duck into Tango for an after-work drink and behold what may be the best mojito north of Havanaѳweet, minty, and the rum, mmm, the rum is light and smooth as hell. At $3.50 from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday through Friday, it may be the cheapest mojito around, too. $2.50 draft beers will also make you happy at this lower Capitol Hill hot spotѡnd the fried potatoes and plantains will assuage a tummy full of rum. A good selection of delectable pan-Latin tapas are half-priced for happy hour, so eat up. You won’t need dinner. 1100 Pike St., 206-583-0382.
TORERO’S That odd open-air place in the top of the Broadway Market offers standard-issue Mexi-American happy hour snacks in the bar, perfect for an odd little dinner before a 7 o’clock movie: $1 beef tacos, $2 nachos and quesadillas, the intriguing $1.50 bean dip, and happy-hour priced blended margaritas that come out of a big machine whose sole purpose is to constantly swirl them around. OUTDOOR SEATING! Bar only, Mon.-Fri., 3-6:30 p.m. 401 Broadway Ave. E., 206-860-1363.
DOWNTOWN
ARENA BAR AT GAMEWORKS Refreshingly, Arena Bar has the obvious down to a scienceѦrom requisite bar fare like chili fries, chicken tenders, and nachos to the obligatory pool tables and bar games like electronic football and golf. Its snappy motto, “Eat, drink, party, and play,” epitomizes obviousness: It’s a bar, so isn’t that the point? And Arena’s happy hour prices are obviously fair, with half-price appetizers (all under $5) and drinks (that’s less than $2 for domestic drafts, and $2.50 or less for house margaritas and well cocktails). Predictably, happy hour’s from 4 to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9 p.m.-close on Thursdays. 1511 Seventh Ave., 206-521-0952.
THE BROOKLYN From 4 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, this is where you can pretend you’re rich and famous. At the bar, the bartenders treat you like Rockefeller. On the courtyard patio, the waiters treat you like Gates. Everything is woody, shiny, and classy in an 1890s kind of way, and the prices add to the charm. For $5 you can get a half-dozen of the best oysters in the city or (if you ain’t the hugest oyster fan) the best cilantro calamari. The amount of cilantro is so deliciously exact and the calamari so tender, it almost breaks your heart. Beer and wine are a little over $2.50 and well drinks under $5, meaning you can pretend here all afternoon if you want. OUTDOOR SEATING! 1212 Second Ave., 206-224-7000.
CAMPAGNE Late-night light mealsѰetit cassoulet, calamari persillade, leeks in a truffle vinaigrette, and lamb burgersѦor $10 and under in the bar. OUTDOOR SEATING! 10 p.m.-midnight nightly, 86 Pine St., 206-728-2800.
CONTOUR A coppery bar and tabletops in a dim, cool, high-ceilinged room; weird naked plaster bodies stuck on the wall (hey, that’s his foot, OK?); Willie Nelson incongruously on the stereo; an extremely nice bartender; what’s not to like? And Contour’s happy hour appetizers are not your basic bar foodѴhey’re unique, tasty, and practically free ($1.95!). The rosemary chicken strips and the spanakopita are really quite good; the zucchini fries with tzatziki are just adequate, but for $1.95, adequate’s just fine. Drinks, $2 Dos Equis and $3.50 well drinks, are adequate, too. Enjoy them in the outdoor seating area, idyllic for First Avenue people-watching and bus-exhaust-fume-inhaling. Happy hour’s every day from 4 to 8 p.m.; you’ll be home safe before the Club Contour late-night pimpin’ begins. OUTDOOR SEATING! 807 First Ave., 206-447-7704.
DESERT FIRE Linda’s it’s not. Hip, or even remotely cool, it’s not. It’s happy hour in Pacific Place. It’s in a chain restaurant. If you end up there, it’s probably because you’re already stuck in the mall, shopping or waiting for your over-priced movie to start. Whatever the reason, if you end up at the Desert Fire bar during happy hour (3-6 p.m. and 9-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and all day Sun.-Thurs.), you must order the $1.95 black bean queso dip with Desert Fire’s crazy multi-colored tortilla chips. A huge plate of decked-out nachos is only $3.95. If Tex-Mex doesn’t excite you, a $3.95 quarter-pound cheeseburger with fries surely will. Most beers are $2.95 during happy hour and mojitos and margaritas are a trim $4.95. 600 Pine St., 206-405-3400.
DRAGONFISH This is where Paramount guests and Convention Center conveners come to drink beer and eat sushi. Everyone is well dressed, and pretending they aren’t tourists, they just happen to be in a tourist bar. But it’s nice in its own way. Cool anime prints hang on the walls below pink and white oriental lamps, pachinko machines flash mesmerizing, and the service is friendly and sincere. The best deal is the sushi appetizers: They’re all $1.95. Have a California roll while sipping on a pint of Kirin Ichiban, which, by the way, will run ya just $2.75. Weekdays 4-6 p.m. and 10 p.m.-1 a.m. 722 Pine St., 206-467-7777.
ELLIOTT’S OYSTER HOUSE The bar’s typical corporate seafood house, all gleam and blond wood; the outdoor seating has geraniums and Argosy boats coming and going on the shiny Sound. And, from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, a damn good happy hour. Have a happy hour martini in its own cute mini shaker for $3 or a beer for $2.50 ($3 micros); make a little dinner out of a couple $1 one-oyster poorboys or small salmon sandwiches with a healthy little plank of top-rate fish and spicy slaw on a good roll ($1.95). Calamari ($2.95) benefits mightily from being pre-soaked in buttermilk. There are mussels, clams, shrimp cocktail, and oyster stew for $3.95, and the amazing progressive oyster-on-the-half-shell happy hourѴhey’re 50 cents each at 3 p.m. and go up 20 cents each half-hour thereafter. Ding! OUTDOOR SEATING! Pier 56, 201 Alaskan Way, 206-623-4340.
FADO IRISH PUB Fad�hich is actually pronounced “F’doh,” pours a mighty fine pint of Guinness ($5), and at least one of the waitresses is actually Irish. The Fad�ppy hour food is fairly IrishѨeavy on both meat and carbs, with no fewer than half the dishes containing potatoes. The mini potato pancake pizzas are tasty (if not Irish), and like all the bar fare between 4 and 7 p.m. weekdays, a mere $2.50. Enjoy the sidewalk seating or join the boozing, sexed-up singles in the bar. OUTDOOR SEATING! 801 First Ave., 206-264-2700.
THE GREEN ROOM Some bars microwave frozen chicken wings, pour weak drinks, and expect you to pay top dollar for it, but the Green Room goes beyond regular happy hour fare. Everything on the menu is just two bucks. Beers, wells, food. The wells are poured stiff and serious and the food is better than it needs to be. Tacos include meat, lettuce, tomatoes, and jack cheese; the little flour tortillas are fried to delight. They topped with pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole with delicious rice. All this for $2! 5-8 p.m. daily. 1426 First Ave., 206-628-3151.
MCCORMICK AND SCHMICK’S The McCormick’s on First Avenue is all old-school and dark wood and men’s-clubby, with, somewhat alarmingly, a sign telling how many days remain till St. Patrick’s Day. You are wise to arrive promptly at 4 p.m. (after which the power suits fill up the place) to get your discount carbsѢeef taquitos with a very chunky, very mild salsa; chicken quesadilla with same; half-pound burger with Tillamook cheddar; pita pizza (which sounds good, but isn’t); and more. It’s a very long, very breaded list; and, at $1.95 per item, ostensibly very affordable. Turns out it’s not as cheap as you might think: There is a drink-per-person minimum. Businessmen are bastards. Happy hour roughly 3-6 p.m. weekdays and 10-12 p.m. daily (call for particular locations). 1103 First Ave., 206-623-5500; 722 Fourth Ave., 206-682-3900; and 1200 Westlake N., 206-270-9052.
MORTON’S OF CHICAGO The drinks don’t come cheap, but the sandwiches are free. One might ask why a Morton’s patron needs to eat for free if he can afford to drink there, but Morton’s understands it’s tough being rich and powerful. After a long day of power-brokering, suit-wearing types can take solace at happy hour in the dimly lit underground bar and cigar lounge. Alberto, the very skilled Cuban bartender, serves up good drinks, stiff and to-the-point, and, oh, those delectable sandwichesѴender flanks of beef, lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, and kissed by a housemade mustard and mayonnaise sauce on a sesame seed bun. 5-7 p.m., Mon.-Fri. 1511 Sixth Ave., 206-223-0550.
THE OCEANAIRE The place is all swank, the bar’s all gleaming, and the oysters are all extremely fresh, resting on a lovely bed of shaved ice awaiting your arrival. Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. you may partake of them (and their friends the shrimp) for half price (that is, $.75-$1.12 per oyster, $7.48 for shrimp cocktail). With the money you save, you can have a $120 glass of Louis XIII cognac. 1700 Seventh Ave., 206-267-BASS.
THE OWL N’ THISTLE A classic Irish-American dive replete with Guinness posters, shamrocks, and so forth, and, lucky for you, a happy hour every day from 3 to 7 p.m. with $2.50 micros and $2.50 well drinks. Find a sometimes-elusive waitress and order the supreme happy hour fish and chips ($2.95)Ѵwo big fishes and thick-thick cut fries. And sit still: The seats in the booths have been known to fall off and send people tumbling to the ground before they’ve even got a buzz on. 808 Post Ave., 206-621-7777.
ROCK BOTTOM RESTAURANT AND BREWERY On a sunny afternoonѦrom 4 to 6 p.m., Monday through FridayѴhe Rock Bottom is a nice place to be. Sitting out on the large patio, listening to mildly drunk businessman banter, examining the bizarre and terrifying Rainier Tower in front of you, you can’t help but say to yourself, “It’s all good.” And, even better, everything is $3ѥverything: beer, wine, well drinks, and appetizers. The Peashooter pale ale and a huge plate of nachos will send you home warm, full, and only $6 poorer. And this equals happiness, which, of course, is what happy hour is all about. OUTDOOR SEATING! 1333 Fifth Ave., 206-623-3070.
ROY’S SEATTLE Seattle hotel bars don’t often evoke images of warm island luaus or anything otherwise sunny. Indeed, aside from the $3 pupus (Polynesian appetizers) and other island-inspired fare, there’s nothing blatantly Polynesian about Roy’s. The drinks aren’t cheap, but they’re a notch above your typical happy hour well, with $5 Stoli or Beefeater martinis and Jack Daniels manhattans. Sake’s $2.50 and draft beers are a fair-enough $3.50. The real reason to stop into Roy’s from 4:30-6:30 weeknights is the outrageous chocolate souffl鬠warm and gooey in the middle, served with vanilla ice cream ($9). When the rain comes down like punishment and the winter wind howls through the streets, a bit of chocolate ecstasy and some good drinks might be the closest thing to island bliss you’re going to find. 1900 Fifth Ave., 206-256-7697.
SAZERAC A restaurant named after a N’Yawlins cocktail (whiskey or brandy, sugar syrup, and bitters) ought to have a good bar. Indeed, Sazerac’s a decent choice for an after-work drink. It’s a hotel bar, so the atmosphere’s not exactly lively, but then again, you’re probably not too lively by the end of the day, either. Stop in here between 4 and 6 p.m. weekdays for dependable drinks and above-average happy hour fare. Everything’s $3.99эanhattans, martinis, cosmos, microbrews, mussels, brie with toast, French fries, everythingѷith drinks specials rotating daily. The best deal is the pizza (andouille, veggie, or “wild & funky” daily special); fresh, tasty, meal-size, and also just $3.99. OUTDOOR SEATING! 1101 Fourth Ave., 206-624-7755.
TYPHOON! Happy! Hour! At! Typhoon! The bar is sleek, the yuppies are enjoying their after-work cosmopolitans, and, from 4 to 7 p.m. daily, you are eating their highly praised Thai food for cheap and pondering that exclamation point at your leisure. Happy hour drinks and bar appetizers are $2-$3.50 each, including larb chicken. Larb! 1400 Western Ave., 206-262-9797.
W BAR Some days, a mini cheeseburger just won’t cut it. Head here if you desire a swankier after-work bar. It’s all black, gray, and chic, and during its “post-work program”ѡpparently “happy hour” is too pedestrianѤ5 (that’s cheap in W land) will get you one of their signature drops, a well drink, or an appetizer. Watch out for the drops; those yummy, fruity, sugar bombs, served in big martini glasses, are stronger than they taste. The appetizer list is long and excitingѴuna tartare with chili, mini barbecued-beef sandwiches with slaw, Moroccan chicken skewers with olives and cucumber yogurt salad, and more. 3-6 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. and 11 p.m.-close. Fourth Avenue and Seneca Street (W Hotel), 206-264-6000.
WATERFRONT The business suit set loves Waterfront, with its swank interior and fancy menu. Anyone else with eyes should love Waterfront, too, for its magnificent sweeping views of Puget Sound. It’s not even on the water, it’s over itѲight over the top of it, on the end of Pier 70. And, from 4 to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.-close daily, the featured oysters are only $.50 apiece. Sit outside on the gigantic waterfront deck, cover your shirt with a white linen napkin, and shoot them back with a pint of beer ($3) or a well drink ($4). If you’re looking for something heartier, try the tuna tempura with a spicy soy dipping sauce, the crispy fried calamari with soy mustard aioli and a sweet chili sauce, or the Dungeness crab cake with mango papaya saladѡll appetizers are 25 percent off. Then sit back and enjoy the view. OUTDOOR SEATING! 2815 Alaskan Way, 206-956-9171.
EASTLAKE
DUKE’S The boats outside the windows gently rock and the generic marine decor soothes; and Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., Duke’s has $2.50 wells and Red Hooks, and $3.95 “Duketails”ѡ stupid, stupid name for six very tasty types of extra-strength kamikazes. Very nice appetizers, such as the delectable calamari steak strips, are half price; you can take them to the waterfronty outdoor seating and pretend you’re the drunken sailor they wrote that song about. OUTDOOR SEATING! 901 Fairview Ave. N., 206-382-9963, SOUTH LAKE UNION; also same happy hour prices at 7850 Green Lake Dr. N., 206-522-4908, GREENLAKE; 2516 Alki S.W., 206-937-6100, WEST SEATTLE
HOOTERS Orange short-shorts, skimpy tank tops, $2.50 pints, and truly awful 25-cent chicken wingsѢoo-yeah! You’re at Hooters during happy hour: 3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The waitresses are ridiculously hot, and one of them, scarily, is way into Christian rock, following her attendance at an “awesome” Christian rock show featuring “that guy from 98 Degrees.” As if that wasn’t disturbing enoughѳhe doesn’t go into the mosh pit at Christian rock shows for “fear of being groped.” Holy crap! Where are the WWJD bracelets? [Eds. note: Our intern’s receipt from this happy hour had a note upon it in pink pen: “Good luck with your band! Thank you! {big girly pink heart} Shawna.” Now that’s service.] 901 Fairview N., 206-625-0555, LAKE UNION; 550 106th N.E., 425-452-9930 (OUTDOOR SEATING!) BELLEVUE; 19800 44th W., 425-672-2900 (OUTDOOR SEATING!) LYNNWOOD.
SAM’S STEAKHOUSE Liver likes alcohol, wallet likes money, stomach likes foodѹou like happy hour at Sam’s Steakhouse. Well drinks, wine, and draft specials are a thrifty $2.75 twice a day, every day (4-6 p.m. and 10-12 p.m.), and strong enough to steady your shaking hands; and there’s lots of happy hour food, with great Buffalo wings and halibut and chips for about $3. Ignore the aging UW crowd watching Britney shake her ass on the four T.V.s and concentrate on what Sam’s does best: cheap grub and strong booze. OUTDOOR SEATING! 2947 Eastlake Ave., 206-957-7777.
FIRST HILL
ADOBO TACO LOUNGE The Adobo is nice and dark, the service is nice and good-looking, and happy hour here is so nice they, um, do it twice, from 4-6 p.m. and 9-11 p.m. every day. Happy hour snacks for just $3 each include good shredded beef tacos with lots of spicy cabbage and a little sour cream, a very gooey cheese and bean dip, and a chicken quesadilla. No happy-hour drink specials, but a can of Tecate will only set you back $2.50, and the margaritas are reportedly great at any price. 909 Madison St., 206-332-0772.
VITO’S Is this place for real? Its dark red interiorѷith vinyl booths, buttoned walls, and a mirrored dance floorѩs so over the top that it works. Just as this retro lounge seems to have slept through a few eras, its happy hour prices appear unaffected by decades of inflation. In other words, the price is right weekdays from 4 to 7 p.m., when everythingѹes, everythingѩs $2. Beers, well drinks, and any one of three appetizers: strangely Dick’s-like cheeseburgers with a few yummy fries ($2!), serviceable mini-pizzas ($2!), or the requisite wings ($2!). OUTDOOR SEATING! 927 Ninth Ave., 206-682-2695.
FREMONT
FREMONT RED APPLE MARKET AND WINE BAR Between 5 and 8 p.m. weekdays and 3-6 p.m. weekends, have a $5 glass of vino or pay $5 for a flight tasting of three wines. Munchies are complimentary. 3601 Fremont Ave. N., 206-633-3663.
PONTI SEAFOOD GRILL Half-price appetizers like Cajun barbecued prawns, grilled calamari, and wasabi ahi nori roll. All pints and well drinks are $2.50 weekdays from 4-6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.-close, and weekends from 5-6:30 p.m. OUTDOOR SEATING! 3014 Third Ave. N. (S. end of the Fremont Bridge), 206-284-3000.
GREEN LAKE
LUAU POLYNESIAN LOUNGE The second best thing about Luau’s Hula Happy Hour is that it’s not crowdedѯn the contrary, Luau is surprisingly quiet from 3 to 5 p.m. every day, with prime outdoor seating available for the taking. The best thing about Hula Happy Hour (aside from its name) is that the alarmingly friendly employees are known to pass out free Otter Pops on occasion. Other really good things: Luau’s Hawaiian cocktails ($4.50-$5), the signature buckets of cute little 7-ounce Coronitas on ice ($5 for 3, $9 for 5, and $11 for 7), and the island-inspired “pupus” (appetizers), like guava barbeque ribs ($5) and Kahlua pork sandwiches ($8). Plus the tiki decor! OUTDOOR SEATING! 2253 N. 56th St., 206-633-5828.
TACOS GUAYMAS It’s happy hour at the Green Lake location weekdays from 4-6 p.m. and 10-midnight, with $5 margaritas and $3 Dos Equis draftsѡnd the tacos at Guaymas are always cheap and always good. Cinco de Mayo? “Big, big party is gonna be fun!” OUTDOOR SEATING! 6808 Green Lake Way E., 206-729-6563.
CHINATOWN/INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
BUSH GARDEN With a faux pagoda roof over the bar and cushy vinyl seats with roller wheels, it’s cherry-blossom Japan meets American airport cocktail lounge, and the results are pleasing indeed. The two-for-one appetizer (including skewers of shrimp wrapped in baconѮow that’s a snack, people!) and sushi happy hour will make you extra-happy. Bar only, Mon.-Fri., 5-6:30 p.m. 614 Maynard S., 206-682-6830.
MOUNT BAKER
THE ROSE CLUB So it’s not happy hourѩt’s still boss: Every Monday night is Ladies’ Night at this sweet little Mount Baker spot, with half-price bottles of wine (that’s any bottle), $2 beers, and half-price pizzas (including potato and roasted garlic, caramelized onion and goat cheese, and specials like pancetta and pepperoni). P.S.: Gentlemen are welcome and will receive the same special prices despite their genderѩt’s in HONOR of the ladies. OUTDOOR SEATING! 3601 S. McClellan, 206-725-3654.
PIONEER SQUARE
DINER Are you the type of person who likes to lounge in a red vinyl booth and watch Crossfire while simultaneously listening to ’80s music? Of course you are. If you’re also the type of person who likes to drink beer in the late afternoon, Diner is the place to be. There are $2 domestics, $2.50 microbrews, and $3 imports Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., with a daily happy hour food special for $2.99 (e.g., Monday, pizza loaf; Thursday, cheeseburger and fries). Want to drink with the kids? Diner also has a soda fountain happy hour between 3 and 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Drink a big, thick lager and watch those cute rug rats color the menu. OUTDOOR SEATING! 72 S. Washington St., 206-340-8859.
LUIGI’S GROTTO Go down the steep steps, through the doors, and hang a left to get to the Vino Vino Lounge, home of indescribably odd atmosphere, Sopranos-esque service (except they don’t shoot you), and one of the best and weirdest happy hours in town. Luigi’s is a labyrinthine underground place, aggressively decorated in homegrown Eyetalian style; the lounge has vinyl tablecloths and a stand-up cooler that you can see used to belong to Snapple. Turkish chanterelles; arugula with gorgonzola and pine nuts; and garlic-rosemary cannellini bean spread served with warm wedges of flatbread; How many happy hours offer snacks like these? From 4-6 p.m. weekdays at the Grotto, you can get a beverageѷine, beer, or well drinkѡnd a lovely six-plate sampler of fancy Italian finger food for a mere $10. 102 Cherry St., 206-343-9517.
QUEEN ANNE
HOYT’S PUB It is little short of astounding that something this blue-collar still exists on top of Queen Anne. Nice, drunk couples in Levis shoot pool and sing along with James Brown. Russian women sit in the booths discussing their lazy boyfriends. LibbyѢlonde, skeptical, and straight out of a Raymond Carver storyѴakes your orders. It’s grand. There are drink specials from 4:30-6:30 p.m. weekdays. Everything is the color of mahogany and soothing like the womb. 1527 Queen Anne Ave. N., 206-284-2656.
OZZIE’S ROADHOUSE Despite a redecoration that mainly serves to confuse, Ozzie’s dives onward at the foot of Queen Anne. Happy hour here, 4 to 6 p.m., is a splendid way to begin a downward spiral of a night, with $2.50 wells and $2.25 beers, and a $2 bar menu including wings, chicken fingers, and their ilk. The food’s not going to be anything to write home about, but you’re at Ozzie’s, so you’re obviously not too particular. 105 W. Mercer St., 206-284-4618.
REDMOND
CELTIC BAYOU You crave jambalaya. She wants a heaping plate of bangers and mash. If this dilemma sounds frightfully familiar, the Celtic Bayou is the answer to your prayers. Mostly it’s the food that’s Cajun and the beer that’s Irish, but the cross-cultural wackiness knows no strict boundaries here. Happy hour happens daily from 4 to 7 p.m., during which two of the Bayou’s fine selection of Far West Ireland Brewing Company beers are chosen at random each hour to go for the low, low price of $2.75 a pint. Happy hour appetizer specials and outdoor seating sweeten the deal. The Bayou’s locationѩt’s tucked into a strip mall spitting distance from 520ѩs also a godsend for those who’ve longed for a one-stop destination where you can drop off the dry cleaning, get a buzz, and buy a parakeet. Life is good. OUTDOOR SEATING! 7281 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway N.E., 425-869-5933.
COHO CAFɼ/B> Appetizers for hearty appetites include shrimp and crab quesadillas, harissa-spiced pork ribs, double-fried chicken wings, and rock-shrimp cakes, all no more than $6. Get $1 off draft beer, wine by the glass, and well drinks from 3-6 p.m. and 9 p.m.-close daily. OUTDOOR SEATING! 8976 161st N.E., 425-885-2646.
ROOSEVELT/WEDGWOOD
WEDGWOOD ALE HOUSE The unusually erudite regulars may sit at the bar inside and discuss the ramifications of a depleting ozone (really, they do), but the outdoor seating is where it’s at for happy hour relaxation. Big picnic tables sit in perpetual shade. Nice people smoke cigarettes and talk about art. An occasional breeze blows your hair in a way that makes you feel like a happy child. From 3 to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, it’s all perfect for enjoying a $3 pint and a huge plate of $3 spicy nachos (but be warned, this is the only happy hour snack). The service is quick and a soothing, and an amicable Wedgwood vibe pervades the air. It’s lovely. OUTDOOR SEATING! 8515-A 35th N.E., 206-527-2676.
SEATTLE CENTER
LIQUID LOUNGE It’s Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., you don’t have to pay the $20 museum admission, and $3 will get you a well drink, or stuffed mushrooms, or jerked chicken wings, or pizza, or mini pulled pork sliders, or a hummus and olive plate with fresh flatbreadsѡnd draft beers are only $2.50. F.Y.I. and/or warning: Happy hour is in full effect before Sonics home games and also afterward till close with a ticket stub. 325 Fifth Ave. N., 206-770-2777.
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
THE IRISH EMIGRANT The Irish waitress, with a timbre of melancholy and fatigue, calls you “hon” and “sweet” while bringing you a $3 pint of Harp during happy hour (4 to 7 p.m. daily). “Thank you,” you say. You take a bite of your $3 Macho Nachos that are short on cheese but big on filling. The sun falls on your face out on the outdoor deck, and you look around at summer college students and off-the-clock painters sipping cold ones and talking about Professor Davis, Edgar Martinez, and the joy that comes with sunshine. The beer is good, and the $3 fare (from half-pound burgers to a beef stew that no one seems to order) is simple and does what happy hour food should: satisfies. And that’s how you feel at the Emigrant: satisfied. 5260 University Wy. N.E., 206-525-2955.
IVAR’S SALMON HOUSE It’s like a trip to Tillicum Village, without the boat ride and with a full bar. Could it get any better, really? Yes! The bar is called the Whalemaker Lounge! And it has a great view of distant, forgotten downtown! And happy hour well drinks, draft beers, house wines, and appetizers (chowder with garlic bread! Calamari! Clam strips and chips! Caesar! And more!) are only $2.50! 3:30-6:30 p.m. and 9-10 p.m. weekdays. OUTDOOR SEATING! 401 N.E. Northlake Way, 206-632-0767.
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