You had a day. Spilled coffee, forgotten meeting, missed deadline. Or maybe it was a great day: new job, new love interest, better job, better love interest. Or perhaps you just had a regular Thursday! Every day deserves to end with an hour of happiness, and having a drink and a snack at a discount is a good way to get that happy hour. All of these local establishments can assist you on your after-work or end-of-day venture for a little R&R.
5 Star Burgers
604 N Guadalupe St., Ste. A, 983-8977 4-6 pm daily
-$3 pints
-$3.50 house wines
-$1.50-$3.50 fried appetizers, like pickles, green chile strips and fries
-$5 loaded fries, which are humongous and have pulled pork piled on top
This burger joint can satisfy your craving for something fried and your want for a cold brew at the same time. Don't underestimate the turkey burger, bro.
AGAVE Lounge
Eldorado Hotel & Spa 309 W. San Francisco St., 995-4530
4-7 pm Monday-Friday
-$4 draft beers
-$5 wines, margaritas, housemade sangria and well drinks
-$4 Sriracha honey wings, Kobe sliders, spinach and feta artichoke dip and more
This spot's modern design and classy feel make us want to reach for a vodka martini, but the choices are plentiful.
Blue Corn Café
133 W Water St., 984-1800
4-6 pm Monday- Thursday
-$5 house margaritas
-$4 beers
Big windows in this upstairs space make for a cheery experience—one you can take out to the patio during kind weather.
La Boca
Taberna Location: 125 Lincoln Ave., 982-3433 Original Location: 72 W Marcy St., 982-3433
3-5 pm daily
-Half off select wine, sherry and tapas
Sit outside in the back of this expanded Spanish-inspired tapas spot at the Taberna, or inside the clean, white, minimal dining room at the original location just around the block.
Cowgirl BBQ
319 S Guadalupe St., 982-2565
3-6 pm Monday- Friday
-Half-price house and frozen margaritas
-2-for-1 appetizers (excluding nachos, quesadillas and sliders)
Be happier with a half-price marg after a rough day at work. And top it off with wings, because (yes, we said it) they're half price! They also feature daily live Americana, country, folk and rock performances in the evening, so you may catch a drink and a concert.
Dinner for Two
106 N Guadalupe St., 820-2075
4-6:30 pm Wednesday-Sunday
-Reduced-price appetizers ($4, $5 and $6)
The name of this favorite haunt is deceiving—they can totally accommodate larger parties, or perhaps a solo diner if that's more your style. Asian ribs, brie and apricot jalapeño poppers, crab cakes … Say no more.
The Dragon Room
406 Old Santa Fe Trail, 983-7712
4-6 pm Tuesday-Sunday
-Half-price trio of chips, guacamole, salsa and queso
-$5 house margaritas and house wines
Take in the cozy vibe that makes a margarita well worth the $5.
Duel Brewing
1228 Parkway Drive, 474-5301
4-6 pm Monday-Friday
-$1 off all beers
This SiDi Belgian-style brewery makes over a dozen craft beers.
El Farol
808 Canyon Road, 983-9912
4-6 pm Monday-Friday
-$5 tapas, like ceviche and the tortilla Española
-$5 wine, gin fizz, margaritas and sangria
A glass of sangria on Canyon Road is a nice end to any day. At publication time, the restaurant was undergoing renovations, but should be open again in summer 2017.
Georgia
225 Johnson St., 989-4367
4-6 pm daily
-$6 select wines
-$2 off beers
-$7 mac and cheese and $6 onion rings
Treat yourself to a picture-worthy craft cocktail inside this dark and broody bar, or sit on the bright brick patio. Top it off with comfort food and have a dandy afternoon.
Low 'n Slow Lowrider Bar
Hotel Chimayó de Santa Fe, 125 Washington Ave., 988-4900
4-6 pm and 10 pm-midnight Monday-Friday
-$5 well drinks and house wine
-$4 tap beer
-$6 margaritas
Belly up to the lowrider-themed bar and snag snacks from Estevan, the hotel's acclaimed restaurant.
Il Piatto
95 W Marcy St., 984-1091
4:30-6 pm and 9-10:30 pm daily
-Half off appetizers and special appetizers
-Half off small portions of pasta and entrees
-Half off glasses of wine
Real food and serious wine are a steal during the happy hours before and after the dinner rush.
The Palace Restaurant & Saloon
142 W Palace Ave., 428-0690
5-7 pm Tuesday-Saturday 5 pm-1 am Wednesdays
-$6 Caesar salad with housemade dressing and fried artichoke with horseradish cream
-$7 baked brie with roasted garlic and olives
-$9 half-dozen fresh oysters with chile vinaigrette and lemon
-40 percent off beer and 20 percent off liquor
A delectable menu, red-hued interior and discounts on drinks are all easy ways to brighten your mood at this Western-style bar and restaurant.
The Ranch House
2571 Cristo's Road, 424-8900
4-6 pm daily
-$6 smoked pineapple margaritas and cucumber crisps
-$5 well drinks and food specials
-$1 off all draft beers
They're known for their barbecue, so try the pulled pork sliders with green chile slaw with that cucumber crisp in between work and your errands on the Southside.
San Francisco Street Bar & Grill
50 E San Francisco St., 982-2044
4:30-6:30 pm Monday-Friday
-$3.50 La Cumbre, Marble Amber Ale and San Francisco Street Pilsner
-$4 chile cheese fries
-$5 blackened mahi tacos, chicken tenders
Get a great deal on local brews and pub grub at this convenient downtown institution.
Santa Fe Brewing Company
35 Fire Place, 424-3333
4-6 pm daily All day Wednesday
-$1 off all pints
A big selection, from the lightest pilsner to the darkest ale. If you're a beer person, you're happy. Maybe catch a concert at The Bridge, an outdoor venue.
Santa Fe Spirits Tasting Room
308 Read St., 780-5906
3-6 pm Monday-Friday
-$6.50 Moscow mules, Colin's Collins, berries and honey, gin and vodka tonics and more
Sip on a craft cocktail with spirits made right here in the City Different in this pitched-roof adobe on a quiet street. Drink Santa Fe in, literally.
Second Street Brewery
Original: 1814 Second St., 982-3030
Railyard: 1607 Paseo de Peralta, Ste. 10, 989-3278
Rufina: 2920 Rufina St., 982-3030
4:30-6:30 pm Monday-Friday
-$1 off all beer
Pick a location, any location, and you'll soon be feeling happy. If you're lucky, you'll catch a live performance from an Americana or jazz musician while you sip on a beer or a glass of cider.