Enjoying a beer, cocktail or glass of wine at the end of the workday – at a discounted price – is the epitome of a happy hour.
Our monthly Sound Bites segment in partnership with Sauce Magazine seeks to answer the question: Where are the best happy hours in the St. Louis area?
And, the magazine considered several “best of” happy hour categories including wine, beer, cocktails, day drinking, al fresco drinking, pitchers and ambiance.
The selection process was based on four qualities:
- Hours: Each restaurant’s happy hour times needed to be longer than one hour and occur at least four times per week.
- Food: Happy hour must include interesting food that tastes good.
- Drinks: The happy hour drink menu must include a variety of choices, including cocktails, wine, and domestic beer.
- Price: Price matters and so happy hour prices must reflect a decent markdown from regular menu prices.
On Friday, “Cityscape” host Steve Potter talked to Sauce Magazine’s Ligaya Figueras, Catherine Klene and Meera Nagarajan about their top happy hour picks.
Five Star Burgers located in Clayton and Kirkwood takes the overall trophy for best happy hour in town. For about $10, patrons can enjoy a glass of wine with sliders and other appetizers.
“It was a total value,” Nagarajan said. “I got a lot of food for what I paid for.”
Happy Hour Food
- Mike Shannon’s, located in downtown St. Louis, which includes half-off prices on upscale dining.
- Ya Ya’s, located in Chesterfield, features generous portion sizes at buy one, get one free specials.
- Katie’s Pizza, located in Rock Hill, features pizza and beer combinations, and 17 select draft beers for $3.
- Café Mochi, located in the Tower Grove neighborhood, features half-off deals on sushi rolls and nigiri.
- The Block, located in Webster Groves, has $5 starter item menu choices.
- Mango Peruvian Cuisine, located in downtown St. Louis, features $7 small plate specials.
Happy Hour beer, wine, and cocktails
The main feature of a good happy hour is, of course, the drinks. Here is Sauce Magazine’s top picks for beer, wine, and cocktails:
- Sasha’s on Shaw, located in St. Louis’ Shaw Neighborhood, holds happy hour wine specials until 1 a.m.
- The Dark Room, located in St. Louis’ Grand Center, features upper-tier wine at discounted prices, and as a bonus, patrons experience the culture of midtown.
- Taste, located in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood, features classic cocktails and mixed drinks for $6.
- BC’s Kitchen, located in Lake St. Louis, hosts happy hour all day on Sundays.
- Three Kings Public House, located in the Delmar Loop, features 23 rotating taps at half-off.
“Because the taps [at Three Kings] rotate all the time, you will have a different happy hour every time you go in,” Klene said.
Other great happy hour spots include Tic Toc Tavern, Planter’s House, Venice Café, Basso, and Tortillaria Mexican Kitchen.
Feel like happy hour is not for you? Figueras said there is a happy hour to fit almost anyone’s personality. “Everyone should go to happy hour, but not every happy hour is for you,” she said. “Thus, we set it up in this way so depending on the situation, your personality type, or what you’re in the mood for, there is a happy hour to fit you.”
“Cityscape” is produced by Mary Edwards and Alex Heuer and sponsored in part by theMissouri Arts Council, the Regional Arts Commission, and the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis.
