Thrillist Shares - Best Happy Hour in (Almost) Every Twin Cities Neighborhood
by Cindi Sutter, Chief Communicator & Editor of Spirited Table®
If you’re looking for the best happy hours in Minneapolis/St.Paul Neighborhoods: Today, I present the first ten by DUSTIN NELSON Updated On 09/09/2019 at 05:57PM EST@dlukenelson. You’ll find the rest of Dustin’s list by clicking at the bottom of this list! Enjoy and drink responsibly!
Whether you’re looking for the best cocktail in town or trying to show an out-of-town guest the ropes, everyone loves a good happy hour. That’s doubly true when it comes with an outstanding local beer, Juicy Lucy, or cocktail with a particularly satisfying pun. (Hey, Parlour’s Do It for the Graham.)
Of course, Uptown isn’t what it used to be and the Midway is rapidly changing under the weight of Allianz Field. But there are still loads of good places to enjoy a happy hour without feeling like you’ve gone to hell or, worse, downtown St. Paul. (Sorry.) Here are some of the best happy hours you’ll find in almost every Twin Cities neighborhood.
Battle Creek
Sun Ray Lanes
When: Monday-Friday from 12pm-6:30pm and Sunday-Thursday from 9:30pm-midnight
The deal: Yup. A bowling alley. Sun Ray gives you what you’re looking for, especially if you’re looking for a solid happy hour. That first window will get you $1 off all bottles, rail drinks, and taps -- as well as $2 off all pitchers. The second window includes $1 off 16-ounce taps and rail drinks, $2.50 select bottles, $3 Captain Morgan drinks, and $2 off any pizza.
Como
Spring Cafe at Como Dockside Pavilion
When: Daily from 4-6pm
The deal: The happy hour is brief, but considering the beautiful space, it’s worth making plans around this discount. Grab $3 beers, $4 ciders, $5 glasses of wine, and a $6 order of wings during the happiest two hours of the day.
Dayton’s Bluff
Obb’s Sports Bar & Grill
When: Daily from 2-6pm
The deal: The old school haunt dishes up daily cheap food specials that include a three-piece broasted chicken for $9.25 or a Wednesday special with steak and ribs for $15.45.
Meritage - St. Paul Restaurant | Meritage - St. Paul Restaurant
Downtown St. Paul
Meritage
When: Tuesday through Friday from 3:30-5:30pm
The deal: Contrary to popular belief, there are indeed bars open in downtown St. Paul after dark. One of the area’s best restaurants offers happy hour only at the Oyster Bar or on the terrace, but you’ll land $5 Stella Artois or Summit seasonal beers, $5 house wines, and cocktails for $5.50. You’ll also find food for $6 or less, like oysters, smoked confit chicken wings, and house-marinated olives.
Downtown
Constantine
When: Monday-Friday from 5-9pm
The deal: Tucked away in the basement of Hotel Ivy, Constantine is a beautiful, dark space. The bar has excellent cocktails and the happy hour prices are a pretty steep discount.There’s a list of seven items. You can get any of them for $5, two of them for $9, and three for $13. It includes a short Old Fashioned, beer and a bump (aka shot of whiskey), house wine, highball, burger, gelato, and more.
Downtown East
Eastside
When: Daily from 4-6pm
The deal: Eastside is worth a trip for the cocktails and apps from James Beard finalist Jamie Malone, but it’s also a stellar happy hour for when you’re heading to Guthrie or even catching some music at the Cedar Cultural Center. Eastside is serving up $6 taps and $10 cocktails like the Astrid, Gold Rush, or Oaxacan Old Fashioned. They’ve also got food during happy hour, including oysters for $2.50 a pop, a shrimp cocktail for $12, or shishito peppers with sea salt and lime for $5.
East Side
The Cherry Pit
When: Monday from 11am-9pm, Thursday from 11am-6pm, Friday from 11am until bingo, and Saturdays from noon-5pm
The deal: You can double up your drink order for just a buck during any of those periods above. Additionally, Tuesdays have $3 Coronas or, from 8-10pm, you can get a margarita for $4. On Sundays from 10am-noon, you’ll be slurping down $2 Bloody Marys and mimosas. There are a ton of other deals at odd times. Check the site before you roll out.
Highland Park
Tiffany Sports Lounge
When: Monday-Friday from 3-6pm
The deal: A favorite among college students and people looking for a big screen on Sundays, Tiffany offers two-for-one drinks and bottled beer, $2 off draft beers and wines, and pints of Coors or Grain Belt for $3.25. You can also dig up some food specials during happy hour.
Kingfield
Nightingale
When: Monday to Friday from 4-6pm and 11pm-1am; Saturday and Sunday from 2:30-4pm
The deal: Nightingale has damn good food and a surprisingly alluring happy hour. You can grab $3.50 rail drinks, a rotating $5 cocktail, select taps for $3.50, Hamm’s for $2.50, or your choice of a Grain Belt or PBR Tall Boy for $2.75. There are also solid happy hour apps like $2.50 oysters, $4 french fries with malt vinegar aioli, and the option to tack a Hamm’s onto your burger order for just a buck. You should clearly never turn down a deal like that.
Longfellow
The Blue Door Pub
When: Daily from 2-5pm and 9pm-close
The deal: You’ll find the Blue Door in a couple of neighborhoods, but every one is best known for its turn on the Juicy Lucy: the Blucy. Come for the Lucy, stay for the happy hour that arrives like the local news, twice daily. Tap beers will run you just $3, and you can pick up a glass of wine for $7.50. For food in the afternoon, you can get $5 french fries or tater tots. The late-night happy hour only applies to food. It includes wings for $8.50, deep-fried pickles for $5, and fries or tots for $4, among other deals.
For the rest of Dustin’s list + Click thrillist.com.