In Seattle, we take our happy hours seriously! Below is a short list of some great downtown happy hours that offer tremendous value for both food and drink.
List Restaurant
List Restaurant: With its modern lounge setting and delicious locally-inspired food, List is perhaps the best tapas/small plates wine & cocktail bar in walking distance from the Convention Center. Don’t miss the handmade gnocchi with black truffle cream ($14), goat cheese & pear salad ($9), and seared Ahi tuna fillet with honey-ginger sauce ($14). During happy hour, everything on the food list is half off! Drinks are also on special with $15 bottles of house wine, $4 wines by the glass, and $3.25 draft beers.
Happy Hour times:
Sunday & Monday: All day (4PM – midnight)
Tuesday – Thursday: 4 – 6:30PM & 9PM – midnight
Friday & Saturday: 4 – 6:30PM
Alibi Room
Alibi Room: This Pike Place Market hideaway is just a 10-minute walk from the Convention Center (in Post Alley across from the Gum Wall), and has a menu of mostly thin-crust pizzas with classic & creative toppings. In addition to the pizza, check out the roasted garlic bulb served with brie & pita bread, or their excellent mac & cheese. During happy hour you can expect $4.50 drafts, $4.75 wells, $5 house wine, $5 – $6.50 select appetizers, and half-off mini specialty pizzas.
Happy Hour times: daily, noon – 6PM
The 5 Point Café
The 5 Point Café: For diner and dive bar lovers, this prohibition-era American diner is open 24/7 near Seattle Center, a 20-minute walk or 15-minute bus ride from the Convention Center. The 5 Point dishes up hearty all-day breakfasts, burgers and hot sandwiches. They have both weekday morning and afternoon happy hours with diner breakfasts under $6 and evening food specials under $4, including beer-battered & fried cheese curds with garlic aioli ($3.25). Drink specials include $3.75 wells, $2 domestics, and $3 microbrews. Do bring: your sense of humor. Don’t bring: Google Glasses!
Morning Breakfast Happy Hour: Mon – Fri, 6 – 9AM
Evening Happy Hour: Mon – Fri 4 – 6PM
McMenamins Six Arms
McMenamins Six Arms: Northwest brewer McMenamins’ Six Arms Pub is just a 6-minute walk up Pike Street from the Convention Center, serving traditional bar fare that incorporates fresh seasonal ingredients from local producers. If you want a bite in an awesome refurbished setting, you can’t go wrong at their happy hour with a BBQ pork slider ($3.70) or Little Hemp Burger ($4.75), side of Cajun tots ($2.65), and pint of their Ruby Ale ($4.50). Happy hour includes pub food specials with a drink order, plus beverage specials on McMenamins’ ales and ciders ($4.50 pints / $12.25 pitchers), $4.25 well drinks, and $2.80 PBR pints.
Happy Hour times: daily, 3 – 6PM & 10PM – midnight
If you’re still looking for more, here are just a few other happy hours in the area that offer a great value:
Cutters Crabhouse: Upscale (but with an affordable happy hour) Pike Place restaurant serving Northwest seafood in a refined, understated space with Elliot Bay views. Happy Hour times: Monday – Friday, 3 – 6PM & 9PM – close; Saturday & Sunday 4 – 6PM & 9PM – close
Mollusk: Unique Southeast Asian fusion dishes & a brewery with contemporary industrial décor; also a little upscale with a wonderful happy hour. Happy Hour times: Monday – Friday, 3 – 7PM
Athenian Seafood Restaurant and Bar: Low-key Pike Place Market institution serving breakfast, seafood, burgers & more with views of the market & Elliot Bay since 1909. Happy Hour times: Monday – Saturday, 4 – 9PM
This list is not exhaustive, and commonly places with a bar in Seattle have a happy hour so don’t hesitate to ask your server; it is also customary to tip a few extra dollars (or tip on the undiscounted amount) during happy hour for your hardworking restaurant staff. Know of any other “can’t-miss” happy hours in the area? Tell us about them below!