Happy Hour specials around Sonoma Valley

Good deals and great fun after work around town.|

The Silly 60. Primetime libations. It's 5 o'clock somewhere. Pau Hana. Beer 30. Wine o'clock. The list goes on.

While the term 'Happy Hour' dates as far back as Shakespearean times, the concept of drinking before dinner comes to us courtesy of Prohibition. With the banning of alcohol, people turned instead to frequenting a 'cocktail hour,' held at speakeasies, prior to adjourning to a restaurant where alcohol could not be served.

Fast forward 80-odd years and happy hour has staked its place in American lore and touts a list of synonyms longer than a swizzle stick. Today's 'Hour of Power' is more than a marketing ploy to boost liquor sales on slow weeknights. It is often a way to allow people to gather and wind down from the day without breaking the bank. Half-price drinks are grand, a little nibble to go with it is even better. Throughout Sonoma, there are numerous places offering specials to encourage you to whet your whistle before dinnertime.

B&V Whiskey Bar & Grill

400 First St. E., 938-7110

HH: Daily from 3 to 6 p.m.

Located in the historic Sonoma Creamery building, B&V does a great job with cocktails of all sorts as well as a nice list of fairly substantial bar bites that range from locally sourced fresh oysters on the half shell to Kobe brisket sliders, ahi poke chips and more. B&V has numerous spots at the bar as well as booth-style tables to encourage patrons to congregate as they wish.

Hopmonk Tavern

691 Broadway, 935-9100

HH: Monday to Thursday, 3 to 6 p.m.

Affectionately called 'Monk's Recess' Hopmonk is one of the best spots for al fresco libation. House wine at half price as well as an exhaustive beer selection, make this one of the most popular spots in town. When the weather's nice, take advantage of the outdoor seating to mix and mingle with friends both old and new. Food offerings include fish or carnitas tacos, sausage bites, sliders and more. Reasonable prices and good sized portions keep folks coming back for more.

La Casa

121 E. Spain St., 996-3406

HH: Monday to Friday, 4 to 6 p.m.

House margaritas, beer, wine by the glass and well drinks can't be beat. A fun list of specialty margaritas includes the Cadallic and the Cost Rack among others. Happy Hour bites are a bargain at either $3 each, or five items for $12. Choose wisely and it's easy to leave full and happy. Soft tacos, nachos, chicken or beef sope and even a gooey bean and cheese dip (fundido) are all available for noshing.

Mary's Pizza Shack

8 W. Napa St., 938-8300

HH: Weekdays, 3 to 6 p.m. plus

Sunday to Wednesday, 8 p.m. to close and Thursday to Sunday, 9 p.m. to close

Mary's offers drink specials that start at $3 for cocktails and $2 off wines by the glass. Favorites like breadsticks are dirt cheap at just $2.35 and other offerings like calamari fritti, chicken wings, the famous He & She meatballs and more are nicely discounted. A lively crowd lines the bar and nearby cocktail tables but patrons are welcomed to sit anywhere during Happy Hour.

Maya

101 E. Napa St., 935-3500

HH: Monday to Friday, 4 to 6 p.m.

Popular at any time of the day, Maya comes alive during its livelyhappy hour with Maya margaritas, well drinks, wine and beer. Food offerings include yummy sliders for just $3 each, 'Really Good Nachos' at a sure-to-satisfy price of $5.50 and tacos for $4 each. A house specialty, Panucho, is a Yucatan-style tostada stuffed with deliciousness for only $5.50 – big enough for dinner. Of course, the bar crowd makes this scene all the more worthwhile.

Murphy's

464 First Street East, 935-0660

HH: Monday to Friday, 4 to 6 p.m.

Come spring, the doors at Murphy's are flung wide open for balmy happy hours on the patio. The prices can't be beat with $5 pints and house wines at $6 per glass. Among other offerings, a few of the pub nibbles include calamari, pepper jack tater tots, a yummy and unusual cauliflower gratin and, of course, Murphy's famous 'frickles.' If you want to make dinner out of it, the hearty pub burger and beer come with fries for just $10.

OSO

9 E. Napa St., 931-6926

HH: Monday to Thursday, 5 to 6:30 p.m.

This fun little 21-plus spot is perfect for a drink and a bite before heading to see a movie, a performance or just going home. The drinks menu innovative offerings like sangria, a Lillet Blanc spritzer or Champagne cocktail. For the less adventurous there's beer on top and wine by the glass. A special Happy Hour menu includes fresh oysters, deviled eggs, a hummus plate, ceviche and more.

Plaza Tequila

19315 Highway 12, 933-9496

HH: Monday to Friday, 3 to 5 p.m.

Offering one of the earliest happy hours of the day, Plaza Tequila has a lovely outdoor seating area and great specials. From $1 tacos to discounted appetizers, $3 beer and top shelf margaritas for $6, the lively restaurant gets hopping early and stays busy through the dinner crowd.

Saddles

29 E. MacArthur St., 933-3191

HH: Nightly, 4 to 5:30 p.m.

The bar at Saddles is an intimate little spot for happy hour. Popular with both locals and tourists alike, the drink offerings include house sangria, wines by the glass, beer and a well martini - all happily priced. Bar snacks range from stuffed mushrooms to potato wedges, a grilled Kobe hot dog to onion rings. Or make a meal of things with a Ceasar salad with chicken or steamed mussels and clams.

Shiso

19161 Sonoma Highway, 933-9331

HH: Monday to Saturday, 3 to 5:30 pm

One of the only spots to offer a Saturday happy hour, Shiso goes all out with inspired food choices and unusual drinks. Pair your mandarin/cucumber gimlet ($5) with the sushi roll of the day, the crab puffs or panko fried oysters. The lychee martini ($5) might go well with the wasabi deviled egg. Whatever you choose, there are appetizers to fit different tastes and drink specials to fit most budgets.

Slice Shack by Mary's

14 W. Napa St., 938-9290

HH: 3 p.m. – see below for details

A different sort of happy hour, this fun deal from the new Slice Shack allows you to buy one slice of pizza at regular price ($4.50-$5.50) before 3 p.m. and then return after 3 p.m. for another at half off. Other specials are offered throughout the day as well. If you haven't tried the new Shack, inventive new flavors and old favorites come piping hot and crispy from the new pizza oven.

Sonoma Grill

165 W. Napa St., 938-7542

HH: Monday to Thursday, 3 to 5:30 p.m. and Fridays, 3 to 5 p.m.

For years, this location was one of Sonoma's best loved bar spots. Locals continue to flock here to visit with bartender Steve Ney while he pours signature cocktails, well martinis, wine and beer. With a large assortment of special happy hour nibbles from which to choose, you won't go home hungry. Try the garlic fries, chicken wings, or the seafood offerings like calamari, oysters both raw and BBQ'd and much more. A fun crowd lines the bar, offering its own special brand of nourishment.

The Plaza Bistro

420 First St. E., 996-4466

HH: Monday to Friday, 4 to 7 p.m.

Simple and straightforward, Plaza Bistro hits the Rusty Nail on the head with $3 well drinks, $4 draft beer and $5 house wine with other cocktails also available. A hearty list of 'Bar Dishes,' each offered at $5, includes a Caesar salad with grilled chicken, pork and beef meatballs with marinara sauce, various sliders and more. Go early to grab a spot.

The Reel

401 Grove St., 343-0044

HH: Every day from 3 to 5:30 p.m.

Boasting a daily happy hour that starts early in the afternoon, The Reel keeps the scene at the bar lively. With inexpensive drinks all the time, happy hour is even more budget friendly with $1.50 off all pints of beer. You can also order a Coors on draft with your choice of various food offerings (fish tacos are delicious) for anywhere from $5 to $7. Wines by the glass start at $5. Sit inside or out in the beer garden under the fabulous oak trees for a 'reel' treat.

The Starling

19380 Highway 12

HH: Monday to Friday from 3 to 7 p.m.

Sonoma's newest cocktail spot is known for its hand-crafted specialty cocktails using fresh local ingredients. Weekdays, you can choose one of four specials – like its Pickled Martini, Sloe Gizz Fizz or maybe its Italian Greyhound – that are $6 (down from $10 usually).

Have we missed any? Let us know. Email jpurdom@mac.com.

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