This isn't a comprehensive list of local bars and restaurants with discounted dishes and drinks for the post-workday crowd. But it is a roundup of 15 Tampa Bay happy hours you particularly don't want to miss.
Ava During the week, the SoHo favorite known for its inventive Italian cuisine does a generous happy hour of $7 specialty cocktails and $5 wine, liquor and select Neapolitan pies, plus other grub deals, between 4 and 7 p.m. (Food doesn't start until 5 p.m., FYI). 718 S. Howard Ave., Tampa, 813-512-3030, avatampa.com.
The Avenue Eat + Drink This downtown St. Pete burger joint hosts "social hour" from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Wells, wine, drafts and sangria are featured for $4, alongside $6 cocktails and $7 eats. 330 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg, 727-851-9531, theavenuedtsp.com.
Besito Mexican At Westshore Plaza, a surprisingly awesome spread of select drinks and food, including irresistible empanadas filled with crimini and button mushrooms, goat cheese and salsa verde cruda. Catch happy hour Monday to Friday from 4 to 6:30 p.m. 205 Westshore Plaza, Tampa, 813-287-4800, besitomexican.com.
The Blue Goose An EDGE District watering hole where the daily happy hour, available from 5 to 9 p.m., highlights discounted wells and select beers, which just about everyone can get down with. 48 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-201-9690, facebook.com/thebluegoosebar.
Boca Kitchen Bar Market Head to the Riverview location, which offers happy hour Monday to Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. and again from 9 to 11 p.m. Plus, all day on Tuesdays. Expect $3 house wine and Champagne, $5 premium well liquors, draft craft beer and house sangria. On the food side, there's a lineup of $3 apps, along with $5 items like ceviche and $8 selections ranging from pork belly tacos to smoked fish dip. 11206 Sullivan St., Riverview, 813-330-7997, bocabrandon.com.
The Brass Tap Between noon and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday — a happy hour time frame unique to the Brandon taphouse — $4 select drafts and house wines. You can pair your drinks with $6 snacks from 4 to 7 p.m. as well. 775 Brandon Town Center, Brandon, 813-654-4712, brasstapbeerbar.com.
Fly Bar & Restaurant Happy hour specials Sunday through Friday from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Known for its small plates (the tuna tartare is some of the best around), the downtown Tampa eatery spotlights $3 drafts, $3.50 premium wells and $5 sangria, in addition to half-off bar fare. 1202 N. Franklin St., Tampa, 813-275-5000, flybarandrestaurant.com.
Fodder & Shine The best of both worlds begins when this Southern-style go-to in Seminole Heights opens its doors. Belly up to the bar for $2-off house spirits and $1-off draft brews or glasses of wine, then pair it all with $1-off starters till 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. 5910 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-234-3710, fodderandshine.com.
Nueva Cantina Beverage specials on weekdays between 2 and 6 p.m., as well as 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. "That Mexican Place" serves up $3 wells, draft brews and house wine for happy hour. But don't worry — $3 house margaritas and frozen 'ritas (traditional and strawberry) are up for grabs, too. 1625 Fourth St. S., St. Petersburg, 727-851-9579, nuevacantina.com.
Rooster & the Till Open at 4 p.m. daily for happy hour, which goes to 6 p.m., the Seminole Heights favorite dishes discounted offerings that include wine, beer and modern American dishes for $8 and under. Unless, of course, you go for the $38 Little Kitchen Sink. 6500 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-374-8940, roosterandthetill.com.
Sea Salt A daily extended happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. with half-price wines by the glass, beer and premium liquors from the downtown St. Pete restaurant's bar and lounge. Perhaps the best part, however, is the promise of $1 gulf oysters Monday through Thursday. 183 Second Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-873-7964, seasaltstpete.com.
Señor Tequila Mexican Grill Mix-and-match buckets of beer for $15, a $5 Cosmo martini, and two-for-one mojitos, Bloody Marys, house margs and suds on tap. To score these steals? Go between 2 and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. 11115 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, 813-280-9955, senortequilamexicanrestaurant.com.
Stillwaters Tavern This happy hour runs 11 a.m. till 7 p.m., showcasing $4 16-ounce or $6 22-ounce draft beers. Glasses of wine, offered in 6- or 9-ounce pours, cost $1 per ounce, and there's also $5 bubbles, $7 tap cocktails and $4 wells to choose from. 224 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 727-350-1019, stillwaterstavern.com.
World of Beer Two happy hours are highlighted at Tampa's Fowler taphouse. Snag $3 or $4 drafts, $5 spirits and shareables, and $6 wines from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday. The same deals are available during the second happy hour, which runs Monday through Friday from 10 p.m. till close. 2815 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-559-1530, worldofbeer.com.
Yeoman's Cask & Lion This British downtown Tampa spot also features two happy hour options Monday to Friday. The first, from 3 to 5 p.m., slings beer, wine and cocktails for $2 off. Later, all wine, cocktails and beer are half price between 5 and 6 p.m. 202 N. Morgan St., Tampa, 813-224-9367, yeomanscaskandlion.com.
Where's your after-work "happy" place? Let us know where to find your favorite or habitual happy hour in the comments.
