You were going to take it easy tonight. You told yourself: Not this weekend, hangover. Then life happened. And work. Five straight days of it. So here’s three of our tried-and-true, go-to happy hour menus when it comes to getting a high-quality bang for your buck come 5 O’clock. Which, let’s face it, you were probably going to hit one of these anyway.
Bulla Gastrobar
Every Day, 3 – 7 p.m. | SoHo Tampa
The Deal: The bar-only food menu is a murderer’s row of fresh tapas, boards and flatbreads. Which are really just tasty vehicles for $7 specialty cocktails and martinis, $6 sangrias and $3 beers. It also boasts a wine list that is far too long to land on a happy hour menu, and yet there it sits.
The Copper Shaker
Every Day, 4 – 7:30 p.m. | St. Pete & Ybor City
The Deal: $6 cocktails for a three-and-a-half hour stretch is a dangerous game friend-o. Especially when the featured spirits are fine, high-quality reserves and not the barback’s latest swill. Consider this one on a rainy day, when all your after-work heart desires is a strong cocktail in an elegant room.
The Blind Goat
Monday – Friday, 3 – 7 p.m. | South Tampa
The Deal: No glitz, no frills, and no drinks over $5. This is the laid back, neighborhood hang when all you want is a cold draft beer, maybe a margarita, maybe a $7 pizza to blow off some steam with a few pals. The prices will spare you more than a few quarters, which is nice, because you’re in for a glorious afternoon of darts and Golden Tee.