The bad news? It'll be getting dark at 4pm soon. The good news? Happy hour is about to feel more like a night out on the town. In the spirit (get it?) of helping thirsty Twin Citizens find the ideal happy hour for every type of imbiber, I joined forces with my fellow City Cast Twin Cities creative producers Tiffany Bui to share our top picks for happy hour in Minneapolis.
The Decadent Choice: Hai Hai
Sunday - Thursday, 4:00 - 5:30pm
$8 cocktails, $7-$9 appetizers, $5 beer, $9 house wine
Our pick: Wonton Nachos & Indeed Bia Side Pilsner (exclusive collaboration between Indeed and Hai Hai, lemongrass ginger pilsner)
Everything on Hai Hai's menu is delicious, and it's quite a treat to be able to get some of their cocktails and bites at a discounted price. It can be hard to make it there on time after work with happy hour ending at 5:30pm – try to get off work a little early or head over there on a Sunday to get the good deals.
The Best Food Deal: Ama Sushi (Edina)
Daily, 11:00am - 3:00pm
$9.95 for 2 sushi rolls, $12.95 for 3 sushi rolls, $14.95 sushi sashimi lunch
Our pick: Sushi Sashimi Lunch
Sometimes you want to feel like you're balling out on a Tuesday afternoon when you're really not spending all that much. Yes, we're bending the rules a little bit by featuring a restaurant in Edina, and a lunch special might not technically be a happy hour, but hot damn it's pretty awesome to get 4 pieces of sushi, 6 pieces of sashimi, and a tuna roll for under $15. Plus, Ama Sushi is owned by the same folks who own Momo Sushi in NE Minneapolis, so every dollar you spend at Ama helps Momo recover from the catastrophic kitchen fire they suffered over the summer.
The Late Night Deals: Taberna Tacos and Parkway Pizza
Taberna Tacos
Daily, 11:00am - 6:00pm and 9:30pm - Close
$3 - $5 - $7 deals on food and drink, $5 beer pints
Our pick: Taberna Sangria and Mexican Fries
Parkway Pizza
Daily, 2:00 - 5:00 and 8:00 - Close
BOGO beer and wine, $7 appetizers
Our pick: a Sociable Cider for you, a Steel Toe IPA for your friend that's into that kind of thing, artichoke dip, and some Sebastian Joe's ice cream.
We aren't going to die on the hill that Taberna's has the best food in town, but I'd be lying if I said there's anything that tastes better than fries with cotija cheese and jalapeños at the end of a night. And even though you might not think, "pizza place" when you think of happy hours, Parkway Pizza is truly one of the best deals around. It's pretty great to be able to grab BOGO drinks at 9pm and chase it down with some ice cream on a low-key night of self-care.
The Surprise Hero: Beckett's
Monday - Friday, 2:00 - 6:00pm
$5 off cocktail buckets, $5 burgers, $5 big beers
Our pick: Burger and a Skol Bucket (vodka, grape liqueur, lemonade)
Even if you don't like a sports bar, Beckett's happy hour is well worth your while. Kick your night off with a cocktail bucket and a burger for cheap, then head over to play some games at UpDown on the same block.
NE Moose
Monday - Friday, 2:00 - 6:00pm
$2 taps, $2.25 domestic pints, $1 off almost every other drink, and different food specials every day
Our pick: Go on a Tuesday to get 2 tacos for $5 and a $2 tap beer
331 Club
Monday - Friday, 3:00 - 6:00pm
$4 Fair State and Pryes Pints
Our pick: Fair State Party Forward Hazy IPA, friendship, and music
Northeast Minneapolis is rich with dive bars, and the Moose and 331 Club are two great options. The fact that you can grab a beer and 2 tacos from the Moose for $7 is just unbeatable. I also love to meet friends at 331 Club during happy hour, grab a beer, and stick around for whatever live music they have scheduled that evening (they have bands every night of the week).
Did I miss your favorite happy hour? Send me an email at adam.sage@citycast.fm and I might include it in our next newsletter.
