Nothing beats a great happy hour special, especially when you’re taking a break from holiday shopping or touring downtown with a group of friends or out-of-town guests. Trendy Wooden City (821 W. Riverside Ave.) has a happy hour every day from 4 to 5:30 pm that offers $1 off draft beer, as well as $9 gimlets (gin or vodka) or glasses of the house red or white. Of course, if you don’t feel like imbibing, there’s also a “zero proof” menu with drinks like a virgin pineapple daquiri or a lavender lemonade. Snacks like pepperoni cheesy bread, mushroom skewers or prosciutto toast curb a growing appetite and pair well with anything.

Meanwhile, Twigs River Park Square gives you two chances to enjoy happy hour every single day: from 3 to 6 pm and again from 9 pm to closing! Along with small plates — flatbreads, for example, or pork tacos — there’s a discounted drinks list that features a $10 signature martini or an ultimate lemon drop. All draft beer during both happy hour sessions is just $6. “Everyone loves our landing at the holidays, because you can see Santa and the full giant Christmas tree in the mall atrium,” says David Hoblitt, assistant general manager at Twigs. “Happy hour is also a great time to try our seasonal drink, the Autumn Apple Crisp. It’s an adaptation of a mule with brown sugar bourbon.”

Close to Riverfront Park is Tavolàta (221 N. Wall St.), where happy hour runs from 4 to 6 pm daily. As you’d expect from an Ethan Stowell restaurant, the small-plate menu is a little different, offering roasted beets with ricotta and walnuts or a chef-selected salumi board. The drinks menu is equally inspired. Among the cocktails are the Little Italy (bourbon, amaro, black walnut bitters) and rosé sangria, and the wine specials are a mix of local and Italian vintages.

Article and image by: The Inlander