Downtown Happy Hour?
2007 April 1
John asked a question in the comments section about where to go downtown for happy hour. Rather than answering him there, I thought I’d turn it into a post and ask all of you where it is you like to go for happy hour.
Do you have a preference if you are in a beer mood? How about if you want a really good margarita or martini? Or maybe a nice glass of wine?
Is there someplace that has all of the above but also has really good deals on appetizers to go with your beverage of choice?
And are there places you won’t go because they allow/don’t allow smoking?
Please leave a comment if you know of a really great happy hour downtown!
Isabella’s has a great Happy Hour on Fridays with a buffet. It’s a no smoking environment as well, which makes it nice. I definitely keep away from the smoky bars–but they may not be an issue soon!
The Tasting Room is a great place to start (and end) your evening. Great drinks, great food and the atmosphere is very cosmo. Try the oysters or the lobster chowder for starts.
On a nice day like today, anyplace that has outdoor seating is my kind of happy hour! Off the top of my head, there’s Griff’s with a very small side patio. La Paz has a large outdoor area and pretty good margaritas. Tauraso’s has a huge patio and I believe they have a happy hour buffet. Brewer’s Alley has a small patio but it’s right on Market Street so it’s great people watching!
The Canal Bar and Grill is also a fun place to have some drinks. Not sure how their happy hours specials stack-up though. Also Bentz Street Sports Bar can be fun they open up the garage on nice days like this.
I suggest Isabellas…good happy hour food, good beer prices, no smoking. Unlike the sit-down places named by others Isabellas has a very long bar and the standing area around it fills up quickly. It’s a very nice place to meet new people just by bumping elbows.
I thought that the smoking ban was passed in Maryland!?! I won’t go to a place that is too smoky. I had an asthma attack in Buschwaller’s once. But, boy is their food and beer good!
Here are some good places:
Barley and Hops, especially on Monday. Monday there are $2 beers in the main dining room.
Houlihans: Specials on beer, wine, and rail, and half priced appetizers from 4-7 Mon.-Thurs. By favorites are the fried asparagus and goat cheese bruschetta.
Griffs: Good drink and food prices.
Sorry to be negative but here is where NOT to go: LaPaz — we live in walking distance and have gone there many times because it is convenient, albeit mediocre, Mexican. And we love the outdoor seating. But the final straw was Monday. Snippy hostess, excrutiatingly slow service, hostile server. What’s up with this place?
I would agree with this – we had the same experience & were so bummed!
Sorry, but LaPaz is a joke on local diners. Those in the know know that LaPaz’s food is third rate at best. Go down to Florida, Texas, or southern California, and you will see what real Tex-Mex and Mexican food is. LaPaz is a triumph of style over substance.
Ditto on the la-Paz , Although I am tempted to go sit on the patio and gulp… i eman sip on some ‘ritas.
In my single days , when I lived on Church street, Happy hour at Brewer’s Alley on Wed nights was the BEST.. GREAT free food and beer specials.
I know I seem to be a schill for the Alley on this page but it really is a great place.
Frednet.. errr Frederickmarylandonline , should have have a “Rally at the Alley” some time .. All the readers could meet , have some beers , put some faces with the logins so-to-speak.
Karl,
Maybe we should do that when “Live At Five” comes back? Guy has been threatening to make “FMO” t-shirts, in lieu of branding, for recognition.
I like Brewer’s Alley, but sometimes it’s hard to get to the bar for a beer it’s so crowded. A great place to grab a table outside on a warm day and watch the people pass in the street and the food is good, too.
An FMO Happy Hour/meet-up sounds fun! I think we should do it!
Stay Tuned,
Guy
If you come out of the city on the Golden Mile, you can’t beat G. Hunters for Happy Hour. They have Brewers Alley on tap and a free appetizer buffet(with drink order) that changes daily. As for outdoor seating, at G’s you can bask in the setting sun while overlooking the golf course.
Cheers to Beer!
You all missed the Bentz Street (Raw) Sports Bar. It was renovated a few years ago, and is lookin pretty good now.
Also, another vote for Griff’s. It’s your typical small seafood bar, grungy, with plastic fish and pirate heads hanging from the rafters, but the food is good, and the music, though loud, is usually much better than what I’ve heard in other Frederick bars.
Well, I am posting from unsecured wireless at both La Paz and Griff’s.
But I would have to say Isabella’s for Friday happy hour.