As far as days of the week go, Monday through Thursday don’t really have a lot going for them. For most of us, these weekdays are consumed by jobs, errands and other mundane activities that are a part of the daily grind. Every once in awhile, in an effort to maintain our sanity, it becomes necessary to take a break from this grueling monotony to relax, socialize, and throw back a few drinks- or better yet, throw back a few drinks at discounted prices. This is why God and the restaurant/bar industry created happy hour.

Like a shining beacon in the dull, gray landscape that is the work week, a happy hour (or more likely happy hours) at a local establishment with friends or co-workers can sometimes be just what you need to get through a tough day on the job. Lucky for us, most restaurants and bars in the St. Louis area recognize this need and offer food and drink specials during the early evening hours after work. I’ve been to a few happy hours in my day, and highlighted below are a few spots whose great deals make me just about as happy as the half-priced drinks themselves:

Ice Kitchen – Westport Plaza

Ice Kitchen opened last summer and comes from the same owners of Drunken Fish and Xes Nightclub. The vibe is swanky and trendy, with blue backlighting everywhere; it really does make you feel like you might be in some sort of ice cave… without the inconvenience of being freezing cold. The happy hour specials are hard to beat. They have an extensive list of martinis and cocktails, all of which are half price from 3pm until 7 pm every weekday.  Their happy hour also includes specials on selected food items and domestic bottles. Make sure to check out the ice bar – it keeps your drink cold as you sip!

Bristol Seafood Grill – Creve Coeur

Bristol may already be a favorite for some of you seafood lovers, but have you ever been there for happy hour? Every Sunday through Friday from 4pm until 7 pm, all of their signature handcrafted martinis and cocktails are half off– and delicious! My all time favorite is the ‘Pink Pops’ martini. In addition to half price drinks, they also offer special prices on appetizers and lobster. If you’re looking for a relaxing, classy place to hang out after work, this is it! Make sure you sit in the bar, as happy hour specials only apply to that area of the restaurant.

The In Spot – Delmar Loop

I’ll be honest – I actually haven’t tried this place yet, but their happy hour special is too good not to mention. From 4:30pm until 7pm it’s all you can drink wines, and all you can eat appetizers and desserts for only $10. The only problem is that this special only happens on Fridays. The upside is that they have several other specials that you can take advantage of any day of the week:

Movie & Dessert Special – Bring in your same day movie ticket stub and get a free dessert with any martini or wine purchase
Girls Night Out Special – 2 drinks, 2 food items and 2 desserts for $25
Couples Special – 4 drinks, 2 food items and a shared dessert for $35

Houlihan’s – all St. Louis area locations

Normally I steer clear of most chain restaurants unless I’m stuck in an airport (in which case, Chili’s Too is the best!). But once my work friends and I discovered the happy hour specials at Houlihan’s, we became what you might call “regulars.” Every day from 3pm until 6pm, all appetizers are $6 and house cocktails and draft beer are half off. If you feel like spending a little more, try the mini martini flight – 3 cute, little, yummy martinis for $9. And don’t worry, “mini” doesn’t mean shot glass-sized. The smaller versions are probably a little bigger than half of a regular martini, so you don’t feel cheated. Just remember to sip, these babies go down quickly!

The Post – Maplewood

If beer is your drink of choice, and sports your viewing preference then you won’t want to miss out on happy hour at The Post. It doesn’t get much cheaper than $2 domestic pints. Combine that with $5 appetizers and $3 well drinks, and you’ve got yourself a great deal. The Post is always a fun, energetic place to hang out- especially during big games. It’s not necessarily the low-key option, but it’s the kind of place where excitement and enthusiasm are contagious, and you may find yourself making a few new friends by the end of the night.

Image credit: Biteclubeats.com

Carlie is the Food and Drink Editor for Girls Guide. By day she is an educational textbook editor, and she moonlights as a foodie and barfly. You can email her at carlie [at] girlsguidetothegalaxy [dot] com, and you can follow her on Twitter – @carbirwin.