I don’t care what you call it– happy hour, social hour, cocktail hour, power hour– but there is something magical about carving out an hour or two to enjoy a beverage and sample food you might not otherwise order.
Happy hours are beloved for different reasons mostly depending on personal circumstances. For some, happy hour entails finding the best deals to save your hard-earned wages. Others relish the time away from daily obligations and happy hour acts as a much-needed mental recharge. If you are part of the growing population of remote workers needing an excuse to get out of the house or looking to enjoy some time with friends, we have you covered.
This list is not the best happy hour deals in Spokane (although we have some listed) but a list of places that offer a delightful experience that will leave you, well…happy.
The Best Happy Hours in Spokane
- Union Tavern
- Pooles Public House
- Twigs Bistro
- Steelhead Bar & Grille
- Zola
- Rusty Moose
- The Viking
- Tavolata
- Gilded Unicorn
- Cascadia Public House
- Baba
- Bark, A Rescue Pub
- Zona Blanca
- Hunt
Along with each restaurant we’ll link to their happy hour menu if available. Make sure to check the menu before making plans as prices and happy hour menus can change.
Union Tavern
- Monday to Friday from 3-4 p.m. (drinks) 3-6 p.m. food and all day Sunday
It’s a literal happy hour, they call it ‘power hour’ at Union Tavern, where you will want to place your drink orders first and worry about food later. During power hour, you can grab $2 domestic drafts or $3 micros or wine. Food specials are plentiful with options like cheeseburger sliders, Wings, jalapeno bread sticks, or sausage bites with spicy mustard sourced from local Spokane favorites (and a couple of doors down) Sonnenbergs.
In addition to happy hour, stop by on Tuesdays for $3 micro cans all day long and grab a $5 cheeseburger for dinner (6-9 pm).
Pooles Public House
- Monday to Sunday from 3- 5 p.m.
Pooles Public House goes hard to hole with their happy hour drink specials, half-off all alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, and cocktails) in addition to daily specials like $2.50 beef tacos on Tuesday or $3 domestic bottles all day Thursday.
There are two locations, one on the South Hill and the other just north of Whitworth and both offer the same solid specials.
Twigs Bistro And Martini Bar
- Daily from 3-6 p.m. and 9 p.m.-close
I hesitate to place a chain on this list but Twigs is the exception for two reasons; It is a Spokane-based restaurant and the signature fries with gorgonzola are irresistible. Anytime I am by Riverpark Square, I need to stop in and get an order ($3 off during happy hour), even if I am getting them at full price.
The rest of the happy hour menu offers a wide variety of options with a couple of flatbreads or a selection of fusion tacos. This is one you need to try out.
Happy hour food is $3 off as are select cocktails while draft beer selections are $1.50 off. If you are visiting Spokane and unfamiliar with the growing brewery scene, try the NoLi drafts, especially the IPAs on tap.
Steelhead Bar & Grille
- Wednesday to Friday from 3-6 p.m.
Steelhead Bar & Grille is a sophisticated joint in a classic Northwest style, with industrial brick walls and a manufactured steel bar that really hits the Spokane vibe well. As far as the discounted fare, Steelhead keeps it simple and offers $3 discounts on all Appetizers, $2 discounts on cocktails, and $4 draft beers. Or, if you are looking to level up, you could trade in your pint for $8 Schooner.
The insider tip is to get the artichoke dip and/or steak bites. It’s happy hour, so why not just get the schooner?
Zola
- Monday to Friday from 4-6 p.m.
Long gone are the $1 happy hour beers of yesteryear, but the charm of Zola’s happy hour is the ambiance of a wide assortment of old stuff that is repurposed to give the dining room a trendy-industrial revival feel.
The food is always excellent here and it will be worth your while to stick around for the entire happy hour as more people start to fill up the bar for what will likely be a live music performance in the evening.
The happy hour menu has an assortment of items from the everyday menu but is pared down to smaller, less expensive, serving sizes. Well cocktails run $7 and draft beer is $5 for domestics and $6 for drafts.
Try the sliders, they have been the happy hour go-to item at Zola’s for as long as I can remember. If you just looking for finger foods, the sweet potato fries and chicken strips won’t steer your wrong.
Rusty Moose
- Daily from 4-6 p.m.
The Rusty Moose vibe is what you would expect from its name. It’s a Ron Swanson type of joint with an upscale hunting lodge feel in the lounge with giant moose antlers hanging above a large gas-fire figure lining one side of the bar.
If you are visiting Spokane, you might want to circle this happy hour since Rusty Moose is a few minutes from Spokane International Airport. It is also close to Northern Quest, so if you want a good spot away from the casino, this is your spot.
As far as drinks, there are 5 cocktail options, including an Old Fashioned, for $7, or you can grab a well cocktail for $5 ($1 off drafts). The Moose also has some discounted appetizers and $9 shortened flatbreads.
The Viking
- Monday to Saturday from 2-6 p.m. and all day Sunday
The Viking is the classic Spokane beer bar and it does that very well. It’s not going to pretend to be a hifalutin trendsetting bar, but what it lacks in flair it makes up for with strong drinks and strong menu items.
The happy hour drinks are all slightly discounted ($1-2 off) as are the appetizers ($2 off) but the selection of draft beers is outstanding. In addition to happy hour, The Viking also has daily food and drink specials (Taco Tuesdays and discounted margaritas or $2 tall boys on Thursdays) that are all worthy of your time.
Tavolata
- Daily from 7-9 p.m.
Tavolata is the first Ethan Stonewell Restaurant in the Spokane area (we have highlighted our favorite ESR place, How to Cook A Wolf in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood) and like all ESR restaurants, Tavolata is absolutely delicious.
The happy hour menu has 4 select plates of pasta for $15 each as well as quality appetizers like roasted beets with ricotta and crushed walnuts or croquettes with a tomato aioli. The cocktails are $3 off– try the Rosy Afternoon if you are a gin drinker, or Little Italy if not.
If you can’t make it here for dinner, you must try the happy hour. Order a small plate, absolutely can’t miss with pasta and if you want a sweet finish, the lemon zeppole dipped with chocolate is superb.
Gilded Unicorn
- Sunday to Thursday from 4-6 p.m., 10 p.m.-close and Friday to Saturday 3-5 p.m., 10 p.m.-close
The dining room at The Gilded Unicorn feels more like an old Perugian trattoria than Spokane casual eatery and I am all for that! The space used to be Catacombs Pub and while the aesthetic is still present, the food is quite a bit better and the drinks are levels better.
The happy hour menu is pretty extensive, with select menu items at different price levels from $4 deviled eggs to $7 order of tatter tots with caramelized onions, cheese, jalapenos, and brisket covered with mushroom gravy.
Beverages are marked down as well, $3 off well drinks and draft beers and $4 off wine and craft drinks. Try the French 75 or Burning Bush with a $6 Unicorn Mac N’ Cheese (add the pimento cheese and brisket!)
Cascadia Public House
- Monday to Saturday from 3-6 p.m. and all day Sunday. Late-night drinks only 10 p.m.- close
The happy hour at Cascadia Public House focuses on quantity especially if your drink of choice is domestic light beer. For $2.50, you could load up Bud or Coors Light drafts or take on $3.50 house liquor drinks.
The kitchen provides $6 house-made pretzels including beer cheese and ground mustard or house-made hummus, veggies, and baked bread.
Cascadia Public House has a very relaxed atmosphere and offers sizable outdoor seating to enjoy when the weather cooperates.
Baba
- Daily from 3-5 p.m.
Baba is founded by Adam Hegsted, a James Beard nominated chef (who also owns Gilded Unicorn), and is easily the best happy hour spot in Kendall Yards. Baba has excellent drink deals, fantastic Mediterranean-inspired food, and solid views of the Spokane River and downtown Spokane.
For happy hour, you can take $4 off craft cocktails and $2 off draft beers in addition to a large variety of food specials. A few favorites are the whipped feta with honey, Baba burger, kofta kebob (a personal favorite), and the absolute GOAT crispy falafel.
Bark, a Rescue Pub
- Monday to Friday from 2-5 p.m. and Daily 8 p.m. to close
Bark is serious about food and drinks and this shows throughout the entire establishment. Just take the draft selection for example, they have upwards of 40 solid draft beers in addition to a full bar menu each as good as the other.
The food is also no joke and if you can make it for brunch, do it! But we are here about the happy hour, and Bark again doesn’t disappoint. They offer $5 drafts of Spokane beers and $5 well drinks and pours of wine. They also keep the menu easy with $5 happy hour appetizers of totchos, loaded fries or hummus.
Zona Blanca
- Daily from 3-5 p.m.
Zona Blanca is a heavy hitter in Spokane– anytime a James Beard-nominated chef opens a place, it’s a pretty big deal. Top Chef star and award-winning owner Chad White opened Zona Blanca in 2016 and has been crafting seasonal menus that are downright transcendent.
The playbook for happy hours here is to grab a seat, order a margarita (make is spicy if that is your speed) and order the picadillo tacos and an order of guac and chips.
While you enjoy your beverage or two, take a look at the dinner menu and plan your next visit.
Hunt
- Tuesday to Saturday from 4-6 p.m.
Hunt is owned by another James Beard nominated chef, Tony Brown, and of all the restaurants on this list, the atmosphere at Hunt is my personal favorite. The restaurant is set up to resemble a full camp with separate themed rooms like the Tent Room– set up as a mess hall or The Boiler Room with a large sliding barn door, but the bar set on an aged brink wall provides the best seat in the establishment.
While the setting is top-notch, the happy hour menu is almost more impressive. Hunt offers $3 drafts, $4 wells, and $9 cocktails of your choice. You can also grab a selection of sandwiches or a Smashburger for $8 or the pimento cheese for $6.
