By Natalie Lescroart

Times are tough in today’s economy, and work feels tougher. The clock hits five and we’re all ready to make a run for the door and head for the closest watering hole. But after days, weeks or years of this routine, it can take more than a cold beer and bar banter to ease the pain of a rough day at the office. Perhaps a game of Cornhole, live music or $2 oyster shooters will do the trick. Here, we’ve compiled a list of happy hour hot spots that offer more than just your average drink specials.

 

City of Alexandria

Alley Cat Lounge
2 S. Whiting St., Alexandria; 703-461-0450; alleycatalexandria.com
The four dartboards at the region’s self-proclaimed “leader in darts” are open for happy hour at the Alley Cat Lounge from 4 to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday. This jazzy venue additionally offers three pool tables, an extra-large video game monitor, a dozen TVs and live music acts. Sample any of the dinner apps for $5, and wind down with a few cheap brews.

Hard Times Cafe
1404 King St., Alexandria; 703-837-0050; www.hardtimes.com
Saddle up at the King Street Hard Times from 4 to 7 p.m. for half off onion rings, chili and bacon-cheese fries, then wash it all down with discounted wine and cold beer.

Mango Mike’s
4580 Duke St., Alexandria; 703-370-3800; www.mangomikes.com
Head to the Tiki bar at Mango Mike’s from 4 to 7 p.m. every day for “exotic eats and Caribbean beats.” Happy hour patrons enjoy reduced-price island tapas—like barbecue sliders, coconut shrimp and seared tuna—while the frozen margaritas flow. If you can only make it to Mike’s one day a week, make it Wednesday. From 4 to 6:30 p.m., oyster plates are $5 at the raw bar.

 

Arlington County

Café Asia
1550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; 703-741-0870; www.cafeasia.com
For a fine array of Asian cuisine at low prices, check out the happy hour at Café Asia. Patrons can purchase sushi rolls for $1.35 from 4 to 7:30 p.m., every day but Sunday. Not into sushi? Treat your taste buds to any of the restaurant’s other Thai, Indonesian, Malaysian, Vietnamese or Japanese offerings—all of which are served with a modern flair. Wash down your afternoon snack with specially priced draft beers at either of the two full-service bars.

Carpool
4000 Fairfax Drive, Arlington; 703-532-7665; www.gocarpool.com
Play a round of pool at any of the auto-themed billiards room and bar’s 10 tables, or try your luck at darts and shuffleboard. In nice weather, the two outdoor patios are the place to indulge in half-price happy hour appetizers from Monday through Saturday, 4 to 8 p.m. Female pool sharks are invited to come out Wednesdays for free rack-ups and drink specials.

Caribbean Breeze
4100 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, 703-812-7997; www.caribbeanbreezeva.com
Located next to Carpool, Caribbean Breeze is a logical stop on any Arlington happy hour bar hop. Boasting a unique “Nuevo Latino” menu, the restaurant offers $3.99 pineapple pizza, crab sliders, empanadas and more from 4 to 8 p.m. every weekday. Wallet-friendly mojitos, margaritas and sangria will keep patrons happy on the patio, but it’s the Cornhole boards that have generated the most buzz for this popular post-work hangout.

Piola
1550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; 703-528-1502; www.piola.it
This chain, which opened in Treviso, Italy, back in 1986, offers some of the most authentic Italian cuisine around—and it’s free with a happy hour drink. With the purchase of any fresh sangria, beer, wine or liquor, patrons have free reign over a savory selection of olives, meatballs, prosciutto, mozzarella, bruschetta and other Italian classics. “L’Aperitivo Italiano” is served Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 8 p.m.

Rock Bottom
4238 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1256, Arlington; 703-516-7688; www.rockbottom.com
Starting at 4 p.m. daily, bartenders serve up handcrafted specialty beers right from their on-site brewery. On Fridays and Sundays, purchase a pint, and you can keep the logo glass. Show up Thursday, and sing karaoke while sipping on discounted martinis. Sign up for free to be a member of the Mug Club, and you’ll earn extra deals, including half-priced burgers on Mondays and $0.25 wings every Trivia Tuesday.

Union Jack’s
Ballston Common Mall, 671 N. Glebe Road, Arlington; 703-778-3568; www.unionjacksballston.com
Kick back after work with one of 15 beers on tap from England and around the world, and take part in one of the British mega-pub’s nightly contests, like trivia on Mondays. Check the pub’s website frequently, as daily specials are updated each week and range from poker and $5 pizza nights to free pool and dance parties.

 

Fairfax County

Chef Geoff’s
8045 Leesburg Pike, Vienna; 571-282-6003; www.chefgeoff.com
Spoil yourself with “The Sunset Special” at Chef Geoff’s luxurious happy hour. Every day from 4 to 6:30 p.m., you can order a gourmet three-course dinner for $19.95, and any bottle of wine you purchase on a Monday will be half off. Happy-hour rates apply all night long on Mondays and Tuesdays, so take advantage of discounted super mugs, longnecks and wines, as well as $5.95 Cheff Geoff burgers and $8.95 pizzas. Wednesday through Friday, happy hour runs from 3 until 7 p.m.

On the Border
8053 Leesburg Pike, Vienna; 703-893-4395; www.ontheborder.com
This popular Tex-Mex chain has become the bustling corporate watering hole of Fairfax County. Half-off appetizers and house margaritas from 3 to 7 p.m. help get things started as you catch up with friends and coworkers over fresh chips and guacamole.

M&S Grill
11901 Democracy Drive, Reston; 703-787-7766; www.mccormickandschmicks.com
Try out M&S Grill’s $1.95 bar menu: From 4 to 7 p.m. choose from oyster shooters, chicken wings and spinach dip, all for a $2 bill. For $2.95, you can get a half-pound cheeseburger, calamari or seafood gumbo. For a buck or two more, the whole menu is oyster. Similar deals apply at McCormick & Schmick’s other NoVA locations in Reston, Arlington and McLean.

Café Martini
13840 Braddock Road, Centreville; 703-543-8056; www.cafemartiniva.com
Enjoy an urban lounge feel in the suburbs with a chilled martini or cold draft beer. Appetizers are $5, and any of the menu specialties are half off. From 4 to 7 p.m., pool is free. Stick around on Wednesdays for the J Men Jazz Band that plays each week from 7 to 9 p.m.

Morton’s The Steakhouse
11956 Market St., Reston; 703-796-0128; www.mortons.com
While a prime rib dinner at Morton’s may exceed most people’s ideas of a moderate budget, the steakhouse’s affordable happy hour “bar bites” include high-quality crab cakes, prime cheeseburgers, jumbo lump crab and petite filet mignon sandwiches, $5 each, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and again from 9 to 11 p.m. Fine wines are also discounted for the after-work hours.

 

City of Fairfax

The Auld Shebeen
3971 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax; 703-293-9600; www.theauldshebeenva.com
The Irish pub and restaurant offers significant price cuts on beverages and more than 50 percent off all appetizers from 4 to 7 p.m. during the week. Happy hour blends seamlessly into late night here, where patrons enjoy live Irish music on Fridays and Saturdays from 7 to 9:30 p.m., and karaoke on Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m.

Icons Sports Lounge and Grill
10418 Main St., Fairfax; 703-865-6101; www.fairfaxicons.com
Icons frequently changes the daily specials it offers for its 4 to 9 p.m. happy hour. Rotating attractions include ‘80s night, Xbox tournaments and the $3 global snack menu.

 

Falls Church

 

Velocity Five
8111 Lee Highway, Falls Church; 703-207-9464; www.velocityfiverestaurant.com
Stop by this upscale sports restaurant and bar to watch the game and munch on half-price appetizers any weeknight from 5 to 7 p.m. Drink specials run from 4 to 9 p.m. With dozens of flat-screen TVs broadcasting hundreds of Direct TV channels, you won’t have to worry about missing a play. Look around every once in a while, and you might spot one of the various athletes and celebrities known to make special appearances and drop-ins at Velocity Five, including Redskins Art Monk and Doc Walker.

Sea Pearl
8191 Strawberry Lane, Falls Church; 703-372-5161; www.seapearlrestaurant.com
With its strings of delicate pearls and shells hanging from the walls, this marine-themed seafood restaurant recently introduced a new happy hour, Monday through Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. Aside from daily wine, beer, and martini discounts, the Sea Pearl’s happy hour includes a $5 menu of California rolls, spicy tuna rolls, oysters on the half shell and calamari.