St. Louis City Neighborhoods: Soulard/Benton Park
Frazer's Restaurant & Lounge
1811 Pestalozzi Street; 314-773-8646 or click here for more info and a map
Happy Hour: Weekdays 3 to 7 p.m., with an all-day happy hour on Thursday; $2 bottles of select domestic beers, $3 well drinks and select draft beers, $5 glasses of wine and specialty martinis, half-price pizzas (Monday through Thursday), free appetizers (4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday)
The bar at Frazer's Restaurant & Lounge feels sophisticated yet laid-back, comfortable but not worn — really, it's kind of like having drinks at your cool uncle's house. With retro rolly chairs, exposed brick walls and paper lanterns sharing lighting duties with a crystal chandelier, the décor is eclectic but not overwhelmingly so, and the crowd is neighborhood-friendly. The wines on special frequently change, but the pours don't shrink during happy hour, and a thin-but-not-too-thin crust pizza is a good size to share if you're planning to follow up with dinner in the restaurant. If not, get one each for yourself and any friends you've brought along and fill up while you relax. (AS)
Hammerstone's
2028 South Ninth Street; 314-773-5565 or click here for more info and a map
Happy Hour: Weekdays 2 to 7 p.m.; select discounted menu items for about $5, 50 cents to $1 off all well drinks, drafts and bottles of beer
There seems to be an unspoken dress code at Hammerstone's: All patrons must support at least one St. Louis team with their T-shirt or hat — or, preferably, both. When you combine that attire with the comfy atmosphere and the hefty pour, it's no wonder that Hammerstone's attracts so many proud St. Louisans. Given the impressive length of this happy hour, you can easily get lost in a good (and for lack of a better word), cheap time at Hammerstone's. If you're into simple, potent drinks, yummy food and smiling faces, it's definitely the place to be. (KK)
Nadine's Gin Joint
1931 South 12th Street; 314-436-3045 or click here for more info and a map
Happy Hour: Weekdays 4 to 7 p.m.; select appetizers for $3 and less, $2.25 domestic bottles of beer, $2.50 well drinks, $12 buckets of bottled beer
Smelling sweetly of Soulard, Nadine's Gin Joint is exactly what it claims to be: a joint. Built with weathered bricks and cooled by slow-turning paddle fans, Nadine's attracts a loyal group of older-than-30 regulars but not an overly large happy-hour crowd. You won't have to fight to get served here. The menu focuses on comfort, and while the liquor selection includes a surprising number of flavored spirits, this is the type of place where you order simply: a gin and tonic, a Jack and Coke, a bottle of Bud. On nice days, you can enjoy your drink outside, in the garden patio. Sometimes, simple is better. (KK)
