Happy Tuesday! What are you doing for Happy Hour tonight? What is your favorite spot to meet a group of friends? Today’s topic made me think of some of my favorite sitcoms.

Where do you and your friends like to hang out and why? During my over five years in Austin, some places my friends and I have enjoyed gathering include:

• Jo’s Coffee Shop on South Congress (delicious pastries, crushed ice, beer)
• The dog park at what used to be called Windsor at Spyglass apartments (BYOB)
• The Four Seasons (love their 1/2 price happy hour deal)
• Hotel San Jose (while the drinks are overpriced, the atmosphere and people watching make me feel like I’m somebody, you know?)
• Sao Paolo’s north of UT (they used to have great margarita and beer happy hour specials)

Austin360 recently launched a database that is billed to include “the best drink specials in Central Texas.” I haven’t used it yet but seems like a really good idea. You can search by location or day of the week.

I’d love to hear from you about great happy hour deals, atmosphere, hidden gems, etc. in terms of bars and meeting spots in Austin.

UPDATE: We’ll be discussing the best Happy Hours in Austin on KGSR on Thursday, June 11 at 8:30 a.m. Listen live at KGSR.com and leave comments with your favorites below to share your opinion!

UPDATE 6/8/09: I’ve been researching happy hour deals like mad and wanted to share more with you. They include:

McCormick and Schmick’s: $3 cheeseburger and fries, $4 fried calamari or potato skins, $5 kobe beef sliders (4-7 pm).

Manuel’s, on Congress between 3rd and 4th: All apps half price during happy hour (4-6pm everyday).

Roaring Fork on Congress and 7th: In the bar 4:30 to 7 every night and All Night Sunday and Monday. $1 off drinks and discounted Appetizer menu. No items over $7.95

Eddie V’s – Gulf oysters on the half shell, crab cakes, tuna tartar, and a number of other selections from the bar menu are 1/2 price. 5-7 pm.

219 West – 1/2 price apps and martini shaker specials from 5-9 pm on weeknights.

Saba Blue Water Grill – All appetizers are half-price, as are specialty drinks. Weekdays 4 pm – 7 pm.

Imperia: 1/2 Price Select Dim Sum & Small Plates $5 Specialty Cocktails $3 Domestic Beers Sushi Bar Happy Hour: 2 for 1 Sushi. Tuesday-Friday 4-7:00PM All Day Monday & Sunday.

Aquarelle: 1/2 price apps in the wine bar Mon-Fri from 5-7 pm.

Fino: Happy hour is Monday to Friday from 5pm to 7pm, with half-off sparkling and pink wines, $2 off cocktails and beers and an assortment of small plates for $2-$3.

Jeffrey’s: Stop by for happy hour from 5pm to 7pm every day except Saturday and enjoy half-price appetizers.

Cipollina: Happy hour from 3:30 to 5:30pm daily when pizzas are half price and wines by-the-glass are $1.00 off.

Thursdays at Cuba Libre is martini and manicure night. From 5-10pm enjoy $5 martini’s and $5 manicure’s as well as $3 draft beer and 1/2 tapas.

Billy’s on Burnet: Happy hour from 5-7, and then the happiest hour from 4-5 when anything on draft (except Chimay) is $1.50.

Blue Star Cafeteria: Monday-Friday: 3-6pm: Cheap Appetizer Menu, discounted pizzas, $5 burgers and discounted specialty drinks.

Cipollina:
1st Wednesdays (6-8pm): Farmers’ Dinner – Three courses focused on ingredients from specific local farms ($35 per person).

3rd Wednesdays (6-8pm): Wine & Food Pairing Dinner – Six courses of fresh, local foods paired with three wines ($40 per person).

Dart Bowl: Mondays are dollar bowling night ($1 per game, $1 for the shoe rental, and $1 for food specials after 9 p.m. Westgate does the same thing on Sundays starting at 9 p.m.

Alamo: Music Mondays – every Monday evening at the Alamo Downtown, where you can see a different music-related film for only $2 admission, and food & drink specials.

Max’s Wine Dive Happy Hour and Reverse Happy Hour – full sized dishes at half price.

South Congress Cafe – 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. Monday – Friday – $4 margaritas, mojitos, draft beer, imported bottled beer. $3.50 domestic beer.

Tags: austin 360, deals, drink, four seasons, happy hour, hotel san jose, jo's, sao paolo's