America's Best Happy Hours

Daily: 5-7 p.m.
April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman’s Ace Hotel seafood bar pairs six clams (littlenecks from Long Island or Wellfleet from Massachusetts) or oysters (a choice of east coast Bluepoints or west coast Totten Inlets) with a glass of sparkling Cava or pint of Sixpoint Oyster Stout for $18. thejohndory.com

Daily: 5-7 p.m.
At David Myers’s brasserie, $15 buys happy hour patrons a drink like the refreshing El Ranchero (tequila, cucumber and lime juice) and their choice from the “bites” section, which includes shareable dishes like steak tartare, shrimp cocktail and a chef’s selection of two meats and cheeses. mecarestaurant.com

All week long: 3-6 p.m.
Celebrity chef John Besh’s bistro sells 50-cent gulf oysters and half-priced cocktails like an icy absinthe frappe and a classic sazerac. lukeneworleans.com

Daily: 5-6:30 p.m.
The inventive Japanese restaurant from Texas star chef Tyson Cole hosts a “sake social hour” when select sakes are just $3 and all snacks are under $6, including grilled beef tongue nigiri and hamachi sushi rolls with melon, coconut and curry. uchiaustin.com

Mon-Thu: 5-6p.m.
This ham-and-oyster specialist offers $1 chef’s choice oysters, $5 fries (spiced or egg yolk glazed), $5 chicken liver mousse and drink deals like a $7 martini and a $10.50 beer-and-a-shot combo. hogandrocks.com

Sun-Thu: 5-6:30 p.m. and 9:30-11 p.m.
There’s not one but two happy hours at Jerry Traunfeld’s South Indian-meets-Pacific Northwest restaurant. From 5 to 6:30 p.m., it’s $5 for a thali (a selection of five small snacks like fried mussels, lamb sweetbreads and naan), while the late night special focuses on hearty $6 sandwiches filled with tandoori chicken, tender short rib or cauliflower kofta. Signature cocktails like the Rum Curry (rum, curry leaf, coconut water, fresh lime juice and orange bitters) are also $6 during both periods. poppyseattle.com

Mon-Fri: 5-7p.m.
Empire builder Michael Solomonov’s upmarket Israeli spot sells its incredible, creamy hummus—which comes in four varieties, including one with fava beans—for half price ($4-$6). Specialty cocktails like the $12 Midtown Roots (rye whiskey, sassafrass and vanilla) are $4 off. zahavrestaurant.com

Mon-Fri: 5-7 p.m.
DC’s modern Jewish deli has a new happy hour with $7 cocktails like The Mensch (rye whiskey, Peychaud’s bitters and blood orange juice) and innovative snacks such as grilled beef tongue Rueben sliders ($4) or pastrami chili ($6). dgsdelicatessen.com

Mon-Fri: 5:30-7p.m.
During one of the most satisfying happy hours around, this Williamsburg saloon sells its thick and juicy cheeseburgers and potent Old Fashioneds for $5 each. ryerestaurant.com

Tue-Fri: 5:30-7 p.m.
F&W Best New Chef 2012 Jenn Louis serves best-value comfort foods during Lincoln’s “commuter corridor happy hour” like a beef patty melt on rye ($7), lamb poutine ($9) and bruschetta topped with braised greens and a fried egg ($7). The featured $6 cocktail is bartender’s choice, but recent drinks have included a sparkling Negroni Sbagliato and sweet-tart Marmalade Sour, while draft beers like the hoppy Widmer Brothers Common Ale are all $4. lincolnpdx.com