Half-price pizza at Centro can make any Monday a little more fun. (Photo: Duane Tinkey)
By Lily Allen-Duenas
While Eatery A might be the first place that comes to mind when you’re thinking about happy hour in Des Moines, there are lots of other spots around town that are worth a visit. Why not try a new spot, especially when it offers a daily special? Consider this your handy guide.
Monday. I recently heard someone list their top five favorite foods as “pizza, pizza, pizza, pizza and burgers.” If you’re a fellow pizza lover, enjoy half-price pizza and Peroni beers at Centro every Monday from 4 p.m. to close.
Tuesday. There’s no better deal in town than The Walnut’s Tuesday specials with $2.50 draft beers all day. Besides the perennial Kona Big Wave, all the other draft beers are from Iowa breweries, including Backpocket, Toppling Goliath, Exile and Confluence. Seriously, a craft beer for $2.50 is a steal! Plus, Tuesdays are the only day you can score their mahi-mahi tacos for $12.
Wednesday. Even though Malo has new owners, the happy hour specials are staying nearly the same. You can expect half-price margaritas and sangria 3 to 6 p.m. every weekday, but on Wednesdays, that deal applies all day. So if you’re craving a pineapple margarita or a rosé sangria, Wednesday is the day to go.
Thursday. Feelin’ jazzy? On Thursdays at Noce, the jazz is on the house, from 7 to 10 p.m., and the happy hour specials run from 6 p.m. to close. Drink specials include $5 green tea shots, $6 select house wines, $7 well cocktails and $8 specialty cocktails.
Friday. There’s no shortage of happy hour options at the end of the week, but some are better than others. And as the saying goes, “If you know, you know.” So you should definitely know about Coa Cantina, which offers half-off margaritas, Palomas, draft beers and select appetizers from 4 to 7 p.m. Django serves $5 select appetizers like duck frites and Brussels sprouts, as well as discounted oysters and shrimp cocktails, $5 select wines and beers, and $6 classic martinis from 4 to 6 p.m. Louie’s Wine Dive offers $7 rotating selections of wine and bubbly, as well as $7 beignets, available from 3 to 6 p.m. Lastly, the East Village’s Up-Down has $2 pizza slices from 5 to 8 p.m. on Fridays.
Saturday. Similar to Fridays, it can be difficult to scope out a spot that offers Saturday happy hour deals. But The Bartender’s Handshake offers the same 2-6 p.m. happy hour deals every day of the week, including weekends, with $6 for various classic and creative cocktails and $6 wine glasses of red or rosé. If you’re feeling peckish, try the $6 pepper poppers. Fridays and Saturdays also feature late-night specials from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., with $2 PBR and High Life, $2 amaro, $2-off house cocktails and $2 pretzels.
Sunday. Celebrate happy hour all day at Blue Sushi and Sake Grill, where the whole menu of sashimi, maki, nigiri, and vegan sushi is discounted. Drink specials range from $4.50 beers to $6.50 house wines and $8.50 cocktails.
Whether you’re a sushi lover, craft beer enthusiast or cocktail aficionado, the city offers ample opportunities to unwind without emptying your wallet. So cheers to exploring new venues, revisiting old favorites and, of course, enjoying responsibly!
