Long Days Lead to Happy Hours, in Town and Out

Atlanta restaurants are ensuring summer’s long, lingering afternoon into evening hours are extra happier by planning happy hour food and drink specials. Pick your chill factor -- air-conditioned cool or patio people-watching wearing your killer sunglasses. 5Church Atlanta, at the corner of 14^th and Peachtree, in Midtown throttles up a Rush Hour Remedy Monday through Thursday afternoons from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the bar and high-tops area. Munch on ahi tuna poke with herb and cheese flatbread, PEI mussels, a charcuterie and cheese board or Prime C.A.B. Sliders ($6-$8). Tank fillers include Three Taverns Brewery Prince of Pilsen, Storypoint Chardonnay or Chateau d’Eau Viognier at $5/glass; Les Trois Couronnes Cotes-du-Rhone at $7/glass or Square Plumb & Level cabernet sauvignon-cabernet franc for $8/glass.

Dock at Drift Fish House & Oyster Bar in The Avenue East Cobb every day from 4-6 p.m. to join the crew for Oyster Happy Hour featuring $1 “Buck-a-Shuck” oysters of the day, $5 draft beer of the day and $5 house punch.

The outlook is rosy for those who relax in the bar area at Milton’s Cuisine & Cocktails for Rosé & Happy Hour every Monday-Thursday from 5-6:30 p.m. Slurp up a baker’s dozen of oysters at half price while sipping rosé wine priced at $5 a glass.

During The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill Oyster Hour, crack half the price off a dozen raw oysters from 4-6 p.m. Monday through Friday at both the Buckhead and Canton Street locations. Every Monday, enjoy a pound of peel ‘n eat shrimp at the half-pound price. Tuesdays, all bottles of wine are half off.

Caravan, carefree, to Gypsy Kitchen Gypsy Hour Monday through Friday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. for a rotating selection of wine vintages and unique varietals at $5 a glass, the perfect go-withs for tapas priced at $4-$5 each.

HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern in Midtown pours $3 well drinks and $3 SweetWater 420 drafts every Monday through Friday from 3-6:30 p.m. HOBNOB keeps kids and parents alike happy and full by offering one free kid’s menu item free per adult entrée purchase on Sunday through Thursday nights from 5-7 p.m. at their Midtown and Brookhaven locations.

All three Ray’s Restaurants set aside time for happy hour bar and bite deals. When downtown, retreat to the calm of Ray’s in the City bar and lounge Monday through Friday, 3-6 p.m. and 9 p.m. until close. During happy hours, bar-friendly bites are half-price, including Ray’s “New Orleans” barbecue shrimp, steamed mussels, Crispy Point Judith calamari and Ray’s blue cheese chips. Raw bar is half the usual price Monday through Friday from 9 p.m. until closing (excludes cold seafood tower). Drink specials include $6 house wines by the glass, $8 Tito’s cocktails and $8 Savanah Bourbon. Enjoy live music Tuesday through Saturday evenings.

Happy hour specials flow through the bar and lounge areas of Ray’s on the River in Sandy Springs and Rays at Killer Creek in Alpharetta: Monday through Friday from 3-6 p.m. (Ray’s on the River) and 3-7 p.m. (Ray’s at Killer Creek), 9 p.m. – close at both restaurants and Sunday from 5-9 p.m. (Ray’s at Killer Creek). At both restaurants, enjoy $1 oysters on the half shell and select half-price appetizers including Ray’s brisket burger, Ray’s “New Orleans” barbecue shrimp, goat cheese pimento fritters and Ray’s blue cheese chips. Spiked punch is $6 a glass and local draft beers command $4 at both establishments; glasses of house wine are half price at Ray’s at Killer Creek and $6 at Ray’s on the River.