Jaclyn Figg
Staff Writer
Everyone has those days where a brick wall magically materializes in front of them and traversing past it seems like a lost cause. Instead of giving up, why not just take a moment to enjoy some of the happy hour specials Pocatello has to offer. Here are nine places for a fine time to take advantage of during happy hour.
Portneuf Valley Brewery
Pocatello’s one and only brewery is somewhere students can go to enjoy a warm and rustic ambiance. Happy hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. During this time, a 10-ounce pretzel is $5 and pitchers of beer run for $10. Food is available until 10 p.m., beer and wine until midnight. Music and beer is what is here. The music is on Friday and Saturday nights from 8:30 until 10:30 p.m., and Tuesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. “It’s in an industrial part of the town, so it has brick walls and wood floors, you know, it’s cozy,” said Sunny Nelson, an employee at the brewery. Tucked right in front of the railroad, PVB is located at 615 S. First Ave.
First National Bar
Just after rolling your horn through Pocatello’s only underpass, “The Nash” – as locals call it – sits at 232 W. Center Street, the first building on the right-hand corner. Located in Historic Downtown Pocatello, the building, constructed around 1904, started out as the First National Bank. Happy hour is from 4 to 6 p.m., and all alcoholic drinks are 50 cents off. If you make it in before 3 p.m., a “free at three” special is available offering one free drink of your choice. To go along with the drink, The Nash also offers a selection of bar food ranging from burgers and sandwiches to wings and finger steaks. With live open mic night on Thursday, karaoke on Tuesday and live music on the weekend nights, The First National makes for an enjoyable evening.
Hooligans
A place dedicated for the hooligans to go and unwind, this happy hour is from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and includes $1 off any draft beer or well liquor. Up until 9 p.m., a sandwich and chip combo is less than $5, which is great for those almost empty-pocketed college students. If you want to start the week off with a bang or maybe just a headache, Monday mug night will help do just that. Mug night is all about those custom hooligan mugs. After purchasing a mug for $7, beer refills are just $1.25 for domestics and $2.25 for microbrews and cocktails. “The atmosphere brings people in. I think it’s a fun place to go, people feel safe,” said Adam Danielson, a bartender at Hooligans for nearly nine years now. Tucked in between two other buildings at 122 N. Third Ave., from the front it looks small but what it has to offer is much bigger.
Buffalo Wild Wings
“B-Dubs!” Happy hour here is Monday through Friday 2 to 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight. 22-ounce domestic beers are $3, crafts and imports are $4 to $5 and selections of their shareable sides are $4. Sports, sports and more sports are available with over 20 flat screen TVs. Spread some sauce on your wings and visit for a refresher from those hard studying days. Located a little farther from campus, but worth the drive, Buffalo Wild Wings is located at 4200 Pole Line Rd.
Goody’s
Don’t let the name fool you, this place should have been called “Besties,” but considering owner Tom Goodwin has operated the Italian-style sandwich and pizza joint for nearly 30 years, the name makes sense. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. with all draft beers 50 cents off. The restaurant is separated into a sandwich lounge section in front and a pub-style lounge in the rear. Both the sandwich section and pub section run different daily specials. For the pub, drink specials begin after 6 p.m. on Monday with $3 micro pints, Tuesday Miller High Life pints for $1.75. Wednesday is domestic pints for $2, Thursday is Hefeweizen pints for $2.50, Friday is domestic pitchers for $7, Saturday is domestic 22-ounce beers for $3 and Sunday is micro 22-ounce beer for $4.
Flipside Lounge
Want to lounge out with some great vibes and musical notes? The Flipside is located at 117 S. Main St., and this counter-culture hole in the ground is another one to join in on the happy hour specials. From 5 to 8 p.m., they offer $1 off the whole shop. Whether it’s top shelf spirits or a can of light beer on the bottom shelf, these loungers will knock the price down. Flipside offers a wide selection of craft beers and is a comfortable place for students to relax while listening to hip music.
Club Charley’s
This hard to miss venue is located at 331 E. Center St. with a rainbow light to show you the way. Happy hour offers $1.75 drafts Monday through Wednesday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. From 10 p.m. to midnight on Monday and Tuesday $2.25 well drinks are available for those thirsty for some savings. On Thursday night, comedians come in for comedy night to lighten up the mood. Coors Light, Miller Light, and bottled beer for $1.75 to $2 are available for this event. Friday and Saturday are DJ nights with Charley’s Angels coming out for the drag show every first full weekend of each month. “Our number one rule is respect,” said Eric Raden, also known as Red, an employee at Charley’s for the past 5 years, “everyone’s super friendly – awesome crowd, security and bartenders.”
Center Street Bar and Grill
A vibrant atmosphere with a dance floor and pool tables brings most people in, but the happy hour is worth checking out. Every day of the week from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. there are $2 drafts, $4 margaritas, $8 pitchers and two for one $4 well drinks. Located at 542 E. Center St., this close to campus location offers half-priced hamburgers every Thursday with varying daily food specials. Food is available until 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on the weekends. Center Street offers the best of both worlds, with pool leagues and darts during the week and dancing on the weekend.
The Pressbox Sports Bar and Grill
While heading back towards campus The Pressbox is a neat place to stop in and take advantage of all day sports and happy hour specials. Located at 1257 Yellowstone Ave., this little place offers 75 cents off well liquor and 50 cents off domestic beer Monday through Friday 4 to 6 p.m. and all night Wednesday.
Whether students are ahead of the work and need a break, or simply can’t knock down that wall, happy hour specials are something to keep in mind as an outlet to relieve built up stress, or party hard for no particular reason.
