Happy hours are meant to make people with difficult days happier by the evening. Why do happy hours? Because that’s what you do when you want to have a conversation with your best friend, colleague, boss or for that matter to just blow off some steam.

Picking that perfect place, though, can be a little tricky; it must be a bar, lounge, or a watering hole that meets some very specific criteria – easy to reach location, quick service, yummy drinks, maybe a hot bartender and of course your pockets can’t get empty by the end of the night.

Here are a few recommendations:

Venue: Cigar lounge, Sharq Village & Spa, Doha

As the name goes, the cigar lounge is an intimate lounge furnished with big leather chairs and sofas for the cigar aficionados and wine lovers of Qatar. Situated at the beginning of the Corniche, on the airport road, the wooden interiors and dull lighting makes it a great place to unwind along with live music. This place also offers quick bites like chicken lollipops, nachos and calamari rings which are delicious! Outdoor seating is also available if you want to get away from the cigar smell and have a conversation with your friends.

When: Mon – Sunday: 5pm – 8pm

 

Venue: The Den, Shangri-La Hotel

Located in the West Bay area, the live entertainment, bespoke service, extensive selection of classic and signature cocktails, premium spirits and wines by the glass make The Den the ideal venue for after-work drinks, post-dinner cocktails and nightcaps. The resident piano entertainer blends an array of nostalgic tunes, including songs from classic groups like The Beatles and The Beach Boys, Broadway hits and television theme songs. He plays four 45-minute sets every evening, except on Sunday.

When: Everyday: 5pm – till closing time

 

Venue: Misturado, Crowne Plaza

Placed at the lobby level of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, this go-to-place offers office goers with an upbeat ambience and signature cocktails. Have a Bullfrog or a Long Island Iced Tea from the bar, and you’ll know what the big deal is about. This place also screens football matches from time to time for sports enthusiasts. The chicken BBQ wings are just what you’re looking to engorge on after a tough day at work. The bar is generally noisy with the crowd chit chattering away to glory. But it also boasts of a small outdoor area with garden seating and bar tables and chairs for people who want a chilled out evening.

 

Venue: Rose & Thistle

Horizon Manor houses an Irish-English pub named Rose & Thistle which exudes warm hospitality and quick service with an exceptional band that play rock and pop music all evening long. Another quick note to be added is you pay as you drink. The lovely servers bring you a bill every time you order a drink so it is easy to keep track of your bill and theirs too. No confusions of who drank how many.

When: Everyday: 5pm – 8pm

Written by: Keertana Koduru