Water Street Tavern

A happy hour that lasts until nine every night and includes over 40 items — like bottled and draft beers and plenty of cocktails — for just $2? It’s not hard to see why students and townies alike flock to Kent’s best happy hour at Water Street Tavern.

Owner Mike Beder says the timing of happy hour makes it ideal for both relaxing and pre-gaming. “[It goes until nine,] which makes it a great way to unwind after a long day of classes or start a night out early and not break the bank,” he says. And that’s another major concern for the bar: affordability.

“[Our specials give] a student on a budget an opportunity to have a fun night out without costing them too much,” Beder says. The combination of reasonable prices with a wide variety of drinks puts Water Street Tavern as the very best happy hour in Kent. Plus, no one can deny that the specials are even better for Ladies’ Night, which features a $1 menu of beers, mixed drinks and, of course, vodka-soaked gummy bears.

Ray’s Place

Ray’s Place features a variety of happy hour specials every day. Monday offers all day happy hour specials including a $7.50 pulled pork sandwich and fries. From 4 to 9 p.m., customers can enjoy a variety of 20 oz draft beers for $2.75.

At Ray’s Place from Tuesday to Saturday, customers can take advantage of happy hour drink and food specials from 4 to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 9 p.m., customers can drink Bloody Mary’s for only $3.75.

“Our drink and food specials are about equal,” owner Charlie Thomas said. “I don’t think there is a day that stands out. I don’t know which one people come for — the drinks or the food.”

Each day has its own happy hour theme: Smok’n Mondays, App It Up Tuesdays, Wing Wednesday, Thirsty Thursdays, Go Crazy Fridays and Bloody Sundays.

Bar145

“Bar 145 is a little different from a lot of places around,” says manager Eddie Walaszewski. “We have not only great food but great drinks.”

And those drinks are especially popular during one of Kent’s best happy hours at Bar 145. During happy hour, bar snacks are half-off and drinks like Angry Birds are only $4.

Walaszewski says that the Angry Birds in particular are among the most popular drinks during happy hour. “It’s probably one of the most thirstquenching things we have on our menu and those fly off the shelves,” he said.

Plus, patrons can still order a full dinner from Bar 145’s menu throughout happy hour.

Contact Katy Coduto at [email protected]. Contact Lindsay Miller at [email protected].