Happy Hour - Astoria Bars & Pubs

Take advantage of the best social Happy Hour scene that is happening at some of Astoria's most popular bars, pubs, restaurants and grills. We live in a world filled with technology. The PCs, desktop computers, iPads and smartphones have become the new Happy Hour, at our workplace and in our home. We can't seem to get away from the world of Facebook and endless emails to send and answer. Honestly, sometimes it all can be a little overwhelming.

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So why not take a break from staring at a computer screen and get some real "face time" with your fellow Astorians, share some laughs, grab a burger and a brew or two.

And there is certainly no shortage of friendly, diverse pubs and bars to choose from. After a long day at work, don't head home to check Facebook while picking at a frozen dinner or last night's leftovers. Treat yourself to a tall brew, a creative cocktail or a relaxing glass of wine at that welcoming neighborhood pub or grill. When it comes to great food, a vast selection of drinks and an atmosphere second to none, there's no better place to start than at Katch Brew and Grill in Astoria located at 31-19 Newtown Avenue. Katch's hours of operation are Monday-Friday 4:00 PM to close and Saturday and Sunday 11:00 AM to close. Katch's phone number is (718) 777-2230. The bar at Katch is long and quite spacious, so you'll never feel as though you're on the subway during rush hour.

There is plenty of table space, so Katch is the perfect venue for date night or to meet up with a group of friends for afterwork drinks or some Saturday night fun. Into sports? Katch has you covered with 60 flat-screen TVs. And in the spring and summer, you can chow down and sip a brew outside in Katch's garden courtyard, seating over 200 people. It's a beautiful space with picnic table-style seating and a separate audio system to keep the music pumping! Katch serves 50 varieties of draft beers, so you'll never go thirsty. Katch even offers a selection of delightfully delicious fruit beers such as Angry Orchard Cider, Fox Barrel Pear Cider and Shock Top Rasberry Wheat.

There's also a plethora of weekly specials to choose from. On Mondays, you can devour 60-cent wings and Katch house brew (3-dollar pints or 10-dollar pitchers, from 7:00 PM til Midnight). On Thursdays, all ladies recieve complimentary strawberries and champagne! On Fridays, you can join their afterwork party featuring tasty table bites, 4-dollar house liquor, prosecco wine and New York brews. At Katch, the food they take pride in serving is far from an afterthought.

Executive chef Chad Bowser and the culinary team at Katch have put together a mouth-watering menu that will satisfy even the most discerning apetite. The risotto rice balls are an item not found on the usual bar menu anywhere in the city. Katch's burgers include the classic cheese, as well as a tasty BBQ version and the bleu boy burger. Slider selections range from kobe beef and pulled pork to smoked duck!

If you are a vegetarian, try their special Greek salad topped with a bounty of traditional Mediterranean fixings. Oh, and don't forget about Katch's pastrami sandwich, perfect with your brew of choice. At Katch it's all about creating the best customer service experience. In point of fact, the motto on the Katch website is "We Love To Serve!" Katch's attention to detail is evident in the quality of food and the brews and drinks that are shaken, stirred and poured at the bar. Located just a short block from the 30th Avenue N/Q station, there is no excuse NOT to stop by Katch on your way home from work.

There is a certain charm to Sweet Afton in Astoria that is hard to resist. Conveniently located just off bustling 30th Avenue, at 30-09 34th Street, Sweet Afton is exactly what a neighborhood bar or pub should look and feel like. The quaint, picturesque facade and overhead canopy makes you feel as though you are about to enter a pub in Dublin or London.

Inside Sweet Afton, the crowd is friendly, the barkeeps are welcoming and the drinks are out of this world. Sweet Afton's happy hour is a genuine bargain with 4-dollar beers, 5-dollar mixed drinks and a glass of wine for only 6-bucks! The libations take place Monday-Friday from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Sweet Afton's draft beer selections runs the gamut from Murphy's Irish Stout and Founders Pale Ale to Peak Organic Seasonal. The wine list is a bit more extensive and varied than what one might expect to find in a local pub. Whether your choice is white, red or sparkling, Sweet Afton has the wine for you. Wines from California, New Zealand, France and Argentina are also represented on Sweet Afton's extensive wine list. Sweet Afton's mixologists definitely have a flair for the creative. The dirty pickle martini has what it takes to give a good kick in the pants. This martini is a blend of vodka, pickle juice and pickles! Get some fast relief from the winter chills by imbibing Sweet Afton's hot cider.

The hot cider blends organic apple cider, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and orange peel with your choice of brandy/bourbon or spiced rum. Whenever one goes out for a pint or two, it's always a good idea to pair up your drinks with some food. Sweet Afton has you covered. Their mac and cheese is a hearty blend of scallions, Irish cheddar, muenster and gruyere cheeses. You can also order salt and pepper baby back ribs. The hand-cut fries are seasoned with just a touch of malt vinegar. Even if you are not much of a fries fan, you'll soon be saying, "Please give me more of these tasty potatoes!" Sweet Afton also presents live bluegrass, folk and jazz for your musical pleasure. They source a great deal of the food served from local purveyors. Sweet Afton's meats are from the brand names in quality. Pat La Frieda and Butcher Block (in Sunnyside).

Rollo Mio, out of Maspeth, supplies their bread and pickles courtesy of Bob Mc Clure based in Brooklyn. To sum things up: Sweet Afton is the kind of place where, over a glass of wine or a pint lasting friendships are found. It's an easy place where lasting friendships are formed. It's a great place to chat up a stranger. Get out of that apartment! Get familiar with your neighbors. Get to know Sweet Afton.