By Virginie Boone

With this week marked by the culmination of a looooooooooooooong election season, red flag warnings and the end of daylight saving time, we could all use a drink right about now, preferably amongst friends in the confines of a welcoming place. Local happy hours are here to serve you and be that gathering hearth where it’s okay to unpack one’s cares and woes.

Augie’s French– The downtown Santa Rosa ode to French cuisine in all its glory just announced lunch service beginning this week. But don’t sleep on its fabulous Happy Hour, featuring specialty cocktails like the Vesper and French 75 for $7 and glasses of sparkling, white or red wine for $8. Petits Plats include radishes with cultured butter and flake salt, oysters, pigs in a blanket, frites and more for$5-$7. Grands Plats of bigger portions (think Croque Madame and Prime Burger Royale) may also be enjoyed. C’est magnifique! Daily 3 pm to 5 pm.

Ausiello’s Home Slice – Tucked in Rincon Valley near Skyhawk, Ausiello’s is a lively place to watch sports and enjoy brews for $6, cocktails for $10 and house wine selections for $8 during Happy Hour. Bites range from corn medallions to buffalo popcorn chicken and even a mini pizza, all for $7-$10. Wednesday-Monday 3 pm to 6 pm.

Charlie’s Restaurant at Windsor Golf Club – With views of the golf course lake, Happy Hour appetizers here are hearty, and range from jalapeno poppers and Swedish meatballs to spring rolls and pot stickers, heading into full-meal territory with the prime rib sampler accompanied by creamed horseradish served on a deli roll au jus. Beverage specials go from $5 drafts and well drinks to $7 wine specials and margaritas. Monday-Friday 3 pm to 6 pm.

Jackson’s Bar & Oven – On Railroad Square, don’t miss Jackson’s bar-only Happy Hour, featuring $8 tap beer, $9 drinks and $10 red, white or sparkling wines along some of the restaurant’s most delicious comfort foods, like a selection of flatbreads, wings, truffle fries, oysters, mini mac and cheese and even juicy lucy slider. Monday-Friday 3 pm to 5 pm.

John Ash & Co – Enjoyed in The Front Room Bar and Lounge at the 92-acre Vintners Resort, Happy Hour involves a lovely selection of seasonal estate vegetables, oysters, steamed mussels, truffle fries, birria tacos and much more accompanied by select wines by the glass, draft beer and cocktails ($2 off the regular price). Daily 3 pm to 5 pm.

Region. – An innovative wine bar and more set within The Barlow, Region hosts Winemaker Happy Hours on certain Wednesdays, where it features a wine flight and food pairing highlighting a featured winery led by an in-person winemaker. Tonight’s for example, will have three Flambeaux wines hosted by winemaker Ryan Prichard. Three wines with the food pairing for $35-$40 is a pretty exquisite deal. Aperture will be on hand November 20; get tickets ahead. Wednesdays 5 pm to 7 pm.

Salt & Stone – Lovingly referred to as Kenwood’s Gathering Place, Salt & Stone opens its doors weekdays for lunch 11 am to 2:30 pm and welcomes folks into enjoy the bar from then until dinner service begins at 5 pm. Wines are $7 and all well cocktails and beers $1 off. Food options are also priced at $7 and include raw and cooked oysters, calamari, truffle pomme frites and even a burger. Seating is available in the lively bar or at a few tables outside. Monday-Friday 11 am to 5 pm.

Seared Steak and Seafood – Considered one of Petaluma’s best Happy Hours, Seared has daily tacos, mac ‘n cheese, steak skewers and more for under $10 with drinks, many made with barrel-aged spirits, for similar pricing, from a Negroni to Manhattan. Go for the Seared Margarita if you’re a tequila fan, a blend of house spicy tequila, triple sec, agave and fresh lime with tajin rim. Tuesday-Sunday 3:30 pm to 6 pm.

The Shuckery – In downtown Petaluma’s Hotel Petaluma, The Shuckery is all about oysters (surprise!) and hosts a daily Happy Hour before dinner service and does another late-night Happy Hour in the hotel lobby on most nights. The seafood on offer is sustainable and the produce procured locally, so menu items are not only delicious, they help keep area farmers in business. The Shuckery is run by one of The Oyster Girls, sisters who work directly with oyster farmers; the other sister runs the event side of the business, bringing their Traveling Oyster Barto events throughout the North Bay. Daily 3 pm to 5 pm; late-nights Tuesday-Saturday 9 pm to 11 pm.

Stark’s Steak & Seafood – The gold-standard of Sonoma County Happy Hours, consistently voted as the best, Stark’s continues to offer great deals amidst a classy ambience, from a “Not So Mini” burger and tuna tartare tacos to great $6 red and white wine options and cocktails like The Lucy, combining vodka, lemon, lime and simple syrup, in addition to the classics – a Martini, Old Fashioned and Moscow Mule. Monday-Friday 3 pm to 6 pm.

Wit & Wisdom – Set within The Lodge at Sonoma in the town of Sonoma, Wit & Wisdom is Chef Michael Mina’s first foray into Sonoma County, and still going strong after its Covid-era opening in 2020. A few specialty cocktails figure into the menu, alongside featured wines, beer and shellfish for one or for the table. Other food options lean gourmand, from the restaurant’s signature duck fat-fried potatoes to Liberty Farms duck wings. Wednesday-Sunday 3 pm to 5 pm.

Image by: Sonoma Magazine