Ivar’s Salmon House has one of the best outdoor patios in the city. Sitting at the north end Lake Union, you watch kayakers and sailboats traversing the lake before a backdrop of a striking view of Seattle’s downtown. The whole experience is more casual than the harried pace at Ivar's downtown location. But as you enjoy a spring sunset, you suddenly think: “I need to get in another order of fish ‘n chips before happy hour ends!” Relax, because no, you don’t. Ivar’s doesn’t boast the cheapest happy hour in the city, but it has one of the longest: 3:30 p.m. to close every night of the week. It makes you wonder why they even bother with the “regular price” on the bar menu, since there’s no excuse for paying the extra few dollars for salmon tostadas, scallops or kahlua pork sliders. And while $4 draft beers aren’t exactly a screamin’ deal, the price won’t go up, so you can have your leisurely fill. LAURA ONSTOT
