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Top After Work Bars In Philadelphia

After a long day at work, sometimes you want to skip the cooking and unwind with a drink and a bite to eat before heading home. These Philadelphia spots offer a fun atmosphere and plenty of drink and food specials for those after-work hours. So grab a few friends or coworkers (or just relax solo) and celebrate the end of another workday.

The Gaslight
120 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-7691
www.thegaslightphilly.com

At The Gaslight, Chef Cichonski offers high-quality, casual comfort food and an extensive drink menu to match. Happy hour deals are offered Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a "3x5" model featuring $3 and $5 drinks and snacks. Choose from $3 select bottled and draft beers to sip with $3 spicy chickpeas, pickled veggies or curried nuts. For just $2 more, you can enjoy a $5 merlot or pinot grigio or cocktail like an old fashioned. The $5 snacks include Kung Pao spare ribs, chicken nuggets, fresh-baked pretzel bites or mushroom bruschetta.

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Alma De Cuba
1623 Walnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 988-1799
www.almadecubarestaurant.com

The chic lounge area at Alma de Cuba is a stylish spot for meeting friends, coworkers or a date for food and drinks. Happy hour specials run Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., giving you three full hours to feast on $5 appetizers including guacamole, bacon-wrapped dates, empanadas and albacore tacos. And you'll want to ask about the daily ceviche special for $1. For just $2, you can also order Cuban cookies or cheesecake empanadas, which essentially turn your happy hour bites into a complete dinner. Complete the experience with a selection of $5 mojitos and sangria.

McGillin's Olde Ale House
1310 Drury St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 735-5562
www.mcgillins.com

McGillin's Midtown Village spot has been around for over 150 years, and people keep coming back due to the good food, cheap drinks and friendly atmosphere. You don't need to worry about making it before a certain time with nightly food and drink specials that go from 5 p.m. to closing. Each night has something different to offer, so be sure to check the website and Facebook page for complete details. Pabst Blue Ribbon pitchers are $6.50 every night with wine, cocktail and other beer specials varying. And of course, there's the complete dinner menu of comfort food favorites and bar snack classics.

Related: Top Thirsty Thursday Specials In Philadelphia

South
600 N. Broad St.
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 600-0220
www.southrestaurant.net

South is a new addition to the Avenue of the Arts, having just opened in September. Stop in between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, to enjoy what South calls "Hours of Happiness." Specials include half-priced drafts, $5 wines and $2 off cocktails as well as half-priced appetizers such as crawfish fritters, sausage and mushroom flatbread and pork boudin croquettes, plus $1 fresh or crispy oysters. Guests can also participate in special classes and a variety of tastings depending on the night of the week. At 7 p.m., you can sit back and relax while listening to live jazz performances in the jazz parlor.

Sampan
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 732-3501
www.sampanphilly.com

Sampan is a hip Midtown Village spot with Chef Michael Schulson offering modern Asian fusion cuisine. The vibrant atmosphere, complete with an open-air "Grafitti Bar" during nice weather, makes it a popular choice for meeting up with friends any night of the week. Even better, happy hour is offered every night from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with drink specials, "fishbowl" cocktails (for the really rough days) and $3 and $4 bites. The happy hour menu is divided into categories much like the dinner menu, with options including satay, crispy, dumplings, buns, wraps and sides. It makes it easy to get a good variety of dishes, and you can easily make a meal out of the happy hour menu alone.

Related: Top Cocktail Happy Hours In Philadelphia

Michelle Hein is the social media editor for a women's fashion company in Bucks County by day and a self-proclaimed food and drink fanatic by night and weekend. She enjoys attending wine classes, trying new recipes in the kitchen and going to old favorites and new restaurants alike in the Bucks County and Philadelphia area. If the writing gig doesn't pan out, she constantly dreams of owning her own bakery…perhaps connected to the restaurant/bar that her lawyer husband would love to open.
< a href=http://www.examiner.com/user-michelle-hein

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