Which restaurants will keep you, your friends and your wallets happiest on a cold night out? Arts and culture reporter Kinsey Gade tried them all so you don’t have to!

By Kinsey Gade – arts and culture reporter

With the winter months and holidays ever approaching, one way to get together with family and friends without breaking the bank is to meet for happy hour. While Roseville offers a variety of happy hours, ranging from dive bars to fine dining, it can be challenging to determine where to go for the best bang for your buck. After trying them all, here is my breakdown of each happy hour in Roseville, excluding national chains.

Centro, Roseville

Centro’s chips and guacamole ($8), Quincy Margarita ($8) and  Guava Margarita ($9).

This Twin Cities chain serves modern Mexican cuisine in a retro and fun atmosphere. Their happy hour is offered Sunday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. and highlights $8 margaritas, $2 oysters and other discounts on beer, wine and select appetizers. While we were overall satisfied with our drinks and food, customers are subject to self-service via QR code ordering, which can kill the vibe for those not tech-savvy, and the prices are a bit high for what you receive.

Link to happy hour: https://centrompls.com/

Baldamar

Baldamar’s Chandon Garden Spritz ($12), Benchmark Old Fashioned ($10), “A Big Dill” Fries ($10) and Short Rib Birria Tacos ($10).

Baldamar, a modern American steakhouse, offers a finer dining experience with an extensive happy hour menu available Monday-Friday, 2-4 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Given the restaurant’s upscale offerings and atmosphere, prices are a bit higher, but they deliver on taste, service and quality.

Link to happy hour: https://www.baldamar.com/happy-hour

Chianti Grill, Roseville

The house margarita ($9), Sociable Cider Werks Freewheeler ($7) and  Mediterranean flatbread ($14).

Chianti Grill is an Italian restaurant and steakhouse that, like Baldamar, offers a more fine dining appearance, but their bar area is more laid-back. Their daily happy hour from 4-6 p.m. is a bit restrictive in terms of pricing; $2 off beer, wine and spirits, $3 off appetizers and flatbreads. Overall, the price wasn’t worth the taste for us.

Link to happy hour: https://www.chiantigrill.com/from-the-bar?location=Location+1

La Casita, Roseville

Shown above are the complementary chips and salsa, lime margarita on the rocks with Tajin ($5) and prickly pear blended margarita with sugar ($5).

La Casita is known throughout the Twin Cities’ suburbs as your local, basic and consistent Mexican restaurant, and it didn’t disappoint for what it is. Unfortunately, they don’t offer any food during their Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. happy hour, just $5 margaritas and beer, but for what you get, it’s good.

CRAVE, Roseville 

CRAVE’s blueberry lemonade cocktail ($6), honey old-fashioned ($7) and the crunchy roll ($8).

CRAVE, a small chain of New American and sushi bar restaurants across Minnesota and the Midwest, offered, in my opinion, the best happy hour offerings in terms of price, range and taste. Although being connected to the Rosedale mall is a bit offbeat, don’t let that stop you from giving them a try. Monday – Friday, 3-6 p.m., it’s worth it.

Link to happy hour: https://craveamerica.com/eden-prairie-crave-american-kitchen-and-sushi-bar-happy-hour

Axels

Axels’ Steakhouse Sliders ($8), old-fashioned ($13), gimlet ($11), negroni ($11) and house margarita ($8).

Axels is a classic American restaurant located within the Radisson Hotel— a bit off the beaten path for locals, but its service and atmosphere are inviting. They offer happy hour daily from 2-5:30 p.m., with limited $8 appetizers and $2 off beer, wine and spirits. Although the deals aren’t crazy and the food was fine, the cocktails were delicious.

Link to happy hour: https://axelsrestaurants.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2.25.25-Happy-Hour.pdf

Luckys 13 Pub, Roseville 

Luckys 13’s  complimentary popcorn, deep-fried ranch ($9), whiskey sour ($4.50) and rum and coke ($4.50)

Luckys 13 Pub, a Minnesota and Midwest chain, is true to its name in that it delivers dive-bar vibes in every aspect. Their happy hour is available Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m., providing deals on beer, wine, rail drinks and appetizers. In my opinion, there was nothing to write home about, but if you are looking for a simple and cheap happy hour, this may be your place.

Link to article: https://www.luckys13pub.com/specials

Pizza Lucé, Roseville

Pizza Lucé’s artichoke dip ($9), and Venn Brewing Co.’s Double Down Vanilla Double Brown beer ($5).

Pizza Lucé is another well-known Minnesota pizza chain that features its happy hour Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. It consists of $2 off appetizers and $5 select taps, rails and house wines, which is a bit limiting given the restaurant’s popularity and extensive pizza-oriented menu. The happy hour seems more of a bonus if you are going out for a late lunch or early dinner than an event itself.

Link to happy hour: https://pizzaluce.com/locations/roseville

MITO

MITO’s mango margarita ($11), the mojito ($11) and the tempura roll ($15).

Probably the most interesting and entertaining restaurant was MITO, a Latin restaurant and club on weekends, offering a range of cuisines from Latin to sushi, pasta and steak. The atmosphere is something I can only describe as a sort of adult Rainforest Café, which can be fun during their happy hour offered Monday-Sunday, 4-7 p.m. Prices here are higher as this is another fine-dining restaurant and the happy hour is limited to select drinks and food items. However, everything tasted great.

Link to happy hour: https://mitolatincuisine.com/mito-happy-hour-menu.pdf

Smash Park, Roseville

Shown above are the buffalo shrimp ($4), pretzel bites ($4) and Smashed by the Ocean Sociabowl ($19).

Smash Park delivers more than a restaurant and bar vibe, offering several game experiences, including pickleball, arcade games, darts and cornhole. Their happy hour is offered Monday-Friday, 2-6 p.m., and provides $4 beers, wines, well drinks and select food options as well as $4 off socialbowls. The Sociabowls and Smash Park happy hour, in general, is great for groups seeking further entertainment than an ordinary happy hour.

Link to happy hour: https://smashpark.com/roseville/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2025/02/Happy-Hour-Menu.png

The Tipsy Steer, Roseville

The Tipsy Steer’s Gouda nachos ($6) and the Honey Pines Amber Blonde ($5).

The Tipsy Steer is yet another Minnesota-based chain featuring their in-house High Pines Brewing Co. and American food such as burgers, pizzas and milkshakes. Their happy hour is available Monday-Friday, 3-5:30 p.m. and offers $2 off appetizers, $6 nachos and personal pizzas and $5 pints for two types of beer: the Honey Pines Amber Blonde and Gopher the Win Golden Ale. Unfortunately, this happy hour felt somewhat limiting and not worth it, given that the restaurant does not serve liquor and the two aforementioned beers are the only ones available. 

La Tapatia

La Tapatia’s street tacos: carne asada, pollo, carnitas and al pastor ($12) and a margarita ($8).

La Tapatia is a Mexican street food restaurant situated adjacent to the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson. I almost missed this happy hour and restaurant, which would have been a huge mistake. In my opinion, this was the best-tasting happy hour and the prices weren’t too bad for what you get. Their happy hour, available Tuesday-Friday, 2-5:30 p.m., was extensive in food and drink, making it a great place to stop and make a meal out of the deals.

After visiting twelve happy hours in Roseville, two in particular stood out to me: CRAVE and La Tapatia. CRAVE has a substantial happy hour menu with drinks and food items starting at $6. La Tapatia, although slightly higher in price, absolutely won me over with the quality and taste of their food; it’s amazing. Baldamar’s menu and vibe are great for any work groups or dates that seek a more formal setting, and the most unique experience was Smahspark, which housed lots of fun activities to make for a fun night, accompanied by a happy hour.