This post from DCist contributor, Rawn James, Jr.

We’ve all been there. You’ve been working hard all day, eaten a quick lunch at your desk, and just want to get out of work as soon as possible. So leave! No, we’re not encouraging sloth, we’re encouraging you to treat yourself to the District’s best happy hours—many of which strategically end at 6:00 or 6:30 p.m. By the time most of us can get out of the office and into the bar, these specials have gone the way of the off-peak hour metro fare. So, we’re introducing a series of articles highlighting your best options; we’re calling it 5 O’Clock Meeting.

Merkado Kitchen
Merkado Kitchen is a self-described Latin bar & grill perfectly parked across the street from Whole Foods in Logan Circle, 1443 P Street, NW to be exact. Its happy hour specials are not posted on its website; in fact, you have to look hard to find any mention of a happy hour at all on the website. But the specials, which run from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, have made the appointment for our first 5 O’Clock Meeting.

Unlike its sister restaurant a few doors down, Logan Tavern, Merkado boasts an expansive bar seating area; seats aren’t hard to come by, and fortunately neither is good service. The bartenders are courteous and efficient—an increasingly rare combination in behind the counter talent—and knowledgeable of their craft. The draft beers are half price and the bar offers an extensive list of specialty cocktails, some using their wide selection of infused spirits. The mojitos are better than most in town and they sell like hot cakes at $3 a pop, as do the margaritas. The well-poured rail drinks are $3 each as well; my slightly dirty vodka martini was made perfectly to order.