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You May Now Feel Good About Drinking Kimpton's Free Wine

Already known for their lobby happy hours, Kimpton Hotels are further stepping up their booze game with a new Wines That Care program. The new selections, which will be served up in all 51 Kimptons, have been picked because the vineyards involved are using socially or environmentally conscious practices. Which is awesome, because we now have an extra excuse to enjoy their fine, free booze with a clear conscience.

Among the brands now on offer are French Rabbit, biodynamic wine which comes in Tetra Pak to reduce packaging weight and cost, Citra Wines, an Italian brand that's donating calling cards to soldiers serving overseas, and Banrock Station, the Australian vineyard that donates a portion of sales to preserving wetlands worldwide.

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Hotel Restaurants / Hotel Bars / Hotel Happy Hours / Andaz Hotels / Hyatt Hotels / San Diego Hotels / → All Tags

Three Ways to Stuff Your Face at the Andaz San Diego

Where: 600 F St. [map], San Diego, CA, United States, 92101

Just as American Idol has brought in J.Lo and Steven Tyler to add some life to the ailing TV show, Andaz San Diego has introduced new chef de Cuisine Michael Liotta to kick-start the food and drink offerings. And lucky for you, you won't have to sing for your supper.

Here are three ways to eat and drink at the Andaz.

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Holiday Cocktails / Hotel Restaurants / Hotel Happy Hours / Jumeirah Hotels / Manhattan Hotels / → All Tags

Have A Holiday Cocktail At Jumeirah Essex House For $10 This Friday

Where: 160 Central Park South [map], New York, NY, United States, 10019

Here's a holiday riddle for you: When do we love a holiday cocktail more than ever before? When it's a mere ten bucks! OK, so that wasn't really a riddle but it is almost unheard of for a fancy hotel to offer specialty cocktails for less than $15. Which is why we're psyched about the special happy hour taking place this Friday from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at South Gate, the restaurant at Jumeirah Essex House in New York.

The cocktail menu at South Gate already includes classics such as The Cougar and The Stork Club ($16 each) but at this Friday's Happy Hour you can get a Spiced Cranberry Agave cocktail for just $10. Suh-weet!

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The W Chicago-Lakeshore Serves Street Food and a Cocktail for $10

Where: 644 N. Lake Shore Drive [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60611

One of the hidden gems in the W Chicago-Lakeshore is its special Wednesday happy hour, the Streets @ WAVE. It's so hidden, you have to ask for it by name to get the top-secret menu. At least that's what happened when we visited the hotel lounge to try the ethnic street food special.

The hotel's Mediterranean-inspired restaurant WAVE visits other countries' cuisines every Wednesday and offers its spin on street food native to that nation. Each month focuses on a different country; March featured India, and this month it's China.

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Hotel Happy Hours / Hotel Restaurants / Seattle Hotels / → All Tags

10 Reasons To Hit Up BOKA Happy Hour at Hotel 1000

Where: 1010 First Avenue [map], Seattle, WA, United States, 98104

If you’ve ever been to Hotel 1000 then you know that this popular after work spot boasts one of downtown Seattle’s best (if not the best, IMO) happy hours. Chef Angie Roberts takes BOKA’s culinary program seriously and doesn’t slack for happy hour just because prices are slashed. Instead, her nearly 80% organic menu shines on spruced up comforty American favorites, with – dare we say – a bit of urban flare. When we stayed at Hotel 1000 the other month, eating at BOKA was the highlight of our trip. That and the Space Needle of course!

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Sleeping in Seattle / Hyatt Hotels / Seattle Hotels / Hotel Happy Hours / → All Tags

Urbane at Hyatt Olive 8 for Afternoon Delights

Where: 1635 8th Ave [map], Seattle, WA, United States, 98101

Over the weekend we spent a few days in Seattle checking out the city's coffee shops, fish markets and, of course, the hotel scene. This week we'll be putting forth our reviews and observations on Seattle's hotels, of which there are plenty. Got any questions or suggestions? Let us know.

One of our must-see hotels in Seattle was the brand-new, LEED-certified Hyatt at Olive 8. While we didn't spend the night, we did hit up the happy hour (from 4 to 6pm) at the Urbane restaurant just off the lobby.

The hotel is named for its location at Olive and 8th Streets in Seattle. It's a hop, skip and a jump away from the main shopping center, Pacific Place, and other department stores like Nordstrom and Barney's New York. If you want to be in the heart of it all, then you can stay at the Grand Hyatt but Hyatt at Olive 8 is on the edge of the action with less foot traffic out front.

But keep in mind, this is Seattle and not New York. So even the "busy" parts of town are extremely manageable. Happy hour at Urbane. Residences look unfinished/unoccupied.

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Hotel Happy Hours / Peninsula Hotels / Beverly Hills Hotels / → All Tags

New Rooftop Cocktail Hour At The Peninsula Beverly Hills

Where: 9882 Santa Monica Blvd. [map], Beverly Hills, CA, United States, 90212

If you’re anything like us, and enjoy the finer things in life without necessarily having the spare cash to indulge in them (especially these days!), the Peninsula Beverly Hills is launching a new Summer Cocktail Hour so you can swan around rubbing shoulders with media moguls and celebrity wannabes without shelling out for one of the pricey rooms.

Starting today and on every Thursday through Labor Day, this new happy hour will be held from 5:00-7:00pm at the hotel's recently renovated Roof Garden bar. Guests can enjoy cocktails, glasses of wine and beer for half-price while milling around the teak bar or fire pit (summer nights can be chilly here in LA.) The deal also includes perhaps that most elusive of L.A. perks: complimentary valet

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Hotel Happy Hours / Hotel Wine Tastings / Santa Monica Hotels / Hotel Cocktails / → All Tags

Wine and Cheese Night Stinks Up The Huntley Hotel

Where: 1111 2nd St. [map], Santa Monica, CA, United States, 90403

Just when you thought that wine and cheese hours at boutique hotels were kind of lacking, the hip beach-chic Huntley Hotel and its Penthouse restaurant have announced a new monthly wine and cheese tasting night with famed L.A. maître fromager Andrew Steiner starting Tuesday, April 7.

Steiner is known for his rollicking regular events at his eponymous cheese shop on Montana Avenue (where the sign above the door says, "This place stinks!"), especially the oft sold-out “beer and cheese nights,” and the tasting does cost just $40. The debut event will feature champagne and other sparkling wines paired with the newest selections from Steiner’s shop.

If you can’t make it that day, stop by The Penthouse for its new Sunset Hour happy hour Monday-Friday from 4:00-7:00pm. The special new menu is filled with appetizers like short rib tacos and crispy rock shrimp for $7 each, while beers will set you back $5 and glasses of wine $8. Sure beats the usual $15 or so they charge you for cocktails…

Hotel Restaurants / Hotel Happy Hours / Thompson Hotels / → All Tags

Thompson Beverly Hills Kicks Off Recession-Friendly Happy Hour

Where: 9360 Wilshire Blvd [map], Beverly Hills, CA, United States, 90212

Lest you think it's only Wall Street financiers who have been hit hard by the tanking economy, we'd like you to know that not everything is coming up green in Beverly Hills. Recent reports suggest waning tourism and effectively, waning revenue for the posh city. Perhaps this is why Thompson Beverly Hills has begun to offer a very recession-friendly happy hour.

The Lounge at Thompson Beverly Hills (on the second level of the hotel) has kicked off a happy hour from 5 to 7:30pm Monday through Friday where seven drinks and seven appetizers will all be available for $7.00 each.

Additionally, the BondST restaurant inside the hotel has put together a prix fixe tasting menu available everyday (except Saturday) starting at 6pm for $44 per person.

Since Thompson BH is located extraordinarily close to some of the big Hollywood agencies, we're guessing a lot of suits will be dining here to commiserate over their dwindling 10 percentages. But if you're trying to get that screenplay sold you can hobknob here without spending a fortune. And really, whoever you are, whoever your father is, we all love a deal these days.