Some folks work weekends and do it purely out of convenience. Many know it’s the best time to find a good deal. Others do it simply because drinking alone in public feels less alcoholic-y than drinking alone at home. Whatever your reason, weeknight drinking is a regular pastime in Houston. Here are the ten best weeknight bars the city has to offer.

10. COTTONWOOD
If you spend all day in an office, as many in Houston do, then why not spend an evening after work enjoying one of Houston’s finest patios? There’s a decent bet you’ll take in some live music on Cottonwood’s outdoor stage, and it’s a certainty you’ll be able to choose from any number of beers on Cottonwood’s rotating tap. Throw in one of the finest burgers in Houston and you have one hell of a weekday night. (3422 N. Shepherd, cottonwoodhouston.com)

9. BEER MARKET CO.
With 24 beers on tap daily, and many more in cans and bottles, Beer Market Co. certainly lives up to its moniker. On weekdays, it’s a perfect spot to take in happy hour or dinner. Taco Tuesday is a favorite among regulars, featuring $2 tacos and $3 Texas draft beers. Take in a game indoors or on Beer Market’s patio, which is dog-friendly. (920 Studemont #900, beermarketco.com)

8. 8TH WONDER BREWERY
Any day is a good day to be at 8th Wonder, but Wednesday brings a little something extra to the festivities. In addition to the usual food truck on site and an array of beers on tap, 8th Wonder on Wednesday nights partners with Yoga & Hops for an hour of yoga, followed by cold 8th Wonder beer ($20 for the yoga and three beer tokens). (2202 Dallas, 8thwonderbrew.com)

7. HEARSAY GASTRO LOUNGE
It’s hard to call Hearsay underrated, when it routinely serves up quality food and drink to a packed house downtown, but it just feels like this gastro lounge doesn’t quite get its due when folks mention the best bars in Houston. Weeknights tend to feature a more laid-back crowd, so it’s a perfect time to come check out what Hearsay has to offer – namely, an extensive cocktail menu and some of the best upscale bar food in the city. Spring for an entrée or split some small plates among a group; you can’t really go wrong either way. (218 Travis, hearsayhouston.com)

6. EIGHT ROW FLINT 
Whiskey. Beer. Tacos. That is the slogan of this new Heights joint (open since December of last year), which certainly knows its clientele. Eight Row Flint features a collection of craft cocktails and beer, as well as one of the deepest whiskey selections in the city. Couple that with an on-site food truck that serves up scrumptious tacos and homemade chips, and you have a perfect spot for a laid-back evening on the patio. And for those looking to perhaps take the evening to the next level, you can enjoy a Cheap Thrill, which features select whiskey shots and a Miller High Life back for $4. (1039 Yale, eightrowflint.com)

5. LITTLE J'S BAR
Little J’s has really stepped up its game since moving nearly two years ago. The tacos are solid and reasonably priced (particularly for a Washington-area establishment), the Rise & Shine Breakfast Burger is worth the potential coronary and the beer selection is on-point. The bar hosts weekly events like Bingo and steak on Tuesdays and Geeks Who Drink Trivia on Wednesdays. Perhaps most notably – in a nod to those who have served our country – Little J’s hosts occasional cigar nights for veterans, offering them the chance to bond and “regain the camaraderie of active duty”; the next event is scheduled for Thursday, July 7. (5306 Washington, littlejsbar.com)