It’s 4 p.m. It’s been a long slog at the office. There’s a project you could start, but it’s probably best to break for the day.

And let’s be honest: You’re thirsty and you could use a snack.

The best part about your itch to leave a little early is that it comes with serious financial benefits. There are some great happy hour deals in St. Paul, if you know where to look.

Luckily, we’ve spent a lot of time researching those deals for you, so all you have to do is choose a favorite from this list, grab a co-worker to commiserate with and get the heck out of Dodge.

Cheers!

AUGUSTINE’S BAR AND BAKERY

We love this bright, pretty space for its beer list and fresh baked goods. There are some vegetarian and healthful snacks on the happy hour menu, too, which is great during the hot months. Giant tater tots ($3) are studded with broccolini and earthy harissa and served with herbed sour cream, and a flatbread ($7) is topped with hummus, roasted red peppers, artichokes and feta. If that sounds too healthy for you, the restaurant’s fantastic harissa chicken wings are just $5. Fulton Standard pale lager is just $3 a pint, and select wines are $5. Their happy hour also runs five days a week and all day Monday.

Augustine’s Bar and Bakery: 1668 Selby Ave., St. Paul; 651-447-3729; augustinesmn.com; happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and all day Monday.

BRUNSON’S

Happy hour at this lovely little Payne Avenue newcomer lasts a whopping four early hours, and another two hours at the end of the night, and the deals are worth timing your visit right. All tap beers (and they have some really nice craft beers) are $2 off, as is all wine. A fun selection of higher-end liquors are $4 apiece to sip (or don’t sip — we’re not judging) and the food menu includes $4 for a giant basket of the restaurant’s house-made chips with their dilly onion dip. Those chips alone are worth the trek, but you can get a burger and chips for $5, some seriously good deviled eggs for $6 or a basket of cheese curds with a balsamic aioli for $6.

Brunson’s Pub: 956 Payne Ave., St. Paul; 651-447-2483; brunsonspub.com; happy hour runs from 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays and the last two hours of every night.

DARK HORSE

The food options at this Lowertown hot spot are limited, but it’s hard to beat their two-topping pizza special for just $11. The pizzas are sizeable enough to easily be dinner for two, and they’re tasty enough for us to crave. Steak tacos are $6 apiece; pulled pork sliders are $5; and there’s a $7 wedge salad or $8 cheese pizza if that’s more your jam. Drink discounts are pretty steep, too — $1 off all taps, but just $4 for any Deschutes, Indeed or Summit tap. A variety of canned beers (some of it of the craft variety) are just $2.75. The happy hour specials run twice daily (every day!), too.

Dark Horse Bar and Eatery: 250 E. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-313-7960; darkhorsebarandeatery.com; happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

FITZGERALD’S

Minnesota craft beer taps or rail drinks are just $3 at this pretty Selby Avenue spot, where bar food is done right. A giant plate of nachos topped with shredded beef, house-made cheese sauce, crisp lettuce, olives and pickled jalapenos is just $8, and it’s easily dinner for two, and chicken wings with a truly addictive, chunky, house-made sweet chili-lime sauce are $5. The specials run twice a day six days a week and all day Sunday.

Fitzgerald’s: 173 N. Western Ave., St. Paul; 651-219-4013; fitzgeraldsstpaul.com; happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight Monday through Saturday and all day Sunday.

GRAY DUCK TAVERN

Happy hour runs twice daily at this downtown St. Paul newcomer, and it’s already one of our favorites. For starters, the global comfort food eatery offers $2 off any of their delicious craft cocktails, any tap beer for $4, and select wines for $4 a glass. The list of discounted appetizers is pretty great and includes a satisfying spiced samosa for $2, and our personal favorite: the spicy, crispy, multi-layered, flavor-packed Chong Qing Chicken for $7.

Gray Duck Tavern: 345 Wabasha St., St. Paul; 651-340-9022; grayduckstpaul.com; happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m. and 9 to close weekdays.

MERITAGE

We can think of no better way to unwind after a tough day than to sit at the pretty oyster bar at this French bistro. We like to sit next to the seafood case and order our fill of oysters, which are a steal at 2 for $4 if you leave it to the chef to decide what he’s sending. The bivalves are flown in fresh daily — chef Russell Klein insists upon quality and always offers some of the most interesting selections in town. Beyond that, smoky confit wings are $5, tender-tangy-chewy ribs $2 apiece, and little flatbread pizzas are a steal at $5. And some of the most worth-the-calories french fries in the cities are $5 for a giant cone, and they’re served with a perfect bearnaise. The drink specials are $5.50: Bartenders mix up a gin punch daily, or try the Bowler Hat, a take on a mint julep. House wines are $5, and those are always a good bet at Meritage.

Meritage: 410 St. Peter St., St. Paul; 651-222-5670; meritage-stpaul.com; happy hour runs from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

PAJARITO

A $5 cilantro habanero margarita and a $5 order of club nachos, served in one of those little plastic tubs you get at a stadium, but consisting of Pajarito’s excellent house-made tortilla chips topped with perfectly spiced beef, house-made cheese sauce, jalapenos, crema and some of our favorite salsa is the perfect way to put us in our happy place. The $5 chorizo sliders are also fabulous, and there are $6 grilled wings, too. Shots of Patron, Jameson and a few others are just $3, and Pacifico and a few other taps are $3. Find us a better, tastier happy hour deal — we dare you.

Pajarito: 605 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-340-9545; pajaritostp.com; happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

RIVAL HOUSE

We’re all for a seven-day-a-week, twice-a-day happy hour, especially one where there’s such a great selection of discounted food. A decent-sized pepperoni pizza ($7) and some spicy chorizo deviled eggs ($6) made for a fine early dinner for two of us, and the restaurant offers $1 off any listing on the game-themed eatery’s killer craft beer list or $4 glasses of house wine. The happy hour food menu also includes fun items like fried green tomatoes, cheese curds and house-made chips and a pimento dip.

Rival House Sporting Parlour: 411 Minnesota St., St. Paul; 651- 255-0645; rivalhousestpaul.com; happy hour runs from 4 to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. daily.

SALUT

Related Articles The original Mai Tai recipe pays tribute to a friend

Lunds & Byerlys to stay closed on day after Thanksgiving

Surdyk’s adds bar and eatery called Sidebar

Neighborhood girl finds and returns chef Justin Sutherland’s stolen knife roll

8 ways to make school-at-home lunches easier This comfortable French bistro has an ample bar area that’s perfect for meeting friends for an after-work drink and snack. Fill up on giant Blue Point oysters for $2 apiece, a generous portion of $6 truffle frites and a big bowl of mussels for $6. Use one of the restaurant’s crusty little baguettes to sop up the saffron butter sauce on the mussels, and you’ve made a great light dinner. Drink specials range from house wine to a few beers to a few cocktails for $5 to $7.

Salut: 917 Grand Ave., St. Paul; 651-917-2345; salutbaramericain.com; happy hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m. daily and 10 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

TURF CLUB

Be still our beating (and workaholic) hearts: At the Turf, happy hour runs until 7 p.m. Just $5 gets you a pile of cheese curds; a giant basket of tater tots or fries piled high with spicy queso, bacon and fresh green onion and lots of other options; a couple of Bavarian pretzels; or some chicken tenders. All drinks are $1 off as well.

Turf Club: 1601 W. University Ave., St. Paul; 651-647-0486; turfclub.net; happy hour runs from 5 to 7 p.m. on weekdays, 3 to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.