J Black’s is a classy and lively bar in the West 6th Street District. It has an upscale feel, but not to the extent that it feels pretentious. Most of its patrons are young professionals. It is a very popular spot for every night of the week for both happy hours and late-night festivities, but as to be expected, Friday and Saturday nights are their busiest.

The Essentials:

Address: 710 W. 6th St., Suite B
Phone: 512-433-6954
Hours: Every day, 4 p.m.-2 a.m.

The Feel:

J Black’s is on 6th Street, but in the area that attracts more professionals than college students. J Black’s is unique in that there are so many different areas to congregate. There is an outdoor patio with tables and chairs, great for people-watching. In the center of J Black's is a large bar with seating all the way around it. Throughout J Black’s, there are several tall bar tables, perfect for those wanting to eat. Additionally, there is a lounge area with comfy couches and chairs and mood lighting, perfect for a date night. There is also room for standing.

The Food:

Forget greasy pub fare; J Black’s has delicious and modern food. While it's not officially a restaurant, you can enjoy a full meal here.

One section of the menu is called Sharing Plates, which are large appetizers. This includes hummus, pigs in a blanket, fried mac and cheese, Texas Kobe sliders, bruschetta, and shrimp ceviche.

There is a variety of thin-crust pizzas, including BBQ pulled pork, crab and Portobello, and jambalaya pizza.

My favorite item is the three cheese foccacia, which is rich, cheesy, and comes with pesto dipping sauce.

J Black’s also offers several salads, and a brownie for dessert.

The Drinks:

J Black’s offers a variety of popular cocktails, including cosmopolitans, Mexican martinis, bellinis, Cuban mojitos, appletinis, and even a chocolate martini.

They also offer dozens of red wines, white wines, and champagnes. You can buy most of the drinks by the bottle, but only some by the glass, so the wines are best for splitting. Prices range from a $6 glass of pinot grigio to a $400 bottle of Cristal, making it a great place for all budgets.

Happy Hour:

Due to the great specials during happy hour, J Black’s is a very popular place for after-work drinks and snacks. Happy hour is from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and all day on Sundays.

During happy hour, patrons receive $1 off all drinks and 25 percent off bottles of wine. They also offer half price on certain sharing plates of food.