First Place – Water Street Tavern

Combining the atmosphere of a sports bar with the appearance of a tried-and-true college bar, Water Street Tavern finds a way to harmonize these qualities and become one of the iconic bars in Kent.

Water Street offers a variety of amenities to its clientele, whether it be its rooftop patio, a stage for live music performances three days a week or Mr. Zub’s Deli, which serves hungry bar-goers unique and satisfying entrées.

With happy hour from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. all week long and offers ranging from liquor, beer and appetizers, Water Street makes sure that its customers have a reason to stop by the tavern any day of the week.

Second Place – Zephyr Pub

Walking into the Zephyr Pub, colorful lights adorn the brick and tile walls that are decorated with promotional drink specials and a variety of craft beers to sample.

Zephyr prides itself as the only bar in Kent which has three floors and a spacious patio where bar-goers can enjoy themselves. Hungry individuals can also access Tacos Tontos through a pick-up window from the outdoor patio.

“We always have lots of interesting beers on tap and I think Zephyr isn’t really one of those cookie-cutters type of bars,” Joel McAdams, a bartender at Zephyr said.

Zephyr has happy hour Monday through Friday from 3 – 9 p.m. as well as rotating drink specials every month.

Third Place – Ray’s Place

Since 1937, Ray’s Place has often been referred to as an icon of downtown Kent where people from all walks of life come for a drink.

Offering over 100 different kinds of bottled beers, 64 taps between its two floors and a wide variety of wines, Ray’s has made itself a staple of the Kent community.