Bar Spotlight: Thirsty’s Cantina

Nightlife began stepping up in the River Market last month with the opening of Thirsty’s Cantina (529 Walnut, 816-221-9500) at the corner of Walnut and Missouri. Once occupied by the dark, sultry Vivace and, after that, by the short-lived gay bar Redhead Lounge, the building has undergone a face-lift, revealing a brighter, more inviting spot with happy hours every day. A Westport staple in the 1980s, Thirsty’s Cantina 2.0 has plenty of HDTVs with all the major sports packages (one TV stays tuned to soccer) and a newly revamped kitchen. “We wanted to open a place that offers very inexpensive food and very inexpensive drinks,” co-owner Jim Sawyer says. Thirsty’s offers all-you-can-eat tacos on Tuesdays and an open-until-close happy hour on Thursdays. And because today is Super Bowl Sunday, load up on half-price wings and $2.50 pints.

Starts: Feb. 7. Daily, 2010