Palate Happy Hour. Arts District

Palate sits on South Main Street in the Arts District, an easy hop from downtown or the Strip with street parking that actually exists, unlike most central spots. Walk in mid-afternoon on a Wednesday and you've landed on the best deal in the building. Happy hour runs Wednesday through Saturday from 3 to 6pm, and Wednesdays come with $1 oysters all day, which is the order to plan your week around.

The pricing is fair without being flashy. Beer and seltzer go for $5, wine and well drinks for $8, and the specialty cocktails land at $9. Food specials sit in the $7 to $10 range, so a couple of plates and a drink keeps the total reasonable. If you only do one thing here, sit at the bar on a Wednesday, work through a dozen oysters, and pair them with a $5 seltzer.

The space is modern American with local art on the walls and a cocktail program that takes itself seriously. It reads more like a neighborhood restaurant than a tourist stop, which suits the creative pocket of town it lives in. Good for a relaxed early dinner, a date that doesn't need the Strip, or anyone who wants quality food without resort markup. Arrive closer to 3pm on weekends, since the room fills as the afternoon goes.