Parlour Bar at El Cortez

Parlour Bar at El Cortez is downtown Vegas's low-key happy hour champion, serving up $5 drafts, $6 wells, and $7 burgers Monday through Friday from 5-7pm. If you're tired of Strip prices and want a dive-adjacent experience without actual dive-bar grime, this is your spot.

The Happy Hour Economics

Let's break down the Monday-Friday, 5-7pm deal: $5 draft beers in a city where most places charge $8-12. $6 well drinks when the Strip wants $15. $7 burgers that are actually edible, not microwaved hockey pucks. This is legitimately one of the best happy hour values in Vegas, and it's happening at a historic downtown casino that's been around since 1941. El Cortez knows its audience—locals, gamblers, and people who appreciate a good deal—and Parlour Bar delivers.

What You're Drinking

The draft selection isn't craft beer heaven, but you're getting cold beer for $5, so manage expectations. Wells are the usual suspects—vodka, rum, whiskey, gin—and they pour them properly instead of those sad thimble-sized "shots" some places try to pass off as drinks. If you're looking for small-batch artisanal spirits and craft cocktails with fifteen ingredients, you're in the wrong bar. If you want a stiff drink that costs less than a latte, you're home.

The $7 Burger Situation

A $7 burger in Vegas is either a miracle or a health hazard, and at Parlour Bar, it's the former. These are legit bar burgers—properly seasoned patties, melted cheese, standard toppings, and a bun that holds together. You're not getting gourmet grass-fed beef with truffle aioli, but you're also not getting food poisoning. It's exactly what a bar burger should be, and for seven bucks during happy hour, it's a steal. Pair it with a $5 beer and you've got dinner for $12. Try doing that anywhere on the Strip.

The El Cortez Vibe

El Cortez is old Vegas—vintage neon, low ceilings, carpet that's seen some shit, and a crowd that's more "regulars who've been coming here for 30 years" than "influencers looking for content." Parlour Bar fits that aesthetic perfectly. It's not fancy, it's not trendy, and it's definitely not trying to be Instagram-worthy. It's just a solid bar in a historic casino where you can drink cheap, eat cheap, and maybe throw some money at the craps table afterward.

Who This Works For

Parlour Bar's happy hour is perfect for locals who know downtown's hidden gems, tourists who did their research and want to experience real Vegas instead of corporate Vegas, and anyone who's on a budget but still wants to drink and eat like a human being. It's also solid for pre-gaming before hitting Fremont Street or winding down after a day of gambling.

Strategic Timing

The 5-7pm window is prime time. Get there right at 5pm if you want a good seat at the bar. By 6pm it starts filling up with people who know the deal. The crowd is chill—you're not fighting drunk bachelorette parties or aggressive club promoters. Just people enjoying cheap drinks and decent food in a bar that's been doing this longer than most of us have been alive.

Bottom Line

$5 drafts, $6 wells, $7 burgers, Monday-Friday 5-7pm—Parlour Bar at El Cortez is old-school Vegas happy hour done right. No gimmicks, no bullshit, just solid drinks and food at prices that won't wreck your budget. That's rare in this city, and it's worth showing up for.