Parlour Bar at El Cortez Happy Hour. Downtown

Parlour Bar sits inside El Cortez in the heart of downtown, a historic casino that has been on the corner since 1941. Self-parking and the garage are both free, and Fremont Street is a short walk if you want to keep moving afterward. Happy hour runs daily from 5 to 7pm, so the smart play is to grab a bar stool right at 5 before the after-work regulars fill in.

The drink value is real. Bud Light and Coors Light drafts go for $5, well drinks are $6, and there is a $6 drink of the month if you want to roll the dice on something new. The house margarita and the mimosa both run $7. On the food side things skew a little richer: $8 parmesan truffle fries, $8 mozzarella sticks, and heartier plates like $15 chicken tenders with fries or $16 wings with fries. A couple of the fried snacks and a $5 draft still keeps the tab honest for a downtown spot this close to Fremont.

This suits locals, gamblers, and anyone who would rather drink in an old-Vegas room than a polished tourist bar. Expect vintage neon, low ceilings, and a crowd that knows the bartenders by name. It is not fancy and it is not trying to be, which is exactly the point.