The Martini Happy Hour. Off-Strip

If you genuinely care what is in your glass, The Martini is your kind of pre-dinner stop. It is a 24-hour cocktail and gaming bar out on South Fort Apache Road, off the Strip, built around its namesake drink rather than a TV wall and wing baskets. The room skews 30-plus and professional, dimly lit and quiet enough to hold a conversation, which makes it a solid date spot or a calm solo sit at the bar.

Happy hour runs twice a day. The afternoon window is 3:30 to 5:30pm with discounted cocktails and food, and there is a second late session from midnight to 3am. If you are a night owl, that late window is the move, and it comes with a $15 filet mignon when you order any beverage, a deal that also runs all day Sunday. The bartenders pay attention to dilution and glassware, so the discounted price does not mean a sloppy drink.

Because it is off-Strip, you are skipping tourist pricing and tourist crowds. The regulars are locals and industry people who know the menu, and the staff can talk you through gin options if you are not sure where to start. Parking is in the lot out front. Tell the bartender what flavors you lean toward and let them point you somewhere from there.