The Salted Lime Happy Hour. North Las Vegas

The Salted Lime is a neighborhood Mexican spot built for unwinding, not a tourist destination, and that's the appeal. Families doing early dinners, friends catching up over chips, people off a work shift looking for cheap margaritas. If you're a North Las Vegas local who wants strong drinks without driving to the Strip, this is an easy call.

It sits inside Aliante Casino on Aliante Parkway, so parking is free and the room stays casual and loud in a good way. Happy hour runs every day, 5 to 7pm. That's a seven-day window, which is rare at these prices.

The value is the drink list. House wines are $3 and there are $4 drink specials, which covers your standard cocktails, margaritas included. Two glasses of wine for $6 or two margs for $8 is hard to beat in this town. There are food specials too, though specific dishes aren't priced out here, so ask your server what's running that day. The menu sticks to Mexican classics, and the proteins pair well with a $4 marg.

The smart order is simple: a $4 margarita, a $3 wine for whoever's drinking lighter, and chips while you decide on food. Go right at 5 if you want a booth before the after-work crowd fills in. Best for groups and regulars rather than anyone chasing a polished cocktail program.