Jaleo Happy Hour. The Strip

Jaleo is José Andrés's Spanish tapas flagship, and the Las Vegas location has been cooking inside the Cosmopolitan since the resort opened in December 2010. The concept goes back much further than that, to the original Jaleo in Washington DC in 1993, which makes this one of the few celebrity chef rooms on the Strip with real history behind the name. The dining room is built around live-fire paella cooked over wood, and the menu reads like a tour of Spain: croquetas, gambas al ajillo, jamón, pan con tomate. It is a genuine restaurant that happens to sit inside a casino, not the other way around.

The afternoon deal is branded Sangría Hour, and it belongs to the bar and lounge only. Sunday through Thursday it goes from 5 to 7 pm, and on Friday and Saturday it starts earlier, at 4:30. Monday adds a second window, a reverse Sangría Hour from 9 to 11 pm, for people who like their discounts after dinner instead of before. The format is glasses of sangría, wine, and beer at friendlier prices than the regular list, backed by a short lineup of signature tapas. Think fried and salty, croquetas de pollo and patatas bravas territory, the exact food sangría was invented to wash down. The restaurant also promotes a Bottle and Board pairing of Spanish cheeses and cured Ibérico meats with a bottle of red, white, or sparkling wine.

This is a smart play for anyone who wants a taste of a genuinely good restaurant without committing to a full tapas dinner, which adds up fast here at regular prices. It suits couples killing time before a show at the Chelsea, solo travelers who prefer eating at a bar, and anyone staying at the Cosmo who wants dinner-quality food at a snack-hour price.

No reservation is needed for Sangría Hour; the bar and lounge take walk-ins. Seats go quickest in the hour before dinner service picks up, so arriving right at the start, especially on the earlier Friday and Saturday window, is the move. Sangría also comes by the pitcher if you are settling in with a group.