At one point during the pandemic, The Cosmopolitan had the best offers. I started frequenting this Vegas Strip property more often than the nearby casinos.

The Cosmopolitan has been my favorite Vegas Strip casino since opening in 2010. In that time I’ve probably eaten at 90% of the restaurants that have existed at the property.

Jose Andres

Jose Andres is one of my favorite chefs for a variety of reasons. I try almost any restaurant he opens in Las Vegas. 

Bazaar Meat at Sahara is one of my favorite restaurants in Las Vegas. It’s more than just a steakhouse and it’s fantastic. I’ve had some of my favorite meals at Bazaar.

Jaleo at The Cosmopolitan has jumped to number two in my Andres rankings over the past year. My infatuation with Jaleo might be a good example to restaurant operators to offer fair Happy Hour deals.

I’m a simple person and enjoy a lot of the things I like often. After using the food credits to experiment with various places to eat and drink, I’ve become obsessed with Jaleo. You may have seen pictures on Twitter or Instagram.

Sangria Hour at Jaleo

Sangria Hour is a staple at Jaleo restaurants around the country. It’s just one of the many happy hour options at The Cosmopolitan. 

Happy Hour deals give the “faux fancy” people like me a chance to sample food at restaurants we might normally not visit. This allows us a chance to eat and drink at the bar without being committed to a full meal. If the small plates are good enough, I’ll step up to the full menu.

I once heard someone say “I’m not a foodie, I just like to eat.” That describes me pretty well even though I do like some foodie-type foods. 

Jaleo wasn’t much of a focal point for me when I started my monthly visits to The Cosmopolitan more than a year ago. However, one day I was in the mood for Sangria and decided to grab multiple drinks and a snack. 

Now I visit Jaleo regularly and order items beyond the smaller options on the Sangria Hour menu. My visits to Jaleo started with a thirst for discounted sangria and now include normal full-priced menu items.

I usually visit solo or with one person and we sit at the bar. The service is always good and quick no matter who’s working. It helps that these Sangria Hour visits are before most people are ready for dinner.

My order is now essentially a combo of Sangria Hour and regular menu items and it’s mostly the same or some of the following:

• Red Sangria – $7
• Sangria Hour Croquetas de Pollo (chicken croquettes) or Patatas bravas (potatoes) – $7
• Mini Pepito de ibérico (tiny pig burger) – $9
• Carne asada (steak) – $27

All of the dishes are small and made for sharing except for the Mini Pepito. That’s too small to share but it’s so damn good. Six ounces of steak is a fun dish to share and even better to eat alone.

The prices aren’t exactly cheap but they’re not expensive due to the size of each item. Paying less than $50 for dinner and a drink on the Vegas Strip isn’t bad for food of this quality.

My weekly food credit covers most of the cost when I’m solo.

Great Way To Start The Night

Sangria Hour (really any Happy Hour) is a good early light yet filling meal. This helps get me through the night without feeling weighed down.

Going to Sangria Hour at Jaleo probably only saves me a few dollars now. However, it works perfectly for my early-to-rise body clock that is ready for some kind of snack around 4 or 5 pm.

Looking back, I wish I learned about Happy Hour when I first started visiting Las Vegas.

First, discounted food and drink are great. Second, exploring different food is fun. Lastly, having a solid foundation in place for a night of Las Vegas without disruption is perfection.

There are so many solid Happy Hour deals around Las Vegas. Some deals are better than others but they’re available all over. In addition to The Cosmopolitan Happy Hour deals, I’ve found some great options at the Caesars Palace Forum Shops. There are plenty deals available on and off the Vegas Strip.

Feel free to leave a comment with your favorite Happy Hour deals in Las Vegas.