RPM Italian

RPM Italian is the Bill Rancic and Giuliana Rancic restaurant that brings modern Italian to the Strip without the red-checkered-tablecloth clichés. It's sleek, sophisticated, and the happy hour is legitimately good: Monday through Friday, 3-5pm, with $5 beer, $8 wine, and $8 bites. For a spot this nice, that's a hell of a deal.

The Weekday Sweet Spot

Monday through Friday, 3-5pm—no weekends, but the pricing makes up for it. $5 beer is borderline aggressive for a place like this, and the $8 wine selections are actually drinkable (not the bottom-shelf garbage some spots try to pass off as a deal). The $8 bites include legitimate menu items scaled down for happy hour, not just sad bar snacks.

What to Eat

The happy hour menu rotates, but expect Italian classics done well: crispy calamari that's not rubbery, meatballs with San Marzano tomato sauce that tastes like someone's nonna made it, margherita flatbread with fresh mozzarella. These are real dishes, not "happy hour filler." If you're strategic, you can make a full meal out of the $8 bites and feel like you gamed the system.

Wine & Beer Done Right

The $8 wine list leans Italian—Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Prosecco if you want bubbles. They're solid pours, not thimbles pretending to be glasses. The $5 beer includes imports and craft options, not just domestic light beer (though that's available too if you're boring). If you want cocktails, you're paying full price, but honestly, wine makes more sense with Italian food anyway.

The Atmosphere

RPM Italian is polished without being stuffy—dark wood, white marble, low lighting that makes everyone look good. The crowd during happy hour is a mix of Forum Shops shoppers, locals who work on the Strip, and couples getting a head start on date night. It's upscale but not pretentious, the kind of place where you can wear jeans and a nice shirt without feeling underdressed.

Strategic Drinking

The 3-5pm window is earlier than most happy hours, which works if you're planning dinner elsewhere or just want an afternoon drink break. It's also less crowded than the 5-7pm slots, so you'll actually get a seat at the bar. Come hungry, order a few $8 bites, and wash it down with $5 beer or $8 wine. You'll leave happy and not broke.

Why It's a Winner

RPM Italian delivers quality at a price point that doesn't feel like a ripoff. The food is legit, the drinks are priced fairly, and the vibe is exactly what you want from a modern Italian spot on the Strip. It's one of those rare happy hours where you're not compromising on quality to save money—you're just being smart about when you show up.