Happy hour can be much more than a first drink before dinner. When the food pairs well with the drinks, it becomes a chance to share small plates, explore different flavors, and ease into the evening.
At Mercato Della Pescheria Las Vegas, located in St. Mark’s Square inside The Venetian Resort, that experience takes on an Italian character. The restaurant has its own Happy Hour Menu, while the regular antipasti menu lets you expand the table with dishes such as Grilled Octopus or Antipasto Mercato.
What should you look for in a dish to enjoy during happy hour?
Italian antipasti are a natural fit for this moment. Designed to open the appetite and be shared, they make it easy to enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail without immediately committing to a full dinner.
Crispy Calamari: a classic way to start
If there’s a calamari appetizer that fits naturally into happy hour, it’s Mercato’s Crispy Calamari.
The dish combines golden calamari with charred lemon and Calabrian chili aioli. The crispy texture is brightened by the charred lemon, while the aioli adds creaminess and the subtle heat of Calabrian chili.
Its shareable format makes it easy to place at the center of the table alongside a first round of drinks, making it one of the most straightforward choices for anyone looking to pair a cocktail with an Italian appetizer.
Antipasto Mercato: sharing the Italian way
Few dishes represent the Italian tradition of sharing better than an antipasto platter.
The Antipasto Mercato brings together marinated and grilled mushrooms, zucchini, eggplant, and red peppers, along with semi-dried tomatoes and olives. The menu also lets you add fresh mozzarella or prosciutto to complete the selection.
Its appeal lies in the variety. Instead of focusing on a single flavor, the dish lets you alternate between grilled vegetables, olives, and tomatoes and, if you choose, add mozzarella or prosciutto.
It’s an option that fits naturally at a table where guests want to share different bites while enjoying a glass of wine or a cocktail.
Grilled Octopus: Mediterranean flavors
For those who want to bring flavors from the sea into the experience, the grilled octopus appetizer offers a different profile.
Mercato Las Vegas’ Grilled Octopus is served with Kalamata olive aioli, baby potatoes, fennel, pickled onions, salsa verde, and lemon vinaigrette.
The combination creates several contrasts: the octopus and its grilled preparation provide the centerpiece, while Kalamata olive aioli adds Mediterranean intensity and fennel, pickled onions, and lemon vinaigrette bring freshness and acidity.
It’s a great option for those who want to complement the happy hour specials with a more elaborate appetizer from the regular menu.
More Italian bites and cocktails during happy hour
For those who prefer to keep the entire experience within the Happy Hour Menu, Mercato offers other options such as Meatballs, combining pork and beef meatballs with San Marzano tomato sauce, Grana Padano, and ricotta; Quattro Formaggio Arancini, featuring crispy risotto filled with cheese and served with marinara sauce; and Salmon Tartar, a combination of fresh salmon, crispy prosciutto, green apples, and squid ink aioli.
The drink selection rounds out the table with classics such as Aperol Spritz, Negroni, Cosmopolitan, and Dirty Martini, along with a selection of wines by the glass.
This means the plan can stay simple with a cocktail and Crispy Calamari or Arancini, or expand with one of the other available appetizers.
Three options to share in St. Mark’s Square
So, what Italian dishes should you order during happy hour? At Mercato Della Pescheria, the answer depends on the kind of experience you want to create.
Crispy Calamari is the most straightforward choice; Antipasto Mercato lets you share grilled vegetables, olives, and, if you like, mozzarella or prosciutto; and Grilled Octopus offers a seafood alternative with Mediterranean flavors.
Mercato Della Pescheria is located in St. Mark’s Square at The Venetian, 3377 S. Las Vegas Blvd., an ideal location for turning an afternoon on the Strip into a first round of drinks paired with Italian flavors.
Reserve your table to enjoy happy hour with cocktails, wine, and Italian bites made for sharing in the heart of Las Vegas.