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Updated: July 9, 2019
By Santorini Dave
The 21 Best Bars in Las Vegas
1. Best Cocktail Bar: Herbs & Rye
Widely known as the best bar in Las Vegas, Herbs & Rye is a true industry clubhouse. A place where employees from other bars go on their downtime. The menu features cocktails through different periods like “Golden Age,” “Prohibition,” Tiki,” and “Rat Pack”. The bartenders are extremely knowledgeable and make good use of a thorough and often rare collection of spirits.
Atmosphere: Dark and moody with a vintage speakeasy vibe. Most of the action is in the bar, although there’s also a separate dining room to take full advantage of the steaks and Italian food.
Location: Herbs & Rye is a stand-alone bar on Sahara about two miles west of the Strip. Definitely take a taxi or ridesharing service.
Best time to go: The happy hour (5-8 p.m.) and reverse happy hour (midnight-3 a.m.) are among the best in town, with drink discounts and half-off steaks.
Cover: None.
2. Most Beautiful Bar: Chandelier
This scenic social hotspot covers three levels of the Cosmopolitan resort, surrounded in lights and beaded curtains. The first floor is the busiest and more of a party hub. The second follows a playful Alice in Wonderland theme, and the top level is a bit quieter with a focus on craft cocktails. Each floor has its own drink menu, giving everyone an excuse to mingle and move around.
Atmosphere: Upbeat and high-energy. The top two levels are a little more secluded.
Location: Chandelier is near the Strip-side of the Cosmopolitan’s hotel lobby. It’s an easy walk to-and-from other nearby resorts like the Bellagio, Planet Hollywood, and Aria.
Best time to go: The bar is open 24 hours with no happy hour. That gives you the option to go on your own time, whether you prefer crowds during busy hours or easy seating during slow hours.
Cover: None.
3. Best Downtown Bar: Downtown Cocktail Room
A pioneer in the Las Vegas craft cocktail scene. The Downtown Cocktail Room has a wildly inventive drink menu that changes seasonally. The bar (known informally as “D.C.R”) also has an infamous selection of absinthe and punch bowls. A new bar-within-a-bar, Mike Morey’s Sip’n’Tip, serves beer and whiskey shots from a separate counter and has its own side-alley entrance.
Atmosphere: Dark and no frills. This place is all about the drinks.
Location: The bar is on Las Vegas Boulevard, just around the corner from the Fremont Street Experience. It’s a quick walk from the tourist areas of Downtown but requires a taxi or ridesharing service from the Strip.
Best time to go: Drinks are half-off 4-7 p.m. However, it’s also a great late-night spot for after-dinner drinks. DJs perform live Tuesday-Saturday.
Cover: None.
4. Best Speakeasy: Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails
The venue is an old school gentlemen’s barbershop near the casino lobby of the Cosmopolitan. But after 5pm, the door marked “janitor” in the back opens to reveal a full bar and concert stage. The drinks are based on an extensive whiskey selection, although standard cocktails like the Old Fashioned are often made to the respective bartender’s preferences.
Atmosphere: The bar lives up to its speakeasy reputation with stylish chandeliers, comfortable leather furniture and hardwood counters. Passing through the actual barbershop gives the whole experience a sense of fun and discretion.
Location: Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails is right by the northeast entrance of the Cosmopolitan, which spills directly out on the Strip. The Bellagio, Paris, and other mid-Strip resorts are all in walking distance.
Best time to go: The atmosphere is loose between 5 and 9 p.m., when bartenders can be chatty about their creations. Headliners take the stage around 10 or 11 p.m.
Cover: Reservations often require a spending minimum to secure a table when national acts are booked.
5. Best Wine Bar: Marché Bacchus
Marché Bacchus is a French bistro on the water that has more than a thousand wines available by the bottle. Browse the selection and take one home or have it opened at your table for a few dollars more. The bar was recently given a major renovation that includes a new Scotch and cocktail program.
Atmosphere: The original intimate dining room is complemented by expanded outdoor patio seating with screened-in walls and fireplaces. It’s one of the most romantic places in Las Vegas to bring a date.
Location: Marché Bacchus is in the northwest residential community of Desert Shores, where it sits on Lake Jacqueline. It’s a 20-30 minute drive from the Strip, but worth it for those who want to escape the chaos of busy tourist areas for something more scenic.
Best time to go: Come by around dusk to enjoy the patio as the sun goes down. Free tastings are offered on Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday brunch runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cover: None.
6. Best Karaoke Bar: Dino’s Lounge
This dive bar has been a longtime locals staple on Las Vegas Boulevard for more than five decades. It draws a late night karaoke crowd that’s fun, lively, and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Any song or genre of music is fair game and the audience is typically more interested in what they’re drinking than judging your performance.
Atmosphere: It’s rare to have a bar with such a neighborhood feel this close to the Strip. Dino’s has a naughty side. Vintage porn plays on the TV screens and regulars vote on a “Drunk of the Month,” who then qualifies for “Drunk of the Year” (and a $100 bar tab).
Location: Dino’s is just north of the Strip, where Las Vegas Boulevard begins to merge with Downtown. You can walk there from the Stratosphere, the SLS, or a string of motels. However, the area gets a bit sketchy, especially at night, so pedestrians should stay in groups and not stray to side streets.
Best time to go: The bar is open 24 hours, but karaoke runs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 10 p.m.
Cover: No cover, but there’s a one-drink minimum.
7. Best Seasonal Craft Cocktail Bar: Velveteen Rabbit
Hipster hangout without any pretension. The award-winning bar serves an ever-changing menu of seasonal, craft cocktails featuring fresh produce and house-made ingredients. The cocktail selection is supplemented by 12 rotating beers on tap, along with 20 or so specialty bottles.
Atmosphere: An art-filled space decorated with eclectic, mismatched vintage furniture. Low-key, friendly vibes all week, with live music and events on Friday and Saturday nights.
Location: Wonderful location in the Downtown Arts District, surrounded fantastic restaurants, vintage clothing stores, art galleries, and antique shops. Walking distance (but not super close) to the Fremont Street Experience and most Downtown hotels.
Best time to go: Velveteen Rabbit is open from 5:00 p.m. to midnight (Sundays), 1:00 a.m. (Mondays to Wednesdays), or 2:00 a.m. (Thursdays to Saturdays). Dance nights usually start around 8:00 or 9:00 p.m. on the weekends, while other events (mixology classes, literary events, and burlesque) usually start earlier.
Cover: No cover for regular nights. Most events are free, but some have a small entry fee (around $10).
8. Best Live Music Bar: Sand Dollar Lounge
This historic Chinatown bar has been a live music favorite for decades. It’s seen some renovations over the years, giving it a new, modern feel that almost disguises its history. The whiskey selection is strong and the pizza kitchen follows the “do one thing and do it well” formula when it comes to food. Live music and video poker help draw in regulars.
Atmosphere: From local musicians to national headliners, you never know who’ll hop on stage for an impromptu jam session, which gives the bar a spontaneous energy. The renovations and mood lighting at the bar bring a contemporary edge that makes the place feel bigger than it really is.
Location: The Sand Dollar is on the eastern edge of Chinatown. It’s a little too far to walk from nearby hotels like the Palazzo, Venetian, and Mirage, but it’s a very inexpensive cab or rideshare journey.
Best time to go: Bands tend to take the stage around 10 or 11 p.m.
Cover: None.
9. Best Whiskey Bar: Delmonico Steakhouse
This steakhouse by Emeril Lagasse has creole-style steaks as well as the best whiskey and spirits list of any bar or restaurant in Las Vegas. It reads like a book, is updated regularly, and includes more than 700 options from around the world. Enjoy a glass in the main restaurant area or stick to the bar, where the team of knowledgeable and friendly bartenders can walk you through the list.
Atmosphere: For such an accomplished steakhouse, the bar is pretty low key. Walls are pale and the furnishings are a bit bland. But you’re also getting a reclusive, quiet break from the hustle of the nearby casino floor. Despite the impressive spirits collection, there’s no snobby pretense here. Feel free to stick to cocktails or a glass of wine.
Location: Delmonico Steakhouse is in the “Restaurant Row” section of the Venetian — close to the Grand Canal Shoppes and sister-resort Palazzo. Walk there easily from the Wynn, Treasure Island, or Mirage. Skip the monorail, since it doesn’t stop at the Venetian or Palazzo.
Best time to go: Come by early, especially before 5 p.m., when it’s less busy and the bartenders will have more time to discuss the selection in depth.
Cover: None.
10. Best Cozy Bar: Oak and Ivy
The flagship cocktail bar in the Downtown Container Park. The space is small with just a few seats, but that’s what you get when the bar is made from an old shipping container. Extra seating on the patio and roof. Great whiskey list. Nine versions of a Moscow Mule, with ginger beer made in-house.
Atmosphere: This award-winning bar plays up the old-timey charm with warm wood interiors and whiskeys displayed in their barrels. The outdoor patio and rooftop areas feel more modern, even a little industrial.
Location: Oak and Ivy is located inside the Downtown Container Park, walking distance from Fremont Street, the Arts District, and most downtown hotels. You’ll want to take a Lyft or Uber if traveling here from the Strip.
Best time to go: The bar is open from 1:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 1:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The bar has limited seating, arrive early to avoid the crowd and secure a chair. Once a month, Oak and Ivy hosts a two-hour tasting with food and drink pairings. Tickets can be bought at the door, but ordering ahead online guarantees your space at a discounted rate.
Cover: No cover.
11. Best Tiki Bar: Frankie’s Tiki Room
Frankie’s Tiki Rooms is a traditional tiki bar celebrating lowbrow art and strong drinks. The menu offers a fun mix of creative signature drinks featuring floral liqueurs and essences as well as fruit-based tropical classics. Open 24 hours with occasional quirky artist events. There is a small casino attached.
Atmosphere: Fans of vintage tiki bar culture will be happy to see all of the traditional elements in place: rum-fueled tropical drinks, dark lighting, kitschy Old Vegas furnishings, island-style thatched roof, shrunken heads, and artifacts scavenged from Hawaiian and Cali beaches.
Location: Frankie’s Tiki Room is located due west of the Downtown Arts District, about a 15-minute walk away. The closest hotels are in Downtown and the north end of The Strip, not within an easy walk. It’s best to drive or arrive by Lyft or Uber.
Best time to go: The bar is open 24/7 but has a livelier vibe after 9:00 p.m.
Cover: None.
12. Best Rooftop Bar in Downtown: Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a two-story venue that feels like a cross between a classic cocktail bar and something you might find in a charming college town. The rooftop deck, which turns into an impromptu dance floor on busy nights, has neon-soaked downtown views that alone are worth a visit. Commonwealth also contains the Laundry Room, a bar-within-a-bar speakeasy that only welcomes a few people at a time by appointment only. It’s one of the best places for craft cocktails in the entire city.
Atmosphere: Commonwealth feels modern — but with brick, dark wood, and vintage chandeliers, it has a warm and inviting atmosphere with plenty of space to move around.
Location: Commonwealth is in the heart of the Fremont East district, which is a little more locals-oriented than the nearby Fremont Street Experience. It’s walkable from the Golden Nugget, The D, Golden Gate, or any of the other big Downtown hotels. It’s also close to the Downtown Container Park.
Best time to go: Nickel beer nights offer a great deal “until the keg runs dry” but usually require a cover charge. Weekends are when the bar is busiest and the rooftop deck is guaranteed to be open.
Cover: Tickets for special DJ performances start at $10.
13. Best Rooftop Bar on The Strip: Skyfall Lounge
Stylish lounge with open-air patio, craft cocktails, and amazing views. Soak in the neon glow of Vegas from the 64th floor of the Delano resort. The menu features creative original cocktails alongside classics, an impressive whiskey list, and gourmet light bites. Punch bowls are great for large groups.
Atmosphere: Skyfall Lounge features a sophisticated, elegant design and a luxurious atmosphere, though the panoramic views over the Strip are the clear highlight here. The dress code is not super strict, but do dress nice.
Location: The bar is located on the top floor of the Delano Hotel, which is attached to Mandalay Bay at the south end of the Strip. To enter, guests must be escorted by staff using a secret elevator on the second floor of the hotel near The Shoppes at Mandalay Bay.
Best time to go: Skyfall Lounge is open from 5:00 p.m. to midnight most nights and until 1:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The best time for Delano hotel guests to go is from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., when they receive a complimentary champagne sunset toast. For outside guests, the best times are Fridays and Saturdays after 8:00 p.m. for their Rosé Weekend menu of specialty cocktails and snacks or come Fridays and Saturdays after 9:00 p.m. for their DJ set.
Cover: None.
14. Best Jazz Bar: The Dispensary
The Dispensary Lounge has been around for years. It’s known for its burgers as much as its live music. In a town sorely lacking in jazz and blues bars, this place is a welcome change of pace from the DJs that dominate the landscape. A quiet and unassuming escape in an otherwise ordinary strip mall.
Atmosphere: Casual and comfortable. Hanging out at the Dispensary Lounge is almost like hanging out in somebody’s living room. The music feels like background ambiance more than a concert event.
Location: The Dispensary Lounge is about three miles east of the Strip in an older suburban area of Las Vegas. Definitely take a taxi or ridesharing service.
Best time to go: You’re most likely to see live jazz musicians Friday and Saturday nights, beginning at 10 p.m.
Cover: On live music nights, there’s a $5-per-person donation that goes directly to the musicians.
15. Best Sports Bar: TAP
This sports bar is perfect for any out-of-towners staying on the Strip, The walls are covered with memorabilia, ranging from basketball jerseys to UFC championship belts. The food is diverse and the beer selection is deep. Of course, there are high-def televisions facing every direction.
Atmosphere: The windows open wide to the casino floor at the MGM Grand, allowing the cheers and groans to carry out — and increase the energy — during a big game or event.
Location: Tap is easy to find on the casino floor of the MGM Grand. Also, it’s just steps away from the sportsbook, making it easy to place a bet right before the action gets underway.
Best time to go: Anytime the Vegas Golden Knights are on the screen.
Cover: None.
16. Best Daytime Bar: Park on Fremont
Park on Fremont has an easy feel and rustic image that’s perfect for daytime drinking. There are multiple patios, including a backyard garden with a fireplace that instantly transports you away from the madness of Las Vegas. Both the food and drink menu are simple, but the spiked coffee cocktails are a welcome alternative on chilly evenings.
Atmosphere: Despite being in a touristy location, Park on Fremont feels like a local neighborhood hangout. The backyard garden is perfect for catching up with an old friend. The side patio is better suited for grabbing a burger with a date. The taxidermy inside could be seen as charming or just a reason to stay outside.
Location: The bar is on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard on Fremont Street. It marks the beginning of the Fremont East district, which is all about bars and casual gatherings.
Best time to go: Brunch runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Cover: None.
17. Best Upscale Bar: Mr. Coco
No happy hour discounts or cheap beer here. Mr. Coco is strictly for those who won’t hesitate to drop a few dollars on expertly prepared craft cocktails, wine, and rare sips of whiskey and Scotch. Two bars frame an elegant lounge renovated from an old luxury suite at the Palms with a global menu of small bites to keep patrons from getting hungry in between drinks.
Atmosphere: It’s a tight space by design as the high prices are meant to filter out large crowds. Everything is elegant, from the high-end artwork on the walls to the glassware used to serve the drinks themselves. Jazz singers and other live musicians perform nightly.
Location: Mr. Coco is in the lobby of the newly renovated Palms resort west of the Strip. Look for the doorman near the hallway to the Fantasy Tower. You’ll be led through an unassuming entrance, met by a hostess with a light amuse bouche cocktail, and guided to an elevator to travel up one floor to the bar.
Best time to go: An “aperitif hour” is held at 6 p.m. to highlight vermouths and fortified wines.
Cover: None.
18. Best Historic Bar: Atomic Liquors
The oldest operating bar in downtown Las Vegas, Atomic Liquors opened in 1952 after receiving the city’s first liquor license. During the ’50s, the rooftop deck was often used by patrons as a viewpoint for watching the atomic bomb testings in the distant desert. The bar recently added a kitchen to suplement their awesome cocktails.
Atmosphere: Heavily nostalgic but not too kitschy. Welcoming, fun and, casual.
Location: Located in the Fremont East neighborhood, walking distance from all downtown hotels and from the Fremont Street Experience but with more local vibe than other nearby bars.
Best time to go: Atomic Liquors is open late, until at least 2:00 a.m. on weekdays and until 4:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturdays, making it perfect for an after party.
Cover: None.
19. Best Brewery: Tenaya Creek Brewery
Great brewery with a social clubhouse vibe. Beer is smooth and well-balanced, not too hoppy. Found on a remote street in Downtown near the expressway, but feels almost miles away from Vegas. There’s usually a food truck in the parking lot after 6:00 p.m.
Atmosphere: Casual beerhall vibe with high-ceilings and lots of open space with pool tables and gaming. Mostly locals here.
Location: Located in an industrial area in North Las Vegas. There is a large, fenced-in, free parking lot. There is nothing at all within walking distance, so drive up or hire an Uber or Lyft to get here.
Best time to go: Tenaya Creek Brewery is open from 11:00 a.m. to midnight most days. Come after 6:00 p.m. to check out the food truck, or you can bring your own food or order delivery during the day. Though it’s spacious, it tends to get packed on Fridays and Saturday nights.
Cover: None.
20. Best Bar for Boozey Punch Bowls: The Dorsey
Upscale lounge with inventive cocktails on the Venetian’s casino floor. The most stylish place you can have a drink in the middle of the Strip; they mix up an especially great Penicillin (scotch, honey, lemon). Groups should try one of their signature punches, made with fresh fruits and served out of a disco ball.
Atmosphere: Chic lounge featuring lots of brass, oak, and a library with a fireplace. Elegant yet inviting.
Location: Located in the Venetian, at the bottom of the escalator adjacent to the casino and just steps from Restaurant Row, where you’ll find Delmonico Steakhouse, and near the Grand Shoppes. Walking distance from several Strip hotels, including Wynn and Encore, Treasure Island, and the Mirage and a short drive or taxi ride from Downtown. Don’t take the monorail, as it doesn’t stop near here.
Best time to go: The Dorsey is open until 4:00 a.m. every night, but it’s usually busiest between 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m. Visit outside of these hours for more attentive service.
Cover: None.
21. Best Bar for Classic Cocktails: Rosina
Rosina sticks to the classics, but prepares them with incredible expertise. Spirits, liquor, glassware, ice — everything is on point. Their specialty is the Manhattan; as for their secret menu to find 6 unique interpretations of this traditional drink. A fun detail is their champagne call button, ensuring that no flute goes empty.
Atmosphere: Dark and secluded with Art Deco design. Though an intimate setting, they offer several spacious booths for larger parties.
Location: Located in the Palazzo, adjacent to the casino, across from The Atrium Shops, and down the hall from the elevators to the hotel guest suites. Several restaurants in the Palazzo are just steps away, including the excellent Mott 32 gourmet Chinese restaurant. More restaurants can be found at the adjoining Venetian hotel’s Restaurant Row. An easy walk from nearby hotels, including the Wynn, LINQ, Treasure Island, and the Mirage.
Best time to go: Rosina is open every evening from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. and is busiest between 10:00 p.m. and midnight. Between 9:00 and midnight, guests can enjoy their chocolate pairings, with a Debauve & Gallais chocolate matched with the cocktail of their choice.
Cover: None.
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