I spent Labor Day weekend in Las Vegas and made sure to include a handful of cocktail bars as part of the trip. Personally, I prefer Downtown Las Vegas to the strip. There are more casinos in close proximity, it's easier to get in and out, and since I am far from a high-roller it's much more affordable. So with that in mind I wanted to scout some of the options away from the strip. Most of these are in the downtown area and within walking distance of any hotel on Fremont Street.
This trip was a little fuzzy, as Vegas has a tendency to do, so these reviews will focus more on the bars in general, rather than the cocktails that were ordered (as was done in my
Minneapolis Cocktail Bars review)
Downtown Las Vegas Cocktail Bars
Mob Bar
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| The bar at Mob Bar |
Mob Bar is located on 3rd Street, just north of the Fremont Street Experience. I first stumbled across this place a couple years ago and really enjoyed it. On more recent visits though, it's been less than overwhelming. They've got a fairly small cocktail menu and the service can be spotty if you aren't seated at the bar. While not my top choice, it's a stone's throw from Fremont and usually has open seating. My advice, grab a seat at the bar and enjoy some of the appetizers they offer.. the chicken parmesan sliders are absolutely phenomenal.
Bar + Bistro
About a mile south of Fremont is
Bar + Bistro. This bar is in the arts district so you will see a lot of items inside that were crafted locally (liquor bottles as lampshades & glasses, street signs as tables, etc). You'll also likely be served by someone connected to the local art scene. The cocktail menu isn't huge, but has some good options for whatever type of liquor-based drink you want. This place has a pretty cool feel to it and plenty of whiskey on hand - they have three display cases showcasing all of the juice available. Add this to a solid food menu and decent service (it's been awesome a couple times, adequate a couple other, but never bad) and you've got a very solid bar.
Lady Silvia
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| The Lady Silvia |
The Lady Silvia is just east of Bar + Bistro and located in a larger commercial building. The interior of this place is really unique. High ceilings and built-in bookcases along the walls, with an eclectic collection of furniture. This place felt like more of a spot for locals since the bartender quizzically asked us how we had heard about it. That aside, the drinks were good as was the service. Their liquor selection seemed a bit limited though so if you're looking for a pour of something specific you might be better off elsewhere. But if you want a decent cocktail in a really cool atmosphere this place is definitely worth checking out.
Laundry Room
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| A memento from The Laundry Room |
Ok, I had a blend of excitement and trepidation headed into this one.
The Laundry Room is located inside Commonwealth on Fremont Street East. Plus you can only get in with a reservation which is confirmed via texting a phone number not listed on their site (though it is shown on some popular review sites). The whole bar-within-a-bar and secret-text-reservations things came off as a little gimmicky, hence the trepidation. But the place had gotten some really solid reviews, hence the excitement.
Well push came to shove and we headed in for a couple rounds. I texted the magic number upon my arrival and we were taken back to the bar. They have seating for about 20-25 people and every drink is $15 - not cheap, but high-quality booze is used so it makes the price sting a little less. As for the drinks, they were outstanding. We planned on staying for 2 rounds and ended up having a third. Great drinks, great service, and delicious complimentary popcorn. I gotta say, this place lived up to the hype... a definite must-visit on my next trip to Vegas.
Herbs & Rye
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Herbs & Rye steaks and sides
(sorry for the dark photo) |
Herbs & Rye isn't located by Fremont but I'd seen some good things so wanted to check it out. It's a mile or two west of the strip on Sahara Avenue. The main draw for this stop was a happy hour that includes 50% off steak (plus your standard happy hour deals of cheap beer and well drinks). We ordered the filet and KC strip which were both really good. Additionally, the menu is filled with a healthy selection of cocktails. The drinks were tasty and priced reasonably at about $10 each. This place has more of a restaurant feel than cocktail bar, which is exactly what I'd recommend it for. Grab a few friends, get some steaks and a couple drinks before heading out on the town for the evening.
Downtown Cocktail Room
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The Lizard King at Downtown
Cocktail Room |
The
Downtown Cocktail Room is located on Fremont East and is a favorite of mine. Their bartenders know what they are doing and their cocktail menu changes every once in a while in case you want to mix things up. But that doesn't mean they can't make the classics - I had an outstanding Sazerac here on my first visit. It can get crowded on weekend nights, but during the week it's usually very low key and seating won't be an issue. This place has been outstanding every time I've stopped by and offers a great change-of-pace from the frantic atmosphere of Fremont.
So there you have it, my review of all the bars I was able to visit during my most recent trip to sin city. There are definitely some others I still want to get to, but those will have to be tackled on the next trip. Since this post is titled "The Best Downtown LV Cocktail Bars", I'd have to give the award to The Laundry Room and Downtown Cocktail Room. Keep in mind that the other bars likely don't consider themselves as solely a cocktail bar. If you want a bite to eat I'd steer you towards Bar+Bistro or Herbs & Rye. And if you aren't quite looking for a meal, but don't really want a strict cocktail bar atmosphere Mob Bar and The Lady Silvia would be good options. These are all bars that I'm likely to visit again and they go to show that there are plenty of great non-casino options to fill your time in Las Vegas.
