The mastery of mixology is strong in Sin City, and some of the biggest superstars of cocktails call it home. The business of liquor is such a grand industry, that we have become the spotlight in recent years on the subject of fancy mixed drinks.
1. Herbs & Rye
The Vegas cocktail bar that has been the de facto ambassador for our mixology scene, this team of ragtag wildcards has dominated everywhere from Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans to the James Beard House in Manhattan. The kind of spot where the whole bar will join in a big cheers of Fernet, your bartender will whip up a bespoke cocktail to your whims, and even a place where you can get a half-price steak during their late or early happy hour!
3713 W Sahara Ave (702) 982-8036 herbsandrye.com
2. Golden Tiki
Photo Credit Christopher DeVargas
The kind of tiki bar that could only exist in Las Vegas, and only at this point in history, this is the Disneyland of tiki culture. A cornucopia of wacky island mishegas, thereś always something to focus the eye upon while you soak in the retro flavor, and suck up a surprisingly well crafted cocktail. From classic to original, their list is as long as it is skillful.
3939 Spring Mountain Rd (702) 222-3196 thegoldentiki.com
3. 365 Tokyo
This exclusive, members-only, secretive cocktail bar has less than a dozen seats, but has the single-minded perfectionism of an Edomae sushi bar. Their list exhibits expressions of high-end techniques and exploratory flavors, all with a very personalized experience. This is the role of fine dining applied to mixology.
107 Las Vegas Boulevard South 702.910.2392 inspirelasvegas.com
4. Velveteen Rabbit
Photo Courtesy of Velveteen Rabbit
It’s a spot that could have been plucked from Brooklyn or Portland, Velveteen is undeniably hip, and for good reason. The cocktail list here is build by – and for – mixologists looking for a challenge. Seasonally changing, the menu will incorporate everything from wild mushroom tinctures to fat-washed booze, with each being painstakingly crafted to perfection.
1218 S Main St, Las Vegas (702) 685-9645 velveteenrabbitlv.com
5. Frankie’s Tiki Room
Courtesy of Frankie’s Tiki Room
The classic, the standard, the starting and ending point. Frankie’s has been an institution for years, and for good reason. No one has quite been able to deliver the ease and relaxing environment, nor the unfettered simplicity of quick tiki punches, all high proof and potent. It’s deeply enjoyable, much more than most any other spot in town, and also has just about the best (and definitely best priced) exotic rum list in all of Vegas.
1712 W Charleston Blvd (702) 385-3110 frankiestikiroom.com
6. Atomic Liquors
The shining jewel that made Downtown bar hopping great again, Atomic Liquor can satisfy any patron in some form or another. Their cocktail list is supreme, their beer list is just about the best in the city, and the atmosphere oozes a combination of old-school Vegas charm and new-school Downtown fun.
917 Fremont St (702) 982-3000 atomicvegas.com
7. Downtown Cocktail Room
One of the first spots to really engage a good cocktail program Downtown, they can be credited with a good bit of the revitalization of the area. They became a destination for their wild, creative list, drawing people from around the valley to see the labor-intensive and flavorful drinks. A very “Vegas” experience without the downsides of being in a nightclub.
111 S Las Vegas Blvd (702) 880-3696 downtowncocktailroom.com
8. Carnevino
Perhaps the only bar in Vegas that has combined an extraordinary level of consummate professionalism and passion for experimentation. The people behind the bar are the best at what they do, chiefly because they have never given up on improving their game or learning new parts of their craft. The sheer fact that one of the best bars in Vegas happens to be connected to the best steakhouse in the country is merely a bonus!
3325 S Las Vegas Blvd (702) 789-4141 carnevino.com
9. Delmonico
Known for the most comprehensive whisky list on the whole strip, the bar at Delmonico is a product of Emeril Lagasse’s restaurant group and their ability to find massive talent. The current head, Juyong Kang, has been a fixture and recurring face for many of the best drinks in vegas, and she has certainly dove headlong into this spot, pioneering techniques and philosophies drawn from a strong education in the national drinks scene.
3355 S Las Vegas Blvd (702) 414-3737 emerilsrestaurants.com/delmonico-steakhouse
10. The Sand Dollar
A product of a massive turnaround from a change in management, the Sand Dollar is a uniquely “Vegas” story. There’s something special about a city where an off-strip office-park bar can suddenly switch gears, hire some superstar staff, and implement a cocktail program that elevates them out of the surrounding muck. Jon Taffer can take a note, this is how you turn a bar around!
3355 Spring Mountain Rd (702) 485-5401 thesanddollarlv.com
Editor’s Bonus Pick: The Chandelier Bar
The Cosmopolitan features four great lounges. The Vesper Bar, Bond, and CliQue are all great places to enjoy a drink with your friends, but if we had to pick one place to kick back and enjoy a couple of cocktails then the Chandelier Bar would be our choice. This Strip hot-spot features 3 levels of gorgeous lounge space, our favorite being the cozy “Inside the Chandelier” section, on the 2nd level. It’s one of the premier lounges on the Strip, so drinks are not cheap, but if you are looking for a great bar in the heart of the Strip, the Chandelier is hard to beat.
3708 Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 698-7000 cosmopolitanlasvegas.com
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Did we miss your favorite cocktail spot? Join the discussion and let us know the best place to find a great cocktail in Las Vegas.
Aww Mitchell, I’m a little hurt you don’t have Oak & Ivy on your list. Well then again I haven’t really seen you come in and check us out. We do have the Best Mule Program in the city and that’s not even scratching 1/3 of what we can create.
And you have 2 properties from Palazzo but didn’t visit the well hidden jem…Fusion Mixology Bar. Hand crafted on the fly cocktails with fresh ingredients. Not only are the classics made well, you can get a drink made specifically to your mood or flavor specifications. All you have to do is ask the bartender and they will experiment for you and you will leave satisfied.
I agree with the list and I agree that Oak & Ivy should be on the list.
John Curtas
EATING LAS VEGAS
;-}
I’m a negroni fan, I travel the world drinking negronis. That bar at cirque in the bellagio makes the best one so far. I have coped their ingredients and methods for my home bar.