Vegas's serious cocktail scene exists almost entirely off-Strip. Herbs & Rye opened in 2009 and proved a real cocktail bar could survive in this market. The 10 below mix the off-Strip institutions with the one Strip room (The Chandelier) that genuinely competes. Most are in the Arts District or Downtown.
Part of our 50 Best Cocktail Bars in the World listThis article is one chapter in our larger global guide. See the full pillar with every featured city.
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The 10 best cocktail bars in Las Vegas
01 · Las Vegas
West Las Vegas
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Steakhouse + cocktails · Off-Strip
Steakhouse and cocktail bar in one. The bar that proved Vegas could host a serious cocktail scene off-Strip.
Order: Their flagship Penicillin
02 · Las Vegas
Cosmopolitan · Strip
$$$
Three-story chandelier
Inside the Cosmopolitan. Three different drinking levels inside a giant chandelier installation. The Strip's best cocktail program.
Order: The Verbena (the famous numbing-flower cocktail)
03 · Las Vegas
Arts District
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Sisters' bar · Arts District
Sisters' cocktail bar in the Arts District. Modernist cocktails using local Nevada ingredients where possible.
Order: A spec built around prickly pear or yucca
04 · Las Vegas
Downtown
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Speakeasy · Behind Commonwealth
Behind Commonwealth bar downtown. Twenty-two seats, no menu, reservations only.
Order: Bartender's choice
05 · Las Vegas
Downtown · Container Park
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Whiskey · Container Park
Inside Container Park downtown. Whiskey-focused cocktail bar with a patio. The casual face of serious downtown Vegas drinking.
Order: A bourbon-led seasonal
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06 · Las Vegas
Park MGM · Strip
$$$
Hidden bar · DJ
Hidden bar at Park MGM. Walk through a record store to find it. DJ programming is taken seriously.
Order: Whatever's the bartender's seasonal pick
07 · Las Vegas
Downtown
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Multi-floor · Rooftop
Three floors plus a rooftop. Different programming on each. The Downtown Vegas cocktail scene's home base.
Order: A French 75 on the rooftop
08 · Las Vegas
Cosmopolitan
$$$
Hotel bar · Modern
Inside The Cosmopolitan. Polished hotel-bar cocktail program, classics-driven menu. The alternative to The Chandelier on the same property.
Order: A Vesper martini
09 · Las Vegas
West Las Vegas
$
24-hour tiki
24-hour tiki bar off-Strip. Custom-carved tiki mugs to take home, exotica music.
Order: A Mai Tai in their custom mug
10 · Las Vegas
Downtown
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1952 · Restored
Las Vegas's oldest free-standing bar, opened 1952. Restored, now serious about cocktails.
Order: An atomic-themed signature
More Vegas cocktail barsThe full Vegas cocktail-bar index by neighbourhood.
See the full list
Off-Strip cocktail Vegas
The Chandelier inside the Cosmopolitan is the only Strip cocktail bar worth your serious attention. Off-Strip — Herbs & Rye, Velveteen Rabbit, The Laundry Room — is where Vegas locals actually drink. The 10 above represent both. Most peak between 10 PM and 1 AM; some run until 4 AM.
