🃏 Always Lucky with Great Cocktails in Las Vegas 🃏

Let’s face it … there are lots of ways to spend and lose your money in Las Vegas. But would you believe we rarely hit the slots or a casino table? We’re too busy spending our money on great cocktails! That way we know we’re bound to have Lady Luck on our side. 

Since the Las Vegas Strip is one of the most recognizable places in the world, we’ll start here. As a disclaimer, almost every hotel on the Strip has a number of bars to choose from, and an increasing number of speakeasies. We can’t try to cover them all … so we’ll focus on some of the unique spots we found. 

Where else can you find a Ferris wheel big enough for an open bar with a view of the Strip? In Vegas, it’s called the Half Happy Hour on the High Roller at Linq! That’s right … an open bar for 30 minutes inside an air-conditioned capsule on a Ferris wheel that goes 500 feet into the air. Of course, at the top you get shots! Along with some very strong drinks, you also get a great view of the Sphere and the entire strip. This is a must-do for anyone over 21 who doesn’t mind heights and can take advantage of an open bar opportunity!  A #tipsypick for sure.

Then how about letting robots make you a drink? That’s called the Tipsy Robot! This low-key cocktail spot is part of the Planet Hollywood Miracle Mile shopping mall. The drinks are strong and fairly inexpensive… and you get to watch the robot arms make them in front of you. They even have a bundle where you can order multiple drinks and shots along with a souvenir cup or glass for one of the best values on the Strip! There are also humans on duty in case you miss drowning your sorrows to a real live bartender. This was a great way to start our evening!

For a true speakeasy experience, find the door with a donkey on it at the back of the food hall at the Cosmopolitan and check out Ghost Donkey. You should have seen the look on the faces of people seated at a nearby table when we pushed open the door that they had been ignoring! We were rewarded with some of the best cocktails in Vegas, including a mezcal Old Fashioned and a spicy take on a Margarita. This is a small space, but well worth the attempt! Another #tipsypick.

And while we’re at the Cosmo, we suggest trying to get a seat inside the aptly named Chandelier cocktail bar. It’s literally a three-story chandelier in the hotel lobby glimmering with all the sparkle Vegas can offer. There’s plenty of champagne, but they also have a decent Old Fashioned and even a pricy upscale version that’s worth the splurge. And yes, you should try the fabled “secret” menu drink called the Verbena! It’s a trip. Chandelier is a great spot for photos and to glam it up Vegas-style!

Now if you’re ready to get away from the Strip and get a taste of “Old Las Vegas,” we recommend heading downtown for some classic cocktail spots and a new twist – a shipping container district! We’ll get to that in a minute…

Downtown Vegas includes the dynamic Fremont Street Experience as well as plenty of hotels and casinos. One of those hotels – the Commonwealth, is home to one of the original Las Vegas speakeasy bars, The Laundry Room. This secret spot is indeed tucked inside a former hotel laundry room. It’s an intimate space where the bartenders serve you directly and ask what you like before making you something you’ll enjoy. They have become a bit more “upscale” over the years, with a dress code and a minimum spend, so be warned. But this is a #tipsypick regardless.

Just a few blocks away is one of our favorite speakeasy experiences… The Underground Speakeasy at the Mob Museum. Located in the basement of the expansive museum dedicated to organized crime, you’ll find great cocktails, live jazz, and an inviting atmosphere. We had to circle the building to find the stairwell, but it was worth it!  Hint: you don’t have to go to the museum itself to find the speakeasy, but they do have an entrance from inside there as well. And look for the password on social media.

Finally, we mentioned a container park. This downtown attraction is made up almost entirely of old shipping containers converted into businesses, including a couple worth mentioning as #tipsypick spots for a night out!

Oak & Ivy is a classic cocktail bar with emphasis on great whiskey drinks, including flights. It’s amazing they managed to create an intimate feel inside a steel container. But they also have a nice patio area! Definitely check out the classics like their Manhattan and Old Fashioned, both barrel aged, and the Boulevardier.  They have an extensive selection of bourbon and whiskey you won’t find elsewhere in Vegas. 

Across the courtyard (which also hosts live music) is Bin 702. This particular container is a wonderful little wine bar, including some natural wines, with nice food options packed into a small space. They also have a great patio area for days when it’s not 100 degrees.

And finally, there’s an entire neighborhood of Las Vegas called the Arts District with enough cocktail spots to make a separate post. We’ll save that for another visit! Viva Las Vegas, y’all!