City views at Mandarin Bar
Blue Martini
Known for one of Vegas’s best happy hour deals (50 percent off food and drinks from 4 to 8 p.m. daily), this swanky lounge boasts creative concoctions (42 martinis to be exact!), including loads of dessert drinks, such as the espresso martini and the Almond Joy, for any olive-phobes out there. Its signature, the Blue Martini, is made with Van Gogh Blue vodka and served in an oversize snifter with a glow stick. Town Square, 702-949-2583; bluemartinilounge.com
Downtown Cocktail Room
This barely lit speakeasy has been a go-to drink den for downtowners since it opened in 2007. DCR is famed for its skilled bartenders and creative drink menu, which rotates seasonally. For those in the mood for a killer martini, ask for professional advice from the mixologists— he or she will often use old-fashioned recipes whose names most would not recognize. 111 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-880- 3696; thedowntownlv.com
Hank’s Fine Steaks
This prime-choice steakhouse offers nightly entertainment with tunes on the piano and a bar happy hour that serves some of the best martinis in Las Vegas. We recommend the Hank’s Dirty, with blue-cheese-stuffed olives. Green Valley Ranch, 702-617-7075
Lily Bar & Lounge
After dining at the Light Group’s Yellowtail Restaurant & Lounge at Bellagio, head down the hall to Lily, the company’s intimate hangout for after-dinner drinks. Try one of its three most-requested martinis: the signature Lily, Sidecar, or Tropical Desire. Bellagio, 702-693-8300
Mandarin Bar
Scenesters don’t come here just for the view—although what a view it is. Located on the 23rd floor of Mandarin Oriental, the sweeping bar is one of the city’s most upscale venues for sipping a potent martini. Taste-test the Golden Leaf (Mandarin’s martini), made with Hendrick’s gin, Aperol, and muddled mandarin orange; it was created especially for the Vegas location. Mandarin Oriental, 888-881- 9367
Minus5° Ice Bar
The temperature inside Minus5° is so chilly, even the cocktail glasses are crafted from ice. At 23 degrees Fahrenheit, the club’s bar and walls are also made completely out of ice, imported from Canada. Guests are given insulated jackets, boots, and gloves to withstand the cold, so order a martini to take the chill off; try it straight up to get the maximum effect from its famous premium vodkas. Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, 702-740-5800; Monte Carlo, 702- 643-7800
Mix Lounge
In a city of nightclubs, Mix at THEhotel is a rare gem that combines one of the city’s most talked-about views with a sexy, sophisticated vibe. Whether indulging in a cosmopolitan or Lemon Drop, step outside onto the patio to take it all in—64 floors up. The view makes it easy to get talked into bottle service. Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, 702-632-9500
Parasol Up and Parasol Down
Parasol Down into an abyss of unique cocktails, a glorious view of the Lake of Dreams, and a location next to swanky SW Steakhouse. Then visit Parasol Up, an open-format lounge, for higher energy pre-clubbing. The top choice here is the Pear-A-Sol, which features fresh pear purée with pear vodka. Then when the mood hits, kick it up a notch down the hall at XS. Wynn Las Vegas, 702-248-3463
Vesper Bar
The Cosmopolitan’s peppy bar by the lobby is an exquisite spot for the classic martini, made here by knowledgeable bartenders who serve classic drinks with a twist. People-watch (the Marquee Nightclub crowds alone can entertain for hours) while sipping the popular I’ll Have Another, a new take on the Moscow Mule with ginger beer. The Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7000
