Your mind-bending night could start with mezcal and truffle nachos at Ghost Donkey.
BEHIND THE GLITZ IN LAS VEGAS: EVEN MORE GLITZ. IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO KNOCK.
During Prohibition in the 1920s, patrons visited speakeasies to get their sauce. Today, the extra but unnecessary subterfuge gives a bar a jolt of currency. Once a purely Downtown LV phenom, casino resorts right on the Strip now have hidden watering holes. Here are five spots worth finding.
Winter lasts year-round at this après-ski-themed speakeasy inside Superfrico in Cosmopolitan’s Chelsea Tower. Windows look out on faux snowy slopes, and a fire roars in the fireplace. Mixologist Leo Robitschek whips up cocktails to warm you from the inside, including one with vodka, coffee liqueur and cold-brew coffee. Insider tip: Save room for square pizza appetizers; they have become an iconic treat. superfrico.com
Look for the maneki-neko on the shelf at Ms. Meow’s Mamak Stall and you’ll find the entrance to this 40-seat secret bar at the Famous Foods Street Eats food court at Resorts World. Mixologist Juyoung Kang puts together seasonal cocktail menus with Asian flavors such as plum, litchi and more. Insider tip: There’s a two-drink minimum on the weekends, and reservations are prioritized. rwlasvegas.com
This secret saloon hides behind a barbershop on Cosmopolitan’s casino floor. Cocktails are modern takes on old standards, and the extensive whiskey list is impressive. There’s live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights; sometimes the bar even draws bigname acts like Zac Brown. Insider tip: Book a haircut with master barber Jorge Sosa and you can sip between snips. thebarbershoplv.com
We’ll bet your barbershop’s back room doesn’t look like this
This speakeasy at the back of Bugsy & Meyer’s Steakhouse in Flamingo is a throwback to Old Vegas with classic cocktails, Big Band-style live entertainment from The Moonshiners and a build-your-own Old-Fashioned beverage cart where mixologists encourage guests to get creative with liquor and garnish combos. Settle in and order shareable plates from the restaurant. Insider tip: This secret bar is only open Friday and Saturday nights, so plan accordingly. caesars.com
Warm salted caramel whiskey tops the Single Barrel dessert at the Count Room.
The door with the donkey at the Block 16 food court is the gateway to this intimate speakeasy, a spinoff of the New York bar by the same name. Tequila and mezcal cocktails highlight the drink menu, while the food menu comprises eight kinds of nachos. Insider tip: The room seats 30 and can get crowded around dinner. Arrive early. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com
Photography by: THOMASHARTSHELBY.COM, DAVID J. CREWE, COURTESY OF CAESARS
