Fremont East in Las Vegas is a Haven for Tavern & Lounge Lovers

It’s Downtown Las Vegas like you’ve never experienced. With a lengthy list of taverns, lounges and urban dives for drinkers, Fremont East is where the cool kids go to hangout. You’ll love the variety of bars and places to grab some grub. Plus, it’s Fremont, which is always an awesome place to people watch. If you’re looking for something different in Vegas, do some bar hopping with the locals and check out the must-visit list below.

Downtown Cocktail Room
One of the original kids on the downtown block, DCR opened in 2007. It is a sexy throwback to a speakeasy with well-dressed bartenders serving the finest in mixology. Off the radar a bit, you can find this on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Fremont St. If you’re facing the building the door is to your left, just push. There are no handles and no door signifier, which adds to the mystery of the DCR.

The Griffin
This bar is great to pregame with friends at one of the intimate booths or sitting around a gas fireplace. You can also saddle up at the bar to sip on whiskey or a glass of wine. If you’re feeling really brave you can order their mystery shot of the day – just don’t ask what’s in it and take it like a champ. As the evening progresses, you can get your dance on in the back room where there’s often a DJ for this intimate dance floor.

Park on Fremont
Bar hopping downtown can work up quite an appetite. Between bars, stop at Park for some well-priced delectable goodness. If you’re looking for drunk food, go for the signature Philly Mac and Cheese Steak sandwich or the Fried Chicken and Waffle Sandwich – get tater tots on the side. If you want to keep your buzz going, sip on a cocktail like The Unicorn or a Stranger Danger, but be warned while they are delicious they hit you pretty quickly.

Insert Coins
This is 7,000-square-feet of pure video game entertainment. Insert Coins is the place to play the video games you knew as a kid while drinking a fresh beer on draft. This joint has gaming booths so you can enjoy Call of Duty with friends. Go old school and hit the arcade for some Street Fighter, Tetris or Space Invaders in addition to many other original arcade machines.

Don’t Tell Mama
An intimate venue featuring a stage complete with a grand piano, Don’t Tell Mama is the best karaoke you’ll find in Las Vegas hands down. Arrive a bit early on a Friday or Saturday night to snag a table or seat at the bar then watch as the magic happens. Patrons are welcome to get up and try their singing skills. Either way, you can sit back with a cold cocktail and enjoy as the amazing staff belts out Lady Gaga or Journey. Be prepared for the loudest sing along ever when Journey begins to play.

Le Thai
Probably the smallest dining venue you’ll ever discover, Le Thai offers an incredible culinary experience. There is usually a line in the evening, but you can sit on the patio under the misting water and people watch while you wait. Split a few items among friends like the Waterfall Beef appetizer, the Pad Thai and the Short Rib Fried Rice. The spice levels hold true, so order that ‘level 10’ with caution.

Atomic Liquors
Just a brief walk from the El Cortez stands Atomic Liquors, know as “the oldest freestanding bar in Las Vegas.” The name actually also comes from the patrons that used to sit on the roof drinking and watching the nearby blasts at the Atomic Test Site in the 1950s. Enjoy Atomic Cocktails, which are comprised of secret ingredients and can be slightly strong to say the least. Anthony Bourdain loves Atomic Liquors and frequents the bar every time he is in town. The bar recently opened seven days a week, so go for a nightcap and indulge in a piece of history.  

Commonwealth
One of the most chill places in downtown, Commonwealth has the most amazing views of East Fremont on its rooftop patio. Depending on which night you go, there’s a potential that you could catch some fantastic music with a live band or DJ playing on the rooftop. A rustic and dimly lit interior creates a cozy, inviting environment where you can kickback and enjoy one of the microbrews on tap or a cocktail. Modeled to be a modern-day speakeasy, Commonwealth is your neighborhood bar downtown.