The Insider: Guide to Great Drinks on the Las Vegas Strip
There was a time that Las Vegas, like the rest of the nation, was consumed in simple drinks like beer and two ingredient cocktails. While you can still find those staples at any bar along the Las Vegas Strip, drinks have evolved here too. Now cocktails feature exotic ingredients like pomegranate molasses and elderflowers.
No matter what your drinking palate Las Vegas has a bar for you and we’ve highlighted a few favorites that should make your trek up the Las Vegas Strip a little easier:
Ambhar Tequila Lounge at the Tropicana Las Vegas
When the venerable Tropicana Las Vegas sought to update its décor and atmosphere it wisely looked to South Beach where white sets the tone and the Caribbean influences the drinks. The Ambhar Tequila Lounge quenches that essence with its Key Lime Margarita, which is made with five-time distilled Ambhar Platinum Tequila.
Fat Tuesday, six locations
Tuesdays have never been more welcome than at Fat Tuesday. With six locations on the Las Vegas Strip it could serve as its own bar crawl with a slew of tasty frozen concoctions to sample at each stop. Fat Tuesday is like the Vegas version of Jamba Juice with wild-named drinks like Jungle Juice and Triple Bypass in a variety of sizes. What really set Fat Tuesday apart are the refillable cups. Guests who bring their cups to Fat Tuesday will get discounted prices on refills. For those looking to start off the night with a punch try the legendary 190 Octane. You can find Fat Tuesday at Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Imperial Palace and the Stratosphere.
The Chandelier at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
The Chandelier at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is worth a stop just to see the 2 million beaded crystals that make up this very unique bar. But the view is just the window dressing atop one of the most diverse drink menus you’ll find in Las Vegas. The three floors that make up Chandelier each have their own special drinks from the Chinese five spice-inspired Madame Curry on the first floor to the liquid-nitrogen treated Fire Breathing Dragon on the second floor. For a drink you won’t find on any menu stop by the 1.5 floor and ask for the Lemon Verbana, the tequila-based cocktail is one of the bar’s most popular.
Senor Frogs at Treasure Island Las Vegas
Senor Frogs has long been a Spring Break destination in Mexico but now the wild hotspot has come to Treasure Island Las Vegas and gives patrons not only a front row seat to the Strip, but to the swashbuckling show of the Sirens of TI. The drink menu at Senor Frogs almost requires a map because of how many choices you have but you can never go wrong with the Senor Frog Drink or the Frog Leg, which is like a tropical oasis in a cup with a blend of tequila, melon, banana and pineapple juice.
Fusion at The Palazzo Las Vegas
Mixology has become all the rage in Las Vegas with expensive bars built around extravagant, handcrafted drinks. Fusion at The Palazzo Las Vegas bucks the trend of elaborate bars and brings a well-made drink to an approachable casino floor boutique bar. Simply walk up to any of the mixologists, explain what types of spirits you enjoy and whether you want something fruity or a little on the stronger side and watch them do their work. Minutes later you will have a handcrafted drink and be back to the craps tables. Try the lime caipirinha for a flavor straight out of Brazil.
Parasol Up/Down at Wynn Las Vegas
The two-story bar tantalizes passersby with twirling parasols in the lower tier and views of the Lake of Dreams from either level. The drink menu here is unmatched in Las Vegas with prime spirits like the 140-year aged Hardy Perfection or an ever-changing list of cocktails. The Wynn Las Vegas/Encore Las Vegas’s head mixologist Patricia Richards, who was the first female head mixologist on the Strip, is always seeking new, wild drinks especially around the holidays and finds ways to mix in ingredients like yuzu juice and organic apple butter.
