The best bars in Las Vegas

This Chinatown bar embraces the tiki vibe with a fun atmosphere full of island kitsch. A giant clam shell you can sit in, live music, mermaids, masks, shrunken heads, and fruity drinks can all be found here. There are a bunch of sweet rum-heavy cocktails like mai tais, painkillers, and navy grogs, along with a boozy Dole Whip cocktail. Some drinks come served in hollowed-out pineapples, and you can add fire to any cocktail.

A hotel bar like no other. The three-story chandelier bar at the Cosmopolitan shines. It’s the place to see and be seen. Patrons here sip signature cocktails like the All Knight Long, featuring Ciroc coconut vodka, Jager cold brew and espresso liqueur, or tip back the fittingly #FeltCute—a mix of gin, lychee, coconut, lime, and ginger beer.

Bruno Mars has built a cocktail lounge that brings 24K Magic to the Bellagio. The Pinky Ring is a sophisticated space that pays homage to entertainers and the lounge experience dating back to the Rat Pack. Mars created the room to entertain his friends when he’s in town (Janelle Monáe, Babyface, and T-Pain attended the opening) and sometimes performs there with the Hooligans, prompting the lounge to be a no-phone zone.

There may not be a more iconic spot in Las Vegas. Ghostbar originally debuted in 2001, then disappeared briefly, only to return. The reincarnation of this popular haunt meets all expectations. Great drinks, a lively atmosphere and spectacular views of the Las Vegas Strip from its perch on the 55th floor make this lounge a must-see.

Stray Pirate is an escape in the city’s downtown Arts District. Step inside, and you’re transported to the sunken hull of a boat. As the story goes, you’re entering a bar where cursed pirates were turned into dogs—you’ll see the actual pets of the owners in commissioned paintings on the walls. This island-themed bar feeds off the tropics with playful drinks like Robbing the Gulf, a reposado tequila-based cocktail cut with watermelon and jalapeño.

For stunning views of the Vegas skyline—from a fiery desert sunset to glowing neon lights—head to Skyfall. From high atop the Delano, grab a glass of champagne or a specialty cocktail and peer out at the Strip through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Depending on the night, the vibe at Skyfall can be quiet to DJ-driven.

The decor of this eclectic bar recalls the namesake classic children’s book, with mismatched vintage furniture and local artwork. But where they shine is an incredibly inventive cocktail list. Go inside The Alchemy Cabinet, where mixologists use infused liquors and hard-to-find herbs and elixirs to create tasty concoctions.

The Cabinet of Curiosities is one of the most intriguing, under-the-radar bars on the Strip. It’s part museum with odd objects categorized in cubes and drawers and their ultra-strange stories displayed. The bar prides itself on its craft cocktails and even offers a mixology masterclass. The Cabinet is connected to the Lock Speakeasy, a joint you have to actually crawl into.

Lisa Vanderpump’s original Las Vegas lounge at Caesars Palace attracts a crowd who want to enjoy a fun cocktail with friends. Playful drinks with names like Veni Vidi Lychee, Puff the Magic Dragon (mezcal and dragonfruit), and the two-person Rome is Burning–a bourbon, vermouth, black cherry, and chocolate bitters mix–are sipped in a blooming indoor garden.

To find Ghost Donkey, head to the Cosmopolitan food hall and search for the door with a donkey marked on it. Once inside the secret tequila bar, the call is obvious: mezcal and margaritas (and some mole chicken tacos, of course).