Photo: The Laundry Room

The 10 Best Las Vegas Speakeasies and Hidden Bars (and How to Get In)

Las Vegas Restaurants + Bars
by Jeremy Long Sep 27, 2022

While Sin City’s slogan may be “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” it’s pretty hard to keep a secret in this city. And that’s just as true for the hyped spots as it is for hidden speakeasy style bars.

To find the best hidden bars in Las Vegas, you’ll need to do some sleuthing. Many don’t advertise the location, and you may need to know a password to get in. But once you step through the door, you’ll be transported in a way that makes all the effort worth it.

 

Here Kitty Kitty Vice Den

 

Beyond the glitz and glamor of Resorts World is a darkly lit, devilishly fun Las Vegas speakeasy. Kitty Kitty Vice Den is an entertaining and flirty speakeasy with a Singaporean twist to its decor and drinks menu. It’s equal parts elegant and laid back, offering visitors top-shelf cocktails while inviting them to leave their troubles at the (hidden) door. It’s an intimate setting with limited seating, so you may have to wait for a spot to open up, but once you’re invited in, you’ll want to try the Pancakes and Dopamine. It’s a perfect mix of Havana Club Anejo Clasico Rum, banana, lime, and golden brown sugar.

How to get in: No password needed at Here Kitty Kitty Vice Den — simply locate the Famous Food Street Eats food court and look for the blue shelving unit near Ms. Meow’s Mamak Stall with three lucky cats waving you in. That’s the door. Locate the host and get ready for fun.

Here Kitty Kitty Vice Den: Resorts World Las Vegas, 3000 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109

 

1923 Prohibition Bar

 

If you’re longing for the finer things in life — such as an extensive list of high-end whiskey, extravagant live entertainment, and a private room for premium cigars — then head to 1923 Prohibition Bar. It’s located under a set of escalators inside Mandalay Bay, and that’s the only unassuming thing about this stunning lounge. The bar aims to take visitors back to a version of 1920s New Orleans with deep oak finishes, high back lounge seating, dark lighting, and soul music. Weekends are when the bar really springs to life with NOLA nights that pay homage to the French Quarter with lively musical numbers and sultry burlesque dancing. There’s no reservations (except for VIP experiences) so it’s first-come, first-serve.

Whiskey is the star of the 1923 Prohibition Bar with popular selections like Bulleit, Four Roses, and Whistle Pig. The luxury choices such as Yamazaki 18, Smoke Wagon, and Pappy Van Winkle 23 offer something out of the ordinary that even whiskey geeks likely haven’t tried.

How to get in: Inside Mandalay Bay you’ll find a set of escalators that lead up to a variety of shops. Under these escalators, locate the bookcase. Push it open, and you’re in. No password is needed.

1923 Prohibition Bar: Mandalay Bay, 3930 Las Vegas Blvd S STE 101, Las Vegas, NV 89119

 

Ghost Donkey

 

Ghost Donkey is a bit hard to find, but its drinks pack quite a kick. Once you find your way into this sleek lounge, you’ll note that it’s less Gatsby and more Mexico, which is a welcomed change of pace in Vegas. Don’t visit Ghost Donkey looking for a wide variety of beers. This is a mezcal and tequila hot spot with daring drinks and inspired food choices. Want a spicy kick? The Mezcal Sun-Risa is a blend of Codigo Blanco Tequila, Montelobos Mezcal, bitter orange, habanero, and hibiscus. It’s not for the faint of taste but will leave you with a story to tell your friends back home. Ghost Donkey also serves platters of nachos, the most popular being those with black truffles.

How to get in: Head to level two of Boulevard Tower at The Cosmopolitan. Locate the door with a pink donkey painted on the front and you will have found the entrance. It’s first-come, first-served, and it’s open late.

Ghost Donkey: The Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109

 

The Barbershop

 


In Las Vegas, style and substance are often at a crossroads. Some bars are all looks and cheap beer served at premium prices. Other are quietly unassuming before they knock your socks off with cold drinks and hot music. The Barbershop is an impeccable blend of design and that “wow” factor. First, it’s a real, working barbershop, so you can sip on a meticulously crafted cocktail while your hair gets styled and your beard gets a clean, straight razor shave. In the evening, the Barbershop transforms into a live entertainment venue with soul vibrating bands rocking the joint.

You’ll want to try the Oak and Smoke, which blends Remy Martin, rye whiskey, vanilla orgeat, Angostura bitters, Peychaud’s bitters, and smoked clove with an oak chip garnish. 

How to get in: After you enter the Barbershop, find the janitor’s door. Walk right in and get ready to be transported to a killer parlor with heart-thumping live music.

The Barbershop: The Cosmopolitan, Boulevard Tower, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd S Level 1, Las Vegas, NV 89109

 

The Laundry Room

 


Over the years, Fremont Street has transformed from an iconic oddity to a tourist trap full of tight slot machines, overpriced drinks, and corporate-approved “authentic” experiences.

Commonwealth is where locals and tourists alike can find a great neighborhood bar that serves enough trendy drink concoctions to keep sightseers happy while being sufficiently low-key enough for folks looking to grab a quick libation after work. And while the confines of Commonwealth are where most visitors stop, true spirit seekers need to search for the hidden bar inside, called The Laundry Room.

The Laundry Room is a small Las Vegas speakeasy found behind a hidden door within the Commonwealth. Once you’ve found your way in, a world of gilded opulence becomes accessible with walls decorated by sepia-toned photos, gold-trimmed metal work, fun cocktail names, and the welcoming nod of a bartender who will guide you on a flavor odyssey.

On a warmer evening, you’ll want to ask for a Back in Kokomo. It’s a frothy and fuzzy tropical creation of gin (or whiskey), falernum, lemon, and passion fruit that instantly reminds you of that island bar memory you keep tucked away in the happy place of your mind. For mezcal lovers, the I Remember Forgetting This blends rye, mezcal, allspice, lime, and maple that leaves you with a rich, warm smoke sensation. You’ll be motioning for another round before reaching the bottom of the glass.

How to get in: It’s strictly reservation-only, with room for 22 guests. Once you find the host, they’ll guide you in through the secret door.

The Laundry Room: Commonwealth, 525 E Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101

 

Màs Por Favor Taqueria y Tequila

 

Ready to enjoy your tacos with a side order of adventure? Más Por Favor has quickly earned high praise for traditional street taco favorites while introducing a bit of variety to the food scene.

At the front is a traditional taqueria serving delicious tacos with combinations such as Muy Caliente, which takes chipotle, Flamin’ Hot Snacks, sour cream, and white cheddar and combines it with your pick of protein to create a spicy delicacy you rarely find in the world of tacos. These offerings make Más Por Favor a local favorite, but there’s more to this taco shop. Once you finish dinner, head to the cashier, pay your tab, then ask about “tonight’s delight” and you’ll be given directions to a secret tunnel. To repeat: Secret. Tunnel.

In the tunnel, you’ll swear you’ve just been transported into an Indiana Jones movie as you guide yourself to a door that opens to a vibrant, ultra cool parlor where fresh fruit and ingredients made in-house are combined with the very best tequila for after dinner cocktails. Try the popular Dragonfly, a blend of vodka, lemon, cilantro, and house-made sunflower seed syrup. It’s not only tasty but beautiful to look at.

How to get in: The speakeasy is at the back of the restaurant. Ask the cashier about “tonight’s delights” and you’ll be directed to the tunnel.

Màs Por Favor: 3879 Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89102

 

The Underground

 

In the basement of The Mob Museum near downtown Las Vegas, you’ll find the godfather of the Las Vegas speakeasy. The Underground is a speakeasy and distillery where you can sip on ice cold gin while also learning how moonshine is created and why you don’t go snitching to the FBI about the process.

Prohibition era exhibits surround you in the speakeasy, so you’ll learn about important figures in the rise of the illicit alcohol trade, including iconic women like Mary Louise Cecilia “Texas” Guinan and Belle Livingstone.

History buffs will want to sip on a Bathtub Fizz, which mixes gin, sloe gin, Aperol, sugar, lemon, egg white, and bitters and is served in a small bathtub. It reflects a time when bootleggers leased small stills to individuals so they could make booze in their bathrooms, giving way to the term “bathtub gin.” The very real working distillery in the next room allows you to sample and take home a few bottles of local favorites like Cinn-City Moonshine or Ginger Jake Moonshine.

How to get in: If you want to experience The Mob Museum, purchase a ticket and you’ll get access to The Underground as well. But if you want to skip the artifacts and head straight to the liquor, then find the secret door down a flight of steps outside the building off of Stewart Avenue. Knock on the door, speak the password (found on the website), and you’re good to go.

The Underground: The Mob Museum, 300 Stewart Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89101

 

Mike Morey’s Sip’N’Tip

 

Mike Morey’s Sip’N’Tip is the quintessential hidden bar that views itself more of a “speak-UP” rather than a speakeasy. The Sip’N’Tip is a haven for those locals in the service industry as well as travelers in the know. It’s located in the back half of the Downtown Cocktail Room, which is just steps away from the world famous Fremont Street Experience.

Both places are locally renowned, so you can’t go wrong with either, but Sip’N’Tip has its own menu, which changes regularly and is always offering something different. When you make your way in, put some old rock on the jukebox and try the namesake drink The Morey, which blends old Tom gin, dry vermouth, and orange bitters. The happy hour also can’t be beat, so you’ll want to check out times frequently to plan your visit accordingly for incredible prices on cocktails.

How to get in: You can enter the Downtown Cocktail Room and make your way to the back, or skip the front entrance and head down the ART Alleyway and see the big glowing “Mike Morey’s Sip’N’Tip” sign and there’s your entrance.

Mike Morey’s Sip’N’Tip: Behind Downtown Cocktail Room, 111 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89101

 

The Lock

 

The Lock is a hidden Las Vegas bar located inside The Cabinet of Curiosities in Bally’s. Inside this secret area, the expert mixologists have a fun-filled variety of choices to choose from, including classic cocktails and new takes on old favorites, but to really set things in motion you’ll want to order a custom creation. This is when the mad scientists behind the bar will hand you a secret menu order form in which you’ll mark down your favorite destination, zodiac element, and style. From these answers, they will personalize a drink for you.

How to get in: You have a better chance of getting into The Cabinet of Curiosities if you make a reservation. Once inside, the locksmith will help you crack the codes to gain entrance into The Lock.

The Lock: Bally’s Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, 3645 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109

 

Datamosh

 

Everything about Omega Mart at AREA15 is immersive and eccentric. It’s filled to the brim with hidden passages, optical illusions that test your senses, and interactive artwork designed to fool the mind while sparking your curiosity. This includes the hidden bar Datamosh and its handful of odd cocktails. It’s every bit secret bar meets art exhibit, and unlike many of the other “hidden bars” in Vegas, this one doesn’t have a website or dedicated social media accounts. It’s bizarre and fun, peculiar and marvelous, and is easily one of the best experiences you can have in Las Vegas.

Guests can play it safe with an Omegarita (tequila blanco, mezcal, ginger, agave, citrus, bitter blend, and fire water), and that’s totally acceptable. But you’re not visiting Datamosh because you like ordinary things. Go with The Source, a blend of mezcal, Lillet Blanc, shiso, tarragon syrup, citrus, and rosemary for a drink that not only tastes great but foams up, giving you reason to break out the camera. Or maybe test the norms by sampling an Old Fashioned Spray which may or may not look like it came straight out of a bottle of Windex cleaning solution.

How to get in: This secret bar is in the north end of the Omega Mart grocery store section.

Datamosh: AREA15, 3215 S Rancho Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89102

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