Las Vegas has always known how to drink well, but lately, the city is sipping even better.
A new generation of cocktail bars is popping up across town as some of the Strip’s top talents strike out on their own off the boulevard, while bars and lounges on the main drag — and quietly luxurious neighborhood hangouts beyond it — continue to elevate the city’s cocktail culture.
Here are 13 new places where you should have a drink.
Downtown Las Vegas
Viking Mike’s Alpine Yurt Bar
Step into Viking Mike’s Alpine Yurt Bar in the Arts District and feel as far removed from Las Vegas’ Mojave Desert as humanly possible. Described as “a fever dream of absurdity sparked by friends traveling on annual ski and snowboard trips,” the bar is part alpine lodge, part nomadic yurt, filtered through a Scandinavian and Nordic lens. Wood, stone, fur and natural textures set a moody, transportive scene that nods to Viking escapism.
Drinks lean clever and European, with unexpected influences such as the Rune Stone Cowboy, made with Rey Campero mezcal, Gilka Kümmel (a German liqueur), Alchemist Amer amaro, ginger and lime. Wild presentations add to the fun, including the Girl Dinner, a gin or vodka freezer martini served in a vessel of ice and olives that’s part cocktail and part snack.
Cocktails are joined by an entirely German and Alsatian wine list and a well-curated European beer roster. Housemade sausages, alpine cheeses and indulgent potato creations complete the fantasy.
White Whale
At East Fremont and Las Vegas Boulevard, behind an unmarked steel door, White Whale is a hidden-in-plain-sight craft cocktail lounge from Daniel Yang and Evan Hosaka, formerly of the Poodle Room at Fontainebleau Las Vegas and the Cocktail Collective at the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Venetian Resort Las Vegas. The duo trained under one of the industry’s most influential bartenders, Sam Ross of Attaboy, creator of modern classics such as the Penicillin and the Paper Plane.
Named for Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, White Whale reflects an obsessive pursuit of perfection. Juices are pressed hourly and syrups are made in house. The tightly curated menu includes standouts like the White Whale Dirty Martini (fat-washed The Botanist gin or Haku vodka with kombu and MSG) and the Spicy Sammy (an homage to Ross made with Don Julio Blanco tequila, Aperol, lime and a firewater tincture).
The bar unfolds across two spaces. The anime-vibed main room nods to the Japanese art of kintsugi, embracing beauty in imperfection. Tucked behind a secret door, the Captain’s Quarters is a 22-seat bar offering bartender’s-choice cocktails amid warm woods, glowing lamps and cascading wisteria symbolizing friendship, longevity and luck.
Nocturno
In the Arts District, Nocturno channels the romance of late nights spent in dimly lit cocktail bars, inspired by Mexico City’s celebrated bar scene. The team includes Nivel Hospitality Group founders Arron Cappello and DJ Flores and mixologist Lu Lopez, who apprenticed under Sam Ross at the Venetian’s Cocktail Collective before serving as corporate mixologist for Wakuda at The Palazzo.
The menu features more than 30 golden-age cocktails built with fewer than four ingredients, spanning historic cocktail families and modern variations. Expect fresh-pressed juices, housemade syrups, quality ice and chilled glassware.
From the cult-favorite N.O.C. chicken tenders with a secret dredge and pickle-spice seasoning to thinly sliced prosciutto with housemade chips and pickles, the food nicely accompanies the drinks.
Architectural speakers double as modern art, spinning an eclectic soundtrack, from Chappell Roan to Wu-Tang Clan, while a wall of vinyl and a turntable set the tone for a night worth lingering over.
Ada’s
Wine bars are rising alongside cocktail lounges, and one of the city’s most decorated makes a downtown move to the Arts District. Co-owned by chef James Trees and the LEV Group, Ada’s is helmed by general manager Kat “Wine Goddess” Thomas and chef de cuisine Jackson Stamper. The name honors Ada Coleman, the legendary barwoman of London’s Five-Star Savoy hotel from 1903 to 1926.
The Arts District outpost features a dining room and bar, alongside a cellar room, tasting bar and shop. The award-winning vino list is organized by character with sections like “zesty, bright & aromatic” or “bold, spicy & rich” rather than being aligned grape or region. Drink your way around the world with South African Pinotage or Georgian Rkatsiteli white. Every sip will have you looking for flights to visit far-flung wine regions.
Doberman Drawing Room
Doberman Drawing Room, a 3,400-square-foot, Victorian-inspired social club in the Arts District, features a bar program led by mixologist and partner Juyoung Kang. After shaping cocktail experiences at Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Fontainebleau and the Four-Star Venetian, Kang debuts an original menu drawing from a library of more than 100 spirits. Thematic and imbued with storytelling flair, each drink acts as a passport to a faraway place.
Dreamy highlights include the Tom Kha Fizz, a cream-charged Ramos Fizz inspired by the classic Thai soup; The Continental, a twist on the New York sour with rye, ancho chile, passion fruit, lemon and red wine foam; and Nine Countries, a smoky mezcal cocktail with honeydew cordial, yuzu juice and green yuzu kosho, an ode to Japan’s nine ancient provinces.
The Strip
Le Spritz Bar
Inside Carversteak’s climate-controlled patio at Resorts World Las Vegas, Le Spritz Bar channels the aperitivo culture of the French Riviera and the Amalfi Coast through bar legend Francesco Lafranconi’s original bubbly creations. The menu features nine classic spritzes alongside creative expressions and nonalcoholic options.
Standouts include the Garden Whisper with Aperol, Gin Mare, Supasawa, Mionetto Prosecco DOC and Fever-Tree grapefruit soda that’s finished with basil and bell pepper. Among zero-proof options, the Gen Rosso combines Lyre’s Blood Orange with Mionetto Aperitivo and alcohol-free prosecco, topped with grapefruit soda and rosemary.
Executive chef Daniel Ontiveros delivers aperitivo-ready pairings, from spiced Marcona almonds to chorizo-and-cheddar croquettes.
Clique Bar & Lounge
Going strong for a decade, Clique Bar & Lounge isn’t new, but its refreshed look may prompt a double take. The longtime staple at Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas returns drenched in gold and copper, with a gilded edge by Peter Max Bowden. A disco ball encircled by golden-hued flowers anchors the room with glamour and playfulness.
Not ready to commit to a full cocktail? The Tiny Tini menu offers scaled-down pours for sampling. Pair them with Clique’s signature lollipop chicken wings or wagyu beef and Ibérico pork meatballs, topped with bone marrow tomato sauce and served with basil pesto breadsticks.
Peacock Alley and Hard Shake
Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas has transformed its former sky lobby, reimagining the 23rd floor as a social hub with two distinct cocktail experiences. Peacock Alley offers afternoon tea and sophisticated cocktails in a light-filled space inspired by the original corridor connecting the Waldorf and Astoria hotels in New York City. Drinks are named after classic films, including the Casablanca (1942) margarita.
Just beyond there, Hard Shake delivers a moodier counterpoint. Named for the three-point shaking technique pioneered by Japanese bartender Kazuo Uyeda, the lounge overlooks the Strip with indigo banquettes, a dark stone bar and floor-to-ceiling windows. The menu includes nine cocktails and elevated bites, from oxtail empanadas to tater tots topped with Ossetra caviar, crème fraîche and chives.
Close Company
New at the Venetian Resort’s Via Via Food Hall from the creators of Death & Co. is the casual cocktail bar Close Company. Drawing from one of the most renowned cocktail lineages in the world, Close Company specializes in well-made, unpretentious drinks alongside Sicilian pizza slices. The menu is divided into Fizzy, Juicy, Boozy, Zero-Proof, One & Ones and Group Activity, setting a playful, easygoing tone.
Don’t miss the Espresso Martini and Tonic, a bubbly way to start the evening, or the Phony Negroni for those going booze-free.
Close Company is part of a nationwide rollout, with additional locations in Atlanta and Nashville.
B Bar
There’s only one thing to remember about the new B Bar at Wynn Las Vegas — it arguably serves the best martini in the city. The Opposites Attract is a hot-and-dirty martini that starts with Belvedere vodka and finishes with spicy Castelvetrano olive brine, served in a glass dipped in black truffle salt.
At the crossroads of the Wynn casino and Fairway Esplanade, B Bar mirrors a well-composed cocktail. Polished mahogany, rock crystal bronze fittings and artisan glass details glean inspiration from Wynn Design & Development president Todd-Avery Lenahan’s favorite drink, the Old Fashioned, translating warmth and structure into architectural form.
Summerlin
Wineaux
Part wine cellar, part neighborhood bar, Wineaux, created by chef Shawn McClain and master sommelier Nick Hetzel, enters its resort era with a second location at the newly renovated Resort at Summerlin, just a few minutes west of the Strip. The lobby bar and wine market pour glasses, bottles and cocktails alongside Mediterranean-inspired small plates in a quietly luxurious setting.
Sip Gavi di Gavi with hamachi and caviar or a flatbread topped with spicy cured meats. Monthly Wineaux Wednesday tastings, led by wine expert Bob Cranston, make learning as enjoyable as the sipping.
Southwest
Durango Casino & Resort High Limit Lounge
Some of Las Vegas’ most opulent cocktail bars can be found inside casino high-limit lounges. At Durango Casino & Resort, a new 16-seat round bar features a Cristallo flower quartzite bartop, a custom circular LED screen and a 60-foot chandelier set into a champagne-leaf ceiling bay. The offerings feature curated wines and champagne, classic and contemporary cocktails, rare spirits and a 24-hour coffee and tea menu.
Favorites include the Espresso 2.0, with Patrón Reposado tequila and fresh espresso, and the Casa Durango, a ranch water riff with Código 1530 tequila, elderflower, prickly pear and sparkling grapefruit soda.
Glass doors open to a greenery-wrapped patio with heaters, ideal for lounging, sports viewing and cigar smoking.
Visit www.forbestravelguide.com on February 11 to see the complete list of 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Star Award recipients.
