13 Best Nightlife in Las Vegas, Nevada

This Downtown bar is the oldest freestanding bar in Las Vegas (dating back to 1952) and owns the first liquor license in the state (literally, No. 00001). It takes its name from the custom of patrons in the 1950s, who would buy drinks, head to the roof, and watch atomic blasts in the desert in the distance. The Rat Pack and Barbra Streisand drank here. Fast-forward to now, and it's become the place to hang out, with 20 microbrews on tap and an inventive menu that specializes in fancy beer cocktails. There's even a restaurant next door. The bar is open until 2 am nightly.

Tucked alongside The Smith Center’s big concert hall is a cozy, 240-seat cabaret (bearing the name of Smith Center president Myron Martin) that creates an upscale vibe and a close communication with performers that’s unduplicated in the casino venues. Patrons sip wine at tables-for-four while hometown favorites such as Frankie Moreno and Earl Turner work around visiting headliners that have included trumpet legend Herb Alpert, pianist George Winston, and jazz singer Jane Monheit. Shows are held mostly on weekends but also on occasional weeknights.

Should you happen to be Downtown, head over to Downtown Container Park and sit inside a shipping container to sip barrel-aged cocktails and whiskeys galore. Although tiny—it's sometimes tough to nab a spot at the bar—this little railroad car of a drinking spot packs a punch with a well-crafted menu of drinks. Can't decide on a whiskey? Order a flight. Want to try something truly special? Order a taste of one of the bar's barrel-aged bourbons.

There's nothing better than a feel-good story in Las Vegas. Sisters Pamela and Christina Dylag saved and scrimped to open this great, velvet-lined cocktail lounge dotted with furniture they found at vintage shops and equipped with beer taps that look like hands. Two different new-ish immersive patio experiences create a true "Alice in Wonderland" vibe. A great cocktail list with a vintage feel and punches are just some of the treasures behind the bar. Regular Wednesday specials mean a number of wines are available for $5 per glass.

Live music is a constant at this adults-only hot spot on the southeast corner of 6th and Fremont Streets. Genres range from rock and metal to honky-tonk and rap. As the name suggests, billiards is a big part of the appeal. Optional table service includes cut-the-line passes and a spot near the stage.

Think of this 99-seat venue as a tiny Vaudeville fantasy world; on any given night, you might encounter an aerialist, a drag queen, a piano singer, a juggler, a comedian, or something entirely different (and similarly mind-boggling). There's burlesque, too. Owner Ryan Doherty bills the space as a "variety club" and the name is apt; the more  you go, the more variety you're likely to see. Drinks, including craft cocktails, are strong and designed to get the audience nice and loud. Perhaps the best part of the Cheapshot experience is the value: for $25 you get 90 minutes of entertainment. Where else in Vegas can you find such a deal?

As urban renewal continues Downtown, the one-block stretch of Fremont east of Las Vegas Boulevard (dubbed Fremont East) remains the hottest of the hot spots, and Commonwealth arguably is the epicenter. Inside, wrought-iron railings, chandeliers, and a tin ceiling create a feeling of old-school opulence without being excessive. Drink options range from handcrafted cocktails to microbrews; there's also good live music in the evening. The atmosphere changes as evenings progress, from quiet happy hours conducive to conversation to full-on dance craziness for a younger crowd. Venture upstairs to the rooftop bar, or try to secure an invite to the private Laundry Room speakeasy. Commonwealth is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Hiding from your creditors? Seeking a good spot for a séance or a Spin-the-Bottle party? If so, then consider stepping—carefully—into the gorgeous gloom of this hipster hangout, which is just around the corner from The Griffin. The minimalist lounge glows from candle-filled tables and thumps with simmering house music, making the vibe mysterious and romantic. Happy hour is 4 to 7 pm every night but Sunday, with everything on the menu half-price. Locals love that deal, as well as the seasonal cocktail menus. Just beware: the front door is hard to find. It's closed Sunday and Monday.

Once a (seedy) casino, the Gold Spike was resuscitated as part of the late Tony Hsieh's $350-million Downtown Project. In this case, that means gambling is out and free gaming is in. Gaming, as in shuffleboard, giant versions of Connect Four, and, on the back patio, life-size Jenga and beer pong with soccer balls and garbage pails. There's also a small restaurant, multiple bars, and a tiny house that visitors can rent for parties or spend the night in. The place is still a haven for Zappos employees, but the hot spot that bills itself as an "adult playground" is open to the public and has become a popular place for locals, visitors, and hipsters to hang, too, especially during weekday happy hour.

"The Pal" is one of the oldest strip clubs in the area—it opened, appropriately, in '69 (1969 that is) and was a favorite spot for certain members of the Rat Pack. It also is one of Las Vegas's most notorious haunts; two separate owners have been accused of murders, and it was also owned briefly by a noted heart surgeon. Because the club was grandfathered into the North Las Vegas zoning codes, it's allowed to have both a full bar and full nudity (elsewhere in town, you can't have both). There's also a burlesque stage.

As good as Vegas Bohemia gets, this Downtown bar, close to the Beauty Bar and the Downtown Cocktail Room, is an instant winner. Some wags have likened it to a Peppermill for the younger, looser set, but this description fails to account for the beauty of its hipster crowd as well as its decor, from the kitschy neon sign outside to the fire grills, the barrel-vaulted brick ceiling, the semicircular banquettes, and the griffin insignias on the bathroom walls. The best feature, though, is the back room, which resembles a study owned by King Henry VIII—had he lived in the 1950s.

Located inside the Plaza Hotel & Casino, this dive bar is renowned for stiff drinks and hard living. While the original Sand Dollar near Chinatown is renowned for live music (it opened in 1976 and has a long history of being a great place for live blues), the Downtown outpost is more of a watering hole. A modest menu from Pop Up Pizza is available all night long; just be prepared to wait a while for food.

Since it's part of The Mob Museum, you may wish to think of The Underground as an immersive and interactive exhibit on Prohibition-era speakeasies. Memorabilia from the 1920s abounds. Period music plays all night long. But it also functions as a working bar, with hand-crafted cocktails, drink specials, and serious bartender sass. There’s even a distillery in a back room—The Underground distills and serves its own special-edition moonshine, and visitors can take guided tours. Admission to the museum gets you in for free, but if you aren’t visiting the museum, check the bar’s Instagram account for the nightly password to give the bouncer at the back door. And be sure to check out some of the secret meeting rooms; one is hidden behind a big painting.