Sometimes a door is just a door. Sometimes it’s the Narnia-esque entryway to fantastical experience.
Las Vegas has its fair share of fantastical experiences hidden behind doors. There are luxurious dining experiences like é by José Andrés, an exclusive (and expensive) hideaway for Spanish cuisine, tucked behind a glass door marked with an é, located adjacent to Jaleo at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. There are even hidden doors that are password protected, like the basement entryway to The Underground speakeasy at the Mob Museum in Downtown Las Vegas.
Then there are secret spots sans doors, like James Turrell’s transcendental Akhob art installation on the fourth floor of Louis Vuitton at The Shops at Crystals at CityCenter. The only way to see it is to be in the know (and to make a reservation four weeks in advance).
We’re almost a month into 2019 and secrets are hard to keep, so here are some of the hottest, new (and coming soon) hidden venues in Vegas.
The Barbershop Cuts and Cocktails
Opening Spring 2019
Photo Credit: Austin Tochner
Shave and a haircut … two sips. That’s what’s up at The Barbershop Cuts and Cocktails, where fine grooming meets casual boozing. The Clique Hospitality salon/saloon opens at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas this spring. Master Barber Jose Sosa and his team offer cuts, trims, shaves and fine-aged whiskeys by day. At night, behind the door marked “janitor,” there’s a secretive and swanky speakeasy with a curated barrel-aged whiskey selection, full cocktail program and performance stage. If bars could speak, this one would have quite the story to tell. Handcrafted in Kentucky in the 1800s, it makes its way to Las Vegas after appearing on the silver screen in The Greatest Showman.
Greene St. Kitchen
Opening April 2019
Photo Credit: Stacey Torma
Another new concept from Clique Hospitality, secret “speakeasy” Greene St. Kitchen will open in April at Palms Casino Resort as part of the property’s $690 million in upgrades. Hidden beyond a vending machine door, the retro-chic restaurant/vintage arcade will level up the game with shareable plates from Chef du Cuisine Lanny Chin, an early-’80s-inspired art collection and classic video games (finger crossed for Burger Time). The Rockwell Group design also promises an 8-bit video-inspired tiled floor and a gold, birdcage-like structure.
Sara’s
Opened this month
Photo Credit: Courtesy Sara’s
Chef Michael Symon named Sara’s for his business partner’s mom. She ran a catering company specializing in table-side classics. Now he and Doug Petkovic run a supper club with dishes like smoked prime rib, fried chicken and bananas foster cooked at the table. Tucked away within Symon’s new Mabel’s BBQ at Palms Casino Resort, Sara’s was designed by Symon’s wife, Liz Symon, in partnership with Parts + Labor Design. The secret, self-described “meateasy” mingles classic Vegas nostalgia with modern-day Las Vegas Strip views.
On The Record
Opened as of 2019
Photo Credit: MGM Resorts International
At 11,000-square-foot, On The Record at Park MGM spans three rooms, including indoor and outdoor spaces, dance floors and a patio bar. Located across from the Park Theater, the Houston Hospitality venue has already welcomed a slew of celebrities including Kate Beckinsale, David Arquette, Josh Hutcherson, Rumer Willis and Dan Levy. It also served as the venue for the official after-party for the opening night of Lady Gaga’s residency. As you wander around—possibly seeing something new every time—you may encounter the Vinyl Parlor, where rockstar bartenders-in-residence mix song-inspired cocktails. There are also three hidden karaoke rooms for cocktail-inspired songs.
