Where to Drink Now: The Best New Cocktail Bars in Las Vegas

Photo Credit: Pachi Pachi

Where you should be drinking in Sin City right now. 

Pachi-Pachi

Photo Credit: Laurent Velazquez

Pachi-Pachi is the newest portal into Vegas nightlife — an 80-person Japanese-inspired cocktail lounge and listening bar on Las Vegas Blvd, dreamed up by Branden Powers (The Golden Tiki, Evel Pie) alongside Mark Evensvold, Tony Gadachy, and J. Dapper. Inside, retro Gucci collides with psychedelic jungle futurism: think shifting installations, six-story murals, and a backstory built around Aya, a girl who opens gateways for the curious. Cocktails from Gadachy and Aria Mathar push boundaries, while chefs Mike Boyle and Gilleum Marcoux deliver Japanese-influenced bites like steak sandos, Wagyu beer-cheese burgers on sizzling skillets, and the soon-to-be-viral floating ghost noodles. By day, Balearic house sets the vibe; by night, it’s rare vinyl, reel-to-reels, and DJ-driven sonic journeys in a custom Pioneer Pro Audio room. In true Vegas fashion, it’s not just a bar — it’s an experience.

Nocturno

Photo Credit: Nocturno Las Vegas

Nocturno is redefining the cocktail bar in Las Vegas, celebrating balance, simplicity, and the beauty of classic drinks while weaving in rich spirit history and high-touch hospitality. Inspired by Mexico City’s thriving cocktail scene, it’s the first venture from Nivel Hospitality Group, founded by industry vets Arron Cappello and DJ Flores (of Milpa and Somebody Feed Phil fame). To lead the bar program, they tapped noted mixologist Lu Lopez, whose résumé spans Attaboy protégé to opening GM of The Palazzo’s Cocktail Collective, and later earning North America’s 50 Best recognition with Youngblood. The cocktails are where Nocturno truly shines. Lopez’s menu leans into refined classics with a twist, crafted with house-made syrups, fresh citrus, and precise technique. Signature offerings include Crimes of Passion — a tequila and mezcal blend brightened with passion fruit, lime, and honey, finished with a chile-salt rim — and a lineup of drinks that balance smoke, spice, and tropical notes with a minimalist elegance. Expect everything from refreshing citrus-forward sips to bold, layered creations that feel both timeless and unexpected.

Petite Boheme

Photo Credit: Jose Salinas/Petite Boheme

Tucked behind its sister restaurant Bar Boheme, Petite Boheme is already staking its claim as one of Las Vegas’s hottest new cocktail bars. The intimate 1,400-square-foot hideaway channels Parisian flair with downtown grit—murals splashed across reclaimed walls, a little bit boho, a little bit bold. Chef James Trees and Keith Bracewell have built a bar that feels like a secret worth sharing, while Jonah Gibbs’s beverage program takes French classics and gives them a fearless twist—bergamot here, a bitter Negroni riff there. Add in snackable small plates (paprika-dusted peanuts, marinated olives kissed with citrus), and you’ve got a spot that’s less about turning tables and more about lingering late. It’s chic, it’s cheeky, and it’s rewriting the Vegas cocktail script—one très cool sip at a time.

Bottled Blonde

Photo Credit: Bottled Blonde Las Vegas

Bottled Blonde Las Vegas makes its long-awaited Strip debut this summer, bringing its three-story, 20,000-square-foot party palace to life with a red-carpet grand opening on July 18. From the Arizona-based Evening Entertainment Group, the concept blends high-energy nightlife with crave-worthy eats, rooftop views, and bottle service that doesn’t hold back. Expect a lineup of pizzas, burgers, wings, and over-the-top desserts alongside signature cocktails served by the glass, pitcher, or tower. With DJs and live music fueling two floors, a 38-foot LED wall, and immersive audio zones across three levels, Bottled Blonde is built for the sports fans, foodies, and late-night revelers alike. In true Vegas fashion, it’s more than a bar—it’s an all-day, all-night celebration.

Dark Sister

Photo Credit: Ace Buhay

Dark Sister has opened in the Arts District, bringing witchy glamour and intimate, off-Strip energy to Downtown Las Vegas. Think candlelit, velvet-lined metaphysical lounge—twisting greenery, a bar encased in dried flowers and tarot cards, even a full suit of armor—set to a dark-feminine soundtrack. The cocktail list reads like a grimoire: zodiac “potions,” herbalist builds, and seasonal menus that shift with the solstices and equinoxes. Signatures include The Devil’s Dance (fiery rum in a skull glass with chili “horns,” $16) and Fireside Ritual, a s’mores espresso martini that delivers on the name ($17). Community-minded programming seals it: Industry Mondays (20% off with Health/TAM), Whiskey Wednesdays ($20 Old Forester flights tracing its history), and tarot readings every Thursday and Saturday at 7 p.m. with Audrey Fox. Moody, magical, and made for lingering—Dark Sister is your new downtown haunt.

Hard Shake

Photo Credit: Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas

Hard Shake, the new cocktail lounge at Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, reimagines the former SkyBar with Old Hollywood glamour and Japanese precision. Named after the iconic three-point shaking technique pioneered by bartender Kazuo Uyeda, the space pairs Art Deco accents, indigo banquettes, and a champagne-brass marble bar with sweeping Strip views. The cocktails are as meticulously crafted as the design itself — layered, whimsical, and rooted in tradition. Highlights include The Katana, a finely balanced blend of Hibiki Harmony Whiskey, spiced Drambuie, and pecan bitters, sharp and elegant as its namesake. For late-night cravings, the menu features elevated bites like Honey Shrimp with citrus curry, candied walnuts, and delicate butterfly accents.

Close Company

Photo Credit: The Venetian Resort & Casino

If you love craft cocktails with edge but hate the pretentiousness that so often comes with them, Close Company, located at The Venetian, is your new go-to. Brought to Vegas by the creators of Death & Co, this retro-speakeasy-meets-food-hall outpost feels vibrant and alive — think quality mixology dialing up the flavor, unbuttoned vibes, and a menu you actually want to explore. From 4 p.m. on, you’ll find contemporary cocktails, playful twists, and drink craftsmanship in every glass. The décor doesn’t disappoint: moody lighting, sumptuous seating, and just enough chaos to feel like you wandered into something special. It’s louder, looser, and unapologetically fun — exactly what a classic cocktail bar should be.

Stray Pirate

Stray Pirate nails that sweet spot between cheeky fun and elevated design. Think nautical without the kitsch: warm woods, brass accents, weathered textures, and a touch of moody lighting that makes the whole space feel like a pirate’s hideout gone upscale.  At the helm is GM and cocktail creator Chris “Tater” Gutierrez (of Atomic Liquors), whose cocktail program riffs on the theme without going overboard — expect rum-driven signatures with unexpected twists (a smoky mezcal float here, a dash of spice there), alongside bright, citrusy highballs and tropical-inspired sippers that never feel cloying. It’s playful, yes, but grounded in balance and craft. Every detail — from the sailcloth-inspired banquettes to the treasure-map cocktail menu — feels designed to transport you, reminding you that the best nights out are equal parts adventure and escape.

Doberman Drawing Room

Photo Credit: Anthony Mair

Doberman Drawing Room has officially opened in the Las Vegas Arts District, adding a richly layered cocktail lounge to Corner Bar Management’s portfolio. Created by nightlife visionary Ryan Doherty and award-winning mixologist Juyoung Kang, the 3,400-square-foot bar feels like stepping into the estate of an eccentric explorer—moody, maximalist, and filled with artifacts from around the world. Kang’s globally inspired cocktail program is equally transportive, with signatures like the Tom Kha Fizz (a Ramos Fizz reimagined with tom yum spices and coconut), the pepperoncini-spiked Peter Pepper martini, and Nine Countries, a mezcal and yuzu-koshō sip that nods to Japan’s historic provinces. Elevated bar snacks and refined bites—from Berber-spiced chicharrón to Royal Osetra caviar—round out the experience, while rooms like the Blue Room, Library, and Attic reveal layers of design storytelling.