The Griffin in Las Vegas is the East Fremont cocktail and live music bar since 2007, a Gothic-decor room with a stone fireplace and rotating indie bands.
Food program: Snacks only
Tip: Music runs weekends 22:00 onwards; the fireplace seating is first-come and warmer in winter.
Address: 511 Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Velveteen Rabbit in Las Vegas is the Arts District craft-cocktail and beer bar on South Main since 2013, a vintage-furniture room with seasonal cocktail menus and a pink outdoor patio.
Signature drink: Seasonal house cocktail with fresh produce
Food: Snacks and small bites
Tip: Magic hour daily 17:00 to 19:00 runs $6 punch and house wine; the patio runs first-come.
Atomic Liquors in Las Vegas is the city's oldest freestanding bar since 1952, a Fremont East dive with 20 rotating draft beers and the upstairs Atomic Kitchen for date-night dining.
Signature drink: Atomic shot and beer
Food: Atomic Kitchen upstairs
Tip: Holds the oldest tavern license in Las Vegas; the streetside patio overlooks Fremont East and runs from open until close.
The Golden Tiki in Las Vegas is the Spring Mountain Chinatown tiki bar, an immersive Polynesian-pop room with shrunken-head cocktails, rum collection and late-night DJs.
Signature drink: Mai tai and shrunken-head Tom Collins
Food: Polynesian-influenced snacks
Tip: Rum flight runs the back wall, 30+ rums; the shrunken-head cocktail is the photographable signature.
Herbs and Rye in Las Vegas is the West Sahara speakeasy since 2009, a classic-cocktail bar and late-night steakhouse with the half-price happy hour the city's industry made famous.
Signature drink: Classic-era cocktails by era (1800s, 1900s, 1920s)
Food: Late-night steakhouse menu
Tip: Happy hour daily 17:00 to 20:00 runs all classic cocktails and steaks at half price; the only happy hour late enough for the swing shift.
Frankie's Tiki Room in Las Vegas is the West Charleston 24-hour tiki dive since 2008, the city's only round-the-clock tiki bar with classic-era rum cocktails and Bamboo Ben decor.
Signature drink: Bearded Clam and Lava Letch
Food: Snacks only
Tip: 24/7 service; the early-morning shift is the room at its most authentic. The custom-glass programme is collectible.
Bar Parasol at Wynn Las Vegas is the lobby-level hotel cocktail bar overlooking the Lake of Dreams, a Forbes-recommended room for nightly cocktails timed to the half-hour water show.
Signature drink: Lake of Dreams Old Fashioned
Food: Wynn small plates
Tip: Lake of Dreams runs every half-hour from dusk to 23:30; book a table on the half-hour to overlap.
