Arts District Craft Cocktail Crawl

Vegas certainly has no shortage of bars, especially if you’re after only the tried and true. But it takes deep knowledge and cultivated expertise to discover the really special ones that are pushing boundaries, setting new standards, and leaving patrons astonished by their creative ingredients, techniques and presentations. You’ll find all that and more in Lip Smacking’s exciting Arts District Craft Cocktail Crawl that takes guests to Vegas’ most vibrant neighborhood to visit the five best cocktail bars, each radically different from one other, with their own distinct look, feel, and thrilling personality.

If you’re a cocktail connoisseur, don’t miss this 2-hour deep dive into Vegas’ trendiest and most exceptional bars, the places that draw long lines plus ones so clandestine they remain stealthily under the radar. Thanks to award-winning Lip Smacking’s exclusive partnerships, you’ll receive immediate VIP service and entry into every venue to enjoy its best cocktail upon arrival, plus gourmet food at two of these hot spots.

The Arts District, where impressive art really is all around, has undergone a recent renaissance with a host of new bars, speakeasies and lounges, each making their own mark while fostering unwavering camaraderie.

Guests, who must be 21 years or older, will get the chance to stroll through this lively neighborhood where former industrial buildings have been revitalized with newfound spunk. A professional guide will lead the way to point out fascinating points of interest along the way, too.

The cocktail crawl starts at the standout Nocturno, named a James Beard Foundation semi-finalist this year for “Best New Bar” in the country, a first such honor for a bar in Vegas. Intimate and moody, it offers a deeply personalized approach to cocktails in which guests are guided through a conversation about their preferences, allowing mixologists to craft bespoke drinks especially designed for each individual. Enjoy one of its signature cocktails with a duo of delicious dishes, while listening to selections from its impressive wall of vinyl.

Next, it’s on to the maximalist Doberman Drawing Room, an avant-garde incarnation of a 19th century drawing room with 3,400-square-feet done up in heavy wood, red velvet, ornate tapestries, and taxidermy sheep and deer. The over-the-top social club, with limited daily reservations open to the public, is the creation of the maverick Juyoung Kang, who as former director of beverage development at the Fontainebleau, steered its Collins Bar to being anointed one of Esquire’s “Best Bars in America.”

CC Speakeasy is not easily found – and that’s half the fun. You enter what looks like a normal ice cream shop only to be escorted through a faux freezer door that leads to an elegant speakeasy decorated in emerald green, marble, and colorful wildlife murals. Along with a standout cocktail, guests will savor a duo of dishes by Chef Jose Gutierrez, whose career spans the formidable kitchens at Hell’s Kitchen, Bobby Flay, and the José Andrés Group.

At Prowl, it’s welcome to the jungle time at this cheeky cocktail lounge with lava rock walls, a butterfly-covered-ceiling bathroom, and an animated panther that stares unflinchingly on a screen behind the bar. That this place was inspired by Elvis’ Jungle Room at Graceland says it all. Cocktails get mixed with house-made syrups and tinctures, plus a dose of sly humor.

At Viking Mike’s, get transported from the Nevada desert to the snow-capped Nordic alps. The entrance, kept at a frigid 32 degrees, sets the evocative mood for this unique venue whose centerpiece is an actual wood-framed yurt. There, you’ll find a circular bar that makes use of Eastern European and Scandinavian spirits and ingredients to create some of the most intriguing cocktails around.

Please note that the list of bars visited may be subject to change due to private event buyouts.

The Arts District Craft Cocktail Crawl is ideal for singles, couples or groups. It is also available as a private group experience.

Don’t settle for an ordinary time at just any bar. Instead, immerse yourself in the breadth and depth of Vegas’ exhilarating cocktail culture in the neighborhood that’s the epicenter of it all.