The Best New Cocktail Lounges in Las Vegas for 2025

Cocktail lounges occupy an important niche in Las Vegas. Back in the city’s formative years, these intimate venues were the place to catch some of the country’s top musical acts, from Louis Prima to Sammy Davis Jr. to lounge-legend Cook E. Jar and the Krumbs. And while the performers have now (mostly) taken a back seat, it’s the lounge decor, atmosphere, light bites and creative cocktail programs that have come to define the social drinking scene in Las Vegas, as evidenced by these new and notable establishments.

Caspian’s Cocktails and Caviar (Caesars Palace)

Passersby on Caesars’ bustling main casino floor might almost miss this compact-but-classy caviar lounge, decorated in a nautical theme with blue with gold accents. But that would be a mistake, for there is much more here than initially meets the eye. The specialty cocktails, notably the Porn Star Martini, are the expert work of Clique Hospitality’s mixologists. Among the caviar bites, the mini potato latkes with creme fraiche, caviar and gold leaf are a don’t-miss, guilty-pleasure dish. But the relatively serene lounge – with its undeniable charm – is just a prelude to what’s hidden behind a door cleverly obscured by a full-length portrait of a grizzled sea captain. With an intimate and naughty vibe, the richly-decorated and spacious speakeasy – completely silenced outside its walls – features live rock music Tues. – Sat., with Caviar Karaoke on Thursday night, making this new venue a truly “rock & roe” experience.

Pinky’s by Vanderpump (Flamingo Las Vegas)

Vanderpump Cocktail Garden at Caesars Palace was the first Las Vegas lounge from reality TV star Lisa Vanderpump to wow us with over-the-top decor. Next came the stylishly-dark and moody Vanderpump à Paris at Paris Las Vegas, and now yet another drop-dead gorgeous space from the Vanderpump team has debuted, this time at the legendary Flamingo Las Vegas. Calling Pinky’s by Vanderpump a cinematic spectacle certainly isn’t incorrect, but it may be an understatement. With an art deco-themed interior design straight out of an early 20th-century, glamorous nightclub – augmented by flamingo iconography as a tribute to the host property – Pinky’s sets the stage for a throwback experience enhanced by modern food and drink. Clever wordplay dominates the specialty cocktail menu, with the Daddy Issues spritz and the Rich Bitch Chocolate Dessert Martini perfectly apropos for the environment. The menu of small bites is also artistically presented, especially the Colossal Coconut Prawn Cigars – served in a vintage cigar box.

Lapa Lounge (Rio Las Vegas)

Working their way through a $340-million, long-overdue refresh of the off-Strip Rio Las Vegas, new owners Dreamscape Companies wisely opted to sink a fair portion of that budget into the mid-casino Lapa Lounge, which is visible immediately after entering the hotel-casino’s front door. Taking its name and inspiration from the upscale Lapa neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, the lounge is bathed in a warm, golden glow and centered by a honey-onyx bar that exudes a rich feel that’s also easy on the eyes. Playful gold monkeys dangle from the ceiling above the comfortable seating, where patrons take in live music nightly while enjoying classic cocktails like the Lapa Sunset Mai Tai or The Tiki Tango original.

The Green Fairy Garden (Roman Plaza, outside Caesars Palace)

When irreverent circus-company Spiegelworld announced that they were creating an outdoor cocktail lounge attached to the tent where its bawdy Absinthe show plays, we didn’t know what to expect – other than a venue that would challenge norms. It turns out that the Green Fairy Garden is yet another delightful manifestation of the company’s slightly-twisted mindset. The carnival-like setting, surrounded by food trucks hawking the surprisingly-tasty No Pants Burger (two short rib patties, grilled onions, American cheese and secret sauce on a pretzel bun) opens up to a bar where the true magic happens. And since “the green fairy” is a nickname for the Absinthe spirit, guests can sip on the themed Hallucinator cocktail, made with the classic Absente Absinthe, Bacardi Superior, Pineapple rum, pineapple juice, lime juice and simple syrup. And the drink’s green hue fits right in.

Glass Bar (Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino)

Las Vegas casino interior-design schemes don’t always demand notice. Instead, their primary focus is to keep players engaged – with as few distractions as possible. That’s why Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino’s 2007 opening presented such a radical departure from the norm. The casino’s high ceilings, dramatic lighting effects and retro-chic Hollywood decor turned heads then, and still does today. And the Pleasure Pit’s go-go dancers also provide a convenient distraction for nearby Blackjack players. So when parent company Caesars Entertainment set about to replace the casino-centric Heart Bar last year, renowned architecture and design firm Rockwell Group supplied the dramatic flourish, and Glass Bar was born. With thousands of perfectly-placed, amber, gray and clear glass prisms that form a virtual curtain wrapping around the bar, the resulting refraction of light bathes the space in an ombre lighting element, which creates a surprisingly relaxing ambience – even in the midst of the busy casino