Tyla Fergusson-Platt delves deep into ‘Sin City’ to give a definitive list of the most unique bars in Las Vegas.

In the city that never sleeps it goes without saying that any respectful visitor has to try its weird and wonderful nightlife. Famous for its 24-hour parties and incessant rolling of the dice, ‘Sin City’ is approaching a famous milestone. This year on May 5th the gambling capital of the world will raise a glass for its 120th birthday. In true Las Vegas style we have collected a definitive list of the top 10 most weird bars to celebrate this incredible city’s birthday.

Ski Lodge Bar at The Cosmopolitan

The intense heat of the Nevada desert getting a little too much? Look no further than Las Vegas’ very own Ski lodge bar to cool down. Inspired by Japan’s famous Bar-Gyu in Hokkaido, a hole-in-the wall style lodge, it is a world away from the bright lights of the big city. The décor exudes warmth and cosiness with an ambient electric fire that burns every day of the year.

It also has a menu boasting an eclectic array of cocktails named after 80’s movie stars and even the option of a S’more (a popular campfire dessert) brought to your table where you can toast your own marshmallows. It also has the added intrigue of being a hidden bar within the Cosmopolitan Casino. Located on the second floor next to the Wicked Spoon Buffet, the entrance is an unassuming door with a small ski plaque on it.

ReBAR

Las Vegas is famed for its unique and weird dive bars but few match ReBAR. It blends all the charm of a beat-up dive bar with an antique shop. Almost every item in the bar is for sale, even the glasses and stools. It creates an almost Mad Max vibe with an eclectic range of items including mounted deer’s heads, neon signs and retro TV sets.

It’s not just the bar that makes it worth a visit; the food menu is just as eccentric as the décor. They have created a dish called The Giant Beeriadilla, a take on the classic Quesadilla but using beef slow cooked in locally crafted beer. And if you want the Wi-Fi password try not to be offended when the barman tells you it is ‘getdrunkandbuyshit’.

Millennium Fandom Bar

Continuing on from the geek theme, we arrive at one of the weirdest venues in Vegas, The Millennium Fandom bar. Strange decorations adorn the walls including a huge Millennium Falcon that looms high above your head. The interiors look like something out of a Tim Burton film and like his films, this nerd hangout also has a passionate cult following.

Every Friday and Saturday the bar fills with cosplay enthusiasts dressed in a wide array of costumes from Star Wars to Steampunk. They host regular themed events, including cosplay contests where entrants can win a ‘special prize’. The bar fully embraces its off the wall vibes however with its tagline proudly stating ‘Cultishfully yours’.

Circus Circus Casino Bar

If there was one place in Vegas that showcased its essential essence, it would probably be Circus Circus Casino. Made famous in Hunter S Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and later in the film adaptation starring Johnny Depp, there is nowhere else quite like it. It’s the kind of place that’s impossible to get bored in. With daily circus acts, a roller-coaster and carnival games to keep you busy long into the night.

You can even visit the original carousel bar that was featured in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. It is now a non-alcoholic bar, but it still rotates. Getting on and off can be tricky, so it’s lucky the drinks are now alcohol free, but this is all part of the fun at Circus Circus.

If its alcohol you’re after, make a visit to the Big Chill bar that sits next to the fully functioning circus. Yes, that’s right a circus. Grab a refillable drink from the bar and go full Hunter S Thompson. It is probably the only place in the world that would think to put a full-scale circus above the heads of unsuspecting gamblers. But why not? It’s for reasons like this that the city attracts millions of visitors each year and it’s another reason you should add it to your itinerary. Just make sure to leave your savings at home, under lock and key.

The Triple Down Bar

And now for something completely different. Opened in 2023 The Triple Down Bar located inside the Punk Museum is maybe a little too new and polished to be called a dive bar. What the bar does offer though is a treasure trove of punk rock artefacts and memorabilia that makes it an important pilgrimage for any punk fan. It even includes a tattoo parlour for anyone looking to commemorate the visit.

Make sure you’re careful though after a few drinks. The establishment offers a wedding service. Yes, that’s right, for just $2200 you can purchase the ‘till punk do us part’ package, which includes a one-hour rental of the bar and museum for the ceremony and reception, one bottle of champagne and 25 cupcakes. As the saying goes, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas but maybe don’t go to crazy with the alcohol just in case you make a lifelong mistake.

Mob Museum Bar

For anyone who is familiar with Martin Scorcese’s classic 1996 film Casino, you’ll already be well aware of the mob’s historical involvement in the Casinos of Las Vegas. At the Mob Museum Speakeasy, this dark history comes to life before your very eyes. It’s an immersive experience into life in the 1920’s, complete with a secret speakeasy entrance, authentic cocktails from the prohibition era and even live music.

It’s not just a bar though. It also serves as a museum to the city’s sordid history with the mafia. Complete with artefacts from the time, including personal items belonging to famous mobsters like Al Capone and John Gotti, it is a fascinating look at the period. But beware, to enter the underground speakeasy you must say the unique password that is updated weekly. Visit the museums website before you go to find it out.

The Nerd Bar

There are few bars that can claim to have a wrestling ring, bowling alleys and a bull ride, but The Nerd Bar most certainly can. Although it was originally intended as a place for Comic book fans and gamers, the audience has changed a little since then but still retains its weird charm.

There is something about Vegas that takes everything to the extreme and that is what makes it such a unique place to visit. The Nerd bar is no different. There is even a section that is decorated like Barbie’s dreamhouse which can be rented out on a VIP basis. It hosts regular live events including wrestling matches. It’s not the easiest place to find but it’s located on the 2nd floor of the Neonopolis in downtown Las Vegas.

The Cabinet of Curiosities

For this one we have two bars in one. Like a strange bar version of Inception, we have a speakeasy within a speakeasy. The Cabinet of Curiosities is well-worth a visit on its own, with quite literal cabinets that you can delve into and discover all kinds of unique and weird items. Each have their own QR code which tells you more about the item’s history, including ‘The Dancing Squid’ – whose story includes being owned by competitive squid breeders who ran the show ‘jumping squids’.

The Lock bar

Further inside the labyrinth of oddities that is The Cabinet of Curiosities, is yet another secret speakeasy. It is possibly the most unusual and elaborate in the whole of Las Vegas. A non-descript vault door hides the elusive Lock bar. To enter you must pick up the telephone beside the door and upon answering you will receive a secret password. A keyhole will appear where you give your password, and only then will the door be opened.

The fun doesn’t stop there though. Entry isn’t automatic. After opening the lock door, you then enter a chamber and must solve a puzzle to enter the exclusive hidden bar. It is truly a unique experience that is like no other in Sin City. And if two secret bars aren’t enough for you, there’s even a further hidden VIP room located behind one of the paintings.

Hofbräuhaus Bar

Even for Vegas standards, Hofbräuhaus is one of the most unusual places to have a beer. The building is incredibly an exact replica of the famous old Munich bierhouse with the same name, it’s as close as you’re going to get to the German drinking experience outside of the homeland.

The community style drinking culture is also on display with long tables and benches that encourages conversation and playfulness. What makes this bar really unique is the interplay between the staff and the customers. Group drinking games are organised ad-hoc by staff with the ‘shot-ski’ being the most interesting. A full-length ski with shot glasses attached to it is filled with liquor, with you and three other ‘patrons’ attempting to drink without spilling. If you’re feeling especially adventurous staff will offer the chance to be ‘spanked’ with a paddle as you try to complete the drinking games.