We love (by love we mean hate) the Strip, but sometimes we just want to sit back and relax with a couple drinks, hang out with friends, and pretend we live in a normal city for a few hours. Most of all, we don’t want to wear fancy shoes or button down shirts and pay $15 dollars per drink every time we go out!
So we decided to find some great bars for locals.
Here’s our list, written by a real local for real locals. Let us know what you think. Add your ideas. Participate in our forum!
5. Money Plays – 4755 W. Flamingo Rd. You like yards of beer right? Sure you do, and you don’t want to travel to one of those Strip kiosks and pay $30 dollars for it, so visit Money Plays. Unfortunately there is no hard liquor here, but they do have billiards, darts, a great shuffle board, and live music without a cover… and Yards of Beer!
4. My Cousin Vinny Sports Bar – Located at 1600 E. Sahara Ave. and Spencer. My Cousin Vinny’s has plenty of food, entertainment, and drinks. And what happens when you drink enough? You start to think you can hold a tune. PERFECT! because they have Karaoke every Saturday night. Hey, it’s only embarrassing if you can remember it the next day. Vinny’s has a great locals’ feel and a friendly atmosphere, plenty of gaming, and plenty of TV’s so you can catch the game.
3. Dive Bar - 3035 E. Tropicana Ave. Suite E. Normally “dive bar” is an insult, in this case it’s one of the most entertaining places in Las Vegas. Along with décor to really give it the whole dive bar feel, you’ll enjoy local live bands, jam sessions, and a kitchen open 24/7 serving up some of the best food around. And bar food is the best food, especially after you’ve had a few drinks.
2. The Bunkhouse Saloon – 124 11th St. Howdy partner! Are you a Lawyer? CEO? CPA? Unemployed? Sell Crack? It’s cool. Everyone’s a partner at The Bunkhouse and patrons come from all stripes of life. Decorated like the Wild West but with a modern feel, this dusty old bar features GREAT drink prices, some of the friendliest service around, and live music. So take a trip to the seedier (even seedier) side of Downtown, lock your doors, make sure your car alarm is working and get ready for a party!
1. Double Down Saloon – 4640 Paradise Rd. Sure, it’s close to the Hard Rock and surrounded by those pesky tourists, but few of them find their way to this, frankly, poorly lit corner. Without a cheesy Polo popped collar or pair of Oakley’s in site, it’s one of the best places in town for hard and local music, and you never pay a cover. The walls are littered with crazy and intense murals and the atmosphere is a mix of underground, dive bar, and dudes in business suits who want to let loose after a hard day of work. Rock on!
Tell your neighbors! Tell your friends! Just don’t tell the tourists!
