Adding a bit of secrecy to your night out always makes it more fun. Speakeasies are always an enjoyable experience, filled with dancing and secret sips, and after years of perfecting the practice during the Prohibition Era, Vegas knows how to do it right. Read below to find your favorite Las Vegas speakeasy!
Speakeasies originated in the 1920s during Prohibition, a nationwide ban on the sale, production, and transportation of alcohol in the US that lasted from 1920 to 1933. The law was intended to curb crime and improve public morals – but it had the opposite effect. In cities across the country, a black market for booze emerged almost overnight, and with it came secret, illegal bars known as speakeasies. Patrons would “speak easy” (quietly) to avoid attracting law enforcement while enjoying forbidden cocktails, jazz, and socializing behind closed doors.
While Las Vegas wasn’t yet the entertainment capital it is today, it was still deeply impacted by Prohibition – and even more so by what came after. The repeal of Prohibition in 1933 coincided with Nevada’s push to legalize gambling in 1931, and this combination of vice industries created fertile ground for organized crime to take root.
As Vegas began to grow in the 1940s and ’50s, Mob-run operations funneled money into casinos, nightclubs, and entertainment venues. Many of these early establishments included hidden bars and private rooms, reminiscent of the speakeasies from the Prohibition era. These secret spaces weren’t just for fun – they were often used for laundering money, hosting high-rolling gamblers, or cutting business deals between Mob families.
Today’s Vegas speakeasies pay homage to that layered past. They blend vintage style and storytelling with a touch of modern mixology.
Located inside Circa Las Vegas casino, this tiny, hidden bar with no official name is known only as the secret bar. Disguised behind a Marilyn Monroe mural in the High Limit Gaming area, the wall rolls up to reveal a sleek boutique bar. It doesn’t keep set hours and often only operates on weekends, making every visit feel exclusive. If you stumble on it while it’s open, it’s your lucky night.
Tucked behind a hidden door in Commonwealth on Fremont East, The Laundry Room offers one of the most authentic speakeasy experiences in town. Once the laundry facility for El Cortez, it now hosts just 22 guests by reservation only. Each handcrafted cocktail is tailored to your preferences, and the strict house rules add to its mystique. Texting for entry is part of the fun.
Beneath the Mob Museum lies The Underground, a Prohibition-style speakeasy inspired by the 1920s. Housed in the restored building of the first U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Las Vegas, this hidden bar doubles as an exhibit, with authentic decor, live jazz, and house-distilled moonshine. Guests can use a weekly password for free entry. It’s the perfect mix of immersive history and exceptional cocktails – one of the city’s most unique hidden gems.
Located in the Downtown Arts District, The Velveteen Rabbit is a beloved local spot with mismatched vintage furniture, local art, rotating taps, and artful cocktails. This funky, locally owned lounge blends whimsy and warmth, offering an outdoor patio, seasonal drinks, and live entertainment. It’s less hidden than most speakeasies, but its cozy vibe and creative energy make it a must-visit.
Behind a faux freezer door inside Craft Creamery lies CC Speakeasy – a moody, mid-century modern lounge serving playful, elevated cocktails. Choose from classics like a Vieux Carré or inventive creations such as the Xocolatl. Or, literally roll dice to choose your spirit and style for a custom creation. The menu also includes small plates like Birria Bao Buns and deconstructed Beef Wellington. Ice cream shop in the front, cocktail party in the back.
Hidden behind a janitor’s door within a functioning barbershop at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails offers a unique blend of grooming services and nightlife. By day, it’s a traditional barbershop. By night, it transforms into a lively lounge featuring craft cocktails and live music. The intimate setting and vintage décor provide a distinctive experience.
Hidden inside Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart at AREA15, Datamosh is part secret bar, part immersive art. You’ll need a ticket to explore the surreal grocery store before finding this psychedelic cocktail lounge. Open to all ages, once inside, enjoy one of their inventive cocktails or a handcrafted drink with wild ingredients and mind-bending decor. This is a speakeasy for those who love a side of weird with their whiskey.
Located in The Cosmopolitan, identifiable by a single downplayed door with a picture of a donkey on it, Ghost Donkey is easy to miss. Known for its impressive tequila and mezcal selection, their food menu offers hits like Truffle Nachos, and colorful decor that make it a fiesta, this intimate spot offers bold cocktails, a party vibe, and unforgettable late-night bites. It’s a lively Las Vegas speakeasy with a Mexican twist.
Tucked away within Resorts World’s Famous Foods Street Eats, Here Kitty Kitty Vice Den offers an intimate lounge experience. Accessed through a hidden entrance behind Ms. Meow’s Mamak Stall, this speakeasy features Asian-inspired décor with brick walls and string lights. The cocktail menu is divided into categories like “The Cat’s Meow” for sweet, fruity drinks and “Liquid Courage” for modified classics.
Step into the mysterious world of The Lock, a speakeasy hidden beneath the Horseshoe Hotel & Casino. To gain entry, start at The Cabinet of Curiosities, where a collection of global oddities and conversation-starting cocktails awaits. Discover the hidden entrance, and let the locksmith guide you through coded clues to unlock the entrance. Inside, adventurous cocktails challenge your palate, and a secret menu invites you to put the bartenders to the test.
Hidden within Superfrico at The Cosmopolitan, Ski Lodge transports guests from the Nevada desert to a cozy, winter-themed retreat. The speakeasy features a faux snowfall view, a stone fireplace, and woodsy décor. The cocktail menu offers creative concoctions, and guests can enjoy gourmet pizzas from the Superfrico menu. Finding Ski Lodge is part of the adventure, as it maintains an air of mystery.
One of the Strip’s most elusive speakeasies, The Vault at Bellagio offers a high-end experience in a tucked-away lounge with leather seating and polished service. There’s no official signage, and access is by invitation or reservation. Expect a refined cocktail list, some rare sought-after spirits, and a discreet, elegant environment ideal for a luxe nightcap.
Open exclusively to the public on Friday and Saturday nights, this modern Las Vegas speakeasy is one of Las Vegas’ hidden gems. 1923 Bourbon Bar is located inside Mandalay Bay. The entrance resembles an old liquor cabinet, which slides away to reveal a modern take on the classic speakeasy. Sip on your favorite spirit and spend the rest of your evening surrounded by entertainment, with everything from burlesque dancers and jazz trios.
Capo’s Italian Steakhouse & Speakeasy offers you a unique experience you won’t find anywhere else in Vegas. This independently owned restaurant offers an old-school New Jersey-Italian experience. While most speakeasies tend to offer whiskey and bourbon, Capo’s features their martinis, in any way you can imagine. Grab a seat in a red leather booth and enjoy the best meatballs on Earth, covered in any of the authentic Al Capone’s Family Secret sauces.
This stand-alone building has become known as the industry clubhouse: a place where bartenders and other industry enthusiasts frequent in their downtime. Taking the art of “craft cocktails” to a whole new level, Herbs & Rye takes their drink preparation very seriously, and holds themselves to the highest standards. Breaking down cocktails by era: Prohibition, Tiki, and Rat Pack, this speakeasy offers just a few history lessons in booze.
At first glance, Más Por Favor appears to be a lively taqueria in a Chinatown strip mall. However, a secret hallway designed to resemble a smuggler’s tunnel leads to a hidden speakeasy parlor. The lounge offers a variety of tequila and mezcal cocktails, with specials like Taco Tuesday featuring bottomless street tacos. The décor includes archways filled with roses, murals, and a wall made of skulls, creating a vibrant and mysterious atmosphere.
Las Vegas speakeasies are secret, hole-in-the wall spots, each with a unique set of characteristics that set it apart from the rest. Be sure to check out these hidden bars and learn the secrets that keep the locals coming back and draw in new tourists, everyday.
Have the ultimate Prohibition Era experience by staying in the oldest hotel in Vegas and visiting these Las Vegas speakeasy bars that have been modeled after those of the 1920s, or skip the password and head to Bar Prohibition! You can even stay in one of the Original 10 rooms if you really want to immerse yourself in Vegas history, even before the Prohibition Era began.
