Sonny: Good bars?

[Sonny]

I'm looking for some good bars in Vegas. Not club-type places since I'm not much of a "shaker". I heard that Mandalay Bay has a great vodka bar. Any other sugestions (Strip or Downtown)?

-Sonny-

[Bettie]

It all depends on what you're in the mood for, really. Red Square (the vodka bar at MB) has some great drinks, but the bar itself is a tiny thing in their restaurant, and is usually packed on the weekends. If you go, get their rootbeer float - it's amazing! Or try rumjungle next door (literally), as they have a huge array of rum concoctions. I'm not a huge fan of rum, but they have some pretty tasty blended drinks. This place is a nightclub after 10, so go early and skip the annoyingly loud music and cover charge.

I haven't done much drinking downtown (except for the frozen and overpriced drinks at La Bayou), but a new bar has opened up down the road from Plaza. The name eludes me, but you can't miss it, as it is the best-looking piece of architecture in the whole downtown area.

Or go diving and head for the Double Down Saloon, in the heart of the gay district (Paradise, south of HR). It's not a gay bar, but a good old-fashioned drinking bar. It caters to a younger crowd (20's) and may be a little punk on some nights.

You know, I really don't have enough to say on this subject. Which must mean that I don't get out and drink enough! Or, more likely, I'm cheap and refuse to actually pay for a drink. Why bother when they are free at the table? Or while you are playing 5-cent vp verrrrry slowly, one coin at a time?

I promise to do some more research on this matter very soon!
Bettie

[SOTSOG]

The Atomic Liquor Lounge.

Next door to the Western Hotel and Casino on Freemont St.

[Parker]

The Sand Dollar Lounge, located on Spring Mtn Blvd just west of I-15 (a mile or so west of the strip) in a rundown strip mall, is unpretentious, to say the least. Some might call it a dive. The area directly in front of the entrance is reserved for motorcycles, and is often crowded with Harleys.

The draw here is live blues, seven nights a week. Fridays and Saturdays they even have a graveyard show, with one band playing from 10:00 pm - 2:00 am, and then a different band from 3:00 am until around dawn. These are mostly local and/or unknown bands, but that doesn't mean that they don't know how to lay down some kick-ass blues. Occasionally they book some of the more obscure national acts.

And with a $5 cover and drinks in the $3 range, you're not likely to leave your bankroll here, either.

Unless you get rolled in the parking lot. :-)