#1627 - Herbs and Rye, Las Vegas - 11/26/2011

The space of a long-time favorite Italian restaurant, The Venetian, after a brief life as the "Slanted Clam" and others, has been reclaimed and remodeled into a classic, rat pack style Italian restaurant and pre-prohibition cocktail lounge.  I did not have dinner there, but the cocktails are top notch.

3713 W. Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89102 - (702) 982-8036 
Est. Dec 15, 2009
herbsandrye.com - facebook - lasvegasweekly - eatinglv - yelp

#1626 - Frankie's Tiki Room, Las Vegas - 11/26/2011

 Frankie's is an all-out tiki bar a short cab ride from the strip.  Upon entering you are immediately greeted by pleasing darkness and a towering tiki by Crazy Al, above a faux fire that occasionally emits smoke.  The decor is largely designed by Bamboo Ben, with works by leading tiki carvers like Bosko, LeRoy Schmaltz, Ken Pleasant and Tiki Ray.  The drinks include tiki classics in custom-made mugs, and it is open 24 hours.

 Frankie's is one of the best tiki bars in the country and should not be missed on any Vegas trip.  The one shortcoming for many of us here a half century past the mid-century era it evokes is that it quite genuinely replicates the heavy cigarette smoking of the era.

1712 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89102 - (702) 385-3110
frankiestikiroom.com - facebook - critiki - tikicentral - vegas.com - urbanspoon - yelp

#1625 - kokomo's Steak and Seafood, Las Vegas - 11/26/2011

3400 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109 - (866) 339-4566
mirage.com - lasvegas.com - bestofvegas - yelp

#1624 - House of Blues, Las Vegas - 11/26/2011

3950 Las Vegas Blvd S (at Mandalay Bay), Las Vegas, NV 89119 - (702) 632-7600
houseofblues.com - mandalaybay.com -  yelp

#1623 - Vesper Bar, Las Vegas - 11/25/2011

Of all the shows in Vegas, my favorite is sitting in the Vesper Bar in the Cosmopolitan on a Friday or Saturday night, watching the parade of humanity roll past. As in most of the bars in the Cosmopolitan, you can also do so while having some well-made cocktails.  Give the bartender a base spirit, let him concoct a special drink for you, and sit back and enjoy the show.

3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S (The Cosmopolitan), Las Vegas, NV 89109 - (702) 698-7000
cosmopolitanlasvegas.com - theminty - drinkspirits - foodgps - yelp

#1622 - The Chandelier Bar, Las Vegas - 11/25/2011

The Cosmopolitan has the best bar selection on the strip for cocktail lovers.  Of these, the most elaborate is the Chandelier Bar -- three stories of bar within a massive, ornate chandelier.

3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S (The Cosmopolitan), Las Vegas, NV 89109 - (702) 698-7000
cosmopolitanlasvegas.com - lasvegassun - lavishvegas - grapesandgrainsnyc - hollywoodlife - vegas.com - yelp

#1621 - Studio 54, Las Vegas - 11/25/2011

Studio 54 is closing February 4, 2012
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S (MGM Grand), Paradise, NV 89109 - (702) 891-7279
mgmgrand.com - vegas.com - wikipedia - hauteliving -  yelp