Las Vegas Cocktail Crawl: From the Strip to Fremont

Our last day in Las Vegas, we put together an impromptu cocktail crawl, starting on the Strip and winding our way northward through the Arts District and eventually downtown. Our stops included the Ski Lodge at the Cosmopolitan, the Cabinet of Curiosities at Horseshoe, Craft Creamery Speakeasy and The Doberman Drawing Room in the Arts District, and finally dinner at Barry’s Prime Steakhouse on Fremont Street.

We had tried to visit the Ski Lodge on previous trips but always ran into long lines. This time, we arrived shortly after opening and were able to get in without waiting. The space leans fully into its alpine theme—wood-paneled walls, low lighting, and a relaxed, cabin-like feel that stands in contrast to the rest of the Cosmopolitan. The drinks matched the setting well. My warm whiskey cocktail felt like something you’d order after a day on the slopes, while the wife’s shallot-based mocktail was unexpectedly savory and well balanced. It’s a unique spot and one we’d return to.

From there, we walked across the boulevard to the Cabinet of Curiosities just after it opened. The bar is filled with labeled trinkets and oddities, each with its own backstory that you can pull up on your phone through their website. It gives you something to do between sips. We ordered a couple of “secret” drinks, with the bartender intentionally keeping the ingredients vague. Not knowing exactly what we were getting added to the experience, and both drinks turned out well balanced.

Next, we grabbed an Uber to the Arts District, driven by a friendly local DJ who made the ride part of the experience. At Craft Creamery, we asked for the “Scoop of the Day” and were pointed to a walk-in freezer door that opened into a hidden bar. The ordering process leaned on chance—you roll dice to determine both the base spirit and the flavor profile. I landed on rum and sour, which resulted in an añejo rum, old-fashioned-style cocktail with a slight tart edge. The wife’s gin drink came out sparkling with edible glitter. The drinks skewed a bit sweet for our taste, but the format made it memorable.

The highlight of the day was The Doberman Drawing Room. The atmosphere was warm and polished without feeling formal, and the bartenders were easy to talk to. They were running a themed menu based on Wes Anderson films, with each cocktail built around a specific movie and its tone. It added a narrative element without feeling gimmicky, and the drinks themselves were the best of the day. We stayed for a few rounds before deciding it was time to find something more substantial to eat.

After asking around at the bar and checking for reservations, we settled on Barry’s Prime Steakhouse at the Golden Nugget. A short rideshare later, we worked our way through the Fremont Street crowds—busier than usual thanks to WrestleMania weekend, with plenty of championship belts mixed in with the usual, over-the-top street performers.

Barry’s is a classic steakhouse setup, but with a DJ playing, it gave the room more energy than expected (or was really wanted by us). Service was good, and while the steak itself didn’t stand out, the overall experience worked as a solid end to the day.

The Strip certainly makes a strong case for a place to spend all our time, but we were so glad we ventured out. The Arts District and downtown offered a different pace, and drinks were high quality but the prices were a welcome relief to our wallets. There’s plenty more to explore in both areas, and we’ll budget more time there on future trips.