Hello Fingers Fam! You might have noticed that there was no Weekender waiting in your inbox this morning. That’s because I’m on the road right now: I just arrived in Las Vegas, where I’ll be covering the 2024 Craft Brewers Conference for VinePair (and a bit for Fingers, too, of course.)
Where should I drink while I’m in Vegas? Comments are live and open to both free and paid subscribers now:
As ever, your recommendations will help me build out the Vegas edition of Fingers’ Know-It-When-You-See-It Drinking Guide(KIWYSIDG), a running list of places I’ve drank that are good places to drink, as evaluated upon Potter Stewart’s timeless, completely unscalable rubric of “you know it when you see it.” Last time I was here, I hung out at the Silver Stamp, a KIWYSIDG-approved beer bar in the Arts District. Where should I go this time? I thirst for your recommendations:
Semi-relatedly, if you’ll be attending CBC this week, and would like to grab a coffee/beer/etc., let’s give it a shot! I’ll be at the conference all day Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and would love to meet IRL. (I think? Hopefully I don’t regret this lol.) Shoot me an email at dave@dinfontay.com and we’ll do our level best to rendezvous. And if you happen to see me roving the halls of The Venetian and just want to say hello, that’d be cool too! I’ve got about a bajillion Fingers stickers to hand out, come and get ‘em.
Here’s an FAQ about the prestigious KIWYSIDG. Remember, the guides are only for paying Friends of Fingers, so if you haven’t yet, buy a subscription to support the boozeletter, wouldja?
Seconded, or whatever number you're on, for Golden Tiki. Also you said you're going to be sick of beer, but Able Baker brewery in the Arts District is pretty cool. They can't figure out what their theme is exactly, but they have a ton of interesting beers with flavors you're unlikely to find smashed together elsewhere.
I don't remember the cocktails being super different from other spots nearby, but Skybar in the Waldorf Astoria is also good for a great view of the Strip.
Golden Tiki has a LOT of fans, yeesh. I am going to do my level best to get there! And yeah, I am hopeful to be able to get out to Able Baker, I'm going to be up that way this evening at a couple other breweries in the Arts District and plan to pop in. Thanks for the tips Kavi!
In the basement of the Mob museum there is a speakeasy and a mini distillery where they make moonshine. Good cocktails, and a fun little tasting. pretty confident you don’t need to pay admission to get to the bar. (but the museum’s good too)
The Velveteen Rabbit is one of the better cocktail bars I've been to. I'd also recommend Misterio Mezcal Bar.
Cocktail recommendations are extremely valuable during this beer conference, I'm going to be desperate for a non-beer drink by like... tomorrow
Seconded, or whatever number you're on, for Golden Tiki. Also you said you're going to be sick of beer, but Able Baker brewery in the Arts District is pretty cool. They can't figure out what their theme is exactly, but they have a ton of interesting beers with flavors you're unlikely to find smashed together elsewhere.
I don't remember the cocktails being super different from other spots nearby, but Skybar in the Waldorf Astoria is also good for a great view of the Strip.
Oh and if you happen to be a fan of a pickleback shot, there's an incredible habanero one at Corduroy just off Fremont.
The mere idea of a habanero-infused pickleback shot just gave me debilitating acid reflux.
Golden Tiki has a LOT of fans, yeesh. I am going to do my level best to get there! And yeah, I am hopeful to be able to get out to Able Baker, I'm going to be up that way this evening at a couple other breweries in the Arts District and plan to pop in. Thanks for the tips Kavi!
you had it right the first time. you go to the silver stamp, then you continue going to the silver stamp
You get it
Update: The Silver Stamp still rocks, can confirm.
The Lakes Lounge
In the basement of the Mob museum there is a speakeasy and a mini distillery where they make moonshine. Good cocktails, and a fun little tasting. pretty confident you don’t need to pay admission to get to the bar. (but the museum’s good too)
Some names that have come up multiple times apiece in emailed responses, gonna mark them here for my/everyone else's benefit:
—Frankie's Tiki Room
—Sand Dollar Lounge
—Herb and Rye
—Oak & Ivy
More:
—Golden Tiki
—Atomic Liquors
—Ghost Donkey