It seems there’s a bar for just about every occasion in Las Vegas. But sometimes -- especially now that summer’s almost over -- it’s just best to enjoy a drink under the neon-tinged Las Vegas sky, which is why we’ve rounded-up the 26 best bars, clubs, and lounges where you can tip one back on the rooftop or patio. Drink ‘em all in...
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Carnaval Court
Harrah’s
It’s hard to miss Carnaval Court as you stumble along the Strip between Harrah’s and The LINQ. Here, you’ve got an outdoor stage that’s perfect for both DJs and cover bands, as well as a circular bar with bartenders performing bottle tricks that would rival Tom Cruise in Cocktail... if you’re old enough to remember that movie.
Parasol Down
The Wynn
Need directions to Parasol Down? Just take the escalator from (you guessed it!) Parasol Up and look for the giant decorations hanging from the ceiling. Grab a glass of wine and step outside for an up-close view of the man-made Lake of Dreams without shelling out for dinner at either SW Steakhouse or Lakeside.
Oak & Ivy
Downtown
The top choice to grab a drink at the Downtown Container Park specializes in classic cocktails and a more thorough whiskey selection than you’d expect to find in a bar made out of a giant shipping container. Whether you choose a New York Sour or Bulleit rye on the rocks, head upstairs for a sweet view from the roof.
Cabo Wabo
Planet Hollywood
It’s best known for its menu of Mexican bar food and Sammy Hagar’s millionaire-making tequila, but the best reason to check out Cabo Wabo could be the sticky-sweet signature Mai Tai. It’s served in a 24oz collector’s glass to make you feel extra touristy while sitting outdoors in a spot where the Strip tends to be the busiest.
Commonwealth
Downtown
A social spot with a rooftop that’s big enough for benches, couches, and even a dance floor, but cozy enough to encourage conversations among people you only met one drink ago. if you want a little more privacy, there’s always The Laundry Room, a secret speakeasy hidden downtowns. If you have to ask how to get in, you probably aren’t getting in.
Park on Fremont
Downtown
Park on Fremont is usually the first bar you see when entering the Fremont East district from Las Vegas Blvd. In addition to three versions of both the Moscow Mule and Bloody Mary, there are also two options for drinking outdoors. Grab a table in the front or head out back to the courtyard where the atmosphere is a little more lively, and the music is a little bit louder.
Umami Burger & Beer Garden
SLS Las Vegas
Wash down the famous Truffle Burger with a cold craft beer, while hanging out on a picnic table under chandeliers that appear to be made from deer antlers. If you need a little more action, head inside to place a bet… where William Hill has set up a sports book inside the restaurant.
Rhumbar
Mirage
With Rhumbar’s emphasis on cigars and… waitforit!.. rum, it’s almost like it doesn’t matter that we reopened diplomatic relations in Cuba, and truthfully, if you’ve got a spot on the patio and a mojito made with Botran Solera 1893 rum, it doesn’t. Nothing else matters.
Hexx
Paris Las Vegas
The best reason to visit Hexx is the in-house chocolate craft program. The second-best reason is the patio that spills out onto the Strip directly across from the Bellagio fountains. Pro tip: ask your server for a suggestion from the more-impressive-than-expected wine list.
Gold Diggers
Golden Nugget
The closest thing to a nightclub Downtown. The dance floor is on the small side, so grab your vodka cranberry and make your way over to the balcony. It’s on the small side as well, but at least you can check out the girls and stare at the nutjobs wandering around on Fremont St.
Press
Four Seasons
This new hotel lounge comes with a landscaped patio that includes sofa seating, string lights, and fire pits. Take advantage of the flames with a do-it-yourself order of s’mores while sipping on a Tiki cocktail, or one of the wines on tap.
Brio Tuscan Grille
Tivoli Village & Town Square
The dining room inside features low lighting to go with the Fettuccine Rustica, and other Italian food, but the outdoor patio has a more energetic side with live music, and misters to keep things cool during the hot summer months. It’s the best place to people-watch at both Tivoli Village and Town Square, especially during $5 martini night on Wednesdays.
Chateau
Paris Las Vegas
If you want to catch your breath after a few minutes (or hours) on the dance floor, just look for the elevator behind the bar at the Chateau nightclub. It’ll take you to an outdoor terrace and rooftop patio that’s underneath the Eiffel Tower and overlooks the Bellagio fountains across the street. Take your time before returning inside, ‘cause there are plenty of outdoor bartenders ready to pour a fresh drink or two.
Nine Fine Irishmen
New York-New York
It’s hard to find a more authentic Irish pub… since this one was actually built in Ireland before being shipped over and re-assembled brick by brick in Las Vegas. While it’s tempting to stay indoors with self-serve Guinness taps, there’s also an outdoor walk-up bar that will help you alternate shots of Jameson and Bushmills in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Beer Garden
Plaza
With a recent menu overhaul, renovations, and a name change from “Bier Garten” for Yankees who only speak English, this outdoor drinking spot is one of the few places you’ll find grass (artificial or otherwise) in or around the Fremont Street Experience. There are now 14 choices of bourbon, and new beer bottle selections, to go with the 24 brews on draft, including a few that are rotated out on a regular basis. If you’re hungry, check out the German-inspired snacks like the extra-large pretzel, and six choices of bratwurst.
Vice Versa
Vdara
Vice Versa plays off its name with a menu where the “Vice” side includes classic cocktails, and the “Versa” option offers up some more creative (or “twisted”) choices. Whether you go with the Roses are Red sparkling rose cocktail, or the Texas Mule, you’ll enjoy the atmosphere, sitting on comfy chairs, surrounded by fire pits while munching on the lobster tacos.
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Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
Downtown Summerlin
This is possibly the best restaurant to bring your dog to in Las Vegas. The little guy is more than welcome on the patio, where pups are offered bowls of water and their own doggie menus. Humans can choose from local brews on draft, and a diverse menu that includes everything from carne asada to ginger soy salmon.
Lago
Bellagio
Julian Serrano’s latest Las Vegas restaurant comes with floor-to-ceiling windows that allow you to enjoy the regular Bellagio fountain shows while eating dinner. Ask for an outdoor seat where you can wolf down your wine and Spanish tapas... and you may even feel the mist of the water on your face.
Sonrisa Grill
Lake Las Vegas
Lake Las Vegas is a little more quiet these days with the closure of the Montelago casino, but the Sonrisa Grill always seems busy. With more than 60 choices of tequila at the bar, and margaritas that are worth the trip alone, the best part about it is still the outdoor dining area just steps away from a grassy hill that overlooks the lake.
B&B Burger & Beer
Venetian
The presence of Mario Batali can be felt throughout the Venetian and Palazzo, but his most casual concept is B&B Burger & Beer. It sits right along the waterway that carries tourists with selfie sticks in gondolas between the two resorts, and boasts a 100-seat patio facing Las Vegas Blvd. The beer list is among the deepest you’ll find at a burger joint, but the cherry milkshake with bourbon could be your best bet.
Ghostbar
Palms
Located on the 55th floor of the Ivory Tower, Ghostbar may offer the best view of the Strip of any place that’s not actually ON the Strip. Plus, with bottle packages beginning at $375, it’s a little easier to party like a VIP without breaking the bank.
Via Brasil
West Valley
Happy hour is offered daily but runs extra long Monday-Thursday, making the outdoor bar area a prime social destination for locals in the Summerlin area. Check out the deals on beers like Magic Hat and Fat Tire or cocktails like caipirinhas and sangrias.
Omnia
Caesars Palace
Everyone talks about the freaky chandelier above the dance floor, but the outdoor patio could actually be the coolest thing about the newest nightclub on the Strip. And hey, all things being equal -- the bottle service offers the same fun (and price tag) whether you’re inside or out -- you always go with the rooftop option.
PBR Rock Bar
Planet Hollywood
The mechanical bull offers plenty of spectator sport inside, but the outdoor patio is a great spot for enjoying cold beers and cocktails, with down-home comfort food like chicken & waffles and smoked brisket. It was recently renovated to include artificial grass, new lighting, and picnic-style tables, and there are even new shade screens to keep you from passing out due to the Vegas heat.
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La Cave
The Wynn
While the dining room can get a bit noisy, the outdoor patio is a surprising change of pace, given its garden setting with candle-lighting, wicker chairs hanging from the ceiling, and wooden rockers overlooking the Wynn pool. The wine list is one of the most impressive on the Strip, so order a bottle to go with the cheese plate made with selections from cow, goat, and sheep’s milk.
Carson Kitchen
Downtown
As possibly the most popular eating destination in the Fremont East area, CK’s main dining room can fill up pretty quick. So just head outdoors and sip on a drink in the courtyard while waiting for a table to open up, or head upstairs and enjoy your meal on the roof, which will be easy since the menu was recently updated with fun stuff like wild boar sloppy Joes, bone-in pork belly, and alligator gumbo flatbread.
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Robert Kachelriess is a freelance writer from Las Vegas whose “work” often involves drinking by pools. Follow him on Twitter @rkacherlriess.
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1. Carnaval Court
3457 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas -
2. Parasol Up/Down
3131 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas -
3. Oak & Ivy
707 Fremont St #1120, Las Vegas -
4. Cabo Wabo Cantina
3663 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas -
5. Commonwealth
525 Fremont St, Las Vegas -
6. Park on Fremont
506 East Fremont, Las Vegas -
7. Umami Burger
2535 S. Las Vegas BLVD, Las Vegas -
8. Rhumbar
3400 las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas -
9. Hexx
3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas -
10. Gold Diggers
129 Fremont St, Las Vegas -
11. Press
3690 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas -
12. Brio Tuscan Grille
420 South Rampart- Ste. 180, Las Vegas -
13. Chateau Nightclub
3655 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas -
14. Nine Fine Irishmen
3790 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas -
15. Beer Garden
1 Main Street, Las Vegas -
16. Vice Versa Patio & Lounge
2600 W Harmon Ave, Paradise -
17. Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
1725 Festival Plaza Dr, Las Vegas -
18. Lago
3600 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas -
19. Sonrisa Grill
30 Via Brianza , Henderson -
20. B&B Burger & Beer
3355 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas -
21. GHOSTBAR
4321 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas -
22. Via Brasil
1225 S Apache Road, Las Vegas -
23. OMNIA Nightclub
3570 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas -
24. PBR Rock Bar
3667 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas -
25. La Cave
3131 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas -
26. Carson Kitchen
124 S 6th St Ste 100, Las Vegas
This bar, located inside the Harrah's Las Vegas, is one of our favorite outdoor drinking spots in the city.
These two bars and lounges inside The Wynn hotel both offer intimate vibes and stunning surroundings. On the upper deck, Parasol Up, is where you'll overlooks the blossom-filled atrium, waterfall and twirling parasols that make up the gorgeous realm of The Wynn. At the bottom of its spiraling escalator is Parasol Down, where you'll sit under those twirling parasol in a private lounge as you partake in glass after glass of wine and watch as the waterfall washes over the nearby lake.
Located inside the Downtown Container Park, stylish cocktail bar Oak & Ivy may be small, but its whiskey selection is extensive and makes for some exceptional drinks, including the unique New York Sour (Four Roses Bourbon sour featuring a Merlot float), and a cousin to the Negroni, the Boulevardier (Bulleit Rye, campari, and sweet vermouth). Oak & Ivy also offers nine (yes, nine) variations on a Moscow Mule, and each one is made with ginger beer that's brewed in-house.
This combination booze-shack and live music venue is the 2nd stateside outpost of the franchise that somehow combined Cabo San Lucas sleepy-town laid-back attitude with Vegas' live-fast-die-young one. The result: a mid-Strip joint with grass awnings, full Mexican lunch and dinner menus and a whole lot of tequila. Any spot on the Strip is sure to be crowded at any time, but the wait to get on the patio is worth it to chow down on damn-near-perfect guacamole, idly drink a massive margarita and watch as drunken tourists and Vegas' eccentric crowd stumble past below.
If you're sick of typical downtown Vegas shenanigans or simply wish you'd been born in another decade — meet Commonwealth, a massive cocktail bar inspired by and designed to look like it came right out of the pre-prohibition days. The roaring 20 are kept alive here in "The Laundry Room," a hidden backroom speakeasy with a drink menu full of classic cocktails and swing music — call ahead and try to get the password if you want in on one of Vegas' not-best-kept secrets.
This hip little eatery on Fremont boats great cocktails, sharable plates, and eclectic decor, all meant to convey a vibe of friendly unpretentiousness. To that end, the food is made of bar favorites like wings and corn dogs, or signature dishes like the chicken and waffle sandwich or the Philly mac and cheese—messy comfort foods meant to bring people together. The back patio of this place is where the action is, with 2,5000sqft of space, a seesaw, and salvaged metal art galore. Cocktails like the Stranger Danger and the Trophy Wife display their sense of humor, while packing a serious wallop at the same time. This place is pretty popular, but easy enough to walk in and find a seat.
Like your burger with a side of betting? Look no further than Umami Burger, located inside the SLS Hotel & Casino. Guests can gamble in the sports book while devouring signature burgers like the Truffle—truffled aioli, house truffle cheese, and truffle glaze—and the Hatch—made with roasted Hatch chilies, Cali cheese, and garlic aioli. If you’re not looking to win big, head outdoors to the Beer Garden, where exposed brick walls and wooden picnic tables make for a trendy, convivial atmosphere.
The mojito-heavy bar/ cigar-smoking lounge/ tropical retreat at The Mirage offers a 4000sqft patio where you can sip on great cocktails like the Latin Manhattan.
Open 24 hours a day, Hexx Kitchen & Bar in the Paris Hotel is a destination for breakfast, lunch, dinner, late-night snacks, and cocktails. The menu airs on the side of comfort: breakfast comes in varieties of healthy (maple Greek yogurt parfait), savory (bacon and egg pizza with scrambled eggs and mozzarella cheese), and sugary (cinnaroll waffle with cream cheese frosting, cinnamon, and sugar), while dinner globetrots from the Mediterranean to the South, with dishes like tagliatelle shrimp scampi and spicy jambalaya. If you’re feeling particularly indulgent, you’ll want to order the Colossal Bloody Mary, formulated with basil-infused vodka, jumbo shrimp, Alaskan king crab, bacon, beef stick, peppers, and pickled vegetables, all served in a mini pitcher. As if Hexx needed to further impress, it offers a tour of its state of the art chocolate-making exhibition kitchen that churns out small batches of gourmet cocoa.
This is the closets thing to a nightclub downtown.
Located inside the Four Seasons, here you can enjoy do-it yourself S'mores and tiki cocktails.
Their outdoor patio is full of energy, live music, and $5 Martini Night specials.
A nightlife triple-threat, Chateau gives you the option to dance the night away in its club, take the party outdoors to its second-story terrace, or head to its Versailles-style, open-air rooftop gardens nestled under the Paris Casino's replica of the Eiffel Tower. Who can refuse panoramic views of the Strip from a VIP cabana? On the dance floor, you'll be getting down to Top 40 hits that keep Chateau's frequent bachelorette parties happy. Oh, and Shaq has played a DJ set here. More than once. Yes, Shaq, as in Shaquille O'Neal.
You can’t go wrong with the Guinness on draft or the nice selection of Irish whiskey, but the best reason to come here for St. Patty’s -- more specifically, the Celtic Feis celebration -- is the annual outdoor celebration that takes over the replica of the Brooklyn Bridge right outside the front door.
This outdoor drinking spot features real grass. Go figure!
The lobby bar at Vdara was revamped and given a new name, look, and menu that includes lobster tacos and Lamb Chop Lollipops. But the best reason to stop by is the drink selection, which includes two different takes on the Moscow Mule.
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar is comparable to any American restaurant chain, but with a family-owned touch. The diverse menu ranges from classic sandwiches to gourmet pizzas to wok-friend dishes. Dog-friendly entrees and patio seating are available for man's best friend.
Enjoy the Bellagio fountain shows during dinner thanks to the floor to ceiling windows.
There are 60 different tequilas at this par. SIXTY!
Chef Mario Batali continues his dominance of the Venetian and Palazzo by going casual with this burger- and beer-centric eatery. Though the space is colored in fast food shop-reminiscent washes of red and orange, a menu of burgers, heroes, and shakes that goes beyond the standard cheeseburger and fries fare shows off Batali's renowned kitchen experience. For a Vegas-unique burger experience, order the Really Good, a carnivorous combinatio, of heritage bacon, gorgonzola, chianti mustard, all on a dense potato bun.
It’s easy to impress your friends from out of town with a view of the Strip from the 55th floor of the Palms. Grab a drink, step outside, and look knowledgeable when you point and say things like, “Look… there’s the airport.” Head inside and check out Ghost's equally impressive interior-- the entirety this plush bar is bedecked in black, white, and fuchsia with massive chandelier light fixtures and tufted velvet setées.
Extra long happy hours Monday-Thursday make this place a Summerlin hot spot.
Omnia spans multiple stories and incorporates a lounge, high-energy main room and mezzanine, and a breathtaking rooftop garden that showcases panoramic views of the Strip. The focal point of the nightclub is the gigantic kinetic LED chandelier that ascends, descends, and morphs with the beat of the music. The Heart of Omnia lounge boasts antique brass, mirrored panels, and velvet curtains, making for a haven amidst the club’s otherwise chaotic atmosphere.
Decked to its awesomely high ceilings with Professional Bull Riders logos, PBR's a sprawling, cowboy'd-up resto/sports bar/night club, tickling your senses with a massive fire-pit-equipped outdoor patio, and inside, an astonishing 115 flat screens, a custom-made jumbotron, a stage for live shows, tire swings filled with scantily clad cowgals, and a beastly mechanical bull.
Walk through a glass entryway into this wine bar/resto (which features cobblewood oak flooring and a large red LED sign reading "In Vino Veritas") to enjoy a massive wine list available by the whole/half bottle, glass, or even ounce, plus paired modern American fare.
This Downtown rooftop bar has quite possibly the best appetizer menu in Vegas-- shareable plates like veal meatballs, short rib sliders, crispy chicken skins, and deviled eggs topped with caviar are all on order. If that weren't enticing enough, Carson Kitchen offers a well curated selection of cocktails and regularly hosts live bands on their swanky outdoor patio.