Champagnes Cafe
3557 S. Maryland Pkwy.
(702) 737-1699
Very hip place that reeks of old Vegas. It attracts the martini crowd and the ice cream crowd. Huh? That's right, because Champagnes serves delicious ice cream floats made with lots of booze. They're two sins in one, and they taste it. Some of the Champagnes Cafe looks like they're awaiting the return of Frank and the Rat Pack, but that's half it's charm.

The Dispensary
2451 E. Tropicana
(702) 458-6343
This place is very,very laid back. The Dispensary is the kind of place Mobsters meet for clandestine meeings. It gets going on the weekends, but otherwise this is a place for a quiet drink. It's a bit out of the way, but if you're coming here, that's probably what you want.

Double Down
4640 Paradise Road
(702) 791-5775
Hipster Greenwich Village-type bar that has but one rule "You puke, you clean". That pretty much sums it up. There's funky neon grffitti on the walls and the rooms look like they were furnished by the Salvation Army. It all adds up to a fairly trippy environment. Noatbles like Dr. Tim Leary have been there. (Not too recently in his case.)   There is live blues band every Wedesday with ska, punk and alternative bands rounding out the other nights. The Double Down has the coolest juke box in history. It's stacked with favorites along with the more "out there" groups like The Germs, Frank Zappa and Rev Horton Heat.  

Holy Cow
2432 Las Vegas Blvd.   (at Sahara Ave. )
(702) 732-COWS
This bar is the bovine capital of the world. The cow motif and puns are everywhere, so if you have something against cows don't come here. The bar is basically a slot machine casino that has a good microbrewery. There are numerous slot and coin machines, but even they don't escape the cow-puns. All we can say is that there's a lot of "Moolah" going around. The microbrews are good, and you can take a free tour to view  the brewing process. Guided tours offered at 11 a.m., 1, 3 and 5 p.m. daily. Self-guided tours are available 8 a.m.- midnight daily. A good place to grab a beer. Not too far from the convention center, the Stratosphere and the Sahara.

Peppermill's Fireside Lounge
2985 Las Vegas Blvd.
(702) 735-7635
Need a break from marching down the Strip? Step into the Peppermill's lounge and step into what was cool when Elvis headlined at the Hilton. There are electric candles on low circular banquette tables and the hum of dim  neon signs sound somewhere in the distance. The real attraction of the place is the water and fire pit in the middle of   the lounge. You can get drinks the size of a human head, so this is a great place to stop and have a margaritta. If you're not in the mood for booze, the coffee shop is pretty good.

Pink E's
4170 S. Valley View
(702) 252-4666
Think pink is the motto of Pink E's. The decor is entirely pink, even the pool tables. The bar is located across the street from Club Rio, so it attracts the late twenties crowd that is sick of their attitude. There are a lot of  pool tables, arcade games and special contests. This is a great place for Monday night football or big sporting events.   Lots of locals love Pink E's retro food and drink specials. No sneakers or logo-wear.

Sand Dollar Blues Lounge
3355 Spring Mountain
(702) 871-6651
This is a bar that is concerned with music rather than atmosphere. Designed like a fraternity house, the Sand Dollar Blues Lounge attracts an eclectic clientele with it's great music. Blues enthusiasts will find few options, but you would probably come here anyway. Live Blues bands play  here every night along with some zydeco and other southern music - it's a lot more than just B.B. King covers.

The Sky Lounge  - Polo Towers
3745 Las Vegas Blvd.
(702) 261-1000
Located across the street from the Holiday Inn Boardwalk, the Sky Lounge is a classic Vegas lounge that has a phenomenal view of the city. Although not as high as the Stratosphere, the Sky Lounge's view of the Strip makes it a great place to stop in for a nightcap. The purple and black colors of the lounge make it look like it was designed by Prince, but hey, it's Vegas. A vocalist accompanies a jazz band or pianist every night.

The Wet Stop
4440 S. Maryland Pwky
(702) 791-0977
The Wet Stop is the most schizophrenic bar in Las Vegas. It's proximity to UNLV makes it a college-type bar on most nights, but the crowd varies depending on what band is playing. The only live reggae in town is performed here on Thursdays, with jazz bands on Friday and Saturday. The hip-hop clubbers spill over from Utopia on Sundays, and the Gothic/vampire people from Cafe Copiah occasionally raise hell here. The lack of ambiance makes it a cave with good people-watching opportunities.