As I sit here awaiting the new video the night before the U2 residency, I thought I would jot down some notes for fans visiting Atomic City. This is far from complete but if you love U2, we probably have something in common and you might dig the local spots where we hang out. If we are just meeting, I have been working in music and hospitality all my life and I’ll be at two of the Sphere shows as well as a lot of the related events. Let’s talk Atomic City.
The Strip
Probably the area that you’ll spend the most time and there is plenty to see. Yes, it’s expensive. The upcoming F-1 race in November is wrecking havoc on the traffic situation. There are some free monorails between Mandalay Bay and Excalibur as well as MGM Park and Bellagio that can help cut down on your walking. There is also a Las Vegas Monorail (tickets here) that stretches from MGM (South Strip) to Sahara (North Strip). With the traffic situation, this is probably the best bet for getting around right now if you buy a pass. The Deuce is the bus that runs up and down the Strip and it’s also quite handy but the traffic has been miserable. I prefer Lyft/Uber at all times except the airport as the taxis have fixed pricing to each casino. Any other time, they will likely long-haul you, especially if you have a foreign accent.
The Venetian/Palazzo is a fantastic property and one of our favorites as locals. In addition to the U2 happenings, they have some great food options such as Black Tap and Yardbird. Across the street, The Mirage (soon to be Hard Rock Hotel) has a great bar called RumBar and nearby Fashion Show Mall has a Maggiano’s with a killer happy hour if you love a good deal. Do you love the 80s? I’ll be spinning until close on the BrewDog rooftop overlooking the Strip on September 30th, October 21st, and November 11th. I’ll save all the U2 for after the concerts so come after-party with me!
I’m writing this so I am obviously a massive U2 fan. I am super excited that Hard Rock Cafe has a daily U2-themed happy hour called Sips of Surrender from 2-5pm. They are also hosting three shows by the amazing tribute act Hollywood U2 on October 6th, 12th, and 19th (tickets). In addition, Glasgow band December will be doing a U2-focused set there on October 7th from 2-5pm and then Nick Mattera is appearing on October 11, 14, 18, and 21st performing an acoustic tribute to U2. The cafe has The Edge’s shirt from the PopMart tour on display as well!
Drinking on the Strip can be pricey but the Ski Lodge inside Cosmopolitan is the type of speakeasy that makes it feel worth the money. If you prefer cheap drinks, it’s hard to top Stage Door behind the Cromwell. It’s not for the faint of heart and can be a little dodgy at times but the beer is cheap and the hot dogs won’t kill you* (they might). For the classic Vegas experience, you can dine at Golden Steer where Sinatra and the Mob used to hang out and check-out the lounge at Peppermill where they filmed parts of Casino. New entry on the Strip, Golden Monkey gets a nod. Resorts World is struggling to find an identity but this addition to the casino is fantastic. It’s a Tiki bar for those who might not love Tiki bars.
You may want to see the Vegas sign and that’s south of Mandalay Bay. It’s a bit of a walk but you get to pass the Pinball Hall of Fame and they have an amazing collection of arcade games so make an afternoon of it!
Main Street
Easily my favorite part of Las Vegas, this arts district has grown tremendously in recent years. If you love beer, Able Baker is not only a creative brewery with incredible beer but it’s a tribute to atomic city (Able and Baker being names of nuclear bombs tested here). Just a few blocks away is Silver Stamp, one of the coolest bars in America where you feel like you’ve stepped into a Milwaukee basement in 1978 with wood panelling and old neon beer signs. Velveteen Rabbit is the cocktail bar that shines brightest on Main Street with an exciting menu and vinyl DJ’s. If you’re in town on October 12th, I’ll be spinning some music there after 9pm! Other spots worth checking out for food include Soul Belly BBQ and Cornish Pasty.
Fremont Street (Downtown)
If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for, it’s probably on Fremont Street where U2 filmed the video for the aforementioned song. It’s cheaper than the Strip. So, there’s that. But seriously, there are some spots worth visiting downtown. Happy hour at Oscar’s (named for former Mob lawyer and mayor Oscar Goodman who hangs out there often) has amazing specials including the best meatballs in town. If you’re over-50 (let’s be honest, we probably are), get a player’s card at El Cortez and enjoy 50% off food at Bugsy’s on Wednesdays. For an amazing meal downtown, Carson Kitchen is the ultimate find.
Two standout cocktail spots downtown are The Underground (a speakeasy under the Mob Museum) and the Downtown Cocktail Lounge with their famous happy hour from 5-8pm. However, it’s just as easy to buy some canned booze and wander Fremont checking out the free entertainment. Five nights a week, Alter Ego rock Fremont and they are as good as it gets for a classic rock cover band. Always a good time!
Other Places
Earlier I mentioned a Tiki bar for those who don’t love Tiki bars. If you’re up for Tiki adventure, though, the only bar worth visiting is Frankie’s Tiki Room on Charleston just a short Lyft/Uber from Main Street. This Vegas institution rivals the best Tiki bars in the world and the ambiance cannot be beat. You’ll hear surf rock and rockabilly and the drinks are stiff. Nearby, Golden Tiki offers a more Disney-take on the idea with mixed results. Skip the hype and head straight to Frankie’s.
Need vinyl? Just behind Sahara about two blocks off the Strip is Record City. I’ve been buying vinyl for the last decade or so and Joey at Record City is the best record store guy in the world. He will talk music with you all day and really cares about the music you love.
Want to get outside? OK. Rent a car and head to Hoover Dam or explore Red Rock canyon. You won’t be disappointed. Staying on the Strip and need to shop? Take the Deuce bus south to Town Square where you’ll find restaurants, shopping, and even a Whole Foods. They also have a massive Total Wine at Town Square where you can stock up for your room without paying Strip prices.
Vegas Shows
There is no shortage of Vegas shows and all the Cirque shows are incredible (but expensive). For comedy, Carrot Top remains the king (seriously). The new Spice Girls tribute at Excalibur is way more fun than you want to admit and the Australian Bee Gees will have you dancing.
Questions? Hit me up on the socials and I hope to meet some fellow Zootopians soon!