1923 Prohibition Bar in Las Vegas takes you back to the time of Tommy guns and Gatsby. Consider Mandalay Bay the “front” business for your adventure and escape into a world of burlesque, live music, magic and killer cocktails.
If you’re not paying attention, you may walk right by one of the coolest spots in Las Vegas. Just past Minus5 ICEBAR (the coldest spot in Vegas and also very cool in its own right) and above House of Blues lies 1923 Prohibition Bar. It isn’t quite as hidden as some other speakeasies, but the world behind the bookshelf door and bourbon barrels out front is expansive and shows the reward is great even if you don’t have to go on a real-life Where’s Waldo hunt to find the entrance.
Once you enter through the bookshelf, you are transported to a different era. The anticipation in the air is palpable. The luxurious furniture you slink into feels like it came straight from an old, high-end living room. Then your glance finds the machine guns high on the wall and the skeleton keys for who-knows-what and you take a look at your date or friends, wondering if this is a setup (or maybe that’s just the New Jersey Italian heritage in me). If not for the UFC fight on the flat-screen above the bar, you wouldn’t know what decade you stepped into. Even the piano that will be used later in the evening could be from years past.
1923 Prohibition Bar features an impressive whiskey list covering all variations (scotch, bourbon, rye, etc.) as well as all the standards from other spirits. Their specialty cocktails range from classics popular during the original speakeasy era to current favorites and new creations. In addition to the featured cocktails, 1923 has a small menu of “Mysterious Mixtures” as an ode to their popular weekend magic show “Mysteries of the Hidden Chamber.” The Smoke and Mirrors cocktail from this drink menu includes Cazadores Blanco, pineapple-chipotle syrup, lime juice and ginger beer. The result is a wonderful balance between fruit and spirit; sweet and spicy. The smoke in the title isn’t overpowering and adds to the complexity of the cocktail. Another selection from the menu is the Abracadabra Espresso. The Smirnoff vodka, Kahlua and cold brew coffee concoction is very easy to drink and is a great way to get some caffeine with your beverage in case you need help with a second wind. If you forgot to eat before jumping in your time machine, 1923 also offers a cheese dip duo or charcuterie board for snacking.
On Friday and Saturday nights, 1923 Prohibition Bar features New Orleans Nights from 9 p.m. to midnight. Live music both nights features Troy Romzek performing hits from the 70’s through today. On Saturdays, scintillating burlesque performances from Alexandria Beauregard sends the fun – and the crowd – to a whole other level. The aforementioned Mysteries of the Hidden Chamber, an adults-only show, starts at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are limited and the timing of the show means you can have a night of endless entertainment all in one location.
1923 Prohibition Bar is open Sunday to Thursday 11 a.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. For more information, reservations and to purchase tickets for Mysteries of the Hidden Chamber, visit www.1923lv.com.