7 Secret Places in Las Vegas

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas — but some of its best-kept secrets  are ones you have to be in the know to find. Here are seven (mostly) secret places you’ll want to search out on your next visit to Las Vegas.

Sara’s

Located inside Mabel’s BBQ at the Palms Casino Resort, Sara’s serves prime rib carved tableside, truffle fried chicken and other classics in an intimate, 45-seat dining room. Chef Michael Symon’s restaurant has its own hidden space, a secret garden with views of the Las Vegas Strip.

The Barbershop Cuts and Cocktails

During business hours, you can get a trim at The Barbershop at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, but after the sun goes down, head to the janitor’s door in the back for live entertainment, premium whiskeys and cocktails at The Barbershop Cuts and Cocktails.

Ghost Donkey: Mezcal & Tequila Bar

Look for Ghost Donkey at the back of Block 16 Urban Food Hall, just behind a door with a donkey painted on it. The speakeasy-like bar specializes in mezcal and tequila cocktails, but is also known for its truffle nachos. First time drinking mezcal? Try a mezcal flight and sample the best the bar has to offer.

The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat

This free-of-charge wildlife habitat is located on Flamingo Las Vegas’s 15-acre grounds and home to Chilean flamingos, swans, ducks, turtles and brown pelicans. Watch pelican feedings at 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily, pose with parrots or just relax in the gardens.

Akhob

If you love art, make your way to Louis Vuitton Las Vegas CityCenter to see light artist James Turrell’s permanent installation, “Akhob.” Free with an appointment (only a few people are allowed in at a time), the installation fills the space with slowly changing light, creating a meditative experience.

Pickleball at the Plaza

Try your hand at pickleball on the rooftop of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. On Saturday, a local pro teaches the basics of the sport — similar to tennis but played on a smaller scale — to beginners on the hotel’s 12 courts.

On the Record

Hidden behind a record store off the main casino floor at Park MGM, On the Record is a dance club where DJs spin vintage records from a double-decker bus parked on the outdoor dance floor. Inside, relax in The Living Room, The Record Parlor and other surprising spaces.