Bars Unknown: The Las Vegas Strip Bar Crawl

Las Vegas has plenty of easy-to-find casino bars. Bars Unknown takes a different tack, leading you on foot from Casino Royale to a changing mix of speakeasies, rooftops, dive bars, and cheap-drink stops. Jonathan Dez points out far more places than you can visit, so you leave with a useful map for later nights.

I like the low price of $49 and the fact that you buy only the drinks you want. I also like the flexible route: you might find a 1920s-style bar behind a barbershop, a tequila bar behind an exit sign, a hidden ski lodge, or a rooftop with Strip views. The catch is that this is a walking, drinking adventure rather than a polished tasting tour, and many people do not reach the advertised finish.

Quick takeaways

• Start at Casino Royale: Meet inside the main bar at Best Western Plus Casino Royale, right in the center of the Strip.
• Plan for about a dozen stops: Some places are full visits, some are quick drinks, and others are simply pointed out for a future night.
• Expect deals, not included drinks: Look for $3 beer, $5 drinks, two-for-one offers, happy hours, mimosas, and other low-cost options, but pay for everything yourself.
• Walk and drink legally: The route uses public sidewalks and nearby properties, with no transportation included.
• Jonathan Dez leads in English: His friendly, social approach suits groups, couples, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and company outings.
• Bring the right ID and cash: The first stop is cash only, and you need valid government-issued identification to drink.

Why this bar crawl feels different

The best part of Bars Unknown is its loose, local feel. You are not being marched into a fixed list of famous casino lounges. Jonathan chooses from many possible stops, based on timing, the group, and how long everyone wants to stay out.

That flexibility matters in Las Vegas. One group may want rooftop views and cocktails. Another may prefer cheap beer and a gritty last-stop bar. This experience can move between both styles, though you should not expect every stop to suit your taste.

Jonathan’s role is more than opening doors. He points out places you might miss while walking between major resorts, including bars tucked behind ordinary businesses and signs. A speakeasy behind a barbershop and a tequila bar concealed behind an exit sign give the evening a small sense of discovery without requiring a complicated hunt.

You should also understand the social nature of the outing. Some stops are quick grab-and-go visits. Some give you time to sit. Others are only recommendations from Jonathan as you pass. This keeps the route moving, but it means the experience is not a formal sampling of twelve drinks.

Starting at Casino Royale and finding your bearings

Meet at the main bar inside Casino Royale. This is a practical starting point because the property sits on the Center Strip, close to several major resorts and pedestrian routes.

The first visit includes a short safety briefing of about 10 minutes. You can expect beer, cocktails, spirits, wine, and possibly local snacks here. This first stop is cash only, so bring some bills even if you normally pay by card.

From there, the group walks for about 10 minutes to the next stop. The walk is part of the evening, not dead time. You get views of the Strip along the way, and the guide can point out places that are easy to miss when you are focused on casino entrances and giant signs.

Wear comfortable shoes. The route includes repeated walking between stops, and three hours on Las Vegas sidewalks can feel longer than it sounds, especially in hot weather or after several drinks.

99 Prince Bar and the Linq Promenade

99 Prince Bar is an early stop for beer and cocktails, with scenic views on the way. The visit is listed at about 10 minutes, so think of it as a quick taste of the evening’s rhythm rather than a long lounge session.

Next comes the Linq Promenade, where you can find drinks, aperitifs, street food, regional food, and local snacks. This is one of the more public and active parts of the route. It gives you a chance to walk, eat, and look around instead of sitting at a bar the whole time.

The Linq Promenade is useful for groups with different appetites. Someone can grab a snack while another person orders a drink. The tradeoff is that this stop is less secretive than the tucked-away bars later on, and the open promenade may feel more commercial than local.

After roughly 10 minutes of walking, the group reaches the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat for a five-minute photo stop. This is not a bar visit, but it adds a change of pace and gives you a quick look at one of the Strip’s unexpected public attractions.

Cromwell, Zanzibar, and Fuel Bar

The Cromwell Hotel and Casino is another short stop, with beer, cocktails, spirits, and wine available. The brief timing means you should not assume a long sit-down session. It is another chance to sample a different casino setting before moving on.

The route then reaches the Zanzibar Tourist Information Centre for about 20 minutes. The stop can include beer, cocktails, wine, street food, and a food market visit. The name may sound unusual in a Las Vegas bar route, which is part of the appeal, but the important point is practical: this is one of the places where drinks and food can overlap.

Fuel Bar Las Vegas follows for about 15 minutes, with beer, cocktails, and wine. Together, these stops show the range of the evening. You are not restricted to expensive signature cocktails. You can choose a simple beer, look for a deal, or keep your spending low while the group checks out the surroundings.

A short five-minute walk leads toward Cosmopolitan. By this point, you may already have had enough for a full evening. The route is designed so you can continue if you wish, but it does not pressure you to drink at every stop.

The Cosmopolitan and the tucked-away stops

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas serves as a photo and sightseeing stop, with scenic Strip views along the way. Even if you do not order a drink here, the property gives the group a recognizable landmark and a change in atmosphere.

After Cosmopolitan, the route turns toward several less obvious places. Three separate stops are described as hidden bars or lesser-known venues, with visits of about 20 minutes each. Depending on the route that night, you might encounter:

• A 1920s-style speakeasy behind a barbershop
• A tequila bar accessed behind an exit sign
• A hidden ski-lodge-themed bar
• A rooftop bar with Strip views
• A cheap-drink or two-for-one location
• A place serving frozen Baileys
• A spot with all-you-can-drink mimosas

These examples explain why the route cannot promise a rigid list of exact bars. Some locations may change, and the guide has many options. You should book this if you enjoy surprise and variety, not if you need to know the precise cocktail menu at every stop before you arrive.

I especially like the way Jonathan arms you with future options. He may only point out a bar rather than take the entire group inside, but that information can be more useful than one expensive drink. Las Vegas visitors often return to the same resort bars because they do not know where else to go. A good tip about a low-cost or unusual place can pay off later.

Food Hall stops and the possible finish

Block 16 Urban Food Hall adds BBQ, beer, cocktails, and scenic views. This is a useful part of the route because alcohol on an empty stomach is a poor plan. You can order food if you need something substantial, though the cost of food is not included.

Later stops include another photo and drink visit with street food and Strip views, followed by two additional visits of about 10 and 15 minutes. The exact details are less fixed than the named stops earlier in the route, so you should think of the final stretch as a menu of possibilities rather than a guaranteed sequence.

The official finish is BrewDog Las Vegas, but the experience may end at Cosmopolitan, BrewDog, or wherever you stop. Most people do not make it through every possible location. That is not necessarily a flaw. A bar crawl that truly visits a dozen places in three hours would require very short stays and could become tiring fast.

The real goal is to find several places that fit your night, then stop when the evening feels right. If you want a definite final venue, confirm the plan with Jonathan at the start.

What $49 really gets you

At $49 per person, this is good value if you want guidance rather than included alcohol. The fee covers a licensed and insured English-speaking guide, route planning, local tips, and access to a changing selection of bar stops. You do not pay a large package price for drinks you may not want.

You also get help avoiding generic casino bars. If Jonathan leads you to even two or three affordable places you would not have found alone, the fee can make sense, especially on a first Las Vegas visit.

Still, do the math honestly. Drinks, food, and transportation are extra. Jonathan states that he receives only about half of the tour price, so your $49 is not a drink credit. A few cocktails can quickly cost more than the booking itself.

The best value comes when you take advantage of happy hours, $3 beers, $5 drinks, two-for-one offers, and other low-cost choices. If you plan to buy premium cocktails at every stop, this will not be a budget evening.

The guide and group atmosphere

Jonathan Dez is the guide, and the available feedback gives him strong praise for being fun, personable, and able to fit into a large group. One booking brought 35 clients, and Jonathan handled the group so well that the organizer said everyone felt they had made a new friend.

That detail tells you something useful about his approach. This is not a quiet lecture about Las Vegas bars. Jonathan seems to work best when he can mix with the group, keep people moving, and adjust the mood from one stop to the next.

Another booking specifically praised the chance to learn more about Las Vegas. You can expect local background and practical tips along with the drinks, though the supplied details do not promise a formal history talk.

The activity is in English only, with no translation. It should suit social groups, couples, girls trips, boys trips, bachelor and bachelorette parties, team outings, and people marking a new chapter after a divorce. Solo participants may also enjoy it, but the group-oriented tone is clearest.

Rules, ID, and staying comfortable

You must be at least 21 and bring valid government-issued identification. Americans should bring a state ID or driver’s license because a passport is not always accepted for them. International visitors can use a passport.

The experience requires presentable dress, and shorts are not allowed. Smoking is not allowed, and pets are not allowed except for assistance dogs. These rules matter because the route includes casino and bar properties with their own entry standards.

Bring cash for at least one or two places, beginning with the cash-only first stop. Keep water in your plans and drink responsibly. You are walking between bars, so overdoing it early can make the rest of the route unpleasant.

You can legally drink and walk outside while moving between stops, but that does not mean you should treat the sidewalks like a party zone. Follow Jonathan’s safety instructions, stay with the group, and know your limits.

Who should book Bars Unknown?

I would choose this experience if I wanted a social first night on the Strip, especially if I cared more about finding unusual and affordable bars than visiting famous lounges. It is also a smart fit for a group that wants one organized activity without committing to a formal dinner or nightclub package.

The flexible route works well for people who enjoy making decisions as the night unfolds. You may find a rooftop, a speakeasy, a cheap beer stop, and a food hall in one outing. You may also leave early, which gives you control over your budget and energy.

I would hesitate if you dislike walking, need a fixed schedule, want every drink included, or prefer a quiet small-group tasting. The changing route and loosely defined ending may frustrate anyone who wants a precise list of venues.

You should also skip it if you are under 21, pregnant, unable to walk comfortably for three hours, or looking for a multilingual tour. The activity is English only, and no transportation is provided.

Should you book this Las Vegas crawl?

Book Bars Unknown if you want Jonathan Dez to show you the Strip’s less obvious drinking options, explain where deals are found, and keep the evening social and flexible. The $49 fee is reasonable when you use the low-cost specials and value the time saved scouting bars yourself.

Do not book it expecting twelve full bar visits or a prepaid drinking package. Treat the number as a broad range of stops, recommendations, and quick visits. Bring ID, cash, water, comfortable shoes, and a willingness to stop before the final bar if you have had enough.

FAQ

How long does Bars Unknown last?

The bar crawl lasts about three hours, though the actual evening can vary because some stops are short and many people do not reach the final venue.

Where does the activity begin?

Meet at the main bar inside Best Western Plus Casino Royale, also called Casino Royale, on the Center Strip.

Where does the crawl finish?

The planned finish is BrewDog Las Vegas, but you may finish at Cosmopolitan or another point if you stop earlier. The exact ending depends on how far the group continues.

Are drinks included in the $49 price?

No. You buy your own drinks and food. The $49 covers the licensed and insured guide and the guided experience.

How many bars will I visit?

The route includes about a dozen unique places, but some are full visits, some are grab-and-go stops, and some are only pointed out for future reference.

Is transportation provided?

No. The group walks between locations, and the listed stops are within walking distance along the Strip.

Can I drink while walking between bars?

The activity states that you can legally drink and walk outside while bar hopping in Las Vegas. You should still drink responsibly and follow the guide’s safety instructions.

What identification should I bring?

Bring valid government-issued identification. Americans should bring a state ID or driver’s license because a passport is not always accepted. International participants can use a passport.

Is the activity available in languages besides English?

No. Jonathan Dez leads the experience in English, and translations are not provided.

Who cannot join the activity?

People under 21 and pregnant women should not join. Shorts, smoking, and pets are not allowed, although assistance dogs are permitted.