Bars Unknown: The Las Vegas Strip Bar Crawl

Vegas rewards people who know where to look. Bars Unknown turns a familiar Strip walk into a three-hour search for speakeasies, rooftop views, cheap drinks, and bars you could easily miss alone. I like the wide mix of stops, from a 1920s-style bar behind a barbershop to a hidden tequila room, and I like that guide Jonathan Dez keeps the route flexible rather than forcing every group into the same night.

The main consideration is pace. You may visit or pass a dozen places, but you buy every drink yourself, some stops are cash-only, and many people do not reach the final bar. The walk also works best if you can handle alcohol, changing venues, and a loose plan.

What makes this Strip bar crawl different

• A dozen possible stops: Expect a mix of sit-down bars, grab-and-go drinks, quick photo stops, and places Jonathan points out for a future night.
• Cheap-drink hunting: The route can include $3 beer, $5 drinks, 2-for-1 offers, happy hours, dollar-beer spots, and all-you-can-drink mimosas.
• Bars with a story: Possible stops include a 1920s speakeasy behind a barbershop, a tequila bar concealed behind an exit sign, and a hidden ski-lodge setting.
• A walking route: You stay on foot along the Strip, with permission to walk outside while drinking legally.
• A flexible finish: The crawl may end at The Cosmopolitan, BrewDog Las Vegas, or wherever your group taps out.
• A well-liked guide: Jonathan Dez earned a perfect five-star rating from the five ratings provided, including praise for handling a 35-person client group with warmth and humor.

Starting at Casino Royale with cash in your pocket

The meeting point is the main bar inside Best Western Plus Casino Royale, a practical spot on the Center Strip. Starting here puts you close to several major resorts and keeps the first part of the route easy to reach without a taxi.

Bring valid government-issued identification. Americans should bring a state ID or driver’s license, while international visitors can use a passport. The instructions say the first stop is cash-only, so carry some bills even if you normally pay by card.

Jonathan begins with a short safety briefing of about 10 minutes. This is useful because the evening involves alcohol, sidewalks, crowds, and several changes of venue. You should arrive in comfortable shoes and presentable clothing. Shorts are not allowed, and smoking and pets are also prohibited, though assistance dogs are allowed.

The group walks from the starting point, with the first stretch taking about 10 minutes. There is no transportation included, and the route is intended to be covered on foot. That saves money, but you should not treat this as a seated tasting tour.

The first stops: 99 Prince Bar and the Linq Promenade

The route can include 99 Prince Bar, with roughly 10 minutes allocated for a visit or quick drink. It is an early chance to settle into the group and see how the crawl works. Some places are built for a drink at the bar, while others are simply useful stops along the route.

Next comes The Linq Promenade, where you can expect a mixture of drinks, aperitifs, street food, local snacks, and people-watching. This part adds a more open-air feel to the night and gives you a chance to see one of the Strip’s main pedestrian areas rather than staying inside casinos.

The Linq is also where the flexible nature of the experience becomes clear. You might stop for a drink, grab food, take in the views, or keep moving. If you linger at every venue, reaching all the later stops becomes unlikely.

Flamingos, The Cromwell, and a quick view of old Vegas character

A five-minute photo stop at the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat breaks up the drinking with a little sightseeing. The exact attraction is not just a bar, and the stop gives the group a brief change of pace. It is a reminder that the Strip can offer more than casino floors and neon signs.

The Cromwell Hotel & Casino follows, with about five minutes for beer, cocktails, spirits, or wine. A stop this short is best viewed as a taste rather than a full bar visit. If you want to study the room or order something elaborate, the schedule may feel tight.

The route then reaches the Zanzibar Tourist Information Centre for about 20 minutes. The stop may include drinks, street food, and a food-market visit. That combination helps the night feel less like a chain of casino lounges and more like a search for places with personality.

You should still keep expectations practical. The stops can change, and the guide makes subjective choices based on the group, timing, and how long people spend drinking. This is part of the appeal, but it means you should not arrive expecting a fixed sequence of guaranteed venues.

Fuel Bar and the big resort contrast

Fuel Bar Las Vegas receives about 15 minutes on the route. It offers beer, cocktails, and wine, and it helps balance the more polished resort stops with a simpler bar setting.

After another short walk, the group reaches The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for a photo stop and sightseeing. This is one of the route’s stronger visual moments, with Strip views and the polished atmosphere associated with the resort.

The contrast matters. Bars Unknown does not only send you to one kind of drinking spot. You can move from a cheap local-style bar to a major resort, then on to a concealed cocktail room or rooftop. That range is useful if you want to understand how different Las Vegas nights can feel within a few blocks.

The Cosmopolitan may also become the end point for people who decide they have had enough. The tour description openly accepts that most people do not make it to the end, so leaving early is treated as normal rather than as a failure.

The concealed bars are the main event

The middle and later portion includes several unnamed stops described as hidden bars and lesser-known venues. These may offer beer, cocktails, spirits, wine, and local snacks, with around 20 minutes at some locations.

The appeal here is discovery. One possible stop is a 1920s speakeasy behind a barbershop. Another is a tequila bar reached through an exit-sign entrance. A hidden ski-lodge setting may also appear, along with rooftop bars, a bar with Strip views, and a final local-style stop with inexpensive beer.

The tour also points out additional bars that you may not enter. That may sound like a small detail, but it gives you a useful map for later nights. You are not simply paying to be led from one drink to another. You are also collecting ideas for where to go after the crawl ends.

Some spots are grab-and-go. Others allow you to sit and enjoy the room. That variety keeps the route moving, but it can frustrate you if you want a relaxed drink at every stop. The best approach is to treat the crawl as a sampler with local guidance, not a full evening spent in four carefully chosen lounges.

Block 16 and the final stretch

Block 16 Urban Food Hall brings food back into the plan. The stop can include beer, cocktails, barbecue, and views along the way. This is a sensible point to eat, especially if you have been drinking since the start.

Another stop includes a photo opportunity, drinks, street food, and scenic views. Two further visits follow, with about 10 and 15 minutes listed for each. Their exact identity is not given, which reinforces the fact that Jonathan chooses among many options.

The planned finish is BrewDog Las Vegas. The route may also finish at The Cosmopolitan, or you may stop wherever your energy and alcohol tolerance run out. Since the route is walking-based and not every stop is guaranteed as a long visit, it is wise to keep your evening plans loose.

What $49 really buys you

At $49 per person, the value depends on how you use the guide. You are not receiving included drinks, food, transportation, or a private tab. You pay for your own orders, and the guide states that he receives only about half of the tour price.

That makes the experience a good fit for someone who would otherwise waste time wandering between generic casino bars. Finding even a few happy-hour offers, 2-for-1 drinks, $3 beers, or $5 cocktails could help offset the tour price, especially in an expensive resort area.

The bigger value is time and judgment. Las Vegas spreads its bars across large properties, promenades, casino corridors, and rooftops. Jonathan can take you directly toward places he considers worthwhile and point out more options for later.

Still, you should budget beyond the $49. Your total cost depends on how many drinks and snacks you buy, and the experience is not an all-inclusive crawl. Bring cash for one or two cash-only venues, and do not assume every stop will accept cards.

Jonathan Dez brings the social side

Jonathan Dez is the licensed and insured guide, and the strongest praise centers on his personality and group handling. Jennifer booked the experience for 35 clients and specifically praised how Jonathan fitted into a large group while keeping the mood fun and personal.

That is important for a bar crawl. A guide can know good venues and still make a group feel awkward or rushed. The available feedback describes Jonathan as personable and entertaining, with one booking experience ending with the group feeling they had made a new friend.

Rainer from Germany also gave Jonathan the highest rating and said the experience offered useful information about Las Vegas. That points to an additional benefit beyond drinking: you can learn how the Strip works and gain ideas for future nights.

The guide speaks English only. If your group needs translation, this is not the right choice.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend Bars Unknown for a girls trip, couples, bachelor or bachelorette group, boys trip, recently divorced adults, team outing, or any group that wants social energy and a little unpredictability.

It is especially suitable if you dislike basic sports bars and want a mix of cheap places, rooftops, speakeasies, casino stops, food halls, and unusual entrances. You should also enjoy walking and be willing to make quick decisions about when to stay and when to move.

I would not choose it for a pregnant person, anyone under 21, someone with medical issues related to alcohol or extended walking, or anyone who wants a quiet, fixed dinner-and-cocktail evening. The instructions also advise responsible drinking and staying hydrated, which is not decorative advice on a three-hour bar route.

You need to be legally able to drink, and you should dress neatly. Comfortable shoes matter more than dressing for a nightclub.

Booking advice and the final call

The experience allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the available starting time because the tour runs for three hours, but do not schedule a tightly timed show immediately afterward.

I like this crawl because it treats Las Vegas as a place to explore, not just a row of famous casino bars. The mixture of cheap drinks, unusual entrances, rooftop views, food stops, and guide-led suggestions gives you more practical value than simply following a standard Strip drinking route.

Book it if you want a social night with a local guide and can accept changing stops, personal drink costs, and an early exit. Skip it if you need a precise itinerary, included beverages, transportation, or a calm pace. For the right group, $49 is a fair price for saving time and learning where to look.

FAQ

Where does Bars Unknown begin?

The tour begins at the main bar inside Best Western Plus Casino Royale on the Center Strip.

How long does the bar crawl last?

The scheduled duration is three hours.

How much does the experience cost?

The price is $49 per person.

Are drinks included?

No. You buy your own drinks and food during the experience.

How many bars will I visit?

The route aims to include about a dozen unique places, though some are visits, some are grab-and-go stops, and others are places Jonathan points out.

Is transportation provided?

No. The group walks between the stops, and the locations are described as being within walking distance.

What identification should I bring?

Bring valid government-issued identification. Americans should bring a state ID or driver’s license. International visitors can bring a passport.

Is the tour offered in languages besides English?

No. The live tour guide speaks English only, and translations are not provided.

Who cannot join the experience?

People under 21 and pregnant women are not suitable for this tour. The instructions also say not to join if you have medical issues.