8 Best Outdoor Drinking Spots in Las Vegas

_{Enjoy breathtaking views from the outdoor terrace at Blake Shelton’s Ole Red on the Las Vegas Strip. (Image: Joe Hendrickson / Alamy)}

Is there anything better than sipping an ice-cold drink on a hot day with the sun shining on you? Well, maybe a royal flush or a grand jackpot, but I mean something you can plan.

Las Vegas is renowned for all the indoor action it provides—exciting casino destinations, shows, restaurants, bars, and shopping—but what about great outdoor places?

I’m talking beer gardens, rooftop bars, and outdoor patios where you can sit back, enjoy the desert sun, and watch the world go by with your favorite drink in hand. So, let’s take a look at the best places to grab a drink al fresco while you’re in Sin City.

Tom’s Watch Bar, New York-New York

I’ve lost count of the hours I’ve spent sitting outside Tom’s Watch Bar (formerly Tom’s Urban) at New York-New York just soaking it all in. Tom’s has a large inside area and a good-sized patio with an inside/outside bar in between.

Although more on the south side of the Strip, Tom’s is still well located. With the replica Brooklyn Bridge in front, you can watch passers-by making their way to and from NYNY casino and the casinos on either side. You can also watch the party buses, limos, and pimped-up cars on the Strip while enjoying the music and watching sports on the numerous high-definition TVs. 

Tom’s is a top spot on a Vegas Golden Knights game day or when there’s a headliner at the T-Mobile Arena, as you’re right in the thick of the action. It has over 50 different beers and specialty cocktails. My personal favorite is Angry Orchard cider and if, like me, you spend a while there, then I recommend the Tom’s branded two-handed 40oz stein. I may or may not have one in my kitchen at home.

Just a quick shout-out to two other bars at New York New York that also offer outdoor drinking. Nine Fine Irishman and Beerhaus both have outdoor bars and seating that offer beer in the sun. Personally, I just prefer Tom’s but still visit the others too.

Aft Cocktail Deck, Wynn

If you want your outdoor drinks with a more upscale vibe, check out the Aft Cocktail Deck at Wynn, formerly Parasol Down.

Aft Cocktail Deck has a Mediterranean feel, making you feel like you’re enjoying a drink on the upper deck of a superyacht. With swivel deck chairs, plush seating, and nautical stripes on all the furnishings, Aft is an altogether classier way to enjoy a cocktail in the breeze.

_{Mediterranean elegance meets stunning Vegas views at the Aft Cocktail Deck. (Image: Larry Brownstein / Alamy)}

Even better, it comes with stunning scenery, overlooking the famous Wynn Lake of Dreams attraction. In the evening, the three-acre Lake of Dreams comes alive with an immersive show of lights, sound, and puppetry on a 90-foot performance waterfall—it’s a must-see attraction in Las Vegas.

The menu at Aft Cocktail Deck is as sophisticated as you’d expect. Cocktails are handcrafted and beautiful to both look at and taste. My personal favorite is the Rio de Janeiro, and there’s a small food menu with items such as oysters, caviar, and lobster rolls.

Aft Cocktail Deck is usually busy, so I’d always recommend pre-booking to guarantee a space. Walk-ins are available during quieter times, and sometimes you can put your name down and explore the casino until they have a table ready.

Beer Park, Paris

If you want some sips in the sun right in the center of the Strip with a top-tier view, Beer Park is a great choice.

Located just outside Paris Las Vegas—directly opposite the Bellagio Fountains—Beer Park is a rooftop bar that is one of the hidden gems of the Strip.

The 9,000-square-foot outdoor deck features high-top seating overlooking the Strip, table seating, bar seating and shared picnic tables on a replica grass surface with lawn games on offer too.

If you want to watch sports, you can do so on one of the 75 HD screens, but with a view like that and the prime people-watching position you have, you might not want to look anywhere else.

Drinks-wise, you can pretty much get anything you could want with over 100 draft and bottled beers, handcrafted cocktails and even beer cocktails—yes, that’s right. There’s also a decent food menu too with a focus on burgers, sandwiches and wings.

I’ve been to Beer Park a handful of times and it’s always busy. On a big game day or weekend, it’s sometimes impossible to get in. The prime location does mean premium pricing too, so just be aware of that. But the atmosphere and location do make up for it.

The limited high-top seats at the front of the deck overlooking the Strip are the seats that everyone wants, so they can be really difficult to get. If you’re prepared to wait, you can put your name down and you’ll be called when one becomes available.

Brewdog, Opposite Park MGM

Although not directly linked with one casino, Brewdog is located directly opposite Park MGM and is close to New York-New York and MGM Grand.

Its 30,000-square-foot rooftop bar offers a unique and stunning outdoor drinks space to enjoy with incredible views of Las Vegas Boulevard.

_{Seating includes regular table seats, comfortable lounge chairs and even soft beds where you can lay back and look at the stars. (Image: Courtesy of Brewdog)}

Brewdog has its own selection with 30 taps of distinctive craft beer, including exclusive brews from the on-site microbrewery. There are also some top American guest brews and the usual mix of cocktails, wines and spirits.

If you do want to add some al fresco dining into the mix, then there’s a varied menu offering small and big plates, pizzas, burgers and tacos. Plus, it’s open for breakfast until late into the evening so it’s a versatile food option. 

Ole Red, Horseshoe

With arguably THE best view of any Vegas rooftop bar, Ole Red is Blake Shelton’s country music bar sitting in a prime Strip position.

Located directly in front of Horseshoe, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Bellagio Fountains and both sides of the Strip while also singing and dancing along to live country music and DJ sets.

Through the day it's fairly chilled, and you can make the most of the sun-drenched rooftop and incredible views. As the sun goes down and the neon begins to glow, the rooftop has a much more upbeat club-type feel. Personally, I think sunset is a great time to visit so you can see the Strip transform around you.

If you want some food with your drinks, then there’s a nice menu on offer. I personally recommend the ‘Hillbilly Bone St. Louis Ribs’ with honey bourbon glaze. While the drinks menu offers everything from draft and bottled beers to specialty cocktails and shots, you can order them in a souvenir cup. I may or may not have one of these in my kitchen!

The downside to Ole Red is that you can’t reserve a table unless you book a VIP slot with a minimum table spend. That means that you have to just show up and hope it’s not too busy. There are queues quite often, but it usually goes pretty quick.

On entry, they'll ask which floor you’d like to go to. There are four in total, so just let them know you want the rooftop and they’ll direct you to the elevator.

Carousel Bar, Plaza

If you want an open-air bar with the wow factor, then look no further than the Carousel Bar at Plaza, where I once missed George Clooney by 30 seconds.🥲

Located at the very top of Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, the Carousel Bar has all the glitz and glamour of vintage Vegas but with a modern twist.

The Carousel Bar is a circular bar themed on a fairground ride and among the carousel horses, you’ll find casino paraphernalia such as oversized dice, a deck of cards and a martini glass. Not to mention the 14-foot neon showgirl named Ginger.

The bar is spectacular in appearance and from personal experience, the drinks are just as incredible. Along with frozen cocktails, premium craft beers and wines, there are specialty cocktails and shareables too—some of which come in some cool themed glasses and tankards. 

An added bonus of the Carousel Bar is that you can play outdoor video poker around the bar.

Ghost Bar, Palms Hotel and Casino

Unlike the other outdoor drinking areas on our list, Ghost Bar at Palms is a little out of the way. Set back from the Las Vegas Strip, it’s a rideshare or taxi ride to get here but the off-Strip location means drink prices are much more reasonable too. Because Ghost Bar is only open on evenings, you aren’t able to sit out here and enjoy the sun, but the rooftop bar has plenty of other things going for it.

_{Ghostbar's new cigar friendly terrace is another good reason for a visit. (Image: courtesy of Ghostbar)}

Located on the 55th floor of the resort's Ivory Tower, this cool indoor bar and lounge features floor-to-ceiling glass windows and funky art installations. But the real showpiece is the protruding outdoor patio, where you can sit on plush seating and take in all the sights and sounds of Las Vegas with 360 views.

Ghost Bar has nightly live entertainment with musicians, DJs, and themed nights too. For a while, Ghost Bar tried to go for more of a hardcore nightclub feel, and it didn’t seem to go well. Currently, it’s the perfect mix of lively and upbeat, but elegant and welcoming too.

It’s worth booking ahead if you want a guaranteed seat, especially on the patio, but it is possible to walk up, too. Although it does get booked for private events occasionally, so don’t make the mistake of dropping by without checking the website first. I may have done that before.

Legacy Club, Circa

We go back downtown for the last of my top places for outdoor drinking in Las Vegas. The Legacy Club at Circa is another rooftop bar, similar to Ghost Bar, but this time it’s on the 60th floor and it has a classic, upscale lounge feel with nods to vintage Vegas.

Inside, the walls are adorned with retro black and white images of downtown Vegas from a bygone era. There are also metal busts of Sin City’s founding fathers and a glass case showcasing 1,000 ounces of gold bars. I’m not sure what they do with the lighting in Legacy, but the actual bar glitters and gleams.

Obviously, our list is about outdoor drinking spaces and Legacy Club has a spectacular one. Offering incredible views over the downtown skyline and the Strip, you can sit out on comfortable sofas in front of a burning fire pit and just relax.

It is possible to enjoy some drinks in the sun, and it’s an ideal place to catch the sunset too. You can actually book a sunset package that includes the best patio seating. During quieter times, you can simply walk up to Legacy, but I recommend making reservations on weekends. 

Outdoor seating is by reservation only and comes with a minimum spend so bear that in mind.

More Places to Drink Al Fresco in Las Vegas

There are many other places in Las Vegas where you can enjoy an outdoor drink; however, they didn’t make my list for various reasons. Either I consider them to be more balconies than bars, or they are more centered around al fresco dining than drinks.

Places such as Skyfall at The W, Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay, Prime and Spago at Bellagio, Mon Ami Gabi at Paris, Black Tap at Venetian and the many outdoor options on LINQ Promenade, for example, all deserve a mention.

If you’ve got a favorite outdoor drinking spot in Vegas that you think should be on the list, then let us know in the comments.