Vesper

What is it?

A hotel lobby bar with an edge, serving fine crafted cocktails.

Where is it?

At the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on the Center Strip.

What kind of crowd does it draw?

A little bit of everyone depending on the day and time.

What are the prices like?

Typically high for a Vegas bar.

When is the best time to go?

Go during the day if you want a place to sit.

Why should I go here?

Because you have an appreciation for a finely mixed cocktail.

What else do I need to know?

It can get very loud.

What’s the bottom line?

Drink up!

People like to drink in Vegas. Well, they like to drink just about anywhere, but Vegas seems to hold sway over many that may rarely pick up a cocktail in their normal lives but do it a LOT in Sin City. For most, though, their idea of a drink is rarely more fancy than a giant souvenir drink cup full of beer or those pre-mixed margaritas.

Vesper wants to change that attitude and if you let them, they just may be able to do it.

The casual space is The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas‘ version of a lobby bar, located just adjacent to the check in desks, partially under escalators up to the buffet, and next door to the main casino. It should come as no surprise, then, that this is not exactly the place for quiet reflection – it’s loud; almost hectically so, with lots of people walking by, talking, and gambling.

Like pretty much everything at The Cosmo, this bar is gorgeous, all shades of white with intricate crystal and glass fixtures everywhere. It’s elegant but not stuffy, modern but not pretentious. There are seats at the main bar and casual groupings of furniture spread around so there are plenty of places to relax, although I recommend the big banquette-style booths toward the back. It’s still loud back there but not as loud, perhaps.

The bar is named after the classic martini that James Bond drinks and their specialty is reinventions of classic cocktails – think Manhattan, Gin Fizz, Bloody Mary, and the like. They also have new and original concoctions of just about every type, barrel-aged cocktails, and a full bar to mix up whatever you may be itching for. I was there with a large group of people, many of whom are cocktail snobs (but in a good way), and we sampled several of their signature drinks and couldn’t find a bum note in the bunch. These are crafted cocktails, using the best alcohol and ingredients, and the attention to detail is obvious.

Prices are typically high, with their specialty drinks running $12-$18. Service is as finely crafted as this drinks, although be warned that these are not the kinds of things that are made quickly so order your next round well before you finish the one you are working on so you won’t have a gap.