Griffin
Information
Griffin
Location: Fremont East Entertainment District
511 Fremont St.
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Contact: 702-382-0577
website
Hours: Mon-Sat 5pm-Late
Sun 9pm-Late
Nightlife Type: Bar
Vegas4Visitors Rating: A
At a Glance
What is it?
A fun and funky bar with a castle-like decor and absolutely no pretentious attitudes from the staff or clientele. How refreshing!
Where is it?
In the Fremont East Entertainment District of Downtown Las Vegas.
What kind of crowd does it draw?
A wide mix of locals and some tourists, but a lot of the hipster set (but not in a bad way). Reportedly many of the performers in productions on The Strip come here after the late show is over.
What are the prices like?
Very reasonable. There is no cover charge and unless you’re ordering something top shelf, you will definitely get change back from your $20… and maybe even your $10.
When is the best time to go?
Early evenings are quiet but great for a cocktail and conversation.
Why should I go here?
Because you want to meet some locals instead of yet another tourist.
What else do I need to know?
They have one of the best jukeboxes in the city.
What’s the bottom line?
A great, simple bar.
Full Review
One of the keys to the hoped-for resurgence of Downtown Las Vegas has been places like The Griffin, a small but entertaining bar located in the Fremont East district. This six block long stretch of the main Downtown drag is mere steps from the Fremont Street Experience and all of the hotels and casinos on Glitter Gulch, but it has a unique new vibe with jazzy neon signs, wide sidewalks, landscaping, and an air of promise driven by bars like this.
The Griffin is one of those places that has managed to generate its own mystique in Vegas. The motif is vaguely castle-esque, with stony outcroppings, a heavily carved bar, and a couple of fire pits worthy of roasting mutton over. Deep plushy booths and other low-slung seating provide an almost ultra-lounge feel but in a good way – instead of the pretentious airs such places can engender, this seems to offer a place for lounging, relaxing, and conversation, intimate or otherwise.
It’s a small space so there is no stage or dance floor, but a jukebox (and occasionally a DJ) provide the audio atmospherics with a deep play list that should satisfy just about any musical taste.
The crowd is a mix of older and younger, heavy on the casino industry insiders and locals. Word has it that this is the place a lot of the performers in shows on The Strip hang out after the final curtain and that you may even seen a bazillionaire casino owner or two mixing and mingling on occasion. It’s hip without trying and friendly in a way that would not exist if this place were located in one of the big hotels.
This is a great place to go and unwind without needing to worry about some outrageous cover charge or drink prices or pressure to wear the latest and hottest clothes. No standing and posing allowed.