Sin City is home to a lot of restaurants and bars, but there are tons of hidden gems that the majority of Las Vegans aren't unearthing. To help guide us to these potential discoveries, we've enlisted some of our city's beverage players to share their recommendations for a random feature dubbed Cocktail Confidential. Know a bartender who wants to share some top cocktail spots? The tipline is open.
Juyoung Kang [Photo: Chelsea McManus]
Three things to like about Juyoung Kang: She's a woman bartender crafting killer cocktails in a Downtown bar. What's not to like about that? Unfortunately, she's tucked inside The Laundry Room, the secret speakeasy inside Commonwealth, meaning only a maximum of 28 can taste her concoctions at any given time. Kang took Vegas by storm almost three years ago, first working at Comme Ça at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and then coming over to Commonwealth. Here she shares some of her favorite spots to drink, and eat, when she's not tending bar.
Which bars and lounges do you turn to when you're not working?
Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of time to go out and about and enjoy myself. I'm always working even on my days off. Also, I haven't been in this city long enough to find my ideal watering holes and living rooms.
I have quite the bar at home! Only fitting I believe due to my profession.
However, I do enjoy a proper drink at the Vesper Bar at the Cosmopolitan and the people watching there is fantastic.
For food and a great conversation, I love going to Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill, although I haven't been there in a while. Service is always amazing and I always sit at the bar. They always remember what I eat and what I drink without fail. I love that kind of service!
And maybe because they're my neighbors, but I love Le Thai for the simplicity of a small menu and determination to be progressive for such a small space. I mostly go back to a place because of service rather than something specific on the menu.
For a mixologist, I really don't drink that much or barely at all. I'll enjoy something here and there but It all depends on if it's something difficult to get anywhere else. I just get bored of tasting the same flavor for a whole drink. I wish cocktails came in flights. I would much rather have 2 ounces of like four different cocktails.
I don't know if it's considered bias opinion or not, but I love hanging about Downtown Vegas. I love the small neighborhood bars, restaurants and businesses. It reminds me of home (Philly and LA). I love going to breakfast and lunch at Eat. Again great service and the food is homey and comforting. And who doesn't love a great cup of coffee and fresh pastry!
I also love going to The Beat for a cookie and a hot tea and wander the halls looking at all the artwork.
If I want to chill and relax, I love sitting the bar at Park on Fremont. I know that's our sister restaurant but hello! the decor is super cute and wonderland-ish. You can't help but smile and be in awe with our back patio garden and wonderstruck at the creativity and the combination of mix-match style and furniture.
For that true East Coast bar experience, Commonwealth is just that definition. I love bar bars. Not a nightclub. Commonwealth is a bar bar. Although people keep labeling it as a nightclub obviously haven't been to any bars.
In Philly, we have dive bar and we have loungey bars. That's what Commonwealth is — it's a loungey bar. Sure we have tables and chairs and fancy decoration. But we all like shiny new toys. We'll lose our luster but we can always be different and shiny renewed.
Finally, if I didn't work The Laundry Room I'd totally hang out there every week. It's my kind of bar. Exclusive, quiet and classy.
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