List: The Oldest Bars in Las Vegas
Photo: Atomic Liquors at dawn in 1993, by Valentin Wuebben.
Tracking the oldest standalone bars in the city of Las Vegas is a complicated by the matter of a few of them changing names, locations, or having fuzzy math in their own history. As far as I can tell, using primary research information such as city and county record, the oldest standalone bars are:
'50s
Atomic Liquors (917 Fremont) – opened 4/17/54. We have a longer piece covering Atomic’s history and sources for this date.
Dino's Lounge (1516 S Las Vegas Blvd) – The bar dates back to this location as Ringside Liquors since early '53, and at a previous location since '49. They've been doing business as Dino's since '69. Their motto Getting Vegas Drunk Since '62 refers specifically to the business’s incorporation date. Therefore, '53, '62, '69 may all acceptable dates for Dino's.
Huntridge Tavern (1116 E Charleston Blvd) – Founder W. L. "Buzz" Holst was granted a license for "Huntridge Liquor Store" at 1320 E Charleston on 6/23/53, and the move to the present 1116 E Charleston location was granted by the city on 9/21/60. (When the move took place is unclear.) Holst and family opened several drug stores and bars including Decatur Liquors.
'60s
Decatur Liquors (546 S Decatur Blvd) – '63
4 Mile Bar (3650 Boulder Hwy) – '63
Tap House (5589 W Charleston Blvd) – opened as Wild Bill’s Bar in '65. It went through a few names in the 70s and has been known as Tap House since '85.
Champagne's Cafe (Closed in 2026) – Opened in '66 as Sundown Liquors, a store up front and a lounge in the back. It was combined into one room that exists today and was previously known as Jerry’s Inner Circle ('68), Huey’s Saloon ('77), Jerry’s Saloon ('87), Ole Inner Circle ('93), and Champagne Charlie’s.
Frankie's (1712 W Charleston Blvd) – Frank August opened Frankie’s Cocktails in '68. It’s been known as Frankie’s Tiki Lounge since 2009.
'70s
Hard Hat Lounge (1675 S Industrial Rd) – '70. Their “Est. '62” motto works as a reference both to their '62 building and to the beloved '62 mural in the bar which came from its previous location under the name Bourbon Street Lounge. The building was home to The Coffee Pot and Squaw's Corner, until the owners of Bourbon Street Lounge moved here and opened Hard Hat Lounge.
Starboard Tack (2601 Atlantic St) – also opened in '70 according to some records, or '71 at the latest. Their website says “since '72.”
Our list of oldest bars ends here at '70.
CLARK COUNTY'S OLD BARS
Pioneer Saloon (Goodsprings NV) - Built by George Fayle circa '13, without a doubt the oldest bar in Clark County, Nevada.
Gold Mine (Henderson NV) - "Hendertucky's Oldest Tavern," was licensed to Henderson councilman Giles L. Franklin in Sep. '65.
Not quite on the Oldest Bar list ...
70s: Skinny Dugan's (4127 W Charleston Blvd). Opened in '72 or '73 as Misty Inn. Became Skinny Dugan's in '74.
70s: Red Dwarf (1350 Vegas Valley Dr). Opened in '73 as The Rib Cage, and also known as Penthouse '77, Keyboard Lounge '79 owned by Harry Wham, and the Smuggle Inn from the '80s-2010s when the bar also sold cocaine. Red Dwarf took over in the 2020s.
70s: Double Down Saloon (4640 Paradise Rd). There was a bar here called John John’s Cocktail Lounge here in '74, then it was called Dreamworld which might have been a disco. For many years in between it was a restaurant rather than a bar. Double Down opened in '92.
70s: The Dive Bar (4110 S Maryland). Opened as My Place by Anthony & Adrienne Filardo in '78, a hang-out of Tony Spilotro. "According to Frank Cullotta, who turned state's evidence and entered the federal witness protection program, Spilotro ordered executions while sitting at the bar" (Wise Guide. Las Vegas Review-Journal, 4/30/2006). Later known as Favorites Lounge (2000s); Dive Bar since 2013.
80s: Sand Dollar Lounge (3355 Spring Mountain Rd). Similar to Hard Hat, Sand Dollar's motto “Est. '76” may refer to the building itself. Sand Dollar Lounge opened in '83 and there was no bar, lounge, or music venue at this location prior to Sand Dollar.
90s: The Hideaway Tavern (3369 Thom Blvd). Their motto is “Friendliest bar in town since '62,” however Hideaway opened in a new building in the 90s. The '62 date refers to the property history. In '63 (not '62) a building was relocated here from downtown’s “old ranch” aka the Old Mormon Fort State Park. The building that was moved from the old ranch was a 50s-era structure for a restaurant connected to the ranch house. At 3369 Thom Blvd the building was repurposed by Larry LaPenta as into Lorenzo’s dinner club, later know as Old Ranch House Supper Club, and Larry’s Old Ranch House. It was demolished in the 90s, and replaced by a new building which opened as Larry’s Hideaway. After a change of ownership it became The Hideaway Tavern. The changes to the structures can be seen in USGS aerial photos, and Clark County Assessor dates The Hideaway Tavern to '93.
2000s: Bar Code (1590 E Flamingo). Opened as The Elbow Room in '68, closed in the 90s, this building was expanded and completely redesigned at different times in the '70s-90s.
Missing any?
This started as a post on Vintage Las Vegas Instagram. Thanks to CityCast Las Vegas: An Inside Look at the Oldest Dive Bars in Vegas.
4 Mile Bar, '86. Photo by Chelsea Miller. Neon in Nevada Photograph Collection (PH-00225), UNLV Special Collections.
