Among the flashing neon lights of Las Vegas are the jaw-dropping attractions, world-famous headliners, award-winning restaurants and luxury resorts and casinos that tourists flock to when visiting. While these mainstream experiences are definitely fun and worth seeing, you might be searching for the more hidden gems of Vegas.
Separate from the glitz and glamour of Sin City is the vibrant local and cultural scene of Las Vegas. If you know where to look, the Las Vegas Strip and downtown Las Vegas are sprinkled with some of the city’s best-kept secrets. Check them out below.
See what events are happening in downtown Las Vegas.
1. Visit the Nevada State Museum at Springs Preserve
If you dare to venture off the beaten path, the Springs Preserve has 180 acres of nature trails, botanical gardens, cultural displays, galleries and uniquely Las Vegas attractions, including the Nevada State Museum.
What sets the Nevada State Museum apart from other museums operated by the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs is their dedication to local history, ranging from prehistoric life to early ranching days and the Nevada population boom to the urbanization of the area.
See what Las Vegas looked like before hotels and casinos covered the natural terrain. It’s well worth a visit if you want to slow it down, and escape the crowds for an afternoon.
Insider tip: The Nevada State Museum and Springs Preserve are kid-friendly destinations. If you brought the family with you, this one is a must-do.
2. Find the Secret Pizza in the Cosmopolitan
We love a good slice of pizza, but adding a touch of mystery makes it even better. The Secret Pizza inside the Cosmopolitan on the Las Vegas Strip is neatly hidden on the third floor away from the main pedestrian traffic in the hotel. By “hidden,” we mean there are literally no signs or marked entrances to this covert restaurant. Here’s how you find it:
- Head to the Cosmopolitan
- Find the Boulevard Tower and take the elevator to level three
- Find the giant chandelier and look for a narrow hallway next to Blue Ribbon
- Take the hallway lined with record album covers to the end
You made it. At the end of the hallway, you’ll find the small, standing-room-only restaurant with a walk-up counter and high-top tables. You have your choice of full pies or pizza by the slice, covered in an impressive selection of toppings. Then, in true Vegas fashion, you can wash it down with a cold beer or glass of wine.
Insider tip: With a one-topping slice of pizza starting at $7.50, you may be better off getting the whole pie if you’re hungry.
3. Play Sigma Derby at The D
Playing on a real Sigma Derby table is always an exciting time. What is Sigma Derby? In short, it is a betting game involving five mechanical horses that circle a track. Players place bets with quarters (yes, real coins) on what horse will win. With 10 stations around the table, it’s the perfect social casino game that gets everyone pumped as they cheer for their horses.
While Sigma Derby was once a standard game in casinos decades ago, it has since become a rare novelty. In fact, the Sigma Derby table at The D is currently the only one operating in Las Vegas. Head to The D to place your bets on this nostalgic Vegas gem.
Insider tip: The D casino’s second floor is packed with vintage slot machines and games, like Sigma Derby, that only take coins.
4. See a Slab of the Berlin Wall at Main Street Station
See a piece of European history in the most unlikely place: the men’s restroom at Main Street Station. Just off the casino’s main floor, there is a big slab of the Berlin Wall placed behind the urinals. Some people may not even notice it, but it is just one of the many historical or antique pieces found inside the property.
Other Las Vegas hidden gems you can check out at Main Street Station include:
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- Winston Churchill’s snooker table
- Brussels street lamps
- The Pullman Mansion doors
- Kuwait Royal Bank bronze doors
- Figaro Opera House chandelier
- Pullman Company’s Louisa May Alcott train car
Insider tip: You can take a self-guided tour of all the rarities inside Main Street Station. Just ask for a brochure and map at the front desk.
5. Visit The Underground Speakeasy at
The Mob Museum
The Underground Speakeasy and Distillery at The Mob Museum is another hidden gem you probably have not visited. This stunning bar is an ode to the stealthy gathering places, where booze flowed freely during the Prohibition era.
Located in the basement of the museum, find the telephone booth and speak the password to get in. You’ll be instantly transported to a jazzy, flapper-inspired cocktail lounge with authentic artifacts from the 1920s. Check The Underground’s website for the week’s password.
Insider tip: The Underground is included in the museum’s general admission. If you’re looking for things to do in Vegas, this award-winning museum is as provocative as it is fun.
6. Explore Downtown Container Park
If you want to see where locals hang out, Downtown Container Park is a perfect example. All the shops and restaurants are housed in repurposed shipping containers, giving this place a unique “indie” vibe that is totally different from the mega shopping centers on the Strip.
Las Vegas locals come here to shop, grab a drink, catch a show or bring the kids to play in the treehouse or lawn. You can also find smaller hidden gems inside this bigger hidden gem, such as:
- The Mantis: A 40-foot fire-breathing art installation at the park entrance.
- Love Locks: A heart-shaped sculpture made of locks people attach to seal their love.
- The Lawn: Where Container Park hosts outdoor movies, yoga, oversized board games, silent discos and more.
Insider tip: Downtown Container Park is just down the street from the Fremont Street Experience, making it the perfect opportunity to visit both attractions.
7. See the Colorful Seven Magic Mountains
If you’re driving into Las Vegas using the I-15 N, you may have noticed a cluster of colorful boulders stacked neatly into pillars just before you enter the city. This is actually a public art installation called the Seven Magic Mountains that was meant to be a temporary display. However, it has been extended multiple times.
Renowned Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone sourced all the stones from the surrounding desert, and painted them in bright neon colors to make the seven three-story towers. People say the intention was to create a juxtaposition between the natural and artificial. What are your thoughts?
Insider tip: To get to Seven Magic Mountains, take I-15 S past Speedvegas and exit on Sloan Road. Turn left to Las Vegas Boulevard. Then, drive south about seven miles.
8. Eat in Style at Barry’s Downtown Prime
While there’s no shortage of steakhouses in Las Vegas, there’s only one Barry’s Downtown Prime. Located inside Circa Resort & Casino, this hidden gem of a restaurant is the epitome of fine dining, with the finest steaks, seafood, cocktails, ambiance and service.
What makes it special is the dedication to classic Vegas hospitality, which echoes the golden age of Vegas in the 1950s and 1960s. The cool, effortless vibe, beautiful mid-century design and perfectly aged steaks make Barry’s the best place for an unforgettable meal in Las Vegas.
Insider tip: There is a strict dress code at Barry’s, so no strolling into the restaurant straight from Stadium Swim. Let’s keep it classy, Las Vegas.
9. Get Nostalgic at the Pinball Hall of Fame
The Pinball Hall of Fame is yet another quirky and offbeat attraction that you never thought you’d see. Yet, there it is, in the middle of Las Vegas, just waiting for you to visit. Right across from the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, the Pinball Hall of Fame houses 25,000 square feet of, you guessed it, pinball machines.
Before you ask, yes, you can play them. Admission and parking are free, but you can support the non-profit by playing as many pinball games as you can handle. If you’re on a budget, this is a great way to get a unique experience without breaking the bank.
Insider tip: While you can bring your own quarters to play the pinball machines, they do have a change machine in the building.
10. Go Old School at Fremont Hotel & Casino
Opening in 1965 in downtown Las Vegas, the Fremont Hotel & Casino is about as vintage as it gets. If you want to see where Vegas all started, look for the iconic red Fremont Casino sign, and pop in for a good time. Some property highlights include:
- Las Vegas famous 99-cent shrimp cocktails at Tony Roma’s
- Sweet treats at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
- Creative cocktails at the Filament Bar
- An intimate sportsbetting experience at the FanDuel sportsbook
- Affordable and comfortable accommodations
- Located in the heart of downtown at the Fremont Street Experience
Insider tip: Tony Roma’s at Fremont Hotel & Casino offers a shockingly inexpensive prime rib special between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. nightly.
Book your room in downtown Las Vegas today.
11. Visit the Haunted Hotel Apache at Binion’s
If you love anything supernatural, you have to visit Hotel Apache at Binion’s Gambling Hall. Since opening in 1932, the property has recorded countless haunted encounters, including hearing voices when nobody is there, items being moved around guest rooms, feelings of being watched or touched and so many more spooky incidents.
Feeling particularly brave? Room 400 seems to have the most reports of unexplainable events. Book the room for the night, and see if the ghost-hunting hype is real.
Insider tip: Binion’s offers tarot readings every Friday and Saturday evening. If you’re going to dip your toe in the supernatural experience, might as well go all the way.
12. Drink at the Rat Pack’s Stomping Grounds at Golden Gate
There was once a time when Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and the rest of the Rat Pack ruled the Las Vegas entertainment scene. After performing at the Sands Hotel and Casino, the famous group would bring their “life’s a party” attitude to the bar at Golden Gate Hotel & Casino in downtown.
When Golden Gate underwent a major renovation in 2013, the owners made sure to preserve this original bar, and all the history that comes with it. This means you can literally have a drink in the same exact place where “Old Blue Eyes” sipped his whiskey, now called Bar Prohibition.
Insider tip: If your budget is tight, you can book an affordable room at Golden Gate, and get complimentary access to amenities at Circa Resort & Casino.
13. Get Authentic Oxtail Soup at Market Street Cafe in The Cal
Any foodies out there looking for hidden culinary gems in Las Vegas? Market Street Cafe at the California Hotel & Casino is the holy grail of authentic Hawaiian cuisine in Sin City. In particular, the signature oxtail soup might be the best thing you’ll eat during your entire Vegas trip.
Packed with flavor, the tender oxtail meat and deeply flavored broth will haunt you until you can return to downtown Las Vegas for another taste.
Insider tip: The oxtail soup is only served between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., so plan accordingly. It’s definitely the ideal late-night dish after a night out on the town.
Discover Downtown Vegas Secrets at Fremont Street Experience
Fremont Street Experience is the place to be if you want to see a different side of Las Vegas. Dive into the vintage Vegas vibes, energetic atmosphere and action-packed attractions that this side of town has to offer. See you downtown.
Take a thrilling ride on the SlotZilla zipline in downtown Las Vegas.
