Bars Unknown: The Las Vegas Strip Bar Crawl

The best part of Bars Unknown is that it skips the usual casino bar circuit and sends you after speakeasies, rooftops, cheap beer, and odd little drinking spots along the Strip. Guide Jonathan Dez leads the way, sharing practical Vegas tips while you walk, order your own drinks, and learn where the better deals are hiding.

I like the mix of places, from a 1920s-style room behind a barbershop to a tequila bar behind an exit sign. I also like the price: $49 for three hours is fair if you want a guide, a ready-made route, and several useful stops without paying for a private vehicle.

The catch is that the route is flexible, drinks are extra, and most people do not reach the final stop. You need comfortable shoes, valid identification, and enough restraint to enjoy a fast-moving crawl without turning the evening into a costly blur.

Key points at a glance

• A dozen possible stops: Expect a changing mix of bars, rooftops, speakeasies, food halls, and places simply pointed out along the way.
• Jonathan Dez leads in English: He provides the route, local tips, and safety guidance, but he does not provide translation.
• Drinks cost extra: The $49 covers the guide and tour structure, not beer, cocktails, snacks, or food.
• Walking the Strip is part of the plan: There is no transport between stops, and you may legally walk outside with a drink.
• Bring the right ID and some cash: The first stop is cash only, and American and international identification rules differ.
• The finish is flexible: You may end at the Cosmopolitan, BrewDog Las Vegas, or earlier if your group has had enough.

A bar crawl built around surprises

Bars Unknown is not a standard march through sports bars. It is a walking route through the central Strip, with the guide choosing from a long list of options depending on the group, opening hours, pace, and how long people linger.

You may visit around a dozen places, but that number is not a promise that you will sit down for a full drink at every one. Some stops are proper visits. Some are grab-and-go points. Others are places Jonathan points out so you can return on your own later.

That flexibility is both the charm and the limitation. I like not being locked into one rigid schedule, especially in Las Vegas, where a bar may be crowded, a deal may have ended, or a group may want to move on. But you should book this as a guided introduction to Strip drinking spots, not as twelve leisurely tastings.

Jonathan Dez is the main reason the format works. He keeps the group moving, explains where the deals are, and gives you a route that would take time to assemble yourself. A June 2025 booking brought a group of 35 clients, and Jonathan was praised for fitting comfortably into a large group and making people feel they had made a new friend by the end. Another five-star rating specifically praised his help and the chance to learn more about Las Vegas.

Starting at Casino Royale

Meet Jonathan inside the main bar at Best Western Plus Casino Royale, a convenient central-Strip starting point. The first portion includes drinks, local snacks, and a short safety briefing of about 10 minutes.

This first stop is cash only, so carry some bills. You buy your own drink, and you should not assume that a card will work everywhere along the route. The opening briefing also gives you a chance to settle in before the walking begins.

Casino Royale is a useful place to start because the tour quickly moves away from generic casino drinking. You will not be whisked to another part of town. The route stays within walking distance, which keeps the cost down but means you need to pace yourself.

99 Prince Bar and the Linq Promenade

The route then moves on foot for roughly 10 minutes to 99 Prince Bar. The stop may include beer, cocktails, spirits, and views along the way, with about 10 minutes planned for the visit.

After that comes the Linq Promenade, one of the Strip’s most walkable entertainment areas. Here, you may stop for aperitifs, beer, cocktails, wine, street food, and local snacks while taking in the surrounding sights.

The Linq is a useful early stop because it gives you choices. If you want a quick drink, you can keep moving. If you need food before the alcohol catches up with you, this is one of the better points to eat something. The tradeoff is that it is a busy public entertainment zone, not one of the more secretive bars promised later.

Flamingo Wildlife Habitat and The Cromwell

A short photo stop at the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat breaks up the drinking. You may see the resort’s wildlife area, giving the route a little more variety than a straight bar-to-bar march.

The next stop is The Cromwell Hotel & Casino, where the planned visit is brief, about five minutes. Beer, cocktails, wine, and spirits may be available, though the exact stop and time can change.

These short visits show how the crawl works in practice. You may not have time to settle into a long conversation at every location. Instead, Jonathan gives you a taste of several different settings, then keeps the route moving before the evening becomes too slow.

Zanzibar, Fuel Bar, and useful drink deals

The Zanzibar stop allows roughly 20 minutes for drinks and food. The program includes beer, cocktails, wine, street food, and a food-market visit, making it one of the more practical points for anyone who needs something substantial.

Fuel Bar Las Vegas follows with about 15 minutes for beer, cocktails, or wine. This is the sort of stop where you may hear about low-cost pours, happy hours, or a better-value order than you would find at a high-end resort bar.

The tour is especially useful for budget-minded drinkers because Jonathan focuses on deals such as $3 beers, $5 drinks, two-for-one offers, and places with inexpensive beer. You still pay for every drink, so the savings depend on what you order and how many stops you make. A $49 tour can represent good value if you want help finding those prices, but it is not an all-inclusive package.

The Cosmopolitan and three less obvious stops

A photo stop at The Cosmopolitan gives you a chance to see one of the Strip’s more polished resorts and enjoy views along the route. You may then visit three less obvious bars, each allowing roughly 20 minutes.

The examples given for the route include a 1920s speakeasy tucked behind a barbershop and a tequila bar concealed behind an exit sign. Other possibilities include a rooftop with Strip views, a ski-lodge-themed bar, a place serving frozen Baileys, and spots with all-you-can-drink mimosas.

The appeal here is the contrast. One stop may feel polished and theatrical, while the next is small, inexpensive, or easy to miss if you do not know where to look. Jonathan may also point out a dozen additional places without stopping, giving you a personal list for the rest of your Vegas stay.

Do not expect every example to appear on your particular evening. The route is explicitly subjective, and Jonathan has many options. That is good news if you prefer a local’s judgment to a fixed checklist, but less ideal if you have your heart set on one exact bar.

Block 16 and the final stretch

Block 16 Urban Food Hall is another useful food stop, with beer, cocktails, barbecue, and views along the way. It gives you a chance to eat while keeping the evening focused on a mix of food and drink rather than alcohol alone.

The final part includes several additional visits and photo stops, with possible beer, cocktails, street food, and scenic views. Some locations may be quick points of interest, while others allow 10 to 20 minutes.

The advertised finish is BrewDog Las Vegas, though the tour may end at The Cosmopolitan or wherever your group stops. Many people do not make it to the final stop, which is less a flaw than a warning about the pace. You should treat the endpoint as flexible and arrange your evening plans accordingly.

If you need to reach a show, dinner reservation, or nightclub at a precise time, do not schedule it immediately after the full three-hour window. The route, group pace, and number of stops can all affect when you actually finish.

Walking, pacing, and drinking responsibly

Everything is done on foot. The walking sections listed between stops are generally about five to 10 minutes, but the Strip is larger and more tiring than it can appear from a hotel map.

Wear comfortable shoes and dress presentably. Shorts are not allowed, smoking is not allowed, and pets are not allowed except for assistance dogs. The crawl also requires you to be at least 21 and not pregnant.

One unusual advantage is that you can legally drink and walk outside while moving between bars in Las Vegas. That does not mean you should drink quickly. You may be carrying a drink from one location to the next, waiting in lines, crossing busy areas, and walking farther than expected.

Jonathan advises staying hydrated and drinking responsibly. I would take that seriously here, especially because the tour presents many possible stops and you control every purchase. Eat when food is available, alternate with water, and remember that a cheap drink is still alcohol.

Who gets the most from the $49 price

At $49 per person, the tour is priced as a guided route rather than a package of drinks. The guide is licensed and insured, transportation is not included, and you buy everything you consume.

I see the value in three areas. First, you save time by avoiding random casino bars. Second, you may find drink deals that are difficult to locate on your own. Third, Jonathan can show you places and explain the layout of the Strip while you walk.

The price works best for a first or second Las Vegas visit, a group that wants a ready-made night out, or anyone who enjoys variety more than settling into one bar. It can also suit girls’ trips, couples, bachelor and bachelorette groups, boys’ trips, team outings, and people marking a recent divorce.

Large groups should ask themselves how well they handle a moving route. Jonathan has led a group of 35, so he has experience working with a sizeable party, but any large group will take longer to order and move. If your group wants private conversation and long table time, a fixed bar reservation may suit you better.

Identification, cash, and other practical details

Bring valid government-issued identification. American participants should bring a state ID or driver’s license, and international participants should bring a passport. The guidance specifically notes that a passport is not always accepted for Americans, so a state ID or driver’s license is the safer choice.

Bring cash for one or two cash-only locations, especially the first stop. You also need to pay for your own food and drinks at each place.

The tour is conducted in English only. There is no translation service, so you should be comfortable following spoken instructions, understanding safety guidance, and ordering for yourself in English.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the available start times before booking, since the experience lasts about three hours but the actual finish may be flexible.

My recommendation for different types of visitors

I would choose Bars Unknown if you want to see several sides of Strip nightlife without researching every bar yourself. The mix of cheap beer, happy hours, rooftops, theatrical rooms, food stops, and smaller bars gives the night more character than a standard casino circuit.

I would be more cautious if you dislike walking, need a precise finish time, or want drinks included in the ticket. The route also depends on your group’s stamina and spending choices, so the final bill will be higher than $49.

The strongest feature is Jonathan’s personal route. His friendly, social style has worked for both a very large client group and smaller international visitors, and the five-star ratings support that he is a major part of the appeal. Just remember that the tour is not a tasting menu and not a private car service. It is a flexible, English-language walk through many drinking options.

Should you book Bars Unknown?

Book it if you want local bar-hopping advice, unusual locations, and low-cost drink ideas in the center of Las Vegas. It is a particularly good choice for a group that wants an easy first night and does not mind deciding its own pace.

Skip it if you want a quiet evening, included alcohol, seated time at every stop, or a guaranteed visit to one specific bar. Bring ID, cash, water, and sensible shoes, then treat the route as a guided introduction to Strip nightlife rather than a promise of twelve full drinks.

FAQ

Where does the Las Vegas bar crawl begin?

It begins at the main bar inside Best Western Plus Casino Royale, located on the Center Strip.

Where does the tour end?

The planned finish is BrewDog Las Vegas, but the group may finish at The Cosmopolitan or wherever people decide to stop. Many people do not reach the final stop.

How long does Bars Unknown last?

The scheduled duration is three hours, though the exact finish can vary because the route and the time spent at each stop are flexible.

Are drinks included in the $49 price?

No. You buy your own beer, cocktails, spirits, wine, and snacks. The $49 covers the guided experience, not personal purchases.

Do I need to bring cash?

Yes. The first stop is cash only, and the tour advises bringing cash for one or two other cash-only locations.

What identification should I bring?

Bring valid government-issued ID. Americans should bring a state ID or driver’s license. International participants may use a passport.

Is transportation provided between bars?

No. The tour is entirely on foot, with all stops described as within walking distance along the Las Vegas Strip.

Can people under 21 join the tour?

No. The experience is not suitable for anyone under 21, and it is also not suitable for pregnant women.