Fremont East, which comprises six blocks from Las Vegas Boulevard to 8th Street and from Ogden Street South to Carson, is probably the most authentic entertainment area in Las Vegas. Developed beginning in the early 2000s, the district is now home to several quality well-priced bars and restaurants, a luxury high-rise condo, two concert venues, a couple of high-end apartment projects (with more on the way), and the historic El Cortez casino.
A couple of weekends ago, I spent an evening exploring its many facets and though my expectations were high, they were all exceeded.
My first stop was Siegel’s 1941 at El Cortez. Full disclosure: I’m a long-time marketing consultant to the property and the three owners (Kenny Epstein, Mike Nolan, and Joe Woody) are close friends of mine. CDC Gaming Reports has been certifying their low slot hold and loose blackjack tables for many years, but that doesn’t stop me from singing the praises of El Cortez, including Siegel’s 1941 – a 24-hour restaurant with an excellent well-priced menu (EaterVegas recently named Siegel’s one of the best places to have breakfast and a top choice for enjoying Christmas dinner).
One further note: Driving anywhere after having more than two drinks is not only morally offensive, a Nevada DWI conviction will put you through several days of hell, as well as devastate your finances. If there’s a chance that I’ll have more than a couple of pops in an evening, I either take the bus or use Uber; in this case I stayed overnight in one of the recently renovated tower rooms (very nice) at the El Cortez.
After dinner I detoured a few blocks south to the Historic Fifth Street School to catch a wonderful, but poorly attended, performance by Leftover Cuties, a Los Angeles jazz group brought to town by the City of Las Vegas Cultural Affairs. The city does a good job of planning and pricing ($15), but their marketing is practically limited to word-of-mouth. (Go to https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Residents/Arts-Culture for information on upcoming programs.)
Following the concert, I met up with somewhat questionable companionship for a scratch-the-surface tour of a few East Fremont nightspots.
First stop was Therapy, located on the north end of the Fremont between 6th and Las Vegas Boulevard. We only had drinks there (PBR draft $5.41, house Cab $7.57), but their menu is extensive, well-priced, and according to my companions very good.
The next stop was at one of my new favorite watering holes, the Downtown Cocktail Room (Las Vegas Blvd. just south of Fremont). Very dark, very chic, and rather cheap ($5 for beer and wine). In addition, as with a couple of other Fremont East spots, the Downtown Cocktail Room has a great back-room bar that many of the local regulars don’t even know about. No problem getting in (except if it’s being used for a private party).
We then walked across the street to Hennessy’s Tavern for some excellent Bloody Marys ($7.74 each).
After saying goodbye to my friends, I finished the evening at Don’t Tell Mama, a piano bar on the south side of Fremont. Named after a song from Cabaret, Don’t Tell Mama was originally a branch of one of my New York nightspots, but when the owners sold the NYC property, they kept control of the Las Vegas version, and even imported several of the bartenders. Patrons are encouraged to perform, but because of the bar’s high standards (and they don’t provide Karaoke-style lyrics), the performances are usually quite decent. The night I was there, I was able to enjoy a glass of Cab and a wonderful rendition of “Me and Bobby McGee” for only $7.
As I walked past the late-night happy hour at IKE’s bar at El Cortez, I couldn’t help notice how young the crowd was. Unlike other nearby casinos, El Cortez doesn’t actively market to Millennials (no esports or skill-based gaming), but its proximity to two concert venues, at Container Park and the Fremont County Club, as well as its well-maintained authenticity, does attract a Millennial crowd.
Although I plan to check out several other neighborhoods in Las Vegas in the next few months (including parts of the Strip), I look forward to my next night-owl tour of Fremont East.
Next Up: Christmas in Las Vegas
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You must be getting your meals comped at Siegel’s.
No one would pay for the crap. They think they are a fancy
place with high prices and not that good food.
The place is always empty, so I am not the only one that
thinks this way. $12. for an omelet, really.
Fremont East? Yes please,more.
How do you all of those places?
There are dive bars and such,as well.
That area has really opened up to the tourist people looking for a good time.
Not in the past,as Kevin Lewis said.
Body armor and a large dog or a very big wing man.
Please tell us more of what you like and,certainly what you disapprove of in East Fremont.
Yeah ,there are still “street people” there,asking for a hand out. They are there in every city.
People are mostly OK,just a few are not so friendly.
Used to be crack town,not so long ago.
Define “friendly” for us.
1941? I have not tried that place. I will. Thanks. Maybe not for my first meal of the day.
Dave in Seattle.
Siegel’s is pretty good quality and pretty high prices. However, their service is terrible. Awful. Shameful. Ridiculously slow even when the joint is deserted. No reason to go there other than not wanting to brave the walk down to the 4Q for a coffee shop meal.
I’ve found the new refurbished East Fremont area to be your basic “hipster vibe” area of loud, frenetic music and overpriced food and drink. I mean, really–$5-7 for a bottle of beer? Would you pay $36 for a six-pack of that? $14 burgers? I mean, yeah, if you were in the middle of Manhattan, maybe, but cheap eats and drinks are just a few blocks away. I can’t see the area as a destination.
Also, there are a LOT of people living there in weekly/monthly housing. The bars blare music out their doors long into the night. It’s impossible to get any sleep nearby most nights, a problem that also affects guests in the El Cortez. I don’t get it, that these bars (especially the ones in Container Park) are allowed to blast music onto the street until four in the morning. East Fremont is a RESIDENTIAL area!!
I can certainly see why money was poured into the fringe areas of downtown to make the place less horrific and dangerous, but a LOT more needs to be done before the area is remotely attractive. There have been many fits and starts of downtown development over the years, such as the still mostly vacant condo tower next to the El Cortez. Most entrepreneurs downtown have failed or are barely managing, because drunken Millennials on Friday nights aren’t enough to keep a nightclub/restaurant area going.
Not yet ready for prime time,Kevin?
OK,I’ll go along with your opinion.
If you can drink almost everywhere,why pay 6 bucks for a bottle of beer?
Entertainment value is right up there in my good time priorities.
If it ain’t fun,I’m not going there.
I’ll still go there to explore,anyway. I don’t have any body armor.(Makes me laugh)
Thank you.