If the words “What happens here, stays here” didn’t already give it away, it should be evident that Las Vegas is very good at keeping secrets. Even at a time in which you can take virtual vacations by way of someone else’s Instagram story, you can still uncover hidden surprises on your own – if you know what you’re looking for.
As many have already learned, secrets are in the DNA of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – a resort that long ago declared itself a destination for the “curious” class of traveler. From the moment it debuted its “Secret Pizza” during its 2010 grand opening, guests have enjoyed exploring The Cosmopolitan’s hidden surprises, looking for Instagrammable opportunities and uncovering previously unknown delights they can share with friends.
Chandelier Bar – Cosmopolitan The complimentary cocktails when playing video poker is one reason that the Chandelier Bar is my favorite bar in Las Vegas. Sure, the Cosmopolitan has instituted a drink monitoring system at all of their video poker bars but you’ll still receive better drinks and service than most casino bars in Las Vegas. If you are visiting Las Vegas and are staying at the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, we think it’s worth trying the $20 dollar sandwich trick. When checking into your Cosmopolitan room, put $20 dollars between your ID and credit card and ask the clerk if.
“Secrets should be a reward for those brave enough to seek them out,” says The Cosmopolitan Director of Beverage Jason Wade, who harbors quite a few secrets about the resort’s off-menu, must-try cocktail delights. “There’s a hype level involved that, if social media didn’t exist, would make the lore that much more heralded.”
We asked Wade and others “in the know” to nudge us toward some of the hidden drinks, dishes, and more that you may or may not have heard about already. Here are three worth seeking out.
The Verbena at Chandelier Bar
While the word about this off-menu cocktail gem spread quickly back in the day, you can’t consider it undiscovered until you’ve tried it. The Verbena, a blend of Herradura Blanco tequila, yuzu-kalamansi sour mix, ginger syrup, lemon verbena leaves, and Szechuan button garnish, was, “never intended to be a full-time cocktail,” according to Wade.
“But it blew up for us,” he laughs. “Who are we to say no? Now, if we ever got rid of it, we would face an angry mob.”
Touted as The Cosmopolitan’s “most popular drink of all time,” the Verbena remains off the menu, despite its longtime presence at the Chandelier Bar. You have to ask for it by name if you want to give it a try.
Hotate Nigiri at Zuma
“Having the freedom to play with amazing ingredients and putting together flavors is a great perk,” says Sushi Master Kwang Kim when describing his Hotate Nirigi, an off-the-menu gem at The Cosmopolitan’s Zuma restaurant.
Hotate Nigiri is a Hokkaido scallop sushi made with uni sushi rice and mixed with chives. The dish is lightly seared with brown butter and topped with truffle pate, and finished with salt and Yuzu zest.
It’s an off-the-menu dish because, as Kim explains, it can be served as a special treat to returning guests looking for something new.
“I have always loved using Hokkaido scallops,” Kim says. “About a year ago, I made it for a regular customer who happens to love all things truffle, and he was blown away.”
Unlike other secret dishes that have to be ordered in advance, all of the Hotate Nigiri ingredients are in-house and can be ordered anytime; you have to ask for it by name.
“When I get a guest coming in and asking me for something off the menu I get really excited,” Kim adds.
Ghost Donkey Mezcal and Tequila Bar
Here’s the thing about speakeasies. Once the word is out, is it still a speakeasy? Well, like the aforementioned Verbena, it is until you’ve discovered it,
Famed New York City import Ghost Donkey is The Cosmopolitan’s version of a speakeasy, in the sense that it’s a little tricky to find if you’re strolling casually through Level Two of the resort’s Boulevard Tower. Look for Ghost Donkey toward the rear of the still-fresh Block 16 Urban Food Hall, which debuted in 2018.
“There are 27 seats, so it’s really, really tiny,” explains Wade. That intimate setting will help you and your closest drinking mates enjoy custom flights and specialty cocktails, including the El Diablo Swizzle and Mezcal Supernova.
More Treasures to Discover
The secrets of The Cosmopolitan are not only found in its restaurants and bars, and some experiences, such as Rose. Rabbit. Lie. on Level Two of The Chelsea Tower, can be located rather quickly. Others, not so much.
We’d tell you where to look, but half the fun is finding them on your own.
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The Chandelier Bar, located in the Boulevard Tower at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, is one of the most famous bars in the world. It’s considered by some to be the largest chandelier in the world and was even considered an architectural and engineering marvel when it was built. Even if you’re not staying at the Cosmopolitan, it’s definitely worth it to stop and by and check out this bar and try at least try out one of its unique cocktails discussed below.
The Chandelier Bar actually consists of three separate floors and they each have different hours of operation:
- Level : 24 Hours
- Level 1.5: 6PM – 4AM
- Level 2: 11AM – 11PM
In addition, each level to the bar serves their own distinct cocktails, which I’ll talk more about below. You can expect to pay around $16 for most signature cocktails, although other more standard drinks will be cheaper and might be closer to $12.
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Level 1
Level 1 recently underwent million-dollar renovations and it’s simply stunning. There are two bars on level one (the main bar and the side bar). The bars on level one have video poker machines and also have a drink voucher system. When you put $20 into the video poker machine, you get a free drink and you’ll earn another free drink voucher when you play at least $1 a hand for every 20 minutes that you play after that. I personally don’t play video poker, so I wasn’t able to try it out but I saw a number of people there playing into the wee hours of the morning.
Despite the ultra-swanky appearance of the bar, it doesn’t require a dress code. Since level 1 is also on the casino level, it has a pretty informal feel to it. That’s not to say that folks don’t dress up at all, it’s just that you probably won’t stand out even if you’re dressed more casually since it gets a good amount of casino traffic.
Level 1.5
Level 1.5 is more of a lounge scene since it opens up from 6PM – 4AM. You can access it by taking the immaculate staircase when the bar opens up.
Once you arrive, to level 1.5 year, you’ll be blown away by how beautiful the scene is.
Even if you don’t drink, you should wander around and check it out.
One great thing about the Chandelier Bar is that the bar tenders are exceptional. All of the ours were extremely attentive, personable, effecient, etc. Basically, they were the perfect bartenders.
You’ve got to make it to this level so that you can try the Fire Breathing Dragon cocktail. The drink starts off with covering the rim with pink peppercorns and Thai chili syrup.
The bartender then adds Bacardi DragonBerry and raspberry puree along with red bull and a few other ingredients.
Then, there’s the highlight. Raspberries are dunked into liquid nitrogen and then dropped into the glass, setting off a smoky reaction.
You’ll be given a shot glass full of raspberries to munch on and all it takes is two or three of them to have you breathing smoke out of your nose and mouth. It’s pretty wild. Here’s a video of my experience with the Fire Breathing Dragon.
Level 2
Level 2 can be accessed via the escalator from Level 1 or through the stair case.
The views from Level 2 are exceptional.
There’s also lots of lounge type seating around the bar.
There’a also a side bar located on Level 2.
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The “flower drink” at the Cosmo
If you’ve done any research on this bar or had a friend who has stayed at the Cosmo, you’ve probably heard about the famous “flower drink.” It’s actually called the “Verbena” and although it’s considered somewhat of a “secret drink,” it’s actually been served more than 100,000 times a year at this bar to guests.
The drink itself is something similar to a citrusy tequila-based margarita. But it’s the accessory that comes along with this drink that makes it so special and unique.
You’ll first be instructed to take a few sips of your drink. And then, you’ll be given an edible flower known as a Szechuan button or buzz button, which you’ll eat (and swallow). Within a few seconds, the properties of the flower take effect, which are said to speed up your salivary glands. This creates an intense tingling sensation within your mouth that alters the taste of the drink.
It’s a bit like the sensation you get from pop rocks but even more intense and lasting. When I took a few gulps of my glass of still water, it felt like I was drinking a glass of extremely fizzy sparkling water. Try to avoid brushing your teeth just prior to eating the flower, or it might be overly intense for you due to the interaction with the minty toothpaste (yes, we learned this the hard way).
After you try your Verbena, hang around the bar for a little while and you’ll almost surely be able to watch others try it our for the first time.
Here’s a video of my reaction when trying out the drink:
And here’s Brad:
According to the Cosmo, two other signature cocktails to look into are:
- The Forbidden Fruit: A complex apple-forward cocktail that we’d trade our place in the Garden of Eden for. The name celebrates the symbolism of the iconic apple in religious, mythological, folkloric and artistic traditions throughout the centuries.
- The Infinite Playlist: A updated variation of the classic Old Fashioned, this cocktail has as its base a 12-year rum aged in bourbon barrels, marrying the toffee and oak with vanilla undertones. It’s sleek, modern luxury in a glass.
How Much Does It Cost To Stay At The Cosmopolitan In Las Vegas
Final word
The Chandelier is definitely a bar worth checking out even if you’re not staying at the Cosmo. The visuals are stunning and the unique drink concoctions make it an even more memorable experience.
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Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and creator of the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned full-time credit card rewards/travel expert and has earned and redeemed millions of miles to travel the globe. Since 2014, his content has been featured in major publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Forbes, CNBC, US News, and Business Insider. Find his full bio here.
Cosmopolitan Las Vegas Open
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