Casinos, gangsters, atomic testing sites, excessive use of neon. Las Vegas has a storied past to be sure. Despite having spent most of its existence as an actual desert, it is by no means a cultural desert. It's my intention to provide a handy guide to some of the hip, artistic, curious spots in Vegas, straight from a self-proclaimed hipster.
Perhaps the most well known of the lesser-known neighborhoods of Las Vegas, a respectable hipster guide would be incomplete without mentioning the Arts District. It's one of those unique neighborhoods where locals and tourist coexist harmoniously. Just a little north of the Strip and just a little south of Fremont, it occupies a liminal space in the Vegas collective consciousness. Rather than shout out any particular establishments, I would simply encourage exploration, a self-led tour. It's a very walkable neighborhood, spanning about a mile along Main St. and the peripheral streets. Murals, arts galleries, coffee shops, bars, restaurant, and vintage clothing shops abound. You don't even have to be a self-proclaimed hipster to appreciated all that! (It helps though). Did I mention the city's brewing district also happens to be located here? Curl up your handlebar mustache, toss on some skinny jeans, and strut proudly through the Arts District to your hipster heart's content.
I considered dividing the article into segments like "art," "coffee," "books," etc, but soon ran into an issue. Some spots can't be neatly classified and concurrently occupy multiple niches. One such entry is The Writer's Block. Part bookstore, part coffee shop, all vibe. The cozy atmosphere welcomes you immediately. The shop itself is adorable and sells stationary and knick-knacks in addition to literary materials. The attached coffee shop is a great place to settle in and read your latest purchase, maybe do some homework (maybe not). Location wise, The Writer's Block is a little odd. It's very close to Las Vegas Blvd, but it's several blocks south of Fremont, far enough away to feel like a small island to its own with no other attractions in sight. Except for...
The Beverly Theater! Directly next door to The Writer's Block, this duo forms a hipster bastion against the likes of pawn shops and showy celebrity restaurants. The Beverly also fills multiple niches; movie theater, live music venue, and event space. The movies aren't your standard blockbuster releases though, we're talking about your indie films, cult classics, and nostalgia trips. The concerts here also lean indie, which is fun and dare I say, hip.
We'll come back to music, but I want to segue into something perhaps more fundamental. Something that literally starts the day for many folks. (Coffee, he's talking about coffee). I really don't mean to disparage this city I love, but typically Las Vegas does not rank in the top coffee destinations. That being said, it's not impossible to find some great beans and vibe out in the process! Here's my top picks for coffee in terms of both quality and atmosphere. The aforementioned Writer's Block of course, and in no particular order:
Vesta Coffee Roasters (Classic hipster vibe, Arts District location is my fav)
Bad Owl (vaguely wizard-themed)
Mothership (solid brand, locations all over)
Bungalow Coffee Co (expansive space, really tasty specialty lattes)
I would just like to qualify my picks and say that I am not one of those people that can detect "notes" in coffee and I have never once ordered an iced caffeinated beverage. I enjoy straight up coffee and fancy lattes (hot) and I'm by no means an expert! I only have one golden rule when it comes to coffee and that rule is... No Starbucks! I hope you like these spots, but they're only a drop in the coffee cup of the Vegas coffee scene.
And finally, as promised, I wanted to discuss the music scene in Las Vegas. First off, there IS a local music scene. It's there and it's thriving, it's just a little tough to find. That's where this guide comes in! If you're looking for megastars and top bands, yeah, they're here. You don't even have to look for that, the moment you start typing "trip to Las Vegas" you'll immediately be bombarded with ads for all the big names playing while you're in town. I want to tell you about the real stuff. After all, an essential part of being a hipster is going to the local dive bar, drinking a PBR, and watching a concert with like 7 people in the crowd. But you're a part of that crowd! Again, in no particular order, here's a few venues that host smaller touring bands and also have regular local acts playing:
Red Dwarf (tiki-punk dive bar, great atmosphere)
Grey Witch (magic-themed sister to the Red Dwarf, a little bigger and more refined)
The Griffin (usually just a bar, hosts concerts in the back room which is literally just a room)
The Usual Place (deceptively cool spot)
If I may deviate from my prepared remarks, I have a couple more spots to note. For all your daredevil pizza related needs, look no further than Evel Pie on Fremont St. Quite possibly the only Evel Kenievel themed pizzeria in the country, nay, the world! Their pizza is great, their prices...also great!
Two more Fremont entries while we're at it. Downtown Container Park is fairly touristy, but even the more hardened hipster would still appreciate it, at least "ironically." Multiple shops houses in shipping containers with a metal mantis mascot that bursts flames at regular intervals, it's definitely worth a visit!
While you're on Fremont St visiting the Mantis, if you head a little further down the road you will encounter Fergusons Downtown, another Fremont gem. This converted motel is now home to a motley crew of cute shops and a very chillable open courtyard. If it sweetens the deal, one of the previously mentioned Mothership Coffee locations is here too!
If you've reached this point, then you're equipped to have a wonderful hipster holiday in Las Vegas! I could name all the good breweries, record shops, etc, but I have to leave some mystery and wonder after all. So whether you're in town for a few days or a local looking to expand your horizons, have fun exploring this crazy, cool city!
