Today we woke up and the guys went to South Point for a poker tournament while the girls stayed behind to take it easy. We’ve had two really busy days back-to-back, so a slower morning felt good. By lunchtime, we were ready to head into town in search of shopping. I did a ChatGPT search and it pointed us to the luxury shops, but I said no, we need something more affordable. So then I asked for medium to low-end shopping, and it suggested Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile. It was supposed to have lots of restaurants and stores.
We grabbed an Uber and headed over — definitely the dirtiest one yet. It reeked of weed, and we laughed that we were probably getting secondhand high. And of course, as always in Vegas, they route you through the casino before you ever reach the shopping area.
The shops felt dated — old-style mall stores and mostly chain food court options. It was the total opposite of what we were looking for.
We pulled up a map to find our way out, popped out onto the street, and ended up near Paris Las Vegas.
I looked over and saw a restaurant called Alexxis, part of the Paris hotel, so I pulled up my phone, made a quick reservation, and we were able to sit right out on the porch. The timing worked out perfectly — the boys had just finished at South Point and Ubered over to meet us for lunch. The weather was perfect, the menu offered both breakfast and lunch, and Tracie and I shared a pitcher of sangrias — life was good. We ordered French dips, which were delicious and completely filled us up, while the boys shared a pizza.
If it hadn’t been for the Formula 1 setup, we would have had a front-row view of the Bellagio fountains, but the grandstands blocked it this week. Still, the people-watching was great — the different pairs of showgirls walking the street in full costume, posing for photos and charging tourists, and plenty of characters passing by to keep us entertained the entire meal. After lunch, we decided to give shopping another try and headed to Caesars Palace. We found ourselves in the Forum Shops, which were beautiful but filled mostly with high-end stores. We browsed a bit, found a few okay places, and then decided to call it a day and go back to rest.
Our Uber driver, Robert, was excellent — patient with the traffic and the surge pricing — and he got us back safely. After a quick recharge and some phone charging, we called another Uber and headed back out, this time to the Cosmopolitan.
The Cosmopolitan was gorgeous when we walked in — modern, artistic, and full of energy. There’s funny artwork everywhere, crazy restaurant names, and more food options than you can count. I loved the vibe instantly.
We had our list of speakeasies and decided to start with the one that had a donkey on the door — Ghost Donkey.
To find it, you have to go to Block 16 Urban Food Hall and look for a small wooden door with a donkey painted on it. There were only a few people in line, and within minutes we were inside. It was tiny — only 27 people fit — but so cute and colorful inside.
We grabbed seats and loved the atmosphere. The bartender was fantastic. Tracie and I ordered Pancho’s Passion Fruit Margarita — I hadn’t noticed it was made with mezcal, and even Tracie, who usually likes mezcal, thought it was too smoky. We ended up passing them over to Glenn.
Then the bartender made a special drink with tequila, cucumber, passion fruit, ginger beer, and club soda — it was so good we both ordered one.
Tim ordered a Octavio Old Fashioned. We split chicken and mushroom-steak nachos, which ended up being dinner.
We needed to head back to the first floor to find the next place.
After that, we went to the Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails, which is literally hidden behind a working barbershop. When we walked up, people were actually getting haircuts, and the doorman was standing by a rope like it was a nightclub. I tried to figure out where to line up, walking backward while looking for the entrance, and he laughed and said, “You are so weird.” I whispered, “I’m trying to find out how to get to the speakeasy!” He unclipped the velvet rope then waved us in.
Inside, we walked through an actual barbershop. We passed a man mid-wax with four Q-tips sticking out of his ears and nose — something we’ll never forget.
We walked to the back where the host slid open a small window, and when we said we were there for the speakeasy, he opened the door and let us in.
The room was beautiful — leather sofas, moody lighting, and vintage barware lining the shelves. The host said they had reservations coming in at nine, but since it was only 7:45, we could stay for an hour and enjoy the early live music.
Tracie & I ordered Santo Old Fashioneds made with tequila instead of whiskey, and they caught us off guard as they were surprisingly strong. We ended up adding OJ so we could drink them. Tim ordered an Irish Honey cocktail and absolutely loved it. Glenn went for a margarita, and we all laughed about our tacky add of OJ.
We enjoyed this venue so much! Finding these places was part of the fun. A one-man band stood up for his sound check and started singing 80s songs, so of course, we sang along with him until just before 9 p.m., when it was time to give up the table for the next group.
Our last stop of the night was The Ski Lodge, also hidden inside the Cosmopolitan.
It was decorated for Christmas — lights, trees on the tables that doubled as lamps, money pinned all over the walls, and even tiny bras hanging on the mini lamp trees. We couldn’t stop laughing. We ordered margaritas — mine with salt, Glenn and Tracie’s with tajín — and Tim tried a Rocky Box, a rich coffee-based drink that fit the cozy ski-lodge vibe perfectly.
When we left we went back in the maze of doors, when Tracie left to find the restroom she struggled trying to find her way back in!
It was an adventurous night of fun, and we loved the entire atmosphere of the Cosmopolitan.
As we walked out to the ride share area, still laughing, our Uber driver Kimberly picked us up. She was great — friendly, and even suggested we should check out the new Fontainebleau. It was the perfect end to a full, unforgettable day in Vegas.
INSTRUCTIONS to find the Speakeasie at The Cosmopolitan (in order: E-Donkey → The Barbershop → Ski Lodge)
1. Start with the “E Donkey” Speakeasy
This is Ghost Donkey, the tequila & mezcal speakeasy on Level 2 of Block 16 Urban Food Hall.
How to find it:
Go to Level 2 of the Boulevard Tower. Walk toward Block 16 Urban Food Hall (follow signs for “Street Food” or “Block 16”). Look for a small green door with a pink neon donkey on it. Push the door — it doesn’t look like a bar entrance, but it is. Inside is a tiny, lively mezcal bar. Perfect first stop.
2. Next: The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails
A hidden whiskey bar behind a real barbershop.
How to find it:
Stay in the Boulevard Tower, casino level (Level 1). Look for The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails — it looks like a normal vintage barbershop. Walk inside the barbershop. Find the unmarked janitor-style door in the back. A hostess will open it and let you into the speakeasy. Inside: live music, whiskey cocktails, and a cool Prohibition vibe.
3. Finish at The Ski Lodge
This one is tucked inside Superfrico, next to OPIUM Theater.
How to find it:
Head to the Chelsea Tower, Level 2. Look for Superfrico (psychedelic Italian restaurant). Ask hostess of Superfrico how to find The Ski Lodge. You will be directed from there, it is hidden in this area.
Happiness is Possible 