An Insider’s Guide to Las Vegas’s Hottest Neighborhood

The Downtown Arts District is the place to be in Las Vegas. The fast-growing neighborhood is a magnet for hip new restaurants, bars, shops, and galleries, and shows no signs of slowing down.

Officially known as the 18b Las Vegas Arts District, based on the initial number of blocks, the area dates back to the 1940s, when it was a modest mix of residential and commercial spaces. Over the years, it became more industrial and quietly developed a reputation as a cultural hub between the tourist corridors of the Strip and Downtown's Fremont Street.

Eventually, the City of Las Vegas caught on and made investments of its own: string lights, tree-lined sidewalks, and commissioned murals and other artwork to complement the surroundings. In the next few years, the neighborhood will also serve as the new home for an expanded Neon Museum, the official Evel Knievel Museum, and more parking—the neighbor's most scarce resource. 

There have been a few growing pains along the way. Some longtime businesses have been priced out and it's only a matter of time before the resistance to gambling and national chains is tested, but for now, it's time to feed the meter and discover why the Downtown Arts District has so much buzz.

Before it had brunch and booze, the Arts District was a hotspot of second-hand antique shops. Main Street Mercantile has an intriguing selection of clothes and home decorations without going overboard, while Vintage Vegas Antiques is a trip back in time with vintage furniture and stereo equipment with design-your-own custom neon signs. Yet you may find the best bang for your junk at Antique Alley Mall—a collection of 65 individual stalls for a true flea market shopping experience. For books and vinyl, head to Analog Dope, which features a culturally diverse selection that amplifies Black culture.

If you want to see as much art as possible in one place, head to the Arts Factory, a collection of more than 30 galleries, studios, and performance spaces on two levels. Follow the winding, labyrinth-like hallways and you'll see some of the most compelling paintings, photography, and drawings—plus other forms of multimedia. In terms of live productions, the Majestic Repertory Theatre has developed a reputation for pushing the boundaries of what's possible in an intimate space, with an eclectic run of shows, from familiar favorites like Sweeney Todd and Cabaret to world premieres of imaginative, quirky productions that cycle in and out. Lastly, Artistic Iron Works is an expansive 33,000-square-foot showroom that deals in all things wrought iron, from gates and staircase railings to fascinating and often bizarre art pieces.

First Friday is a monthly block party and art walk in one. Taking place on the first Friday of every month (5–11 pm), the event switches up the theme each time but always makes a point to include food trucks and a beer garden while featuring the works of local artists and live entertainment. The atmosphere exceeds the imprint, which dominates the area around Boulder Avenue and Art Way (near Charleston), effectively expanding throughout the Arts District with various businesses unofficially getting in on the act while offering discounts and specials.

If you need a crash course in what the Arts District is all about, sign up for a dinner crawl with Lip Smacking Foodie Tours. You'll eat at three restaurants in one night (always subject to change but currently includes Esther's Kitchen, Palate, and the Pepper Club), sampling the signature dishes each place is known for with the option to add a drink package. Yet the experience isn't just about food. The guides are knowledgeable and experienced, discussing the history of the neighborhood while pointing out artwork and other landmarks along the way.

Some of the best eats in Vegas: The Arts District is equally (and perhaps even more so) a dining district thanks to Esther’s Kitchen, an Italian spot serving fresh house-made pastas, bread (with anchovy butter, please), and pizzas prepared with produce bought directly from local farmers markets. SoulBelly BBQ is one of the best places for barbecue in Vegas, led by Top Chef veteran Bruce Kalman who goes beyond the core menu of barbecue platters and sides with a few fun modifications.

For pizza that rivals NYC: Good Pie's Vincent Rotolo is obsessive about making the perfect pizza, taking time, temperature, and even humidity into account when preparing his dough in a process that includes three days of fermentation. The final product produces a chewy crust that's equally suited for hand-stretched New York style, square-shaped Sicilian or Detroit variations, and the restaurants' signature Grandma pizza: rectangular with a thin crust and tomato sauce drizzled above the cheese. Whatever you get, it’ll pair well with an on-tap Negroni.

For fantastic happy hours: Located in the new Colorado building, Palate is a vibrant restaurant serving Southern fare including fried chicken, biscuits, and jam, along with a happy hour (3–6 pm, Wednesday through Saturday) and a "secret" late-night menu on weekends. Over at Main St. Provisions, one of the neighborhoods best restaurants, hit up the happy hour for oysters and steak sliders at tempting price points. For libations, wine and beer on tap are just $5 a glass Monday through Friday 3–6 pm at Garagiste, one of Vegas’s best wine bars.

For the cocktail connoisseurs: The Velveteen Rabbit is a funky lounge with mismatched vintage chairs, couches, and chandeliers with heavy drapes that would block out the outside world if the windows weren't already boarded up. An ever-changing specials menu is a license for bartenders to get creative with inventive cocktails. Bar Ginza is dark, moody, and specializes in Japanese whiskey; this is where you can get an Old Fashioned or Boulevardier done right, topped with ice imported from Japan. Looking for something more low key? The neighborhood has so many breweries, its best one being Able Baker Brewing, fit with more than 30 brews on tap and an outdoor patio.

Unless you know a good friend with a couch, there's really only one place to spend the night in the Arts District. The English Hotel opened in 2022 as a 74-room boutique resort with a swimming pool, courtyard lounge, and the Pepper Club, featuring Japanese-influenced cuisine and cocktails. No gaming. No kids. Pets are welcome. The rooms are cozy yet stylish, with patios and cocktail carts. The English Hotel will be just one component of the Midtown development, which is planning two high-rise condo buildings, including one affiliated with Marriott, in 2025.

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