Commonwealth

Commonwealth is what happens when cocktail nerds take over a three-story building in downtown Vegas and decide to make every floor a different vibe. Ground floor? Moody Victorian speakeasy. Second floor? Secret bar inside a functioning laundromat (yes, really). Rooftop? Open-air views of old Vegas neon. All of it? Absolutely worth your time.

Three Floors, One Happy Hour

When: Daily, 4pm-7pm (first floor and rooftop)
The Deals: Select cocktails $8, draft beers $5, wines $7. Food specials include cheese and charcuterie $12, chicken wings $10, sliders $8-10.

The beauty of Commonwealth is you can bounce between floors and vibes without leaving the building. Start on the rooftop at 4pm to catch those golden hour views over downtown. As the sun sets, move down to the first floor for craft cocktails in the Victorian-era lounge. If you're lucky (or charming), talk your way into the Laundry Room speakeasy on the second floor.

The Laundry Room Situation

So there's a functioning laundromat on the second floor. Behind it is one of Vegas's most exclusive speakeasy bars. There's a secret knock system. Access is genuinely limited—this isn't theater, it's actually exclusive. Some nights you'll get in, some nights you won't. That's part of the mystique and honestly part of the fun.

Don't stress if you can't access Laundry Room. The first floor and rooftop are equally excellent and way more accessible.

Craft Cocktails Done Right

The bartenders at Commonwealth are legitimate craft cocktail artisans. These folks know their spirits, their techniques, their history. Want a perfectly balanced Last Word? They've got you. Curious about mezcal? They'll guide you through options. Need something refreshing? They'll craft something that fits.

Even at $8 during happy hour, these cocktails would be good deals. The attention to detail, quality of ingredients, and skill level are all there. You're not getting shortcuts or corners cut—just good drinks at fair pricing.

The Rooftop Move

The rooftop bar is the best outdoor drinking spot downtown, especially during that 4-7pm happy hour window when the light is perfect. You get views of the old Vegas neon, the Fremont Street canopy in the distance, and the surrounding downtown skyline.

It's open-air, so check the weather. Vegas is gorgeous most of the year, but summer afternoons can be brutal. Spring and fall? Absolute perfection.

The Vibe Is Eclectic

Victorian-era decor mixed with modern craft cocktail culture sounds weird on paper but works perfectly in practice. Leather booths, vintage chandeliers, exposed brick, and a killer sound system playing everything from vintage vinyl to live jazz.

The crowd is heavily local with adventurous tourists mixed in. Artists, service industry folks getting off shift, couples on date nights, groups celebrating something. Everyone's here for the drinks and the atmosphere, not to be seen.

Fair warning: smoking is allowed, and downtown Vegas bars tend to get smoky. If that bothers you, the rooftop has better airflow.

Strategic Intel

• Arrive at 4pm for the rooftop to claim good seating before the sunset rush
• Weeknights are less crowded and better for actually getting Laundry Room access
• Live music happens regularly—check their socials for schedule
• It's walkable from Fremont Street Experience (about 5-minute walk east)

Food Worth Mentioning

The cheese and charcuterie boards are actually well-curated, not just Costco meat and crackers. Good selection, proper accompaniments, shareable for groups. The wings hit that crispy-spicy-tangy sweet spot.

None of it is groundbreaking, but it's all solid bar food that pairs well with cocktails and won't disappoint.

Why Commonwealth Matters

This is one of the anchors of the Fremont East renaissance—the movement that turned downtown from "sketchy place tourists avoid" to "actual cool neighborhood with culture." Commonwealth represents what Vegas can be when it's not trying to be a corporate theme park.

Come for the craft cocktails. Stay for the rooftop views. Dream about getting into the Laundry Room. Leave understanding why downtown locals are so protective of their neighborhood.

The Move: Start at the rooftop at 4pm, watch the sunset, then head downstairs for cocktails in the Victorian lounge as the evening gets going. Three hours, three drinks, three floors. Perfect happy hour.