Inside Clique: What to Drink at Our Las Vegas Cocktail Lounge
A good Las Vegas cocktail lounge should be able to answer a simple question: what do you actually want tonight? Not what's trending, not what the menu is pushing. What you want. That's the whole premise behind the bar at Clique, and it's why our list is built in sections rather than as one long column.
We're on the casino floor at The Cosmopolitan, open from four in the afternoon. Here's what's on the menu and how to think about it.
Timeless: The Classics, Built Properly
Every serious cocktail bar should be judged on the drinks it didn't invent. These are the ones we make the most, and the ones we'd want you to order first if you're deciding whether we know what we're doing.
- French 75 — Monkey 47 Gin, lemon, Champagne
- Dirty Martini — Belvedere Vodka, dry vermouth, olive
- Espresso Martini — Absolut Vanilia Vodka, Kahlúa, espresso
- Old Fashioned — Bulleit Bourbon, demerara, bitters
- Paloma — Don Julio Blanco Tequila, lime, grapefruit soda
- Negroni — Roku Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth
- Porn Star Martini — Grey Goose Vodka, Passoã, passion fruit, lime, Prosecco sidecar
- Margarita — Código Blanco Tequila, Cointreau, agave, lime
- Mai Tai — Sonrisa Platino Rum, Cointreau, orgeat, lime
- Whiskey Sour — Russell's 10yr Bourbon, lemon, demerara, egg white
- Vesper — Haku Vodka, Tanqueray Gin, Cocchi Americano
- Manhattan — Knob Creek Rye, sweet vermouth, bitters
A note on the Porn Star Martini: it arrives with a Prosecco sidecar. Drink the shot alongside the cocktail, not after. That's how it's meant to work.
Clique Bait: Our Originals
This is the section we spend the most time on. Six drinks, all developed in-house, all built around a specific idea rather than a spirit category.
- Golden Leaf — Botanist Gin, basil, cucumber, lemon, lime. The most refreshing thing on the list and the one to order at five in the afternoon.
- Mishima Sunset — Suntory Toki, grapefruit, lemon, hibiscus, yuzu, egg white. Japanese whisky in a sour format, which sounds unlikely until you've had it.
- So Fresa So Clean — Casamigos Blanco Tequila, Aperol, strawberry, watermelon, lime.
- Mango Sunfire — Skyy Spicy Mango Vodka, tamarind, ginger, lemon, lime, lemonade. The heat builds. That's intentional.
- Peachy Keen — Tito's Vodka, peach, vanilla, lemon, sparkling wine.
- Teasy Does It — Patrón Reposado, Aperol, St. Germain, lemon. Bittersweet, floral, and the closest thing we have to a spirit-forward original.
If you only order one drink from this menu, make it a Clique Bait. That's what the section is for.
Tiny Tinis
Two martinis, served small, built for people who want something sharp and savory without committing to a full glass.
- Hot & Dirty — Belvedere Vodka, cherry peppers, brine
- Dill, Sour Cream & Onion — sour cream-washed Bombay Gin, dill-infused dry vermouth, green onion
The second one is exactly what it sounds like, and it is our most argued-about drink. Fat-washing gin with sour cream gives it a weight and roundness you can't get any other way. People order it as a joke and then order a second one.
Fast & Flirty
Two shots, both made properly rather than poured out of a well.
- Don Sandia — Flecha Azul Blanco Tequila, Cointreau, watermelon, lemon
- Jelloranges — Aspen Vodka, orange, cream
Sober Curious
Non-alcoholic drinks that aren't an afterthought. If you're not drinking, you should still get something built for you.
- Faux Real — Amalve Blanco non-alcoholic, passion fruit, lime, agave, Tropical Red Bull, Tajín
- The Tease — strawberry, passion fruit, lime, orgeat, Coconut Red Bull
Table Snacks
Most cocktail lounges Las Vegas visitors walk into treat food as an obligation. Ours is a real kitchen, and the menu is designed to be shared across a table without anyone needing a knife.
- Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice — fried sushi rice, chile garlic, roasted garlic ponzu
- Yellowtail Sashimi — truffle ponzu, pickled daikon, sriracha, serrano chile, cilantro
- Chips & Dip — black truffle potato chips, French onion dip, Royal White Sturgeon caviar
- Damn Good Meatballs — wagyu beef and Iberico pork, bone marrow tomato sauce, basil pesto bread stix
- Flame Grilled Wagyu Sliders — aged Vermont cheddar, Louis burger sauce, sweet pickle, balsamic onion, skinny fries
- Lollipop Chicken Wings — our signature buffalo sauce, blue cheese for dipping, and some veggies too
- Blistered Shishito Peppers — tosazu miso, togarashi crunch, fresh lemon. We can make these vegan.
- Pigs In Blankets — yes, we tuck them in. Ketchup and yellow mustard.
- Bang Bang Shrimp — spicy harissa aioli, fresh chives
- Mini Maine Lobster Rolls — butter-griddled brioche buns, lobster salad, fresh lemon
The Chips & Dip is the one to lead with. Truffle chips and French onion dip with sturgeon caviar on top is a bar snack pretending to be nothing more than that, and it disappears faster than anything else we send out.
Desserts
- Deep Fried Oreos — Nutella sauce, Frangelico, marshmallow crème, vanilla vodka
- The Dancing Monkey — banana donut holes, peanut butter crème anglaise, chocolate cognac sauce
How to Order
If you don't know what you want, don't say "surprise me." Give whoever's behind the bar three things: a spirit you like, a direction — citrus, bitter, herbal, spirit-forward — and how strong you want it. "Gin, citrusy, not too sweet" takes four seconds to say and gets you something built for you rather than something guessed at.
Sit at the bar if there are two of you. It's the best seat in the room, the service is direct, and you'll get recommendations you wouldn't get from a menu. Tables make more sense for four or more.
And if a drink isn't right, tell us. We'd rather remake it than watch you finish something you're not enjoying.
When to Come
Four to six. The quietest and, if you care about the drinks, the best. The room is calm and whoever's behind the bar has time to actually build something for you.
Seven to nine. Pre-dinner and pre-show. Good energy, still easy to have a conversation.
Ten onward. The lights come down, the DJ takes over, and the room shifts. This is Clique at full tilt — no cover, no minimum, just a different version of the same place.
Reservations are worth making on Friday and Saturday.
Sins & The City
One more thing. There's a QR code on our menu that says Scan to confess your Sin City sins. It isn't decorative. What gets confessed gets featured on our social accounts and in our weekly newsletter, names withheld.
What happens in Vegas gets confessed at Clique. Make of that what you will.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Clique Bar & Lounge?
Clique is a Las Vegas cocktail lounge on the casino floor at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. It opens at four in the afternoon and runs to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday. There's no cover and no table minimum.
What should I order at Clique?
Start with something from Clique Bait, our originals section — the Golden Leaf early in the evening, the Teasy Does It if you want something bittersweet and spirit-forward. From the classics, the Old Fashioned and the French 75 are the two we make most often.
Does Clique have food?
Yes. A full table snacks menu built for sharing, including wagyu sliders, mini Maine lobster rolls, spicy tuna crispy rice, and truffle chips with caviar. The shishito peppers can be made vegan.
Are there non-alcoholic options?
Two built cocktails in our Sober Curious section — Faux Real and The Tease — plus a full range of beer, wine, and soft drinks.
Do I need a reservation?
Not on a weeknight. Friday and Saturday, and any group of four or more, we'd recommend it.
Is there a dress code?
Smart casual. A collared shirt or a nice top and closed-toe shoes will always be right. Skip athletic wear.
Come Find Us
Clique is on the casino floor at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, open daily from four. Whether you want a quiet drink before dinner or the version of the night that runs until three, it's the same room — it just changes gears.
Looking for more of the city? Our guide to the best Las Vegas lounges and cocktail bars covers where else to go.