ATG Hidden Gems

Guide to Las Vegas Valentine's Day Spots

The Las Vegas valley is more than just The Strip, as it contains a variety of cultures and communities that contribute to this city’s identity. FEATURE’s roots first started in Chinatown, located in the bold heart of Las Vegas. Music, art, and fashion are embedded within our DNA, and without Las Vegas’ local contributions, we wouldn’t be where we are today. With that, our ongoing ATG Hidden Gems series continues as we highlight local Las Vegas spots that embody our ‘All Things Good’ motto.

With Valentine’s Day soon approaching, it's imperative to plan the perfect Valentine’s Day celebration, whether you’re hanging out with friends or planning a romantic date with a loved one. With that comes finding the ideal spot to celebrate. Over countless options are provided in this exciting city, and we have carefully selected a handful of local hidden gems that will make your Valentine’s Day one to remember.

Mas Por Favor Taqueria y Tequila

Picture it: delicious tacos, mouthwatering tequila cocktails all located in a hidden and intimate speakeasy setting placed in the heart of Chinatown near one of our FEATURE brick-and-mortar locations. “It doesn’t make you feel like you’re in Las Vegas or anywhere near The Strip,” says co-founder Jai Shaun White. This restaurant serves an array of Mexican-inspired dishes with a severe twist. At the front of this hidden gem is a cantina-style restaurant, but in the back is a secret tunnel that leads you to a speakeasy parlor that emerges you into vintage and intimate escape. Inside the reservation-only speakeasy are bold murals, an archway filled with roses, and a wall featuring nothing but skulls. Sip on cocktails and enjoy the intimate atmosphere of this one-of-a-kind gem.

Mas Por Favor Taqueria y Tequila offers an array of food and beverages, including plant-based options. “We felt like the city was missing something unique. A lot of big cities have speakeasies, so we decided to bring that concept to Las Vegas,” says Jai Shaun White. Some of Mas Por Favor’s most popular items include their Al Pastor Street Taco and Pho-Kni signature tacos, available during lunch, dinner, or late at night. Their signature drinks include the Down The Rabbit Hole, Great Balls of Fire, and Passion De Fresa. With comfortable couch sets, high-top tables, and nooks, Mas Por Favor is the perfect hidden gem to celebrate the most romantic day of the year. “What sets Mas Por Favor apart is simply our food, such as our non-traditional twists on tacos along with the hidden speakeasy,” says Jai Shaun White.

We sat down with Jai Shaun to ask him a few more questions:

For those that have not heard of Mas Por Favor, how would you describe it?

I would describe Mas Por Favor as a very unique experience. With a subtle vintage Mexican feel, you get lost in the tunnel and travel to the back of the lounge where there is a tequila bar and a very unique menu with signature tacos and drinks.

If you had to pick one or two items on the menu, what would you recommend first-timers to try?

If I had to recommend one item it would be the F Bomb Taco, which is basically Fritos in a bag with any type of protein you’d like. It is a unique spin on something I grew up eating. As far as drinks go, I would definitely get the Great Balls of Fire.

What is Mas Por Favor’s connection to the local Las Vegas community?

We have a speakeasy a lot of people don’t know about, so it's kind of traveled through word of mouth through Las Vegas along with social media and the connection to the locals. This was something generated by the people who are from here that have shown support to make it popular.

On February 14th, Mas Por Favor Taqueria y Tequila is hosting an Anti-Valentine’s Day celebration for single women with half-off of all specialty cocktails 6 pm to close, along with a DJ starting at 9 pm.

For additional details, visit their website at https://www.masporfavorlv.com/

Vegas Test Kitchen

Located next to Fergusons Downtown in Downtown Las Vegas, Vegas Test Kitchen was designed during early 2020 to create a home and creative outlet for the talented chefs in the Las Vegas community. Vegas Test Kitchen was established by Jolene Mannina, the President of SecretBurger.com and the former culinary director for the Life is Beautiful Festival. Mannina saw an opportunity for a vacant restaurant space next door to Ferguson’s Downtown and decided to create a new concept that served the community and put a spin on the standard restaurant offering. Vegas Test Kitchen offers a variety of cuisines weekly that derive from celebrated chefs. As an elevated yet casual dining experience with a full bar, Vegas Test Kitchen is currently home to seven different restaurant concepts: Brown Bagger Sandwich Co., The Black Pearl, Yukon Pizza, Pop ‘N Pies,’ Binky’s Italian, This Mama’s House, and Paradise City Creamery. Whether celebrating Valentine’s Day with friends or that special someone, explore this hidden off-the-strip gem with chefs that are as varied as the cuisines being served. Where else can you get pizza, pie, ice cream, and tacos all in one sitting? Explore the vast selection of restaurants and more at https://vegastestkitchen.com/

The Laundry Room

The Laundry Room promises not to air out your dirty laundry. Conceptualized by Corner Bar founder Ryan Doherty, The Laundry Room carries a century’s worth of Las Vegas scandal in debauchery in a limited space. Keeping Las Vegas’ rich storytelling in mind, The Laundry Room is one of Las Vegas's best-kept secrets. It occupies a historic building once the laundry room for the legendary El Cortez Hotel & Casino. Found through a discreet entrance inside Commonwealth located on East Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas, the spot is reservation only. Its maximum capacity is limited to 22 guests, making it an intimate experience unlike any other. With a piano player and meticulously made cocktails, the speakeasy has taken over the rooftop at Commonwealth by transforming it into a sultry rooftop lounge accentuated by a 360-degree view of the Downtown Las Vegas scenery. The Laundry Room brings in a touch of old Vegas glamor with burlesque dancers, lounge singers, jazz bands, and DJs. For reservations, visit https://www.laundryroomlv.com/ 

The Underground Speakeasy & Distillery

With Las Vegas’ rich history in mind, travel back in time to the Prohibition era (but not literally) this Valentine’s Day at The Underground Speakeasy & Distillery. During Prohibition, thousands of speakeasies operated in hard-to-find places to satisfy the country’s thirst. With informative and entertaining exhibits that satisfy the historical buff, including videos and artifacts telling the stories of the Roaring Twenties, The Underground Speakeasy & Distillery adds to the allure of the infamous Mob Museum located in Downtown Las Vegas. Access to this Prohibition-era speakeasy is granted only to those who can find the hidden entrance and recite the week's password, which can be found on their website. Their cocktails are served uniquely, referencing the creative ways drinks were acquired during Prohibition. One cocktail is served in a hollowed-out book, while the ‘Bath Tub Fizz’ is served in a miniature bathtub. This one-of-a-kind experience makes the perfect location to celebrate Valentine’s Day, whether with friends or that special someone. For this week’s password and additional information, go to https://themobmuseum.org/underground/

The Golden Tiki

The next hidden gem we’ve selected brings us right back to the heart of Chinatown. The Golden Tiki is a unique tiki bar that embodies an exotic and subsea gloom. The Golden Tiki is nothing short of subtle, stocked with skulls, carved wood, cargo nets. Going big with the decor, this spot would make any Valentine’s Day celebration memorable. The Golden Tiki transports you to a faraway island where any cocktail can be set on fire. The decorations themselves offer their form of entertainment, including cases of shrunken celebrity heads along with a monster-sized clamshell. The Golden Tiki captures escapism's true essence and provides a one-of-a-kind experience only offered in Chinatown, Las Vegas. With a good collection of spirits and cocktails, you can even get classic dole whip and spice it up with dark rum or their house-made pineapple vodka. Make your reservation and explore the menu at https://www.thegoldentiki.com/ 

Make this year’s Valentine’s Day celebration one to remember with our selection of local Las Vegas hidden gems. Take in the unique spots that Sin City offers with whoever you celebrate with. Still in need of some gift inspiration? Take a look at our Valentine’s Day Gift Guide to find the perfect gift for that special someone in your life.