A bar. Â That's it. Â And that is all it needs to be! The new (and local!) owners kept the best of this bar, and upgraded the rest. Â Loads of atomic bomb references, an epic neon sign and old-school popcorn ceiling, lend to the great vibe here. Â There's no gaming, and that's a good thing. Â Not quite a dive bar, just a great bar!
Lots of craft beer on the 20 taps (with 10 more taps on the way), I had an Old Rasputin Imperial Stout. Â Very tasty. Â They also have an intriguing cocktail menu. Â Great bartenders, too! Â
The Atomic Liquor Store has liquor license number is 7 (the first six were casinos)' making it the oldest bar in Las Vegas. Â For a kitschy, old-time Vegas experience, at a fun place, I go to the Atomic!
Learned about this bar from a friend and what a unexpected gem.
Has an interesting history I checked it out when we got home.
Nice break from the Vegas rip off clubs, a great local type hang out. I ordered two vodka tonics and was shocked when the tab was 8 dollars, this was at 10:30 PMish. Staff was friendly and the customers a nice crowd.( I am mid fifties middle class)
They had a great food truck outside, I believe the name was Truknyaki, with great food at reasonable prices, we took in to have with our drinks.
It took me a few times to get the vibe of this place. But it grew on me quickly.
Fairly eclectic crowd. Nothing pretentious going on. Most importantly, the staff is genuinely nice. They are always friendly and chatty with a good sense of humor.
Drinks are reasonable.
My only really complaint is that whoever does the music there frequently cuts songs off. Not really sure what that's about... It's usually a song I like too, which gets annoying after the tenth time.
Visited for the first time with friends from out of town last night, and plan on going back soon.
It's a little removed from the barrage of Downtown. Which means most people won't venture, and that you'll get rewarded for doing so.
Plenty of seating. Good specialty drinks. Friendly, fast service. Reasonably priced. Feels like a bar should - music in the background, smoke in the air, murals on the wall, good conversation, no attempt to be something it's not. And the stream of tramps out front is more fun than you would expect.
Go.
This place is great. I can't believe I've never been here before. I've been severely missing out. Old Vegas charm meets unglamorous dive bar. Perfection. This place gets it.
Liam (Door staff) is one of the most genuinely nicest guys in town. He proves that you don't have to be a douche to control the door. **Other bars take note!!
I was told it's the oldest bar in Vegas, but technically there's a bar that's been open (consecutively) longer. I haven't been to that bar either, so as far as I'm concerned this is the oldest. I love the old style memorabilia. Bathrooms are surprisingly clean.
This place rocks! Drinks are cheap and delicious. I was a little hesitant to order a dirty martini in a such a distinct dive bar, but I couldn't stop my mouth from saying the words. Not to worry, because it came out perfect. Absolutely perfect.
Everyone is extremely friendly. Our waitress was adorable and attentive. She told me her name, but of course I forgot.
Patio: Â Unfortunately the view isn't that great.. right now you are just facing a dirt lot, but it's still spacious and nice to have the option. Â
Pros: Bike rake. I'm new to biking, so I'm on the lookout for downtown bars with bike racks.
I didn't see a liquor store section, but apparently you can buy some of the bottles from behind the bar.
Skip the PT's next time you're looking for a laid back bar. Like Mr. Truman said, ATOMIC is the answer (too soon?) Downtown bar for the people who want to not be in the more chaotic/hipster crowd up the street. They say that back in the 1950's you could watch the atomic bomb testings from this bar, well now you can watch the hipsters and social butterflies on 6th/Fremont. Jokes of course, unless you have binoculars or a creeper telephoto lens.
Good selection of craft beers, both local and around the country, ie Anderson Valley, Ballast Point, Tenaya Creek, Joseph James. You can even get the more commercialized brews, ie Busch. Best part? The inexpensive prices $3-7.
Don't like beer though? Fear not you can get your cocktail and wines as well. While there are some nice selections of whiskey, don't expect anything out of the norm. That means while there are craft cocktails, you aren't going to get dazzled and an atomic mushroom cloud is not gonna explode out of your head like the character on the Warhead candies.
The people here are cool, interesting mix of people. Saw a trail mix of Bikers, office workers, birthday celebrators and walnuts of course.
Glad it's open again.
Dunno if they still offer the $1 Horse cock size PBR's,, but last we were in they did and we bought a round for the house. It was a cheap thrill for everyone and I was immediately part of the congregation.
The little pleasures in life really can be a BFD.
Always a fun experience with some really authentic people. Some with advanced degrees, some locals, some tourists,, to some living from hour to hour, but all characters.
You may find it seedy and scary, but we like those kinda places.
You'll most definitely leave here with a story to tell.
Clearly the best bar downtown and a must-visit if you haven't haven't been. It's an echo of the past with one foot in the future.
Drinks: The drink selection is phenomenal without being pretentious.
Seating: Lounge-y and bar seating. You can stay here for hours.
People: The bar staff and ownership are great. The crowd is always a mix of cool people.
Very cool remake of a classic. The owners have gone to great lengths to retain originality and the place just has that natural comfort bar feeling. Service was top notch. Bathrooms are spotless. I have seen cheaper beers but they do have a couple rows of great craft taps! Would recommend,
Review Source:Cool, friendly and laid back crowd with a good modern adaptation of a vintage place. Â The decor is simple and not over done. The prices were reasonably and the service was quick and extremely friendly. Â
The crowd was easy going and a great mix of locals, tourist, age groups and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Â Will have to go back on a Friday or Saturday night and start my Fremont Street pub crawl there next time.
This bar is AMAZING! Head over now before the cancer of East Fremont metastasizes past 10th street and ruins it!!
When these guys reopened the historic Atomic Liquors (a/k/a the Oldest Bar in Vegas TM), they had a choice. They could class it up and serve pretentious drinks at exorbitant prices -- and maybe even install a velvet rope out front, in keeping with the new East Fremont vibe.
Instead, to their EVERLASTING credit, they reopened the Atomic as a solidly unpretentious, irony-free dive bar. They even kept the sparkling popcorn ceilings!!
I went on opening night, when the place was slammed. The bouncer at the door was a cherubic-faced sweetie (!!!! I've NEVER met such a nice bouncer), the bartendress served me immediately, despite the crowd...and the best part was, I got two drinks for $8. This will be my go-to bar from this point on!
FIVE THUMBS UP!!! (Us atomic fallout victims have extra thumbs, don't ya know...)
This historic bar will be re-opening to the public after a complete remodel that faithfully honors the mid-mod architecture inside. When open, it will include an outdoor seating and entertainment area as well. It's always nice to see old dives get a sprucing up and a new lease on life. This is going to be a really special place for many people's pub crawl, and a natural stopping point on the walk east to the Bunkhouse.
Review Source:Damn, I told everyone I knew going to Vegas to check this place out. Â Figured it just couldnt last. Â You can see a bit of the Atomic in "the Hangover" but only if you can recognize it from the sign. Â They probably cut out more prominent shots of the place. Â Somebody please reopen this place and give me a reason to go back to Vegas. Â If they dont you folks ust missed out on the last of a dying breed, especially in Sin City.
Review Source:Atomic Liquor, one of Las Vegas's last remaining links to its Rat Pack Mondo Atomic past, has been closed since the beginning of the year (1/2011) !!
Stella Sobchick who ran the bar with her husband Joseph, passed away on Jan 15th at the age of 91. Joe passed away 3 months earlier also at 91 years. They had run the business for 55 years. I was glad to have met them one of the times they were both in the bar.
My understanding from talking to one of the bartenders at the El Cortez, is the Sobchick's son has no interest in running the place. Hopefully, he can lease out the bar to someone who understands its historic significance and will continue its legacy. In the meantime this is really really depressing news.
There is no finer divebar in Vegas than the Atomic. If you are looking for new friends, simply buy a round of Busch beer for all of the folks at the bar. Hell- they're only a buck each!
Last time I was in there with my peeps from Detroit, a black tranny kindly gave up the booth so my friends could take a seat. Classic!
Ask the tender about Frank and Sammy and Babs visiting the joint, and they'll be more than happy to fill you in on the history.
I recommend the Atomic as a good staging point for subsequent visits to the Hogs 'n Heifers, which is nearby, or even the "Chicas Bonitas" latina strip club in North Vegas. My boy Chad always insisted upon it.
I pine for this place when not there. It's always the first stop when I visit Vegas. We have pretty much just made this place our home away from home. Not only does one  have to get buzzed in, but the clientele is top notch. The crazy nights and crazy people we've encountered here leave nothing but fond memories. This is one of the oldest remaining bars, named after the bomb testing. People actually used to watch the explosions from this place - it was a form of entertainment. Come here, load up and bop next door to the Western and bust out some karaoke with the elders. Love, love, love it.
Review Source:Yeah, this place is pretty old and has obviously never received a renovation, ahhh so much better than Pure!
Pros:
1. $1 cans of Busch, what a great beer
2. Three crappy pool tables, I think they might even be 50 cents
3. Colorful clientele
Cons:
1. If you park at the El Cortez, like I usually do, you WILL encounter some whack people on your walk down the street. Â Hookers, tweekers, scowling police officers, you name it.
2. If you don't get there by right about 9pm they won't let you in, so plan accordingly. Â Seriously? Â Ugh, one star deduction!
3. It's pretty damn smokey in this place.
Loved this place, I had heard about the history. Sure you get buzzed in, but that's part of the whole deal. Busch for a buck, really friendly bartender and clientele. Just skanky enough not to be invaded by hipsters.  Took my shirt off as I walked down to the Western to get some sun and  just to get into the spirit of things in the hood. Did not stay at the Western long, got tired of the atmosphere there.
Review Source:The streets around Atomic are rife with playa's hustla's pimps & ho's. Â Maybe that's why there's a doorbell for the place. Â But once inside, the faint urine scent and linoleum decor are offset by.. what's that... $1 Busch Lites.
(Brief detour... nothing like saying "Goodbye Bush" right before pounding a Busch right before Election Day)
Atomic was a stop for the great Las Vegas Hash House Harriers Red Dress Run. Â About 120 of us ran the sketchy streets south of Fremont and Atomic was one of the high points (with the Double Down as THE high point, but that's another story). Â
Atomic's a total dive, reminiscent of what a dive would look like in the early 70's. Â I was waiting for Superfly to wander in at any moment. Â He would have been deterred, however, by a quasi-homeless lady who appointed herself as the keeper of the velvet rope, declared the place was over the occupancy limit, and filtered people in by the twos once she deemed them acceptable.
I am giving it fours stars because it is nearly a perfect dive bar. Â NOTE-this place is in a sketchy neighborhood, so watch yourself and your wallet/purse! Â That said, to experience some interesting, often down on their luck characters, this is the place to go! Â It also has an "Off-Sale" license which means you can get booze to go. Â And people do. Constantly! Â All the time! Â
 Ring the doorbell so the bartender can buzz you in, plop yourself down at the bar and be prepared for bartenders that sometimes are too grouchy to the drunken regulars to believe!  You will smell heavily of cigarette smoke once you leave.  It has an incredible neon sign out front and holds Tavern License number ONE. The inside has some nice vintage touches, too. I feel this place is endangered as the owners are elderly.  This place closes at 11pm nightly.
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