Dark, spacious, almost loungey-type of bar. Â It's wide, leaving plenty of room for groups of people to gather, while weaving to allow them to intermingle.
The long bar has battered and worn menus with beers and spirits that showcases some interesting brews.
The jukebox is full of bands and albums I almost know.
Very much the feel of a solid bar that could be dropped into any city, with welcome arms.
Pretty crazy, never expected I'd find a Vegas version of this place! Â I prefer the location next to home but this was a cool surprise.
Prices seem to be a bit more fair than L.A., but I prefer the vibe of the location in the city of the angels. Â This one is loud and a bit stuffy inside. Â Guess it doesn't help when it's 110 outside at 1 am.
But if you're an L.A. native and love the Griffin at home, give this place a visit. Â It's definitely fun.
Cancer lovers: Â You can actually smoke inside (at least you could when I wrote this review!)
How do I sum up The Griffin? Let me tell you....picture Strider (a.k.a. Aragorn) sitting in the corner eyeballing you with a steely glance. Â The type of steely glance which only a ranger could give. Â Two dwarves wearing mithril coats emblazoned with the White Lion logo come to greet you bearing tall frosty barley pops and a halberd made of havarti in each hand. Â They quietly hum the theme to Perfect Strangers in dire reverence to some unseen force residing in the aether. Â Who is it? None other than Balki drinking a lager and brandishing a scimitar made of wooly rhino femur and he is singing some Kingdom Come at the top of his lungs and wearing a helmet in the style of ancient Byzantium while teaching a rhesus monkey to play Sgt. Pepper on a vibraphone while Strider just sits and ponders the entire situation before disarming a blow gun wielding humanoid walrus creature that has studied wing chun and krav maga for like four months in anticipation of this meeting but now he shall meet his doom at the hands of Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and Balki from Perfect Strangers!!! You hear that walrus-human hybrid trained in fisticuffs and treachery??? You want a piece of Han Solo??? Well come and get it!!! Â ::busts out Sting::
The juke box is top notch and they have good beer at The Griffin.
LOVE the space.
HATE the drinks. Totally watered down. I would stick to beer or wine. No joke, the vodka is mostly water. I ordered a vodka tonic, and watched her pour 2/3 of the cup with vodka. I was almost scared to even smell it. But once I drank it, I realized it did not smell, taste, or look like vodka. Pretty disappointing.. All I wanted was a real drink!
Ok this place is like walking into a Harry potter movie. This place has a very dark vibe that I love in a strange way. Brick everything with castle like features and a couple fireplaces keep this place pretty cozy. The drink prices are fairly reasonable in this hipster hangout but nothing too eccentric. The location is a little shifty as it is downtown and you are bound to run into some characters; however, it isn't a deal breaker. If you're looking for a really chill and comfortable hangout the Griff could be for you, just don't forget your non prescription glasses and skinny jeans to fit right in with this trendy spot. ;)
Review Source:Stumbled into here early on a Friday after Downtown Cocktail Room but before Freemont Street. Â I really enjoyed this place, not too many people there when we came in, but the bartender was very friendly and inviting. Â The place itself is dark and comfy, the beer selection is very good, quite surprised to see Weinstephaner Hefe on there, excellent choice! Â The jukebox would rank top 5 of any I've come across, wide variety and 25 cents a song can't be beat.
Review Source:This is a nice little bar to hang at, but too small that everyone's cramped in a tight space. There are plenty of tables, chairs and bar stools and I felt as if it were a lot quieter than other bars in the area, making it a nice place to catch up with friends. Drink selection was good and prices were very reasonable. They have not charged cover either on the nights I've been there
Review Source:Beers, beers, and more beers!
An amazing selection of beers. Prices varies depeding on which beer you get. There's this specific beer that I get, that tastes like chocolate. I know it's not Guiness.
Do come here during the week or early at nights cause it does get packed with a line!
Great for groups, and they have nice bathrooms.
1 star  for the drinks
the bartenders are extremely generous with the  alcohol
1 star for the backroom - Â
The back room is great , with a DJ playing REAL house music ( non of that Tiesto shit)
1 star for the crowd & staff -
OMG ! No douche bags, you can actually talk to girls there. And the locals were very friendly to us tourists. The staff was very friendly as well, no douche bag doorman
1 star for the interior
the fire place is cool,
1 star for the good time
This was my first time in Vegas, And by going to DCL Â then Griffin, I realized i wasted to much time on the strip. Trust me people , go downtown next time you are in town
Thank you ! Â :)
This was a surprise for old Vegas. A surprise because it almost felt like it didn't belong. It was insanely cool inside. I loved the feel. Very dark, intimate and inviting. A place that's good to take a date or sit with your girlfriends and gab. This is not a place if you're looking to party.
I say that because their drink menu isn't bad. But the surprising part is the beers aren't too pricey either. It's really the perfect evening starter. So grab a drink, sit by the fire or grab a cozy corner area and relax. Or relax before you get the party started!
I live in Vegas, and have been to The Griffin different times. One of my favorite things about this place is the fireplaces. It's cozy, but it does get busy here some nights. I don't recall ever having a issue with any of the drinks I have received here. On not so busy nights, it is a comfortable bar. As someone else mentioned, there is a back room as well.
Review Source:The Griffin has always been a favorite of mine since it opened years and years ago. Â Before all these other cutesy places started popping up and it was only the Griffin, Beauty Bar and Downtown Cocktail Lounge, it was one of the few places in Las Vegas that reminded me of bars back home. The decore is pretty cool. You walk in and it is so dark inside, it looks like a dungeon. Â There's a ton of brick, booths that sit around litte fireplaces, a juke box, and a looooong dark bar lined with bar stools. Â It gets incredibly packed in here so the stools are kind of annoying to me because it encourages people to sit and makes it extremely difficult to get drinks from the bartender when it's busy. Â All the way at the end of the bar, however, is the jukebox, and there's always a little opening there where you slide in to get the bartender's attention.
There's a back room with sofas and a small dance floor. The only time I've gone back here is when they've had a DJ who plays house music and people are crazy! Â It's great people-watching. Â I've always had a great time here and drinks are fairly priced. Â It's a good place to meet locals and mingle, or to go with a bunch of friends and just get bombed.
I'm surprised they let the likes of me in this place. Â I really dig it even though I don't really fit in. Â Oh well, the decor is just my style and the 25 cent per song juke box is fun. Â The sound quality isn't that great and the tunes get lost on a busy night...almost muffled sounding in most areas of the bar. Better speaker placement and a day of EQ'ing the place will go a long way...trust me I know what I'm talking about. Â The bar staff is...well, snobby is the best I can describe it. Â Sorry, I don't have a lip ring and tats but what I do have is a pocket full of cash that makes for great tips...take the level up a notch and treat everyone equal. Â Still, I'll be back sans skinny jeans.
Review Source:Love the cozy interior and being able to hang in a somewhat leisurely environment (although it can get quite packed on the weekends). Â It's usually a toss up between here and Commonwealth but I would defer to The Griffin if the Commonwealth is too packed and I'm looking for a something a little easier and much more casual to enjoy. Â Beer selection is on point for a downtown bar and the music, in all of it's eclectic glory, is refreshing to sit around and jam out to, especially if a jam comes on that you haven't heard in ages.
Good times at "The Grif", definitely a nice spot to chill.
The Griffin is theeeee place to do your non-gambling drinking if you're from out of town and if you are a local, well you already know about the G. Â The drinks and the staff are amazing. Â We were here on a slow Sunday night, but the crowd was steady and the place had a quiet vibe. Â Didn't make it back for a happy hour but will do so on our next trip.
Review Source:What a gem on Freemont St. Â I honestly forgot where I was for awhile, and this time not because of the alcohol!
The Griffin is comfortably adorned and reminds me of some combination of a romantic cabin and English pub. Â But then there's the jukebox and hipster crowd that brings it all back to Vegas.
My friends and I had no problem finding seats at the bar on a Friday night, ordering drinks, and sitting down by one of the fireplaces. Â It wasn't too crowded, which I loved. Â While it's very dimly lit in the bar, it creates an intimate atmosphere.
The Moscow mule, vodka & ginger ale & lime, was bomb. Â The drink menu looked expansive enough, but I'll have to go back to verify that. Â And I will definitely be going back.
Well, lets just say, the first time I went to The Griffin back in 2009, it was a treasure hidden in Vegas, and not too many locals and or tourists had heard of it. It was a quiet bar with beautiful ambiance. Its still beautiful but I wasn't impressed with the noise level and having the door men stand outside checking ID's. I miss the way it used to be. But maybe because I went on a Saturday night and most of the patrons were tourists. Looks like living downtown is not as special as it used to be. Probably wont be going back.
Review Source:After Le Thai, we wanted to check out Commonwealth, but due to the gripload of people standing outside wanting to get in, we decided to head over to The Griffin. Â Not a bad choice! Â Earl ordered drinks and he commented on the generous pours.
We then head to the back room where house music was being played. Â The good thing about this is that they don't just play straight up house music, but also incorporate hip hop in it. Â
Was a pretty fun night.
I was apprehensive at first by the 3 lumberjacks with bob marley dreads and mexican ponchos walking out of the joint but I decided to check it out anyways. It reminds me of a snow lodge and i love the look of this place. Upon going to the restroom we discovered there was a back room with awesome music playing and a man with a horse head dancing like a wild animal (pun intended). I definitely enjoyed all the action and wish I had a photo to share. The music was great the drinks were good, what more do you need?
Review Source:Of all the bars on Fremont, this place has the least scum. Let it be known, ALL venues in Downtown Las Vegas are loaded with scum. But this bar has the MINIMUM concentration of losers within a 5 mile radius. That's a GOOD thing.
I believe it's because of the crowd it attracts here, since the bar is more divey than loud and drama laden "party spots". Drinks are relatively cheap, $3 a pint for Hamms.
Really, the only altercation I have so far here is some fat, hairy, loser motherfucker, and his fat hippo girlfriend not letting me pass the rear dance floor to get to the bar. Guy acts all angry and all, and I retaliate, give him a cold, sociopathic looking stare and stalked him across the spot to scare him away. And then it's done. Problem solved. They left.
In my 4 years of living here and only having that ONE encounter, it actually puts The Griffin on a great track record believe it or not.
Unlike other spots, the women here are open and friendly. Like me and my boy never required any openers at all, we just sat around until a pack of 7 white girls start waving us over. And after that, some seriously X-Rated stuff happened at the Hard Rock Hotel.
Decent prices, a usually great crowd, all of you should come over! Unless you are a scumbag sex offender or loser. Stay the fuck out.
Edit:
While the inside of the Griffin is pretty relaxed versus the lousy atmosphere of Downtown Las Vegas, outside is a different story.
I remembered walking to the Griffin one day and I came across a huge crowd gathering over a aftermath of a fight. There was a bouncer holding down a guy with a stab wound in his hand. Decided to hang around for a bit and watch the scene unfold.
And then some old white dude goes up to me and starts rambling on about how Vegas is a "Police State, MAN!" and some other drivel that roughly translate to "Fuck teh Pooh-leece!".
Seriously? You are a 50+ year old GROWN man and you still bitch about "The System"? Arn't you supposed to you know, retire from a great job and loving kids and shit?
Loser.
Sort of stumbled into this place in the early evening hours before the crowds. Â That is a good thing because I hate crowds and I had a chance to enjoy stepping into a scene from Harry Potter...minus the juvenile sorcerers.
I enjoyed sitting by the fireplace sipping on a bourbon and ginger ale.
Then "poof" I was out.
The Griffin reminded me of a nice modern mountain lodge in Aspen Colorado. I felt as though I was home with several fireplaces that adorn the space. Our friends mentioned that there was a backroom in which I did not check out because it was closed at the time I was there, but would imagine that it would get really packed when there is a live DJ. The drinks were quite strong and reasonably priced, just the way I like it. I can see why our friends chose to take us here.
It was quite a different atmosphere, very different from the way I would picture downtown Vegas. It is much more laid back. Most of the bars/clubs on the strip are pretentious. This bar however felt as though you were hanging out with locals from your hometown. It was nice to experience this bar in downtown Las Vegas. I would rather go to places like this instead of going to the clubs on the strip where you get overcharged for everything.
Very cool place. Â Went there on a Monday night with my fiancee based on the recommendation from a friend who said it was a fun place that a lot of locals go to (we wanted a break from the touristy stuff). Â I almost turned around approaching the door as the place looked seedy as hell from the outside thanks to the presence of two grisly looking bouncers and a nondescript looking entrance. Â Thankfully we decided to try it out and once you walk through the curtains you're treated to a very cosy fireplace-laden cave with a long bar and a nice social vibe.
The clientele was varied and the service was warm and friendly, both aspects I like when I come into a bar for the first time. Â Drink prices were a lot more reasonable then the gouging I usually take on the strip, so kudos to them for being real. Â I think it was in the ballpark of $5-6 for a mixed drink, but can't remember entirely as this was at the tail end of a long night. Â The fireplaces (surrounded by bench seating) are what I remember best because it was frigid outside (twenty some degrees, record low for that day). Â And here I thought I was going to get a break from cold weather after leaving Wisconsin. Â Music was mostly alternative rock, but they mixed it up a bit and it was very agreeable for such a chill place.
They had a backroom which they said has some kind of dubstep mania on Wednesday nights, I was curious but I saw mixed reviews here on Yelp so not really sure what's in store there. Â I'm not really a dubstep guy but I like a good people-watch every once in a while. Â
Overall, The Griffin is pretty sweet, I'd advise you stop in after winning that chicken dinner.
If I had my way, this place would get four and-a-half stars. It's pretty much close to being the perfect bar for someone like me. Every time I come here, I channel my inner Batman, because this place is like a cave. And since I happen to love Batman and dark, cozy places.... Well, you get my drift.
The doorman here is a huge black guy, and he always has something nice to say to you as he checks your i.d. Really cool guy! He has always been talkative and engaged as you come in and out of the bar. I like that, because it really does set the tone for whatever place you are about go into. A great door guy always helps to re-affirm that coming to whatever bar or club you are about to patronize was the right decision to make. Before you even walk in, you are having a great experience. That's important (in my book anyway).
Upon stepping inside, the first thing you notice are the little alcoves with the fireplaces burning bright. Personally, I really want to come here some day with a group of people and make s'mores, but I don't want to get kicked out, so my dream will probably never be fulfilled.
But anyway, the fireplaces are in the middle of the room, with these curvy booth-style seats surrounding them. Just so you know, you will never get to sit there. Every time I have come here, those booths are NEVER open. Due to their "cool" factor, they get filled up in the blink of an eye. I guess the people who are sitting there must come early or something. I think it would be fun to have a Yelp event here, just so we can take over all the fireplaces in this joint!!! Muuwaahahaahahaahaaa! I smell diabolical domination.
To the right are regular booth seats and a few low tables weaving along the walls, and to the left, the bar. The bartenders are all legit, and seem really cool. They have never been overly chatty or talkative to me, but that could be because this place tends to be busy. But they have always been "pleasant enough."
The women's bathroom is sleek, but only has three toilets, which means a wait on the weekend. Also, there are always tipsy chicks trying to take pictures in the mirrors or congregating as a group by the hand dryer, chatting. Also on the weekends, they have a bathroom attendant, and plenty of nice perfume, mints, and other essentials to get you "so fresh and so clean clean."
Be sure to tip! It's bad enough that person works in a bathroom, but they have to listen to drunk girls babble on about how wasted they are, that dude that they are texting but is sleeping with some other chick, or their sexy, new shoes all night long. Gaaahhh! I could never do that job. Not without developing a heavy drinking habit and an itchy trigger finger, anyway.
The back of the bar has an intimate performance area, where you can often times find bands randomly playing on Friday or Saturday night. Standing room only! But you do get to be up close and personal with the musicians, which is a plus if you really like the band.
I frequent this place often, so if you see me, come over and say "HI!" I like meeting new people :) If I can afford it, I might even buy you a drank!...... But be forewarned, I probably CAN'T afford it. Downtown drinking prices are getting ever higher and higher....
If my review was just based on this place as a 'bar' I'd probably give it 2 stars. The drinks are nothing special here but the venue itself is pretty snazzy. The place is covered with brick, leather couches, and fireplaces, almost feels like a underground cellar.This place is all about ambiance, it gives you a unique feel unlike any other bar in town.
Like the other downtown bars, this place is loaded up with hipsters. So if thats not your crowd, stay away. Also this place is PACKED on first fridays, you won't be able to even grab a seat to be honest.
Its a great place to hang out with some friends with a couple of beers. Plenty of sitting area, and the back room is a big open space good for small concerts or whatever they got scheduled. Thankfully their bouncers are total jerks like some of the other downtown bars, and they don't charge cover which is awesome. This place is a lounge, no dance floor, no pounding music, just  sit and drink. If your looking for a party head over to Insert Coins or check out a club.
I can't believe that with the amount of times I've visited the Griffin, I haven't ever reviewed this place. Â WOW. Â Well, I can't really pin point a specific time to review, as I have been here literally every weekend for the past year, NO JOKE.
First off, not really vibing the bouncers. Â They have no personality, thank goodness there's no charge. Â After the bouncers and curtains, you are treated to a very dim, intimate, cave-like atmosphere, that looks like a European basement. Â The exposed brick and fireplaces really make the setting cozy and suuuper intimate. Â Seating is casual and family style. Â Lots of booth style and wrap around benches. Â
The bartenders are hit and miss. Â Sometimes, they're cool and sometimes, they don't give you the time or day. Â That's when you hit them with a lower than normal tip. Â JK. Â I don't prefer the back room with the DJ, as it's always crowded. Â The bathrooms are never busy which is a good thing, but a place you don't want to spend a lot of time in. Â Most times it's dirty and smelly. Â
At one point, this was my favorite bar on Fremont East. Â I'm not ruling it out as a great option but I feel like they need to step up their game if they want to continue making it with big rollers like Commonwealth. Â I'm definitely not going to discontinue coming. Â The atmosphere alone attracts me to this place. Â If you want to be whisked away in an intimate European atmosphere, definitely check this place out!
One of the best lounges I have been to in a while, The Griffin has the aesthetic of a large underground cellar with dim lighting and rounded ceilings with dark wood and brick (I believe - this happened later in the night so my memory might be misleading me). They have an excellent selection of whiskey, beer, etc. and great music which one can pick using their jukebox.
We did witness a fight a minute into our entry into the place. Not a catfight or a wrestling match that you  might experience at a bar/club in Weho but a fairly serious fist fight with two seasoned vets (or at least that is how I remember it).
Randomly, there was a room playing dubstep in the back that was really dancy and fun.
Love the place. Definitely will go back if I am in the area.
Came here with the bf and his parents on a Thursday night. Â Be aware... when you first walk up to the Griffin, you'll be a little scared and skeptical upon entering, but you'll be pleasantly surprised to what you find inside. Â The dark dungeon ambience is surprisingly calming. Â It wasn't too crowded when we first got there, so we were able to find seating in front of a fireplace. Â It was quite cozy. Â They have an extensive beer menu- very cool options! Â My bf's dad got the moose drool, which was very nutty. Â Their beer selection is very eclectic, which I enjoy at a bar. My bf's mom got the house chardonnay and the pour was heavy. Â And the prices were reasonable!
This is a great place to hang out with family and friends. Â This would be a perfect place to lounge, drink, and play cards or board games. Â We're thinking about do game night there sometime soon! Â The crowd consisted of college kids, young professionals and some older folk. Â For music, there was a juke box and the volume was perfect because we were still able to converse and hear each other. Â
This will definitely be our go to bar when venturing downtown. Â A fun place to relax, get your drink on and play games!
Get a pair of glasses ,draw a lightning on your forehead, grab a branch from the floor, get a cape ..kick the door and say ABEDACADABRA! Because you just got into Griffindor main area.Yep..thats exactly how the griffin looks. You ll look retarded but
inside your head you just did one hell of an entrance at hogwarts.
I love the décor. Feels like you are so not in vegas but in London or germany. Totally filled with bricks (yep fake ones)it gives a very euro feel. 2 firepits inside and comfy but small tables make it feel like you are at home but more of hells kitchen when its pretty packed.
The music is great too. With a very euro/indie/underground playlistthat matches the ambiance , and the crowd as well .Check the back room for some more room and some poetry and music.This is a very chill place.
Drink prices are average and because of its size it can get packed so you might have to wait a little for them. But I saw it happening in waves.For like 30 minutes it was  packed, then it was not bad  and the cycle repeats . Can get on your nerves.
No food inside the joint.. In any other situation this will feel like a negative..however with the athmosphere and theme ,food just doesn't flow.. But for you hungry party people..theres an awesome Indian spot literally next door and if you want to play video games..go right to instert coins..Which means location is awesome as well.
Despite the sometimes long wait for a drink or the obvious fake but nice deco , I give this place 4 stars for trying and delivering a different look and feel.
When I first moved out here about 2 years ago, this is where I went most of the time. Too much of a hassle for me to hit the bars on the strip. Â Came to chill usually on the weekdays, but try to avoid during the weekends. Â Drink prices are average with everyone else around this area, but a must stop if you haven't been here before. Â I admit, the drinks are strong here. Â Or, is it because I'm pretty much faded by the time I get here. Â
Place is a mix between locals and out of towners. I'm either getting bigger or this place is getting smaller every time I go here. Â This place is tiny. Â Move your feet, lose your seat literally. Â
Staff is good if you can find one. Â Faster to just hit the bar for drinks.
This place does not feel like it belongs in Vegas (except for the EDM playing in the back, but let's not talk about that). It feels like it is from some otherworld, where places don't outlive their usefulness or trendiness and then get imploded. I wax sentimental, but this place is really enjoyable in the neon sea.
I read in another review that it's a chain, and that is probably the saddest thing I have heard all day. It doesn't feel like one, though, and the ambience is enough to make me want to continue going there!
Strong pours, intimiate setting with fireplaces, and filled with downtowns best looking group... what more could you ask for?
Although this is my favorite place to come downtown I have 1 slight issue with the female bar staff. They are rude & condensending. But I guess that doesnt keep people away.
My suggestion? Sit at a table, deal with the cocktail servers instead :)
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