What Las Vegas Locals Do: A Day in the Arts District
Off the Strip, No Casinos.
Someone asks me every week what locals do in Las Vegas. Here’s my answer: we go to the Arts District.
I’m a Las Vegas native, and I own Republic Goods on Main Street, so I’m biased. But I also eat, drink, and shop here on my days off. This is the walkable day I’d plan for a friend visiting from out of town. No casinos. No buffet lines. No $25 cocktails.
Where is the Arts District (and why do locals go there)?
The Arts District, also called 18b or DTLV, sits just south of downtown and north of the Strip. It’s about a 10- to 15-minute rideshare from the Strip. It’s full of murals, galleries, breweries, vintage shops, and restaurants run by people who live here. Park once or get dropped off, then walk.
Morning: coffee, tea, acai, empanadas
Start with a latte. You have three good options within a few blocks. Iwana and M&F have great food options too.
Vesta Coffee Roasters (1114 S Casino Center Blvd, @vestacoffee) has roasted in the Arts District since 2016. It’s a good first stop.
Iwana (61 W Utah Ave, @iwanacoffeelv is run by two Colombian sisters who roast their coffee in-house. WOMAN OWNED
Makers & Finders (1120 S Main St, @makerslv) serves Latin-inspired coffee and food. Try the arepas.
Late morning: local art
Walk it off with some art.
Recycled Propaganda (1114 S Main St #120, @recycledpropaganda) is Izaac Zevalking’s gallery. Las Vegas Weekly named it Best Art Gallery in 2025. The work is bold and political, so you’ll have opinions.
MAD Gallery (1312 S Main St, @madgallerylv) shows local artists and has a gift shop. If you want something that came from Las Vegas, this is the place. They can ship it home for you.
Lunch: Tacos or burger?
SoulBelly BBQ (1327 S Main St, @soulbellybbqlv) smokes Texas-style brisket on the patio. I think their burger is amazing. You’ll smell it before you see it.
Tacotarian (1130 S Casino Center Blvd #170, @eattacotarian) is all vegan Mexican food. Even my meat-eating friends like it.
Ole Manny’s (61 West Utah, @olemannys) is standard authentic fast Mexican. GF? I get the bowls.
Afternoon: secondhand and vintage shopping
This is my favorite part, and yes, I’m biased. If you came looking for thrift stores in Las Vegas, the Arts District has several good ones, and each one feels different.
Republic Goods (1310 S Main St, @republic_goods) is my store. It’s like an IRL Poshmark. Local sellers rent a booth by the week and stock it with their own clothes, shoes, and accessories. The racks change every week, so you’ll find different pieces each time you visit. New items go up in our Instagram Stories daily. WOMAN OWNED
Reclaim (1400 S Main St, @reclaimlv) is small but mighty. Professionally curated by Vegas locals, you can always find some goodies.
Buffalo Exchange (1209 S Main St, @buffaloexchange) buys, sells, and trades clothes. There is one in every major city - so we’ve got one too. Found some great pieces in here.
Alt Rebel (1425 S Main St, @altrebel702) carries vintage tees, designer pieces, and everything in between. Lots of Y2K and overall super cool kid vibes. WOMAN OWNED
Neon Desert Vintage (1403 S Commerce St, @neondesertvintage) is native-owned and family-operated. It sells vintage home goods, fashion, and a real vinyl section. WOMAN OWNED
Old School Vintage (15 W Colorado Ave, @shopoldschoolvintage) is curated, with one-of-a-kind pieces and has some real historical gems. WOMAN OWNED
Red Kat (1131 S Main St, @theredkatvintage) has the legit retro vintage vibes. The owner is a stylist, and her eye is crazy. WOMAN OWNED
Sin Amor Studios (1329 S Commerce St, @sinamorstudio) gives Latina-tattooed, badass, and secondhand. WOMAN OWNED
You can easily spend four + hours just shopping.
Notable Mention:
Akin Cooperative (1325 S Commerce St, @akincooperative) is a lifestyle boutique with the best small finds - locally made and one-of-a-kind. Plus, they do have a bar! WOMAN OWNED
Happy hour: breweries
Don’t underestimate a brewery in a desert.
Able Baker Brewing (1510 S Main St, @ablebakerbrewing) has more than 30 beers on tap and a duck theme. Get a flight.
Nevada Brew Works (1327 S Main St, @nevadabrewworks) is dog-friendly and all ages. They make brick-oven pizza.
Las Vegas Brewing Co (1226 S 3rd St, @lvbrewco) is a family-owned local brewery with a big terrace.
Dinner
Esther’s Kitchen (1131 S Main St, @estherskitchenlv) is seasonal Italian and one of the hardest tables in town. Book ahead.
Ada’s Wine Bar & Restaurant (1130 S Casino Center, @adas.lv) has amazing wine and world-class food in an intimate setting.
Main St. Provisions (1214 S Main St, @mainstprov) focuses on steak and seafood. It’s more relaxed than it sounds. My personal favorite dinner spot - I split the ribeye with some sides - always the French fries. Their chef won Top Chef! WOMAN OWNED
Night: bars
Each of these bars is different, so pick your mood.
Echo Taste & Sound (1301 S Main St, @echotastesound) is a listening lounge with vinyl and live jazz. WOMAN OWNED
Dustland (1429 S Commerce St, @thedustlandbar) has a desert, Joshua Tree feel and an outdoor stage. Halloween theme of Camp Dust Lake is amazing. WOMAN OWNED
Viking Mike’s Alpine Yurt Bar (1500 S Main St, @vikingmikes) is a yurt bar in the desert. You walk through a freezer-cold entryway to get inside (yes, really).
Silver Stamp (222 E Imperial Ave, @silverstamplv) is a 1970s beer bar with pickled eggs and hot dogs. It’s giving Midwest basement vibes in the best way.
Come for an event
If you can time your trip, do. Dates move around, so follow 18b for the latest.
First Friday is the monthly street party with art, food, and music.
The Wine Walk happens about four times a year, when the weather’s nice.
Family trick-or-treat and the Christmas tree lighting happen in the fall.
Chalk It Down! Art Festival is in the spring.
Street markets pop up throughout the year.
Quick answers
Is the Arts District walkable? Yes. Everything above is within a block of Main Street (or on it).
Do I need a car? Not once you’re here. We have parking lots everywhere, street parking, and a garage.
Is there gambling? None of these stops is a casino.
