The way into The Laundry Room is a false wall inside Commonwealth on Fremont East, and a host has to walk you through it. Behind it is a speakeasy cocktail bar in Downtown Las Vegas with room for 16 guests at a time, in a space that once did the laundry for the El Cortez casino next door. Getting one of those 16 places takes a reservation made weeks out, and one of the house rules is that you don't take pictures of any of it.
Through the Wall at Commonwealth
Start at Commonwealth, 525 Fremont Street, which has a neon peacock over the door and a rooftop deck and has been open on Fremont East since 2012. Both bars belong to Ryan Doherty's Corner Bar Management, which also runs Park on Fremont and Discopussy, and The Laundry Room was Doherty's idea. Book through SevenRooms on the bar's site, and book early, because The Infatuation says to plan at least a couple of weeks ahead and slots go fast. The routine, at least as of 2023, is that you text the bar when you get to Commonwealth, a host comes out and walks you through the wall, and your table is yours for 90 minutes in parties of four or fewer. Las Vegas Magazine mentioned a password this May as well, so read your confirmation closely.
The El Cortez is still next door, and you can see its neon sign from Commonwealth's rooftop. The Laundry Room is said to be where Frank Sinatra and Bugsy Siegel had their suits cleaned (nobody has proved it).
The Room After the 2026 Redesign
Corner Bar redid both bars in May 2026. The Laundry Room now has a crystal chandelier, Tiffany-style pendant lamps and a Victorian floor lamp, about 200 pieces of original art on the walls, Louis XVI-style chairs upholstered in florals, nailhead-trimmed leather bar stools and crimson velvet drapes, all inside roughly 350 square feet. Before the makeover it was a corner bar with leather stools and a wall covered in signatures, and some longtime regulars have said they liked it better that way. The bar keeps the count at 16, in its own words "so the cocktail team can tailor each experience."
What to Drink at The Laundry Room, Las Vegas
The new head mixologist, Davey Francis, came in with the redesign after more than 20 years behind bars in the US, Tokyo and Bristol. His menu is called "Fear and Laundry" and runs in three chapters that follow a reporter's slide through Las Vegas (Hunter S. Thompson would have needed more than 90 minutes). Chapter One, "The Assignment," has Strange Medicine, a dry martini of Brie-washed Old Bison vodka, Cocchi Americano and herb oil, and High & Wide, a split Aviation of Old Tom gin, maraschino liqueur, simple syrup, citrus and a lavender cloud. Chapter Two, "The Turn," has Truth Serum No. 7, a sour of Convite Espadín, Denizen Vatted Dark Rum, Bitter Bianca, pineapple, lime and Baja syrup, and a Dr. Pepper Old Fashioned of Elijah Craig bourbon, Dr. Pepper syrup and Angostura bitters. Chapter Three, "The Comedown," has a sherry smash called Golden Hour Collapse (Lustau Oloroso and Amontillado, Italicus, Giffard Crème de Pêche, freeze-dried strawberry syrup, orange and pineapple) and a milk punch called High Noon Static, made with Paladar Blanco tequila, King's Ginger liqueur, crème de pêche, peach tea and pineapple. A rotating "R&D" drink closes the list.
Try the Dr. Pepper Old Fashioned first, then ask for bartender's choice: name a spirit or a couple of flavors and the bartender builds something around them. Reviews of The Laundry Room mention those custom drinks more than anything on the printed menu, along with the bottomless popcorn.
The Laundry Room doesn't list prices on its website. In 2020 every cocktail on a menu of more than 40 was $16, and a 2023 guide listed a two-drink minimum per person, an automatic 25% gratuity and a $6 charge per person for the popcorn. Ask what applies now when you book.
House Rules, Hours and Dress Code
The rules, as reported with the 2026 relaunch, are no photography, no PDA, no standing at the bar and no phone calls. A 2023 guide adds quiet voices, no politics or religion, no tobacco and no hitting on anyone outside your own party. The dress code is "dressy casual," which Corner Bar spells out as no flip-flops and no beach, pool or athletic wear, and everyone needs to be 21 with ID.
If The Laundry Room is booked, try the janitor's closet at The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails and the donkey door at Ghost Donkey, both inside the Cosmopolitan on the Strip. On Fremont East, Oak & Ivy pours whiskey out of a shipping container at the Downtown Container Park, walk-in only. All three are in our guide to the best bars in Las Vegas.
The official site lists hours of 5 to 10pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 5 to 9pm on Friday and Saturday, closed Monday and Tuesday. On weekends The Laundry Room closes an hour before Commonwealth opens at 10pm, so plan dinner in between.
Photos: The Laundry Room (photo: Anthony Mair), The Laundry Room (photo: Anthony Mair), The Laundry Room (photo: Anthony Mair), The Laundry Room, Commonwealth (photo: Anthony Mair)
