The crew behind the popular dog-themed shipwreck bar Stray Pirate has expanded their creative offerings with the introduction of a new jungle-themed cocktail lounge called Prowl.
Unveiling the new venture on Thursday, June 12, Chris ‘Tater’ Gutierrez, the general manager and cocktail creator of both establishments, transformed the recently closed T-shirt shop next door into a vibrant oasis for cocktail enthusiasts.
Gutierrez aimed to maintain the cozy and chaotic atmosphere that Stray Pirate is known for while also creating a more refined bar experience in Prowl. ‘So we wanted to do something else and create an entirely different bar, a bit the same, but more refined,’ he shared.
Prowl draws inspiration from Elvis’s Jungle Room at Graceland, embracing a kitschy aesthetic that includes features such as a moss-covered lava rock wall adorned with a carved Olmec face, and a crystal-lined cave hallway. There are two standout bathrooms: one showcasing an overhead butterfly display and the other decorated with twinkling fiber optic ‘fireflies’ dangling from the ceiling.
The cocktail lounge spans 1,200 square feet and comfortably seats just under 50 patrons, offering a retro vibe with burnt orange and avocado green booths beneath glowing glass orbs.
Prowl’s cocktail menu showcases Gutierrez’s innovative approach, which he initially honed at Stray Pirate. By utilizing housemade syrups, fresh fruit, and unexpected flavor profiles, all complemented by top-shelf spirits, the drinks promise to tantalize the senses.
Among the unique ingredients featured are mashed sugar snap peas, honeydew, housemade orgeat crafted from roasted pepitas, and a ginger beer infused with makrut lime leaf and hibiscus.
The drinks at Prowl are intentionally cheeky, with Gutierrez labeling the Jungle Spirits menu as ‘playfully raunchy.’ The cocktails are not only creatively crafted but also boast irreverent names and pop culture references. The ‘Sex Panther,’ for instance, is a blend of reposado tequila and Oaxacan rum served in a ceramic panther head, humorously touted on the menu for containing ‘bits of real panther.’
Another playful drink, ‘For a Good Time Call,’ features an actual phone number patrons can dial for added entertainment, reinforcing Gutierrez’s goal of making the menu enjoyable to read.
Nonetheless, the emphasis remains firmly on the quality of the drinks themselves. The ‘Monstera Mash’ fuses Capurro Quebranta Pisco with sweet sugar snap peas, citrus, mint, elderflower, cardamom, and egg white.
Meanwhile, the ‘Cougar’ offers a refreshing grapefruit-and-rose vodka experience, and the ‘Morning Wood’ combines Vesta coffee with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, maple syrup, Italian amaro, and sherry, crafting a bold, balanced, and slightly mischievous drink.
The opening of Prowl signifies a growing trend within Las Vegas’s cocktail culture, particularly in the Arts District, where innovative bar concepts continue to thrive. It joins a host of notable new establishments including Natalie Young’s Echo Taste and Sound, James Tree’s Petite Boheme, Corner Bar Management’s Doberman, and Nocturno from Milpa’s DJ Flores.
Together, these bars, run by skilled bartenders with deep roots in Las Vegas, are redefining what a cocktail bar can be, focusing on elevated drinks served in imaginative settings designed for an exciting bar-hopping experience.
‘This is the area where people’s dreams are coming true,’ Gutierrez remarked about the Arts District, highlighting the unique magic of a neighborhood rich in new, visionary establishments.
image source from：https://vegas.eater.com/openings/128327/prowl-bar-open-new-jungle-las-vegas
