There’s no denying that the Arts District has become a vibrant neighborhood filled with exciting galleries, restaurants, and bars. And one of the latest newcomers to the area is Doberman Drawing Room. A project by nightlife entrepreneur Ryan Doherty (of excellent Downtown spots like the Laundry Room, Commonwealth, and Lucky Day) and award-winning mixologist Juyoung Kang (who was the opening bartender at the Laundry Room), this bar and members’ lounge is arguably one of the finest in the city. The eclectic 3,400-square-foot space is filled with antiques, a hobby of Doherty’s, that range from stuffed animals to a vintage Stevens Organ & Piano Co. piano. Red velvet and leather banquettes call for intimate gatherings while the main room has an eccentric vibe of huntsmen lodge meets medieval garden. And when it comes to the cocktails, be prepared for some surprises. Whether it be the inventive Tom Kha Fizz inspired by the classic Thai coconut soup; the very drinkable Big in Japan, a refreshing clarified milk punch concoction that Kang has brilliantly made vegan with the use of soy milk; or the smoky and spicy Nine Countries, where mezcal is paired with honeydew and yuzu kosho, you really can’t go wrong.

This Doberman bites. With flavor.

Doberman Drawing Room, the downtown Las Vegas cocktail lounge meets social club, has launched a menu of bar bites and snacks to complement its inventive beverages. Look for warm tangerine and rosemary olives, Berber-spiced chicharrón and maple-candied pecans. Kettle chips are graced with ancient sea salt and served with caramelized onion dip. For a lift of luxe, add Royal Osetra caviar.

Tinned fish is accompanied by warm sourdough swiped with crushed purple chilis and French butter. A Charcuterie Library for Two showcases a hollowed vintage book. A “page” from the book is set alight, burning away to reveal a spread of fruit, cheese, meats and house preserves. On the sweet side, brown butter and Swiss chocolate chip cookies are paired with limoncello sugar.

Mixologist Juyoung Kang is upping the ante for creative cocktails in Sin City at Doberman Drawing Room, a new social club that opened in April in the downtown Las Vegas Arts District. Kang’s menu highlights globally inspired original drinks with an eye toward health and wellness and influences from the culinary world. Signature creations include the Howling Wolves, a blend of Nikka From The Barrel Japanese whisky, Lustau Amontillado Los Arcos Sherry, house-made cantaloupe cordial, and Supasawa acid mixer, garnished with Togarashi, and the Bird’s Eye View, mixing bird’s eye chili-infused, Campari, Cocchi di Torino vermouth, Liber & Co. Passionfruit syrup, and coconut water (cocktails are $16-$28). Operated by Corner Bar Management, the bar is designed to evoke a home estate.

In the burgeoning Arts District, Doberman Drawing Room, a taxidermy-adorned craft-cocktail bar, opened in May with a strong collection of drinks from mixologist Juyoung Kang. One drink, the Pillow Book, is made with vodka, nigori sake, strawberry, sumac, lemon and egg white. Another, the zero-proof Coffee Cheesecake, is a rich and creamy take on the classic espresso martini with a surprising twist: parmesan.

This mashup of cocktail lounge and social club brims with “beautiful chaos,” as owner Ryan Doherty puts it. Stuffed animal heads, stacks of vintage books, gilt-framed reproductions of paintings by Goya and Chardin, brocade-swaddled fauteuils, stained glass, putto heads in the manner of Della Robbia and more. Who collected this trove? An adventurer? An English second son for his set in Albany? The stories flow. So do superlative cocktails from Juyoung Kang, a top Vegas mixologist. Among her signature sips: a Peter Pepper martini (gin or vodka) with lemongrass shochu and a Bird’s Eye View with a bitter aperitif, vermouth, passion fruit, coconut and a singe of bird’s eye chili heat.

A martini doesn’t always mean alcohol — something mixologist Juyoung Kang at Doberman Drawing Room has embraced with flair. The Arts District’s newest hideaway offers a coffee cheesecake espresso martini that skips the liquor but delivers on flavor with a blend of malt, coffee, and honey. This mocktail is dusted with nutmeg and finished with a surprising sprinkle of Parmesan cheese for a salty, yet creamy infusion. Of course, this drink can be made boozy upon request. In between sips, check out the century-old chandelier and custom stained-glass windows. While membership comes with perks, cocktails can be enjoyed even without paying the $3,000 annual fee.

Las Vegas-based Corner Bar Management has launched a bar called Doberman Drawing Room in the city’s Arts District.Doberman Drawing Room opened its doors on 30 April.

Mixologist and partner Juyoung Kang, previously of Fontainebleau Las Vegas, heads up the bar programme. The menu is shaped by her ‘globally inspired, deeply intentional approach to cocktails’.

“Doberman represents the next evolution of cocktail culture in Las Vegas,” said Ryan Doherty, founder of Corner Bar Management. “It’s a place for people who appreciate the art of a good drink, and even better conversation. With Juyoung’s leadership and vision, we’re excited to offer something that feels both timeless and entirely new.”

What is it? A cocktail-forward lounge in a space with taxidermy, vintage knickknacks and novelty artwork.  

Why we love it: There is a lot going on at Doberman. The space could easily be mistaken as an antique shop and trophy room. And it’s purposely done. Most of the items on display—we’re talking deer heads and estate sale finds—are part of owner Ryan Doherty’s personal collection. Add some trippy Ben Ashton blurred-line original portraits and you have a room with a distinct look. Award-winning mixologist Juyoung Kang has created a cocktail collection with a clarified milk punch, a martini with lemongrass shochu, and a mezcal meets honeydew cordial.

Shelling out $3,000 for a membership is not required in order to visit the Doberman Drawing Room. But the option to do so sure makes the new downtown bar feel exclusive. The latest project from Corner Bar Management veers away from its stomping grounds in the Fremont East District, redoing the old Artisan space with a vintage European chateau aesthetic and a bar with serious cocktail chops. Acclaimed bartender Juyoung Kang’s beverage menu benefits from her decades of experience while leaning joyously into the avant-garde. Expect drinks like the Sahara, a boozy take on horchata, and a creamy Tom Kha Fizz, with a pleasant kick of bird’s eye chile.

The Doberman Drawing Room made waves a year ago when it released its 20-question application for membership. Now, with more than 5,000 applications turned in and still under consideration, the splashy new bar and members club will make its debut Wednesday, April 30 in the Las Vegas Arts District.

At the helm of the bar program is Juyoung Kang, who designed the first beverage menu for the Fremont Street speakeasy and cocktail destination, the Laundry Room. In the decade since, Kang has continued to leave her mark on Vegas’s cocktail scene, most recently as director of beverage development at Fontainebleu Las Vegas. Now she is reunited with Corner Bar Management to, once again, create unique cocktails for an exclusive bar.