Exclusive: Downtown Cocktail Room to Be Replaced by Daphne’s Cocktail Lounge
Many hearts were broken when Downtown Cocktail Room announced it was closing. The bar was a Las Vegas institution.
Now, we have word of what’s next for the space near the entrance to the Fremont East Entertainment District: Daphne’s, a new lounge concept from two well-regarded bartenders, Daniel Yang and Evan Hosaka.
Yang and Hosaka have serious mixology chops having come from Venetian’s trio of swanky lounges—Dorsey, Rosina and Electra—also known as “The Cocktail Collective.”
While we don’t know the inspiration for the lounge’s name yet, Daphne comes from Greek mythology. Which you’d have known if you took the time to read our photo captions. Ahem.
Daphne was a nymph pursued by the god Apollo. Rather than give in to his advances, she prayed for escape and was transformed into a laurel tree, symbolizing independence, chastity and the desire for freedom from unwanted pursuit or control. Which is all pretty inspiring except for the chastity part. Daphne’s tale is why it became customary to bestow prizes in the form of laurel wreaths to generals, athletes, poets, musicians and Caesars Entertainment’s logo.
Daphne’s father was named Peneus, which made introductions at dinner parties very awkward.
Downtown Cocktail Room closed in Nov. 2024 after 17 years of operation. Big shoes to fill.
Daphne’s hasn’t been officially announced yet, but eagle-eyed tipster @JaybirdVegas saw the name in some leasing documents, so we had to start poking, as is our way.
You can learn more about Daniel Yang at his Instagram page. His profile says, “Barman by profession. Otaku and gamer by passion.”
Evan Hosaka’s Instagram is here.
Yang and Hosaka have yet to share details about their new concept, but they appear to be up for injecting some youthful, liquor-based energy to the neighborhood.
There’s been some chatter about a north Strip revitalization, but that’s not happening. The real revitalization is even farther north, on Fremont East.
Downtown’s de facto mayor Ryan Doherty just drew throngs to a street party using a new brand for the district, “The Block.” It was a smash.
Doherty runs a slew of venues on Fremont East, including Commonwealth, La Mona Rosa, Discopussy, We All Scream, Cheapshot and Lucky Day. He’s working on another venture in the Arts District, Doberman, a private social club but not snooty. It’s the Arts District.
There have been a lot of changes in the Fremont East area as businesses shutter (Flippin’ Good, Smashed Pig, The Donut Hole, etc.), but the new owners are slowly filling up the empty slots with new tenants.
Taco Escobarr is taking over the Smashed Pig space. Again, not sure it’s been announced yet.
The Inspire Theater space has yet to find a new operator. The rents have gone up, so it’s taking a minute.
The buildings are owned by Boston Omaha Asset Management. Or were. Brendan Keating was a comanaging partner of Boston Omaha Asset Management, but now he’s Chairman of Logic Commercial Real Estate. Logic is handling the leasing of these spaces, possibly through Keating’s Local Asset Management. Good luck unspooling all this.
All we know is Tony Hsieh is gone and his Downtown Project isn’t subsidizing rents anymore.
Props to Daniel Yang and Evan Hosaka for making a go of it and we can’t wait to see what they have in store at Daphne’s.
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