Bar in Las Vegas, United States
Backstage Bar & Billiards
100Pearl PointsPool, drinks, no tourist tax.
About Backstage Bar & Billiards
Backstage Bar & Billiards is a casual pool hall and bar on Fremont Street — straightforward, affordable, and best used as a low-key stop on a Downtown Las Vegas bar crawl. It won't compete with the craft cocktail bars nearby, but it fills a different role: cheap rounds, billiards tables, and a crowd that isn't bussed in from the Strip.
The Verdict
Backstage Bar & Billiards sits at 601 E Fremont St in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas, and if you're spending an evening on Fremont Street, it earns a slot in your night. Pricing data isn't published, but Downtown Las Vegas bars consistently run cheaper than Strip equivalents — expect to pay meaningfully less per round here than at any casino bar a mile west. For an explorer working through Las Vegas's off-Strip scene, that cost differential is real and worth factoring in.
What to Expect
This is a pool hall and bar, not a cocktail destination. The format is casual: billiards tables, cold drinks, and a crowd that leans local rather than tourist-heavy. If you've already covered the serious cocktail stops on the Downtown circuit — Herbs & Rye for craft cocktails, 108 Drinks for something more experimental, Backstage fills a different role. It's a place to decompress between venues, shoot a few games, and keep the tab manageable. Don't come here expecting a curated spirits list or an inventive food program. Come here because you want a pool table and a beer in a room that doesn't feel engineered for a tourist demographic.
The Fremont Street location puts it within easy walking distance of 1228 Main and Ada's Food & Wine, which makes it a natural stop on a longer Downtown bar crawl rather than a standalone destination. Pair it with a proper cocktail bar first, then settle in here for a longer, cheaper stretch of the night.
Value Per Round
Without published pricing, a precise per-round cost can't be confirmed, but the Downtown Las Vegas positioning and the bar's format (billiards hall, not cocktail lounge) signal budget-to-mid-range drink prices. For the Las Vegas explorer trying to stretch a night across multiple venues without a Strip-sized tab, that matters. Compared to destination cocktail bars like Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu or Jewel of the South in New Orleans, Backstage is a different proposition entirely, it trades craft depth for accessibility and low friction. That trade-off works in the right context.
Practical Details
Reservations: Walk-in. No booking required. Dress: Casual, this is a billiards bar, not a lounge. Budget: Not confirmed, but Downtown pricing typically undercuts the Strip by a significant margin. Getting there: 601 E Fremont St, walkable from the Fremont Street Experience. Planning your trip: See our full Las Vegas bars guide, Las Vegas restaurants guide, Las Vegas hotels guide, Las Vegas wineries guide, and Las Vegas experiences guide for more options. Also worth noting if you're building a broader bar itinerary: Julep in Houston is a useful benchmark for what a serious regional bar program looks like at a comparable price tier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Backstage Bar & Billiards worth the price?
Pricing varies at Backstage Bar & Billiards; confirm via check the venue's official channels.
Where is Backstage Bar & Billiards located?
Backstage Bar & Billiards is located in Las Vegas, at 601 E Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101.
How can I contact Backstage Bar & Billiards?
You can reach Backstage Bar & Billiards via check the venue's official channels.
Location
601 E Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Las Vegas, United States
Compare Backstage Bar & Billiards
| Venue |
|---|
| Backstage Bar & Billiards |
| Herbs & Rye |
| Ada’s |
| Viking Mike’s Alpine Yurt Bar |
| F1 Arcade Las Vegas |
| Nocturno |
A quick look at how Backstage Bar & Billiards measures up.
Also Consider
- Herbs & Rye, Notable alternative
- Ada’s, Wine bar with small plates (Italian-influenced), Wine bar with small plates (Italian-influenced)
- Viking Mike’s Alpine Yurt Bar, Scandinavian-inspired bar food (meads, German wines, sausage platters, schnitzel), Scandinavian-inspired bar food (meads, German wines, sausage platters, schnitzel)
- F1 Arcade Las Vegas, Full-service bar with sharing plates (arcade/entertainment), Full-service bar with sharing plates (arcade/entertainment)
- Nocturno, Notable alternative
If you're deciding where to spend your night in Downtown Las Vegas, Backstage Bar & Billiards and Herbs & Rye are solving different problems. Herbs & Rye is the right call if cocktail quality is your priority, it's one of the most consistently respected craft cocktail programs in the city, and worth the higher per-drink spend. Backstage is for when you want a pool table and a cold drink without the occasion feeling like a destination. Both are bookable without much friction, but Herbs & Rye rewards planning ahead.
Ada's and Nocturno are better suited to guests who want to eat and drink in the same room, Ada's Italian-influenced wine and small plates format makes it a proper sit-down option, while Backstage doesn't position itself as a food destination at all. If your group wants to combine a meal with drinks, Ada's is the clearer choice. F1 Arcade Las Vegas is the closest structural comparison to Backstage, both are activity-led bars where the entertainment (racing simulators vs. billiards) is the point, not the drink list. F1 Arcade skews higher on energy and likely on price; Backstage skews more local and low-key.
Viking Mike's Alpine Yurt Bar is the most distinctive option in this set, meads, German wines, sausage platters, and schnitzel in a Scandinavian-themed space. It's a stronger choice if you're after something thematic and food-forward. Backstage wins on accessibility and price per round, but loses on depth and distinctiveness. For a first night in Las Vegas, lead with Herbs & Rye or Ada's. Backstage earns its place later in the night when you want to slow down and play pool.
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