Thing to do
High Roller Observation Wheel
550-foot observation wheel at The LINQ on the Center Strip, with 28 cabins that complete a full rotation in about 30 minutes.
18b Las Vegas Arts District
Downtown neighbourhood around East Charleston Boulevard with galleries, murals, antique shops, breweries and some of the city's most talked-about independent restaurants.
At a glance
- Type
- Arts and dining district
- Area
- Arts District (Downtown), Las Vegas, United States
- Official site
- 18b.org
Good to know
- Galleries
- Murals
- Independent bars and breweries
- Restaurants
- Theatre
Why we recommend it
The 18b Las Vegas Arts District is where locals go to eat, drink and see art away from the casinos. The district lies just south of Downtown, with East Charleston Boulevard running through its centre, and the city defines it as stretching from Hoover Avenue in the north to just past Colorado Avenue in the south, between Commerce Street and 4th Street and South Las Vegas Boulevard. The name refers to the original 18 city blocks; zoning changes in 2009 took the area to 21.
The district grew around the Arts Factory, opened in 1997 in a former office supply warehouse at 107 East Charleston Boulevard, and the Holsum Lofts, the former Holsum bread factory renovated in 2005. Today the streets mix galleries and studios with vintage and antique shops, murals, and a growing collection of restaurants and bars. Public art includes the "Greetings from Las Vegas" mural and Oppenheim's neon paintbrushes, while the Majestic Repertory Theatre stages productions in an intimate space. The Las Vegas Community Healing Garden, created after the 2017 shooting, is a quiet place for reflection.
Food and drink are a big part of the appeal. Esther's Kitchen is one of the district's best-known restaurants, The English Hotel brings a boutique hotel and restaurant to the area, and Hop Nuts Brewing, which opened in 2014 as the first brewery here, was followed by Able Baker Brewing, named after the Able and Baker atomic tests. Around these, newer restaurants such as 1228 Main, co-owned by Wolfgang Puck, have added to the choice.
For years, the district's biggest draw was First Friday, a free monthly street festival of art, food and music that began in 2002. Its organisers have announced that production of the monthly event is pausing, so check their website before planning around it. Even without it, a late afternoon and evening spent browsing shops, eating dinner and finishing at a cocktail bar is a good way to see a different side of Las Vegas.
The district suits couples, groups of friends and anyone tired of resort prices. It is a short ride from the Strip and next to Downtown, so it combines easily with Fremont Street and The Mob Museum. Streets are walkable, though shade is limited in summer, and ride-share drop-offs are the easiest way to arrive and leave.
18b Las Vegas Arts District FAQs
Where is the Las Vegas Arts District?
Just south of Downtown, centred on East Charleston Boulevard between Hoover Avenue and just past Colorado Avenue.
Why is it called 18b?
The name refers to the district's original 18 city blocks.
Is First Friday still running?
Its organisers have announced that the monthly event is pausing, so check their website before you go.
What is there to do?
Browse galleries, murals and antique shops, see a show at the Majestic Repertory Theatre, and eat and drink at independent restaurants and breweries.
What are the best-known places to eat?
Esther's Kitchen is one of the best known, and the district also has breweries such as Hop Nuts and Able Baker.
When is the best time to visit?
Late afternoon into the evening, when shops, restaurants and bars are all open.
How do I get there?
By taxi or ride-share from the Strip, or on foot from Downtown.
Is it good for families?
Daytime visits to galleries and murals suit families; evenings are more bar-focused.