Bar: The Silver Stamp

Location: 222 E. Imperial Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89104

Score: 9.4/10

In June of 2024, I visited Vegas for the first time. I knew I wanted to have an atypical experience other than just staying on the strip for my entire stay. I wanted to see what Vegas as a whole had to offer. Coming to Vegas, I did not have a whole lot in mind in terms of what bars to visit. I spoke with a gentleman on my flight, and he was a frequent visitor to the Sin City. I told him what kind of bars I enjoy, and he told me “I am going to give you a lot of recommendations but promise me you go to the Silver Stamp”. It was a ringing endorsement, and I knew that was going to be my first stop once I arrived.

I first got to the Silver Stamp around 1 pm. The area was fascinating as it is located in the Art District of Las Vegas, about two miles from the strip. Mysterious is the first word that comes to mind when you initially walk up to the Silver Stamp. From the outside, the building is not much of an eye-catcher. Hell, if it was not for the stickers on the door and the open sign, you would not know if a bar even existed behind the door. When you do open the door, you see the magic that is the Silver Stamp. From the moment I walked into this bar I fell in love. From the décor to the beers, and the friendly bartender, everything was well thought out and executed to perfection.

Let’s start first with the décor. It reminded me of many great bars I have been to throughout Chicago. The place was dark, had tons of wood paneling, ceilings that remind you of an old banquet hall, tons of vintage-style seating, and a shit ton of neon and signage. Seriously, out of all the bars that I have visited, the Silver Stamp by far and away had the best signage. It was not necessarily the amount of signage but the quality of it. The Silver Stamp did not have the same shitty neon that beer vendors give out to every bar, they had signs that date back to at least the 70s. From Hamm’s to High Life, Bass, Pabst, Stroh, etc… they truly had it all. Beyond the signage, the Silver Stamp got crafty and had a massive display of vintage beer cans. I first saw this at a bar in Ohio and never understood why more places do not do this. First off, it is cheap to do and second off it is badass. Two great reasons to have beer cans displayed at a bar.

I also fell in love with the lighting of the bar itself. It was dark. Minimal lighting, how a dive bar should be. It was great to get into a dark bar after being in the sweltering Vegas heat. Another thing that stuck out about the Silver Stamp was the random disco balls on the ceilings. While I did not get to see these bad boys in action, I bet it is quite the scene when they are in use.

Let’s jump to the bar itself. The beer selection of Silver Stamp was fascinating. They still had all your beloved domestics but also had a wide range of 20 beers on top. From Guinness to Zwickl to Rolling Rock, they had it all. Rolling Rock on draft was something I had never experienced. But let me tell you, it was glorious. While it is hard to imagine the legendary pale ale could get even better, it does with a draft. Another unique thing that the Silver Stamp had was pickled eggs. While I did not purchase any, this will be the first thing I do when I visit next. Overall I was blown away by this gorgeous bar. Even though it is slightly off the strip, you are simply a fool if you do not visit. I am counting down the days until I visit the Silver Stamp again. I will see you in March, Silver Stamp.

Décor: This was the most fascinating and impressive category that truly separates the Silver Stamp. Everything was just done right.

Prices:  I believe a pint of Rolling Rock set me back $5. Not bad for an expensive West Coast city.

Service: The bartender was awesome. She gave me some very good bar and food recommendations throughout the city.

Atmosphere: I went at 1 pm and people were at the Silver Stamp. I was sitting next to a gentleman that was visiting from England, to also see the Dead and the Sphere.

Cleanliness: Top-notch. Not many bars I would trust eating pickled eggs, but this is one of them.

Bonus Points: Everything about this bar screams cash only and 24/7, but unfortunately no bonus points are awarded.