Thunderbird Lounge Eater Inside | Eater Vegas

"I was struck by its history: opened in 1948 as the Strip's fourth hotel with Nevada's largest pool, cowboy murals, and a bird-clutching sign; after later operating as the Silverbird and El Rancho it closed in 1992 and has now been revived as the Thunderbird Boutique Hotel. Inside, I found the Thunderbird Lounge, led by hospitality veteran Kelley Jones in partnership with Todd Parmalee, offering a retro-chic vibe with bar-top gaming, beers on tap, a pool table, beer pong, and a “beat the clock” happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. daily featuring specials on select domestic draft beer, well cocktails and house wines by the glass. The lounge serves breakfast through dinner and is open 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and until midnight Friday–Saturday; its cocktail program includes the 1948 Cocktail (Woodford Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey, Aperol, vermouth, chocolate bitters), the Hemingway daiquiri (Atlantico Blanco Rum, Luxardo, grapefruit liqueur, lime juice), and the Pink Squirrel (Crème de Noyaux, white crème de cacao, cream). The hotel has 100 guest rooms at 1215 Las Vegas Blvd. S., plus a wedding chapel and a showroom, on the site north of the Stratosphere that once housed the Aruba Hotel." - Susan Stapleton