Rí Rá at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place goes a long way in capturing the authentic Irish pub feel, from perfectly poured pints of Guinness to the furnishings shipped from Ireland. But it’s bartender John “Fitzy” Fitzgerald who captures this sense of authenticity best. Fitzy comes from Edenderry, a town of 4,000 in County Offaly, Ireland, and moved to Las Vegas four years ago.

“Everyone in Ireland was going to Australia or Canada, and I wanted to go somewhere different,” he said. “I love (Las Vegas). You meet people from all over the world, you experience so many different cultures. Every night here is like a Saturday night back home.”

Fitzy’s favorite nights are when he works the front shot bar since it’s where he can best get to know his guests. “There isn’t a TV, there are no games there, so people have to talk to each other. That’s where strangers come in and become friends as they sit there for two, three hours talking to each other. That’s what a pub is.”

Paddy Bee Sting Cocktail

Paddy Bee Sting Cocktail

And Fitzy would know—he got his first job at a pub at 14 years old. “It was just cleaning up tables, clearing ashtrays,” he says. “People always do the math when I tell them I’ve been working (in pubs) for 10 years, and they’re surprised!”

Despite his authentic pub credentials, Fitzy jokes that people sometimes still think his accent is fake. “I laugh. It takes a lot of convincing with some people. ... I really should just show them my passport!”

Paddy Bee Sting Cocktail

Taking its name from the honey-infused Paddy Bee Sting whiskey, this drink mixes a few sweet flavors with some tart counterparts for a fizzy, balanced beverage that doesn’t overpower with sugariness. The mix of Paddy Bee Sting, two muddled strawberries, orgeat syrup and fresh lemon juice is topped with Timmermans strawberry beer, then garnished with a strawberry and a small honey lollipop. It’s the perfect refreshment to pair with some of Rí Rá’s deviled Scotch eggs or fish and chips.