The Vanderpump clan’s first two Vegas venues were great ideas that raised the bar for hospitality on the Strip, but Pinky’s by Vanderpump feels … different, almost like it was destined to be. Opened in December 2024 at Flamingo with 32 bar seats, 166 table seats and dessert drinks garnished with Flamingo cookies, Pinky’s immediately felt integral to its property. Adult flamingos are usually shades of pink, and if anyone can incorporate pink and flamingos into a design concept that pays homage to the legacy of the historical hotel, it’s Lisa Vanderpump (whose nickname is “Pinky”).
A big part of that is the drink menu. Pinky’s is a mix of guests with table reservations and people traversing the Strip who happen upon the establishment and are drawn in by its socially friendly environment and classic décor. But what keeps everyone there are the enticing drink selections.
“The Less Depresso, More Espresso has just taken off,” said Ryan Kelly, Flamingo’s director of beverage, of the martini with the pour-over presentation that piques the curiosity of onlookers. Other favorites are the Jailbird, presented in a brass birdcage, and the Pinky’s Pumptini, the gold flake-garnished variation on the martini featured on Vanderpump Rules.
“This was all a collaboration with Pandora, who is Lisa’s daughter,” said Kelly. “She’s amazing and extremely talented, and she helps with every piece of the food and beverage menu. It was months. It was phone calls, it was Zooms, text messages, ideas, different glassware choices. Every one of our drinks is served in a different glass.”
The effort paid off, as anyone who has perused the drink menu can attest. There is some crossover with the Paris Las Vegas and Caesars venues (Vanderpump à Paris and Vanderpump Cocktail Garden, respectively), but most of the drinks are unique to Pinky’s.
“I think Lisa Vanderpump and (designer) Nick Alain really leaned into that,” said Kelly of Flamingo’s long, storied history. “Lisa always describes it as wanting to step back into time. I think once you walk in that door and cross that threshold, you truly do feel like you’re back 70 or 80 years ago.”
Flamingo. caesars.com
Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine, your guide to everything to do, hear, see and experience in Southern Nevada. In addition to the latest edition emailed to every week, you’ll find plenty of great, money-saving offers from some of the most exciting attractions, restaurants, properties and more! And Las Vegas Magazine is full of informative content such as restaurants to visit, cocktails to sip and attractions to enjoy.