While the Palms continues to complete its $620 million renovation, one thing, or should we say one person, has remained the same: bartender Erin Kyminas.
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Kyminas remembers watching MTV’s The Real World, the Las Vegas edition. “When I was in high school, I saw the Real World at the Palms on TV, and I knew I wanted to work (at the hotel),” she said. However, after high school, Kyminas enrolled in beauty school and spent a couple of years professionally doing hair and makeup. But as soon as she turned 21 she set her sights back on the Palms.
“I applied at the Palms for a cocktail serving position on the casino floor—that was 10 years ago,” she said. Over time, during which she received on-the-job training, Kyminas moved from serving to bartending and helped open several lounges and bars across the property. You’ll find her at the new center bar, Unknown.
“I always loved the atmosphere of Palms,” she said. “Everything feels like home here.” In fact, Kyminas even met her husband at Palms—they’ve been married for three years. He’s also been with the property for a long time, and both love the new changes. “I think it’s amazing, they’re doing such a great job—it’s going to be great once it’s all said and done,” she said.
Unknown is one of the spots that’s completed and ready for guests. “We have the main attraction,” said Kyminas, meaning a Damien Hirst art piece, a 13-foot shark divided between three glass tanks hanging above the bar. “Our cocktails are good, the staff is friendly, and you’ll just have a great time.”
G&T
It’s not just an ordinary gin and tonic, it’s Unknown’s slight twist on the classic cocktail. Their G&T mixes together Sipsmith London dry gin, Aperol and Fentimans grapefruit-infused tonic water. The thinly sliced, dehydrated grapefruit wheel and Firestix amaranth bloom garnishes are edible, as all the bar’s garnishes are. Each day a huge assortment of garnishes are freshly made and prepared in-house and supplied to the bar.
