Stella Gaydadzhieva is a cocktail server at one of the Las Vegas Strip’s most famous institutions—Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge. When the sun goes down, or perhaps after you get out of the nightclub at 4 a.m. on the weekends, this is the spot to go, a longtime favorite of locals, visitors and industry folk alike.

“Any time of the day, I used to come to Peppermill pretty often as a customer,” Gaydadzhieva says. “I loved it—it was my favorite place.” So she decided to apply for a job. For the last three years she’s been a familiar face you’ll see around the restaurant and the popular Fireside Lounge, a great hang for the middle-of-the-night party crowd.

“Las Vegas was the second place I ever visited when I moved to the United States from Bulgaria,” Gaydadzhieva says. “I love Las Vegas because you can have everything here, and I wanted a new adventure, so I thought it would be perfect to come here.”

And now Gaydadzhieva is a part of the longstanding tradition that is Peppermill, a tradition that spans five decades. “I’m not only just bringing the guests drinks, I’m introducing myself to people and getting to know them,” she says. “I love my regular customers; everyone keeps coming back here. The food is amazing, huge portions, a meal for three days for me. The whole place is amazing. I loved this place when I came as a customer, and you will, too!”

Photo by: Christopher DeVargas

Libation: Scorpion

Order Peppermill’s most-famous cocktail, the Scorpion, a 64-ounce behemoth with two shots each of vodka, rum and cherry brandy. Sip on it as you sit near the awesome water-and-fire pit inside the Fireside Lounge.

Benefit: Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge is open around the clock Thursday through Sunday.

2985 Las Vegas Blvd., 702.735.4177. peppermilllasvegas.com

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