It’s Time to Stroll the Length and Girth of the New Linq Las Vegas Outdoor Mall

The Linq, a new outdoor dining, shopping and entertainment district between Flamingo Las Vegas and The Quad has entered its next phase, and we’re pleased to say the place is turning into a destination worthy of the hype surrounding it.

We thought it was high time we meandered from one one end of this shiny new promenade to the other to see what’s open, what’s cool and what’s to come. So, let’s have at it, already.

Here’s a quick video overview in case you’re suffering from Short Attention Span Disorder.




We should say this right off the bat: For sheer “wow” factor, there’s simply nothing that compares, in Las Vegas or the world, to the 550-foot High Roller Ferris wheel that rises above The Linq. The challenge for Caesars Entertainment (the company that built The Linq) was, “How do we get people to come down what is essentially an alley?” Well, the High Roller is the answer, and it exceeds all expectations.

The Linq
The crown jewel of The Linq.

There’s a chance we took a photo or two during the construction of the High Roller, so check them out.

Yes, the High Roller is technically at the “back” of The Linq (on the east side, farthest from The Strip), but it demands your attention. We’ll probably return to it, too.

As you enter The Linq from Las Vegas Boulevard, the first thing you see is a new construction wall! The Linq is a work-in-progress.

The Linq
Lots of newness ahead.

This construction wall juts out of The Quad. We’re always sad to see construction walls, because we’re then forced to breach security to show you what’s behind them. Did we say sad? We meant gleeful.

Quad bar
It’s a bar, baby!

More bar action at The Linq is something this blog condones, of course. We tried to see the indoor portion of this new bar, but sadly, there was a door between us and it. Gleefully. We always get those two mixed up. Gleefully, doors open!

Quad bar
Dibs on that future spot at the bar.

Look we could dwell upon the fact we get you exclusive photos of Vegas newness, but there’s an ass-ton of Linq to cover, so let’s get moving.

Across from the new bar at The Quad, there are some handy ticket kiosks for the High Roller. There are more kiosks at the foot of the High Roller, too.

High Roller tickets
Guess what our Halloween costume’s going to be this year!

Next up, a couple of stores open for some time now, Haute Doggery (a hot dog place), Starbuck’s (an up-and-coming, overpriced coffee place) and Purple Zebra (a slushy drink place). See our coverage of early-openers at The Linq.

The Linq
This view is facing Las Vegas Boulevard and The Linq’s digital marquee. Read more.

Ambling farther, there’s Chayo Mexican restaurant, with lovely indoor and outdoor seating. As well as a mechanical bull. Spring is currently kicking winter in the nads in Vegas at the moment, and spots like this will be even more popular moving into late spring and early summer.

Linq Chayo
‘Sup, everyone shoveling snow?

Just past Chayo is the outdoor bar for what is arguably the most successful venue at The Linq to-date, O’Sheas. O’Sheas has packed since the day it re-opened, and rumors of an expansion are rampant.

O'Sheas bar
There’s no limit on bars in Las Vegas. We checked.

A few feet away is a Goorin Bros. hat store. Because fedora-wearing dipshits need a reason to visit The Linq, too.

Hatmaking shop
“Dipshits” was the nice way of saying it.

Next to that is the yet-to-open Polaroid Fotobar & Museum. Don’t get excited. It’s not that kind of bar.

Polaroid Fotobar sounds like a place where you can make prints from images on your smartphone. Although that can’t be right because that would be lame. And no lameness is allowed at The Linq. Other than the hat store, of course.

Fotobar
We’ll wait to see what develops here.

Across the way is a papered-over storefront. We thought the art was mildly racist at first, but then learned this is the future location of a store called 12:00 AM RUN, co-owned by Nas (short for Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones), an African-American rapper. So, it’s now probably not racist, then, thankfully.

Nas sneakers
It was probably a little racist to think this was a little racist. Why is it always about race with you?

Moving on!

But first, let’s turn around and see how much progress we’ve made.

The Linq Las Vegas
Our ankles are already swelling a little. How you holding up?

Our next enticement is the Tilted Kilt. Not open yet, but a solid entry in terms of the potential for flirtatious waitresses and plentiful hooch.

Tilted Kilt
As chain bars and restaurants go, this isn’t a bad one at all.

Next to Tilted Kilt is the much-anticipated Flour & Barley, an Italian joint. We know it’s much-anticipated because we’re very much anticipating it. It’s Italian! Food the way nature intended it. Flour & Barley is expected to open just after St. Paddy’s Day.

Flour & Barley
You hear more about flour than barley, mainly because flour has a better PR agency.

Across from Flour and Barley is Bella Scarpa, a footwear and clothing store. You know, standard mall stuff.

Bella Scarpa
Bella Scarpa means “beautiful shoe.” So, yeah, in Italian is better.

In this area, there’s a lovely fountain, and another great view of the High Roller, virtually screaming to have you pay attention to it again. Be patient, oh giant Ferris wheel, be patient.

The High Roller at Linq
A tranquil moment is a welcome break from all the fun and excitement of The Strip. Or something.

Next up is the freshly-uncorked Blvd. Cocktail Company, a bar so nice they put “cocktail” in the middle of its name. We’ll be back, despite the “Piano” part. Just as long as they’re not dueling, we’re cool.

The Linq
One of our few gripes at The Linq is the whole planting of trees in front of things.

Ruby Blue looks intriguing with ample lingerie in its window. If you’re into that kind of thing. Which we’re pretty sure we are. We’re a Las Vegas blog. It’s the law.

Ruby Blue
Rubies are red. FYI.

What’s not to love about cupcakes? Sprinkles opens March 21, and we’ll be there with the goal of acquiring type 2 diabetes during the course of our visit.

Sprinkles
Yes, you can see Brooklyn Bowl from here. Don’t jump ahead.

If you don’t manage to get your sugar fix at Sprinkles, walk across the promenade to Ghirardelli Chocolate, where the chocolate is so good, people often forget to pronounce that second “r.”

Chocolate shop
We were going to skip this shop, but they gave us a free sample, and now we’re BFFs.

Perhaps the biggest draw to The Linq, aside from the High Roller, is Brooklyn Bowl. The recently-opened venue is part bowling alley, part restaurant and bar, and part concert venue.

It’s also larger than many sports arenas.

Brooklyn Bowl
Brooklyn Bowl will be responsible for much of the mojo of The Linq.

Tons of high-profile acts have been booked at Brooklyn Bowl, so expect it to take the Vegas entertainment scene by storm. No, really, this time.

One of our favorite discoveries at The Linq was the concierge office. Yes, The Linq has its own concierge service. And it’s not those salespeople pretending to be concierges we loathe so much. These are actual concierges managed by Caruso Affiliated, the Linq’s leasing agent and builder of dreams. (They also did The Grove in Los Angeles.)

The concierge team is friendly and helpful, and they say guests can use them to seek out reservations in busy restaurants, and to perform other services to make their visit to The Linq unforgettable. They deliver, because their level of professionalism was the most memorable part of our visit.

The Linq consierge
Ask them anything. They’ll help with the legal stuff.

We’re on the final leg of our walking tour of The Linq, but we can’t finish without a stop at Yard House, another bar and restaurant familiar to many.

Yard House
Yard House is very familiar to our liver.

Chilli Beans is a watch and eyewear store. Look, not every store can have liquor. It’s just the way life is.

Chilli Beans
We’re pretty sure you spell it “chili.” That’s a little awkward.

Here, at the end of our stroll is the entrance to, wait for it, the High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel.

High Roller entrance
Even the Linq’s bling has bling.

The High Roller is slated to open mid-April. While it was rumored the First Family would be the first riders, it now appears Britney Spears and her children will be the first official passengers. (Many will ride before her as part of a soft opening, of course.)

Check our photo gallery for more pics of the High Roller entrance, lobby and “Waiting in Line Experience.” We kid! Each of the High Roller’s passenger pods holds 40 people each, and there are 28, so these lines are going to move relatively quickly.

High Roller
Suck it, Disneyland.

The designers of the High Roller have brilliantly designed the attraction so riders exit through a High Roller gift shop.

High Roller Gift Shop
One of each, thanks.

Outside the gift shop is The Linq’s slick new porte-cochère. The design matches that of the porte-cochère of The Quad. It’s all coming together, baby.

The Linq
Thus answering the “Where can I park?” question.

This is the part where we finally get close enough to the High Roller we feel like we could touch it. Please don’t actually touch it. You’ll get smudges all over it.

High Roller Las Vegas
High Roller, we want to rub your belly.

Visitors are stunned to silence as they look up at the wheel from its base. There was so much neck-craning, The Linq’s concierge office had better hire a couple of massage therapists for their team.

Even though it’s not open yet, the High Roller is poised to become one of most popular tourist attractions in the world.

High Roller
The High Roller can’t not epic.

So, there are clearly a lot of new things to see and do in Las Vegas, and many of them are at The Linq. Pace yourself. Have fun. Buy something.

We can’t wait to see what’s next.

The Linq Las Vegas