Classics in Session
Lu Lopez is creating a beacon for history, culture, and cocktail fundamentals in the Las Vegas bar scene.
Photos: Alexander Zeren
While coming up in the Las Vegas hospitality industry, Bartender Luis "Lu" Lopez didn't know what he was missing when it came to cocktails.
It wasn't until he met influential Bartender Sam Ross while working at The Venetian—and had a taste of his first Clover Club and Penicillin—that he realized there was more to bartending than flavored vodkas and flashy service. Lopez quickly became a student of Ross' classics-forward approach to bartending. Over the next few years, he spent time working for Ross in Las Vegas, San Diego, and New York, deepening his understanding and appreciation for the history and technique behind the classics.
Eventually, Lopez noticed a gap in the market back home in Las Vegas. "Vegas is a very new city when it comes to cocktails," says Lopez. "We are new to classics." Since the city was established in 1905 after "the golden age of cocktails" in the late 1800s, the city never developed its own distinctive drinking culture, according to Lopez. Then, Prohibition, World War One, and World War Two came sweeping through, further delaying any kind of progressive development in the city's bar scene. As a result, "we came into our own in terms of food and beverage in the '50s, '60s, and '70s," says Lopez. "People say that is the worst era of cocktails."
In the late '90s, that started to change with the arrival of industry leaders like Dale DeGroff, Tony Abou-Ganim, and Francesco Lafranconi. "They were the starters of classic-focused cocktails in the city," says Lopez. When the Bellagio opened, "they used fresh syrups and juices, and did classic cocktails," he adds. Then, in 2007, about a decade later, The Downtown Cocktail Room opened as the city's first official standalone "classic-focused cocktail bar."
Espresso Martini: Black Strap Rum, Banana Liqueur, French Vanilla Bean Cordial, Espresso, Coffee Beans at Nocturno
Dark and Stormy: Rum, Ginger Root Juice, Lime Juice, Candied Ginger at Nocturno
But for Lopez, classic and modern classic cocktails still needed a home and an outspoken advocate in the city. That desire has become his mission at Nocturno, Restaurateur DJ Flores' Arts District cocktail bar, which opened in 2025. "I wanted people to have access to the information," says Lopez. "I wanted us to educate people. This is a style of bar. There are dive bars and nightclubs, but this is its own thing."
Leaning into the educational aspect, Lopez developed an approachable, classics-forward bar program and a cocktail menu with added substance. "Historically in Cuba, in the early 1900s, at Sloppy Joe's and La Floridita, they used a book as a menu," says Lopez. "It had recipes and ads and illustrations." Inspired by the format, Lopez developed a collection of illustrations for each of the classic cocktails on his menu, featuring recipes, historical context, and riffs alongside the drinks on each page. The menu now boasts over 150 cocktails, and a second volume will feature around 250, showcasing the unexpected variety and creativity behind the craft.
"There is such a huge history and narrative of cocktails, all over the world," says Lopez. "Japan, London, Paris, Mexico, South America, New York, Polynesia. I want to tell those stories and share their classics—the lesser known ones, but also the ones that have a cultural impact."
Lopez hopes to build Nocturno into a place where "people can learn the classics, foundationally, and grow" in Las Vegas. That means expanding the menu, engaging with guests, and training staff to become proficient, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic about the craft. "There is a focus on quality, but some people lose [sight of the fact] that the real reason people go to bars is to not be lonely," says Lopez. "We want to have an impact: Fight loneliness, tell the story of cocktails, and inspire hospitality professionals."
