A pink neon glow leads the way to La Mona Rosa. This new addition to Corner Bar Management’s burgeoning downtown Las Vegas portfolio was intricately designed by owner Ryan Doherty to be a space of craft cocktails, elevated cuisine, one-of-a-kind design elements and top-tier sound. La Mona Rosa embodies the spirit of Mexico, particularly the sandy beaches and backstreet cantinas of Tulum, Mexico.
Opened earlier this year, La Mona Rosa (aka “The Pink Monkey”), is the latest brainchild of Doherty, a renaissance man whose passion for art, culture, music and imaginative design is manifested in every facet of Corner Bar’s uniquely inventive East Fremont hotspots including Commonwealth, The Laundry Room, Park on Fremont, DISCOPUSSY, Lucky Day, Peyote, Cheapshot and We All Scream.
La Mona Rosa’s menu is a personal reflection of Executive Chef Isidro Marquez-Castillo. Inspired by his travels throughout central Mexico and traditional family recipes, Marquez-Castillo has crafted a refined vision of authentic, regional cuisines, which are built to share through small plates, tostadas, tacos and entrees available for both brunch and dinner.
To complement the chefs’ menu, La Mona Rosa offers an agave-centric selection of cocktails such as Pepino Picoso, made with tequila blanco, ancho reyes, cucumber, lime, agave and fever tree ginger beer. La Mona Rosa has also made a name for itself with Pink Brunch, a weekly Saturday event featuring rose-colored cocktails, decor and accessories for guests to enjoy.
Dripping with lush plant life and soaked in dim lighting, the newly opened space is adorned with works of art by San Diego- and Los Angeles-based artist Mr. B Baby. The Latina artist infuses elements of her Puerto Rican and Mexican upbringing into her whimsical art, including two characters who recognizably and regularly appear in her work: a colorfully fuzzy beast named “Chucho” and a Mexican rag doll.
Surrounded by a Funktion-One sound system, La Mona Rosa features a bespoke distressed oak and iron DJ booth that fuels days and nights with Latin and Afro house. On Tuesdays, the speakers boom with underground tracks by local and world-renowned selectors during Techno Taco Tuesday.
Located at 100 S. Sixth St., La Mona Rosa is open weekly Tuesday through Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner; Thursday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for brunch and lunch; and Thursday through Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. for happy hour.
Photo: The Pink Brunch, Courtesy of La Mona Rosa