Going to the South Side

To this drunkymonkey's way of thinking, the best thing the M Resort has going for it (aside from the gorgeous interior design) is the balcony seating adjacent to its Lobby Bar, which overlooks the pool, and farther out, the city of Las Vegas. It is well-worth the $8.50 for a specialty drink (about half of what you'll pay for the same drinks at a lot of places on the Strip) to kick back on the balcony and take in the views. The interior of the Lobby Bar also delivers. Sleek, inspired by the local landscape in earth tones and marble, it's a very inviting space.

But back to those $8.50 specialty drinks.

First up was the Honey & Ginger (top right), a mix of Jose Cuervo, ginger liqueur, fresh ginger, lemon juice, pure honey, mint leaves and ginger ale. It seemed equally feasible the mix would lead to either a refreshing, unique cocktail or a syrupy, bland cocktail. Happily, refreshment won out. The honey is used to rim the glass, giving the drink a touch of sweetness without sugar overkill. It also has a slight bite of ginger, which intensifies with each sip and plays well with the hint of honey and mint flavors in the drink.

At the bartender's suggestion I also tried the Seedless Watermelon (bottom right, Ketel One Citroen, fresh lemon juice, Midori and fresh watermelon juice) one of the Lobby Bar's most often ordered specialty drinks. The Seedless Watermelon smelled like a Jolly Rancher, and wasn't quite as refreshing as the Honey & Ginger, although the watermelon juice did taste fresh. On the whole, the drink was sweeter than anticipated, probably because of the underlying Midori, which was just a little too overpowering for the watermelon juice. A fine idea, but this drink doesn't quite live up to its potential.

Beyond the Lobby Bar, the M Resort offered a couple of notable, beverage-related treats. First, there are self-serve refreshment stands sprinkled about the casino offering complimentary soft drinks, water, coffee and tea. Why didn't someone think of this sooner? Second, the sports book bar touts a seriously good selection of beers, among them Ephemere, Duvel and Chimay. Someone at the M Resort deserves a pat on the back for that.