Nightclubbing in Las Vegas
Where To Drink and Dance in Sin City

The "it happens in Vegas" phrase really applies to the city's vibrant nightclubs.

Las Vegas' nightlife is defined by its pulse-pounding clubs.

They are large, loud and full of energy. Well-danced sweaty dancers pack multiple dance floors, fog machines fills the air with smoke and modern go-go dancers pulsate in cages, platforms or even above the bar.

Such entertainment does not come cheap: Cover charges run $15-20, even in winter, and drinks can cost $10. There's usually a long wait to get inside, although most clubs allow hotel guests to use a VIP entrance. These factors limit club-hopping mobility, so it's costly to hit more than one or two a night.

Las Vegas nightclubs like to show off their sexy side.

The upbeat people set the tone for clubbing in Vegas.

The hottest clubs at the moment include Tao, Tryst, SX, Pure, Moon, Surrender, Moon, Marquee Las Vegas and Studio 54.

Most of the clubs are located in the casino/hotels because management fully realizes the financial bonanza of having a bunch of restless drinkers spill out into their casinos at 4 in the morning. Originated by the Luxor and MGM, the rage is now for hotels to put in a rockin' dance club, close it before dawn, then sit back and watch a room full of partiers spill into the casino. New ones seem to open almost on a monthly basis.

Of course, you don't just cruise up to a club in Vegas, wave "hi" to the doorman and walk inside of it. You've got to look the part, dress the part, arrive early (11 is recommended), or have called ahead to reserve a table, which comes with bottle service and a cost of at least a several hundred dollars.

Girls get to have a lot of fun clubbing in Las Vegas.

Unless you're a hot girl of course; then can just roll up in your sexy short dresses and .It may not seem fair and it may not be fair, but when it comes to nightclubbing in Vegas, hot girls hold all the cards.

Beautiful bartenders – usually sporting smiles – are part of the Vegas scene.

Most of the clubs are open Wednesdays-Saturdays and arriving before midnight is soooo un-cool; 1 in the morning is more like it. But there's plenty to do until that time. Our clubs guide is divided into these sections:
• Dance & Mega Clubs
• Live Music Venues & Specific Music Style Clubs
• After Hours

Dance Clubs

A "bather" in a bath of orchids; what will they think of next?

One of the hottest – and most consistent popular – clubs in Vegas in Tao. Located in the Venetian, it's a lounge, restaurant, club, dance bar, you name it. This massive place has three separate levels and more rooms than some of Vegas' early hotels.

These girls have no worries about going anywhere in Vegas.

Bar-goers are greeted by barely-clad girls in pools of orchards and from there it's either stay downstairs, go up to the second level or up to the third, which has large room with dance floor, a hallway of sorts with unique chairs, another bar or yet another room with couches and go-go dancers. Perhaps Tao Beach, the pool area, will also be open.

In the same general area, a more lounge -club in the adjacent Plazzo is LAVO. There's a club and also a no-line, no-cover upscale bar in the restaurant area that becomes a hangout after midnight. Tao has one of the best Halloween parties in Vegas, too.

The XS club is one of the most popular nightspots in Vegas.

A look beyond the cabana curtain to the pool at XS.

XS in Encore is one of the other hot spots in town. As you walk into the place, there are steps that go down with cool-ass bar on left and there's another cool-ass bar to the right. Walk down more steps and there all VIP booths around. Between the VIP booths are stripper poles, and "regular" girls dance on small areas next to the VIP area. Keep walking to the huge, sunken dance area with hundreds of people dancing Go-go girls in gold dresses – tight, short, big boobs –add to the scenery and then it opens up to the outside to a pool. Behind THAT area is another bar where there are more girls dancing. Yes, it's very visual. And it's even open Monday nights.

The people pack into Tryst, one of the Vegas hot clubs.

But, of course, this is Vegas and it's hip to have more than one club at a casino. Encore also has Tryst. It's a huge outdoor waterfall is a visual draw but more utilized are the stripper poles that any gal can dance with inside the club.

Surrender in Encore has created something different in Vegas: A daytime and nighttime pool party. Well, poolside at night, anyway.

There are a pair of bars at The Palms hotel. Rain is a posh club with a fairly young crowd. The music is R&B, techno and house. Water, fire and fog are plentiful. It's open Thursday-Saturday with a $20 cover. Sometimes, it gets bands (like KISS) and the cover is adjusted accordingly.

Then again, you could shoot for the Moon when going out in Vegas. For that, there's Moon. Named for the open roof to the sky – you can see the moon, get it –  it's in the top floor of Fantasy Tower. Color-changing glass tiles cover the floor and curtains of glass beads may occasionally take your eye off the moon, or the other visually appealing aspects of the club.

The bartenders are pure fun at Pure in Caesars Palace.

Caesars Palace has one of the hottest and most long-lasting clubs in Vegas with Pure. It's a little tight, (and tightwads should avoid the place because beers are even bottled water is $7) with a dance floor between two VIP areas. Tuesdays are popular with locals.

With the upscale Cosmopolitan hotel, it makes sense it would have an upscale nightclub to go with it, as well. And so it does with Marquee Las Vegas. This is a place for people (men, anyway) who don't mind laying out some cash – or the credit card – for the high price of drinks ($15 and up, and up).

You're not taking a "Risque" with these bartenders at Riskque in Paris.

Risque in Paris is not a mega-floor dance club but rather a club/lounge. It's sleek and stylish, a place seemingly made for models and movie stars. The cool dance floor overlooks a multi-colored bar and near-private balconies face the Paris' front fountain. You'll find a cool staff & attitude here as well as a hip crowd – that's why locals love it. Fridays it features La Revolution, Latin and salsa music which makes it unique among Vegas clubs.

Getting to a club from the Hard Rock is as easy as walking downstairs. Baby's has been replaced by Body English as "the hidden nightclub under the Hard Rock." It's quite popular, adding nicely to the Hard Rock's bottom line. Take a break in this two-level club in the cave-like booths.

Of COURSE thee are Go Go dancers at Vegas clubs!

Dancing and dance clubs are a hot attraction in Vegas. Among other things.

Studio 54 has the name and the game to match the New York original. Located in the MGM Grand, with the entrance at Las Vegas Blvd. and Tropicana, it has been one of the most popular dance clubs for a few years. This three-level nightspot has a different theme each night (disco, 80s, etc.), and features four separate dance floors and four bars. The dress code is slightly more relaxed than at some other clubs, but t-shirts are not allowed and neither are loose-fitting "gang-style" clothes. The house music on weekends sends patrons directly to the dance floors, some of which look down on the first-floor mayhem. For those requiring a rest, there's small lounge areas upstairs and downstairs, but most people don't stay seated for long.

Club Rio in the Rio is best on Wednesdays and Thursdays but does often get crowded on weekends. It has Salsa dancing on Sundays (and guy, girls love Salsa dancing!).

It's off the beaten path and hardly high-tech, but locals land late at night at the Rainbow Bar & Grill. No, it's not a gay club but a sister of the Rainbow rock club in L.A. After 11, workers from other bars, the casinos or other Vegas jobs start rolling in for several drinks. The dress and demeanor is casual. It's across from the Hard Rock in a small shopping center.

Live Music and Specific Music-Style Clubs

The best live music is usually found at the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. Various bands – including many big names – play here on a regular basis.

Some, though, would say the same about The Joint in the Hard Rock, which had Motley Crue playing an extended gig early in 2012. The Hard Rock also holds concerts on a regular basis,

The Hop (1650 E. Tropicana, open Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) plays R&B and dancing. Live country music can be found at two places, Gilley's and Stoney's Rockin' Country.

Gilley's is located in Treasure Island and features dancing and live music until 4 a.m., in its "saloon and dance hall. Get there before 10 to avoid the $10-20 cover charge and take advantage of drink specials. Stoney's (3 miles south of Mandalay Bay, exit 34 off I-15, at 9151 S. Las Vegas Blvd.). has free dance lessons Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Thursdays are Ladies Night with $1 drinks for the gals and for the guys, a bikini bull riding contest.

A favorite locals' band is Louie, Louie. This lively group attracts a fun, eager to please crowd. They often play at the Hilton, but bounce around to other spots. Check the entertainment sections of various papers to find them.

After Hours

There's never a last call in Vegas – ask anyone who has emerged from a casino or strip club to be greeted by the morning sun – but the clubs shut down hoping the patrons will go directly from the bar to the tables. There are two choices, however. The most popular is Dria's. Located in one of the cornerstone casinos, Bill’s Gamblin Hall & Saloon (formerly the Barbary Coast_ Dria's is a lounge with progressive house. As with many clubs in Vegas, don't expect to show up and waltz through the door. Waiting is required. It's open Friday & Saturday nights until dawn.

A rival to Drias is VooDoo Lounge, which is now open on Saturday nights.