Las Vegas Nightclubs, Dance Clubs Nightlife Late Night Bars Casino Clubs Guide
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ON VEGAS: ° Introduction NO LAST CALL! Text and photos detail Las Vegas' sinful nightlife and nightclubs
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Nightclubbing in Las Vegas
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.
The clubs include Rain in the Desert, Ghostbar Lounge, ROK, Risque', Studio 54, Rumjungle, Club Rio, Tao and Pure. 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. 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 four categories:
Before The Clubs – Where to Start the Party in Vegas
True nights out in Vegas begin long before Cinderella's bed check. For most, that means the Hard Rock Hotel Circle Bar. Framed by gaming tables, slot machines and the most comfortable sports book this side of a sports junkie's living room, the Circle Bar is the Acapulco Cliff Dive of Las Vegas. In other words, it's the jumping-off point for the night. The Hard Rock is THE place to see and be seen in Vegas. The mostly well-dressed and well-bankrolled crowd confirms that fact right away. Once the domain of everyone, it's a bit heavy on tourists of late. But locals, weekend warriors, athletes, celebrities, you name it, they've all been here. Peak times are 11-1 but it's active long before and long after those times. There is no dress code – although it's a good idea to be in vogue if you're looking to hook up or be a part of the scene – no cover and no line. One can stand and mingle, circle the Circle Bar or hop down to the tables for some gambling. At peak times, the bar is stacked three- and four-deep, which is great for meeting people but frustrating for quenching the inevitable thirst. A quick escape to the Pink Taco around the corner (adjacent to the restrooms) solves this problem. Getting a drink in this Mexican restaurant is so quick, it can have you back at your prime mingling spot without missing a beat. Occasionally, the Pink Taco itself goes off, making it something of a VIP party room. The food is good, too, and at $7 for a chicken enchilada dinner, it leaves plenty of wallet room for the really important stuff. There is a much more sedate scene - at least at first glance – at the Voo Doo Lounge. Located at the top of the Rio, has a spectacular view of the city. The outside balcony is especially popular on summer nights. A jazz band plays inside and the classy atmosphere, coupled with drinks such as the fishbowl sized smoking red voodoo mixture, makes it one of the most intoxicating lounges anywhere. This atmosphere lends itself to some serious socializing, making the Voo Doo Lounge one of the best places in Vegas to meet that special someone.
Dance Clubs
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 ihas three separate levels and more rooms than some of Vegas' early hotels. 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.
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. 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. There are a pair of bars at The Palms hotel. Rain in the Desert 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. For a more mellow experience, Ghostbar is an upscale lounge at the top of the casino with 350-degree Vegas views and an outdoor deck. $10 cover Sunday-Thursdays and $20 on weekends. Don't expect quick entry into either. Patience is required, as well as continual passes to the casino bars to continually reload one's cocktails.
It's not a mega-club, but that's an asset at ROK in New York-New York. It's intimate by Vegas club standards but that doesn't mean to say ROK doesn't rock. Because it definitely does, and it's huge overhead egg-shaped video screen, synced to the DJ music, gives the dance floor a lively vibe. There's also a patio along the Strip outside, which is ideal for cooling off after several dances or for having a calm conversation, something that's hard to achieve at many of the loud Vegas clubs. There's a DJ and bar out there, as well, and when it comes to mixing cocktails, ROK does not pull back on the pours. 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 Latin and salsa music, making 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.
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. Even Caeser's has gotten into the club act with Pure. It's a little tight, (and tightwads should avoid the place because beers are $8 and bottled water is $7) with a dance floor between two VIP areas. Tuesdays are popular with locals. The Beach, once the king of Vegas, has made a comeback. Those familiar with Florida discos will immediately identify with the Beach (located across from the Convention Center). It has a casual, wild atmosphere , a howitzer that fires confetti and bikini-clad shot girls roaming the floor ready to whet your whistle. Longtime Vegas clubbers know Glow from it's days as the old Hop.
It gets big crowds on Fridays and Saturdays. 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 and Specific Music 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. The Hop (1650 E. Tropicana, open Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) plays R&B, Mmaycayo Vegas, (four locations, including 1375 E. Tropicana) is about the only Salsa bar in town and country times can be had at the New Frontier in the Frontier hotel, which is owned by Gilley's, or even Gilley's itself (3120 S. Las Vegas Blvd). 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.
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It's
definitely off the beaten path, but locals in the know sure know about
it. The Fireside Lounge in the Peppermill Coffee Shop (across from
the Stardust) combines old and new Vegas. In the front is a typical 24-hour
coffee shop with waiters and waitresses moving to tables at the speed
of a craps game. In the rear is an old-fashioned lounge with a modern
touch – a Jacuzzi with a fireplace in the center sunken into the
floor surrounded by a sectional couch with TVs all around showing music
videos. If this were in a club, it would be the talk of the town. Since
it's here, it's good for getting the evening going and absolutely ideal
for a quiet post-club drink with that special someone. Locals file in
around 10 on weekend nights and also use it as a post-work meeting spot
on Fridays.
Related articles: The Bars of Vegas