The Bank (Bellagio has emerged from what used to be Light. In order to expand the club, they dug down about 9 feet so it is now a multi-level club with a glass encased dance floor, black interior, chandeliers and a Cristal bottle entrance. Music is more top 40.
Body English (Hard Rock) may not re-open as an after hours club. It might have a last hurrah with DeadMau5 on October 15.
Christian Audigier (TI) opened July 4th 2008 in the spot vacated by the old Tangerine. It closed in early October 2010.
Crown (Rio) is in the old ND Fuego's location and will be an 11,000 square foot venue with a black and white interior using Fuego's projection screens upgraded with new LEDs. They have added more stripper poles and go go stands and upgraded the clubs's lighting and sound.
Management is making several steps to stand out from the crowd in Vegas. Pricing will be very moderate for a near Strip location at $12 for call drinks with bottle service at their 48 tables starting at $295 for their bottom bottle (see our discussion of bottle service for terminology) and premiums such as Grey Goose at $395.
Whereas Fuego had 3 bars, Crown will have 5. The waitstaff is also changed from the Fuego days with more tattoos and a "Rock" feel overall.
Bottle service will vary by group composition and night. This means an all-guy group can be over $2,500 on hectic nights with as few as 3 per bottle but a girl group seated further away might be 4 to a table at single bottle minimum on a slower night. If you notice in our comparison of bottle service, Crown is left out on purpose since it varies so much.
Unlike most clubs, music will be top 40 although as the evening goes on, it might move change to House depending on the crowd mood. As of now, Crown's nights will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday with an Industry night probable but not chosen yet. Hours should be 10:30 to early dawn. Dress code will be very casual for Vegas with designer sneakers, t-shirts substitutible for collared shirts and dress shoes. Admission is $30 for men and $20 for women on most nights.
Managment is planning on booking well over 100 acts a year so the venue will be used as a concert venue during the early evening and as a club (using its separate sound system) during the late evening.
Eve (Crystals at CityCenter)is the upstairs club over Beso owned by Eva Longoria. It has large windows and a good view of CityCenter that did not turn out to be spectacular as hoped but nice. It is averaged price for a Vegas nightlife spot with 4 people to a $450 bottle. Men pay $30, women $20. Their industry night is Wednesday.
Foundation Room (Mandalay Bay) mostly Hip-Hop and House, was only open to the public on Monday until recently with probably the best view of any Vegas Nightclub. With gold membership, you also get access to other Foundation Rooms in other cities plus a very good golf program. It has excellent private dining as well as good membership dining in other cities such as at Roy's, Flemings, etc.
Jet (Mirage) has 3 rooms with different music and décor. It has ceiling monitors of the dancers below so you can watch the snow fall. The line passes on their website work okay if you are appropriately dressed. This would be the best for many cities but for Vegas is just another good nightclub.
Lavo (Palazzo) is from the same group as Tao in the Venetian. The Italian cuisine is both southern and heavier than the previous Mediterranean cuisine and we prefer Tao's pan-Asian food next door at the Venetian if looking for dining plus clubbing. The small nightclub upstairs is around 4,500 square feet. The mostly black bath-house décor is plush but less over the top than Tao which is much larger at 10,000 square feet.
Their industry night is Tuesday and they are open Tu-Su from 10 to about 5 am, open Saturday a half hour earlier. Cover is $20/$20 on Fridays with a $30/$20 charge on Saturdays. Other days are $20/$10 with guys always paying the higher and ladies the lower amount. Bottle service for 3 people (not 4), starts at $350.
LAX (Luxor) is one of the major clubs in Vegas taking the place of RA. It has low ceilings in some places due to the pyramid shape of the casino and seems to run warmer than other clubs. Its light and sound systems are among the most advanced in Vegas. The Industry Night for LAX is Wednesday and this is often the night they bring in special guest stars.
Moon (Palms) is a fairly new Nightclub that has floor tiles that change color and a retractable roof. It is attached to the downstairs Playboy Club. It has a great view from its patio sitting on top of the Palms Fantasy Tower.
The posh Playboy Club is downstairs and has a small dance floor of its own but it has a more lounge type of feel. Blackjack table minimums are high roller but the Bunnies are hot if occasionally mathematically challenged.
Pure (Caesars) has 4 total rooms with a main and VIP room, an open air terrace plus the Pussycat Dolls Lounge. Each has its own music. It ranks highly for celebrity spotting (assuming Nicole Ritchie, etc. are celebrities).
We recommend, if weather accommodates, the upper level terrace which looks out on the Strip or slipping into Pussycat Dolls if it is too crowded which happens most of the time.
Rain (Palms)has seen a bit of a revival with House/Trance fans. Paul Oakenfold (or one of his chosen proteges) will spin on Saturdays. He appears in person about half the time. The Playboy bunnies will sometimes gather here in a VIP booth as they join the somewhat younger than average crowd here.
Revolver (Santa Fe Station)is the old Stoney's North Forty but now managed by Station Casinos. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only club currently managed by the casino owner. Their focus has changed to attract an older crowd and with a 90/10 mix of country to top 40--not hip-hop. They still have very low drink prices ($1-$2 beers) and 4 people for $140 bottle service. Admission is $10 with Thursday Industry night. It is open earlier than most clubs at 7 pm.
Rok (NY NY)is Tommy Lee's Miami-transplant with 360 degree surround video, half-bottle service, and unisex bathrooms that are female friendly. Rok is about 7,500 square feet plus a 3,000 square foot patio with a separate DJ playing hip-hop and house rather than the more rock oriented mash-ups indoors.
Bottle service is affordable for Vegas nightclubs starting at $295. Their industry night is Wednesday and they are open W-Sa from 10:30 to 4 am or so with cover at $30 for guys and $20 for girls. 702-740-6765
Stoney's (9151 LV Blvd S)This bastion of country line dancing, and 2 stepping has closed its second location (North Forty) at Santa Fe Station but reopened it nearby. Stoney's offers $1 drinks and $1 admission for the fair sex on Thursday Ladies Night. The younger than average crowd enjoys line dancing lessons, mechanical bull riding and pool tables in addition to the 80/20 mix of country/hip-hop.
Studio 54 (MGM)This is an older multi-level club that has been somewhat left behind. They recently added very late hours which might make it more appealing for the early Tuesday and Wednesday crowd who can't stop partying.
Tao (Venetian) is the highest grossing food and drink business in the U.S. with an interesting Asian inspired décor. It was probably one of the most expensive clubs ever opened in Vegas.
Because it has become so popular, you may need bottle service (which gets you seating) for the best experience. Getting out of the main room also helps. During the summer, Tao Beach can be a worthy alternative to Rehab at the Hard Rock and they have recently added hookah as an option.
Vanity (Hard Rock Tower)is a medium large club at 15,000 square feet or twice the size of the now closed Body English (reopening in April as an after hours club, After Life). Vanity is well executed with particular appeal to women due to the great restroom that has nail, makeup technicians and enough stalls to handle many night's crowds. When its novelty fades, it will likely still be a strong club. The crowd tends to be one of the youngest in Vegas with more early-mid-twenties here than typical.
The centerpiece is the million dollar chandelier. Interesting touches include the hand mirror menus. Overall, this club was expected to be a good club and delivered. Bottle service starts at $450 for 4 but on some nights they might have a 2 or even 3 bottle minimum. Men are $40 and women might pay $30 if they have to pay. The Industry night is Sunday.
Music
Although most nightclubs in Vegas have different kinds of music, if you have a strong preference you might prefer certain clubs. Trance fans may find more in the mix at Tabu (MGM), Rain (Palms), Drai's (Bill's) especially towards the end of the night. Latin lovers may prefer the Voodoo Lounge (Rio) on Mondays, Stoney's on Wednesdays and Lavo or Crown on Thursdays..
Stoney's is roughly 80% Country with some Hip-Hop or other music thrown in as well. It is also geared to line dancing and well worth the drive south of Mandalay Bay to get there if you are a jeans and cowboy/cowgirl type of dancer. If you are in the northern part of town, Revolver might appeal to the Country fan who can stand some top 40. We have not been able to sample the new Stoney's at 5990 Centennial in zip code 89149 but we are fans of the older Stoney's so it is likely to be a good spot. Crown spins top 40 until later in the night when it sometimes moves to House.
For House fans, Saturdays at Rain is the strongest play, especially when Oakenfold himself is there (about half the time). House is common at Jet, Tao, Drai's (which also has a hip-hop room), Foundation Room and Tabu. Thursdays is House night at Vanity. Overall, House has become more the standard in Vegas. As a throwback to the Hip-Hop days, starting September 30, Jet will make Thursdays your special night.
Best Las Vegas Views
Although most of the best views will be the people watching (especially at XS, Pure, Tao and Jet) there are superb city views such as Voodoo Lounge at the Rio. The patio from Moon, The Playboy Club and ghostbar at the Palms are serious contenders as are the Foundation Room and Mix both at Mandalay Bay.
The slightest edge goes to the Mandalay Bay properties because you have a clear view straight up the Strip. Mix is the Alain Ducasse restaurant that recently received a Michelin Guide accolade. See our Celebrity Chef report.
Very Late Hours
If 4 am is not late enough, there are 3 possibilities to keep the party going. In order of preference, Vegas Made Easy.com recommends Drai's, Studio 54, and Deja Vu Fusion.
Deja Vu Fusion (4740 Arville, Off-Strip) converts to a nightclub at 4 am with some of the strippers from this club (and other clubs) staying for the transition. If you need to use the facilities, it has one of the more interesting bathrooms in town-a bit Tao like. If you come too early, you may wonder what utter moron recommended a strip club to a club rat such as yourself. It is open 7 days a week and stays open until about 10 am. This was formerly Seamless and is similar in concept except the girl in the giant martini glass is discontinued.
Bottle Service
The busier the club the more sense bottle service makes. This enables you to claim a table with a bottle and mixers included (you may pay more for energy drinks). The waitresses bring the drinks rather than you waving futiley at a swamped bartender who probably "sees" you as the invisible man. The massive markup is less onerous when shared by a group and usually works out to not much more than $300 a person or less unless you are staying awhile and going through a lot of bottles. Not cheap, but often the way to go for clubs such as Tao.
Clubs vary substantially depending on how crowded they are. If not crowded you can make your reservation and stroll in leisurely, utterly confident in your table. If the club is busy your reservation may be bumped.
For example, if your party is not very large you are automatically at the bottom of the totem pole. If you check in early such as 10 pm or so you should still get in. If you wait unitl 11 pm at busy clubs such as Vanity on a Saturday night, your "reserved" bottle service will be gone almost 100% of the time.
A bottom bottle is the club's cheapest which is often a Stoli or Sky type of vodka although Foundation Room has a bottom bottle merlot. You must always buy at least 1 bottom bottle (or a more premium brand such as Grey Goose) and you sometimes have to buy 2 or more depending on the night. 3 or 4 people can share the bottle depending on the club. If there are 4 in your group but the club limit is 3 then you must buy 2 bottles unless you negotiate an exemption.
Sometimes you have to protect your drinks from waitresses eager to get you into another bottle faster. If crowded, you may also be forced to buy more simply to stay "reserved". Again, it just depends on how busy the club is.
One final tip, XS is sold out for a month in advance so planning and arriving early is essential there. Below are prices for bottle service on an average Saturday night. These could be easily doubled or more for UFC, 3 day weekends, etc. If you are visiting Vegas from overseas, the U.S. Country Code is 00 1 and the Vegas area code is 702. You would dial 00 1 702-693-8300 if trying to get the Bank at Bellagio, for example.
| Vegas Night Club | Min. Bottles | Bottle Price
| Party Size | Cost/Person | Phone |
| Bank |
2 |
$475 |
4 |
$237.50 |
693-8300 |
| Blush |
1 |
$435 |
4 |
$108.75 |
770-3633 |
| Christian Audigier |
1 |
$125 |
3 |
$41.67 |
894-7580 |
| Eve |
1 |
$450 |
3 |
$150.00 |
227-3838 |
| Foundation Room |
1 |
$325 |
3 |
$325.00 |
813-2704 |
| Haze |
2 |
$475 |
3 |
$316.67 |
693-8300 |
| Jet |
2 |
$425 |
4 |
$212.50 |
693-8300 |
| Lavo |
1 |
$450 |
3 |
$150.00 |
388-8588 |
| LAX |
1 |
$475 |
3 |
$158.33 |
894-7580 |
| Moon |
1 |
$425 |
3 |
$141.67 |
942-6832 |
| Pure |
1 |
$475 |
3 |
$158.33 |
894-7580 |
| Rain |
1 |
$425 |
3 |
$141.67 |
942-6832 |
| Rok |
1 |
$295 |
4 |
$73.75 |
740-6969 |
| Studio 54 |
1 |
$350 |
4 |
$87.50 |
891-7279 |
| Surrender |
1 |
$450 |
4 |
$112.50 |
|
| Tao |
1 |
$450 |
3 |
$150.00 |
388-8588 |
| Tryst |
2 |
$450 |
3 |
$300.00 |
770-3375 |
| Vanity |
2 |
$450 |
3 |
$300.00 |
693-5555 |
| XS |
1 |
$450 |
3 |
$150.00 |
770-0097 |
No Crowds, No Dress Codes, No Money-Keep Dreaming
Unfortunately the best nightclubs require guys to dress up and girls to dress sexy while the guys spend huge sums of cash.
Most lines (without any passes) will take 30 to 60 minutes if not hours if you are a guy. If you are in a group of 6 or more men, Tao will not take you at all. Women who are above average in looks or can dress suggestively have the best chance of getting through and their line passes are almost always half the price of men if they even need them at all.
Women can usually get into most clubs with short dresses and heels which they have no problem figuring out on their own. Some men may require some coaching to get in. If men avoid these mistakes they can get in:
-
Baseball caps (even if it's a Yankees cap)
-
T-shirts, tank tops
-
Worn jeans especially the very loose kinds
-
Sneakers
-
Forgetting to tip the bouncers ($40 minimum, $100 when crowded and $150 at XS if packed)
Line passes range from $10 to $80 (for a couple) with many at around $40 for men with women's passes cheaper. Nordstrom's has stopped carrying line passes. If you are staying at the hotel or at the restaurant associated with a club or see a promoter for the club, try asking for a pass.
If you are planning on doing club hopping in Las Vegas, you can either do it yourself by calling clubs and/or going online such as for Jet. Another approach is to get a package of passes which will reduce your planning time.
Drinks are more expensive than in most U.S. Cities. Expect to pay a minimum of $10 on up depending on your concoction with $20+ drinks sometimes seen. Bottle service, to secure a table, will be $400+ for just 3 or 4 people. If you thought that the Las Vegas restaurant markup of 3-4X for wine was unpleasant, be prepared to gasp for your Grey Goose when it comes with a double digit markup.
Club Events
Although the night clubs are not as active in bring in headliners as they were 1-2 years ago, celebrities still frequent the Vegas clubs. We have a section on both the clubs and pool parties that are bringing in special guests that you can check out by clicking here. Clubs and pool parties are notorious for very short lead times however which makes planning a trip for your favorite star very difficult though.
VIP Services Update
Most night clubs in Las Vegas have slowed down. Poetry (now closed) reported drop of 25-40% in attendance on some of their December 2008 nights for example. This means that the VIP Services which escort you past the long lines are not as valuable as they have been.
If you get in your reservations 2-3 weeks in advance and reconfirm 3-4 days before, or don't mind waiting there is no need for the VIP service providers. However, if you visit Vegas during a crowded time such as a 3 day weekend, etc. you may still want to consider VIP services if you have the budget. They can also help with planning Bachelor/Bachelorette parties, Limo service, restaurant recommendations, etc.
