One of the greatest attractions in Sin City – as you would expect – are the Las Vegas nightclubs. They’re like no other nightclubs anywhere in the world. Some Vegas clubs are multimillion dollar complexes, defining luxury and first-class treatment. One such nightclub is the Marquee “nightclub and day club” (there are two pools and outdoor gaming at the “day club”) on the 17th floor of the Cosmopolitan, which is a record $60 million complex which focuses on music, with different genres in different rooms. The main room focuses on house and trance music, while the smaller Boom Box room specializes in hip hop. The décor and ambience, combined with spectacular DJs and dance floor areas, could make this the hottest spot in Vegas.
If Marquee is the top dog among Las Vegas nightclubs, its sister clubs Lavo and Tao aren’t far behind. Tao at the Venetian has been around for a while now but unlike most clubs, its popularity – the huge lineup of celebrities partying inside, and the lines of regular people waiting to get in – never seem to wane. It’s truly one of the spots that’s so hot because you “have” to be there – it’s so big that it’s not really a comfortable place to hang out, talk or dance – but that doesn’t even matter. As for the decor, Buddhas are everywhere (both live and overstuffed heads) to accent the Far Eastern look; you can party in the completely jammed main room where rock mashups are central to the party atmosphere, find a little room to breathe in one of the smaller rooms, or head outside to Tao Beach.
Lavo at the Palazzo is much smaller, with a beautiful Moroccan boathouse theme which is breathtaking; flowing water, intricate tilework and leather walls and ornate chandeliers, with black and orange predominating. Many clubgoers start their night at the restaurant downstairs from the club (one secret to getting in quicker!) and the elegance of the surroundings give the partying a somewhat decadent flair, particularly if you order a bottle of Dom, which is brought to your table by Superman, “flying” to your table in the arms of several bouncers as the Superman theme song plays. It all adds up to funky, cool style with a house and hip hop beat – the atmosphere that puts Lavo among the cream of Las Vegas nightclubs.
Another Las Vegas nightclub you won’t want to miss is The Bank, at the Bellagio. It’s definitely a high-end club with a disco/techno feel, with lots of drink rails and space to stand throughout the multi-level club, as you watch the action on the dance floor. If you decide to join the throngs on the floor, celebrity DJs often are running the show and the excitement level is always high. This is a Cristal kind of place, with an entire level dedicated to booths and tables for VIPs; you don’t need to go for bottle service to feel like a celebrity in this atmosphere.
Another Vegas favorite that has stood the test of time is Rain, at the Palms. As would befit the young, hip hotel and casino, the crowd here is young and hip – the biggest DJs spin here, the hottest women populate the massive dance floor, the lighting and pyrotechnics are spectacular, and the vibe is first rate. Lots of VIPs are also on display here, with some of the booths right out on the dance floor in addition to sprinkled throughout the club.
Rounding out the list of the Las Vegas nightclubs that most people would put on a top ten list: XS at the Encore, Vanity at the Hard Rock, Haze at Aria, Tryst at the Wynn and Moon at the Palms. But as with any hot club scene (and none could be hotter than the Vegas club scene) – don’t blink, or you’ll miss the opening of the “hottest new club to come along.” The scene is incredibly competitive, and that makes for an even better experience for Vegas clubgoers.
One other note: many Las Vegas nightclubs now feature pricey but valuable “front of the line” passes that you can buy during the day, letting you bypass the hours-long wait to get in. They can cost $60-$100 and up for women, even more for guys; but if your time in Vegas is limited and you want to maximize your party time, they’re worth looking into.
