Las Vegas

Inspired by the "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" attitude, and that it usually happens after dark, nightlife impresarios keep dipping into their vast pockets to create over-the-top experiences where party-mad Visigoths—plus, well, you and me—can live out some wild fantasies. The number of high-profile nightclubs, trendy lounges, and sizzling strip bars continues to grow, each attempting to trump the other to attract not just high rollers, but A-list celebrities and the publicity that surrounds them.

Many of the newest clubs even have gambling. Though, we ask, Why bother when you can lounge beside the pool by day and bellow at the moon by night while dancing half clad at a club until noon the following day (when it's back into the pool you go)?

In the late 1990s, once the Vegas mandarins decided that the "family experience" just wasn't happening, Sin City nightlife got truly sinful again, drawing raves from clubbers worldwide. A wave of large dance clubs, such as the Luxor's (now-defunct) Ra, opened their doors, followed by a trendy batch of cozier ultralounges—lounges with dance floors and high-tech amenities.

The game of one-upmanship has continued—recent additions that have kept the city hopping include the massive Omnia at Caesars Palace and more intimate Intrique Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas. What's more, bawdy 1950s-era burlesque lounges are continuing their comeback with a gaggle of clubs now dedicated to the art of striptease.

Few cities on Earth match Vegas in its dedication to upping the nightlife ante. So with all these choices, no one—not even the Visigoths—has an excuse for not having fun, however you define the "f" word.

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  • 1. Atomic Liquors

    Downtown

    This Downtown bar is the oldest freestanding bar in Las Vegas and owns the first liquor license in the state (literally, No. 00001). It takes its name from the custom of patrons in the '50s, who would buy drinks, head to the roof, and watch atomic blasts in the desert in the distance. The Rat Pack and Barbra Streisand drank here. Fast-forward to now, and it's become the place to hang out, with 20 microbrews on tap and an inventive menu that specializes in fancy beer cocktails. There's even a restaurant next door, but the bar is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

    917 Fremont St., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89101, USA
    702-982–3000
  • 2. Drai's After Hours

    Center Strip

    All hail Victor Drai, classiest of Vegas nightlife sultans. The wild scene inside this after-hours titan is closer to a dance club or a rave than to a lounge, even though its four rooms with two music formats are as gorgeous as any lounge in town. The vibe of decadence can reach an extraordinary pitch, but this, of course, is exactly how an after-hours club should be, right? Besides, you'll be hard-pressed to find a more beautiful insider crowd anywhere within the city limits.

    3595 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
    702-777–3800
  • 3. FreeZone

    University District

    An egalitarian mix of (straight and gay) men and women congregates at this 24-hour bar with a dance floor, pool tables, karaoke, and video-poker machines. Special promotions such as ladies night (currently Tuesday) appeal to both conventioneers and locals, while live drag shows are more raucous than the tame ones on the Strip.

    610 E. Naples Dr., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89169, USA
    702-794–2300
  • 4. Hakkasan

    South Strip

    The 80,000-square-foot Vegas haunt is one of the latest iterations of the nightclub brand that started in London. The space is one part nightclub, one part modern Cantonese restaurant—five floors in all with three dedicated to nightlife. To fill this space, the venue has booked some of the biggest DJs in the world, including Lil' Jon, Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki, and Tiësto. For a more casual experience, head to the third-level Ling Ling Club.

    3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
    702-891–3838

    Nightlife Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed.
  • 5. House of Blues

    South Strip

    This nightclub–concert hall hybrid at Mandalay Bay was the seventh entry in this chain of successful, intimate music clubs. As if the electric roster of performers taking the stage almost nightly wasn't enough (past acts include Carlos Santana, Billy Idol, Social Distortion, Joe Walsh, Slash, the Dropkick Murphys, and Seal), the decor is lusciously imaginative. (Our favorite decoration isn't inside, though—it's the Voodoo Mama statue greeting you outside.) The Gospel Brunch on Sunday has great live music and is worth a visit. Also, buy music, books, hot sauce, and T-shirts at the souvenir shop, where an expansive, remarkable collection of colorful folk art decorates the walls.

    3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89119, USA
    702-632–7600
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  • 6. Oak & Ivy

    Downtown

    Should you happen to be Downtown, head over to the Downtown Container Park and sit inside a shipping container to sip barrel-aged cocktails and whiskeys galore. Although tiny—it's sometimes tough to nab a spot at the bar—this little railroad car of a drinking spot packs a punch with a well-crafted menu of drinks. Can't decide on a whiskey? Order a flight. Want to try something truly special? Order a taste of one of the bar's barrel-aged bourbons.

    707 Fremont St., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89101, USA
    702-553--2549
  • 7. On the Record

    South Strip

    As the name suggests, the nightclub at Park MGM is all about sound. Sure, the brainchild of L.A.'s Houston brothers brings in live DJs every night. But it also offers three hidden karaoke rooms, as well as a hidden vinyl bar in the middle of the club. Perhaps the coolest detail is the hallway lined with cassette tapes. Don't miss the double-decker bus in the open-air courtyard either; it's like nothing at any other club in town. On the Record is open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

    3770 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
    702-730--6773
  • 8. Peppermill's Fireside Lounge

    North Strip

    Pining for a genuine taste of retro Las Vegas? This kitschy and shagadelic lounge remains one of the town's truly essential nightspots. Just north of Encore, this evergreen romantic getaway serves food, but what you're really here for is the prismatic fire pit and signature cocktails such as the Key Lime Pie Martini and the lethal, 64-ounce Scorpion.

    2985 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
    702-735–4177
  • 9. Petrossian Bar

    Center Strip

    Leave your designer handbags on the bar; this is a place to see and be seen. Sophisticated clientele frequent this piano lounge with experts tickling the ivories of a one-of-a-kind, art deco–style Steinway grand while patrons sup on three refined versions of the gin and tonic. Whether you're catching your breath or going for full elegance at this 24-hour lounge overlooking the grandiose entrance to Bellagio, you can sip on sublime cocktails such as the Beluga vodka martini with a cube of namesake Petrossian caviar at the bottom of the glass or pair up your vodkas with caviar in a tasting of three of each.

    3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
    702-693–7111
  • 10. Spearmint Rhino

    West Side

    At the Rhino, as everyone calls it, you can expect a veritable onslaught of gorgeous half-clad women and an international name brand trusted by both dancers and customers alike. The place got a late start in Vegas, but it grew fast, expanding its original space to more than 20,000 square feet in 2019. In prepandemic times it was also the rare topless club that offers lunch, including steak sandwiches. There's an adjoining shop for lingerie, sex toys, and various other implements of physical naughtiness. A return to full operations also was likely to bring back the male g-string show "Men of Vegas" on Friday and Saturday.

    3340 S. Highland Dr., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
    702-796–3600
  • 11. Tao

    North Strip

    Nowhere else in Vegas furnishes you with the four Ds—dining, drinking, dancing, and drooling—in quite as alluring a mix as this multilevel (and multimillion-dollar) playground. The ground floor and mezzanine levels are exquisite enough (you almost tumble into rosewater baths with women bathing inside before you're in the door), but once you get off the elevator at the top floor, where an army of dramatically lighted stone deities greets you, the party truly begins. Chinese antiques, crimson chandeliers, and a so-called Opium Room set the mood. It's still one of the best dance clubs in Vegas. . In spring and summer, Tao Beach opens with daytime pool parties.

    3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
    702-388–8588
  • 12. The Chandelier

    South Strip

    True to its name, this swanky lounge sits in a chandelier with 2 million crystal beads, making it the largest chandelier in town (and, perhaps, the world). The bar is separated into three separate levels, and each has a different theme. The ground floor—dubbed "Bottom of The Chandelier," for those of you scoring at home—is dedicated to intricate specialty drinks, the kinds of cocktails you'll find only here. The second floor (non-smoking!) pays homage to molecular gastronomy in cocktail form; spiked sorbets and dehydrated fruits are common in drinks here. Finally, at the top of The Chandelier, everything's coming up floral, with rose and lavender syrups and violet sugar. If you're particularly adventuresome (and you can get a seat on the first floor), try the off-menu Verbena cocktail with a "Szechuan button." This desiccated flower from Africa numbs your mouth to make flavors more potent; it also prompts you to down your cocktail in mere seconds. All three levels offer excellent people-watching opportunities. Open 24/7.

    3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
    702-698–7000
  • 13. The Smith Center for the Performing Arts

    Downtown

    Las Vegas got its very own ($150-million) world-class performing arts center in 2012, and what a spot it is. The multibuilding complex (complete with a bell tower) was designed to invoke 1930s-era art deco construction, the same motif you'll find at the Hoover Dam. Here, this elegance graces the main concert hall, which anchors its calendar around a season of touring Broadway musicals and Las Vegas Philharmonic concerts, filling the in-between dates with touring concert acts and other attractions. Myron's Caberet Jazz across the breezeway hosts live jazz or cabaret singers every weekend.

    361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89106, USA
    702-749–2000
  • 14. Velveteen Rabbit

    Downtown

    There's nothing better than a feel-good story in Las Vegas. Sisters Pamela and Christina Dylag saved and scrimped to open this great, velvet-lined cocktail lounge dotted with furniture they found at vintage shops and equipped with beer taps that look like hands. A great cocktail list with a vintage feel and punches are just some of the treasures behind the bar. Regular Wednesday specials mean a number of wines are available for $5 per glass.

    1218 S. Main St., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89104, USA
    702-685–9642
  • 15. XS

    North Strip

    This club backs up onto a pool that converts into one of the most spacious open-air dance floors in town. Steve Wynn's signature attention to detail shines through with touches such as a chandelier that doubles as a psychedelic disco ball, light fixtures that turn into stripper poles, and walls imprinted with golden body casts (the waitresses modeled for them). At the pool are cabanas, another bar, and outdoor gaming, where the sexiest croupiers in town ply their trade. Excess is a pretty good word for all of this.

    3121 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
    702-770–7300
  • 16. Alibi Ultra Lounge

    Center Strip

    Who knew you could have an alibi all night long in Las Vegas? This cocktail lounge offers up that—it's open until 5 am most days—along with bottle service, but you don't have to go all out. You can order creative cocktails as well. Alibi is perhaps best suited for those who want a VIP-style experience without waiting in a long line or shelling out extravagant prices.

    3730 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89158, USA
    702-590–9777
  • 17. Badlands Saloon

    East Side

    Consider the Badlands a 24-hour haven for local gay cowboys. It's decorated with a mock-log-cabin façade and offers cubbyholes in which regulars can store their beer steins. There's also a jukebox crammed to the coin slot with country-and-western hits. Plus, the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association hosts its fund-raisers here. Perhaps the only downside is the smoke.

    953 E. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89104, USA
    702-792–9262
  • 18. Blue Martini Lounge

    South Las Vegas

    It's in a shopping mall eight minutes from the Strip (by taxi), but we won't hold that against the Blue Martini, because it's still pretty cool. The cream of local bands plays here nightly, an attractive blue interior curves from room to room, and the cocktail menu is impressive (the signature martinis are served in the shaker). Also, there's a legendary happy hour. Best of all, hordes of the kind of people you'll want to meet (that is, sexy nontourists of both genders) keep pouring in.

    6593 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89119, USA
    702-949–2583
  • 19. Bound

    Center Strip

    The inventive cocktails snag the spotlight at this hidden gem tucked away at the back of The Cromwell. Try a breakfast martini with orange marmalade, or explore the Aristocrats Spirits Cabinet of rare tastes from all over the world.

    3595 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
    702-777–3777
  • 20. Brad Garrett's Comedy Club

    South Strip

    Brad Garrett, he of Everybody Loves Raymond and Single Parents fame, has returned to his stand-up roots in a classic comedy-club setting—a bar with plenty of photos of … Brad Garrett on the walls. He handpicks the comedians and headlines almost monthly himself: "It was either this or Jews on Ice at the Stratosphere," he likes to tell audiences. There's usually a hefty cover charge of at least $75.

    3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
    866-740–7711

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