Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
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.
Barmaids in tight clothes break into choreographed bar-top dances intended to make Hooters look like a church picnic at this noisy tourist trap, a reincarnation of the 2000 movie's title nightspot (which is, fittingly, in New York). If you want to gaze at galvanized aluminum siding, old license plates, and an impressive bra collection, who are we to stop you?
The builders of this club might have never anticipated the windfall headed its way in the form of Allegiant Stadium, which turns out to be within walking distance. Crazy Horse was already in the top tier of the local skin game. The name that stuck (after previous incarnations as Sin and the Penthouse Club) is an homage to the bygone Crazy Horse II, which long ruled in the industry's smaller more downscale era. This version now has a center stage in-the-round and the more typically plush trappings of the modern era, as well as a kitchen to serve up pizzas, appetizers, and even breakfast should you discover you spent the whole night there. Checking the website in advance might pay off with package deals that include limo transportation and drink credits.
Both the name and the scale of this one might be familiar to those who visit topless clubs in their home towns. Déjà Vu is part of a national chain, and the single-stage club is small compared to its increasingly grandiose competitors. But this branch reopened in early 2025 after a downtime for some sprucing up. It also stays competitive by charging a lower cover charge than the splashier clubs and is arguably within walking distance of the Strip—at least from the Fashion Show mall. The place is absolutely packed on Tuesday, when all drinks are $2.
Call it a self-aware dive bar—the Double D sits a short walk between the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and the Thomas & Mack Center and a long, long way from the upscale casino hotels. A sign inside says it nicely: "Shut Up and Drink." Delicious decadence prevails here 24 hours a day; no wonder it was a favorite of the late food celebrity Anthony Bourdain and anyone else adventurous enough to enjoy a bacon martini. While it has been impacted by outside forces—namely the downtown migration of college students and the boho crowd—not a thing has changed within: this deliberately downscale bar awash in cleverly obscene graffiti has everything from great local bands to a truly eclectic jukebox. Our advice: go late, choke back the cigarette smoke, and try the (fabled) Ass Juice cocktail. A sister property, the Triple Down, has opened just west of the Strip as part of the Punk Rock Museum.
Definitely not your father’s cigar bar, this sexy lounge filled with sexy people (and known to attract a few celebrities) has a custom-crafted humidor, popular and limited-edition stogies, and a drinks menu tailored to the smokes and designed to foster relaxation.
One of Las Vegas's longest-running gay bars closed its longtime home on West Charleston Boulevard in late 2022 so that it could move to the East Side, in what's become an expanded area of Las Vegas's gay district along Twain Avenue, right next door to another alternative favorite, Fun Hog Ranch.
Ancient statues, tapestry-covered walls, pirated Mississippi road signs—the Foundation Room gets high marks for eclectic aesthetic appeal. Though membership is encouraged and comes with perks, this secluded subsidiary of the House of Blues is open to everyone seven nights a week, provided you're willing to wait in line. Reserve in advance for a reduced cover charge. The venue itself is a series of rooms, each with its own set of design themes and type of music that could range from Top 40 hits to house, depending on the night. A main attraction is the view of the Strip; because the club is on the 43rd floor, it provides some of the best panoramic vistas of the entire town, but the views come with a hefty cover charge.
You want Polynesian tiki-bar culture, Vegas-style? You want grass huts, carved wooden furniture, and cocktails such as the "Green Gasser," the "Thurston Howl," the "Lava Letch," and the "Bearded Clam"? You'll get it all here, and more, 24 hours a day in this small, windowless but thoroughly charming tiki bar that is utterly committed to its theme. The tiki mugs are all original, and if you love yours (and trust us, you will), there's a "merch hut" where you can buy one to bring the spirit of aloha home with you.
The W Las Vegas gives its classy lobby lounge a moniker that goes with its theme: the 32nd president. Bourbons, whiskeys, and barrel-aged drinks are specialties here, so belly up, let the soft music and tiny twinkling lights help you relax, and ask the bartender to prep you a little something, maybe from the Woodford Reserve barrel service (and yes, you can keep the barrel). What's more, since it's a lobby lounge, there's no cover.
The sleek, sophisticated Gatsby’s is known for its vintage and rare Champagnes and classic and artisanal cocktails, including the Champagne Bubble Bath for two (on the secret menu), which is muddled blood orange with Aperol, gin, sparkling wine, and strawberry and rose syrup. And it comes complete with a rubber ducky. Every first Friday brings the Return of the Gatz, a 1920s-theme party with music and dancing.
Perched atop the Palms, this apex of ultralounges was one of the first in Las Vegas to put a public area on top of a hotel tower to offer a glassed-in view of the city. Step outside and you'll find that the outdoor "Ghostdeck" is cantilevered over the side of the building, with a Plexiglas platform that allows revelers to look down 450 feet. For the views of the Strip skyline from the 55th floor alone, it's worth the effort. GhostBar usually opens by 9 pm, sometimes as early as 7 pm to let older folks have a gander before the younger club crowd moves in. Name DJs keep the latter hopping as the night goes on.
If this club isn't the way you remember it, it's not the drinks affecting your memory. Gipsy occupies the same footprint as the legendary gay club of yore, but that's about it. A $4 million reconstruction created a new indoor-outdoor club and sushi bar on the same property. The new building displays a considerably more upscale vibe, including state-of-the-art lighting, a video wall, and floral-themed touches evoking the Parisian showgirl costumes of classic Vegas. It shares the same ownership as nearby Piranha, so Gipsy has honed in on drag performances—including a Saturday drag brunch—while Piranha is more the wild dance club Gipsy was back in the day.
As good as Vegas Bohemia gets, this Downtown bar, close to the Beauty Bar and the Downtown Cocktail Room, is an instant winner. Some wags have likened it to a Peppermill for the younger, looser set, but this description fails to account for the beauty of its hipster crowd as well as its decor, from the kitschy neon sign outside to the fire grills, the barrel-vaulted brick ceiling, the semicircular banquettes, and the griffin insignias on the bathroom walls. The best feature, though, is the back room, which resembles a study owned by King Henry VIII—had he lived in the 1950s.
Classic cocktails are the name of the game at this bar off the Strip near Palace Station. Each cocktail comes with a story and quite a show while it's being made. Crack open the menu to learn the history behind each libation from the Prohibition era. This is the place to rub elbows with bartenders from other joints, who often visit when finished with their shifts on the Strip. An appetizer menu includes shrimp cocktails and mussels, and if you stay for dinner the kitchen under-promises and over-delivers on their claim to make "pretty good steaks."
“Enter a hidden world of sin,” implore the operators of Here Kitty Kitty, a speakeasy tucked away in a “secret” spot in the Famous Foods food hall. The sin is tame by some Las Vegas standards, limited to specialty cocktails such as One Night Stand, which is Don Julio blanco tequila, lime, strawberries, Firewater bitters, and Tajin. Can’t decide? Name a spirit, and one of the talented bartenders will surprise you. There also are extensive collections of tequila and mezcal, Scotch, bourbon, and Asian whiskey.
An amazing remnant of classic Vegas that almost faded away before being reborn in the 2010s, this club-restaurant has a front lounge that offers live cocktail entertainment Wednesday through Sunday and a ballroom that features ticketed shows. The entertainment is mostly tributes, usually to one or more members of the Rat Pack but sometimes to other Vegas stars such as Tom Jones. The performers are often Legends in Concert alumni or singers who work on cruise ships. Most of the shows have a dinner or buffet option.
Gin is the specialty of the house at Juniper, which is named after one of the berries used to flavor the spirit; in fact, it has the largest selection of gin in Las Vegas. But thirsty patrons can get just about any craft cocktail they wish at this Park MGM lounge. The menu features a curated cocktail program using house-made juices and syrups alongside an expertly selected spirits menu, and there's a special game-day cocktail menu, too.
Circles are a big theme at this lounge that fronts Koi restaurant. The motif is repeated in the ceiling and in light patterns projected on the walls, plus the circular banquettes that are great for big groups and lousy for small ones. Be sure to visit during happy hour from 5 to 7 pm, Tuesday through Saturday, when mixologists oblige by offering signature drinks for reasonably discounted prices.
The late porn mogul Larry Flynt’s name is displayed prominently on this massive (70,000-square-foot) three-story den of iniquity, allowing the whole second floor to be a VIP area with sky boxes. The main floor, lined with discretely curtained lap-dance areas, has a circular main stage, a pod stage, and even two (covered) dancers on top of the main bar top. There’s an attached Hustler Hollywood store with all manner of exotic clothing and sundry sexual accessories. The high-profile location—it's right alongside Interstate 15 with its name in giant lights—may also help explain cover charges around $50 a person. Thursdays through Saturdays find the Kings of Hustler male revue up on the third floor, where "girls night out" parties can watch male dancers. The rooftop hosts the Terrace Mediterranean restaurant and dance club action with DJs. The club has been offering shuttle rides to nearby pro hockey and football games, and drink bargains to entice early arrivals before 9 pm.
Strip-club old-timers will remember this location as Cheetah's (featured in that pinnacle of late-20th-century cinematic excellence Showgirls). It has now adopted a niche approach, catering to those who like their dancers with Latina spice.
This serenely styled lounge is quite literally at the center of the action in Bellagio. It's smack-dab in the middle of the casino floor, which you can view through windows on two sides. Community-style ottomans lend themselves to conversation. At the bar, expert mixologists pour cocktails made with seasonally fresh ingredients. There's live entertainment from 9 pm to 2 am, Tuesday and Thursday, and 7 to 11 pm, Friday and Saturday. DJs spin Friday and Saturday from 11 pm until the venue closes around 3 am.
The big new resorts would be nothing without their dance clubs, and Fontainebleau fills that niche with this one that comes straight from the Miami Beach original, now crowned with a halo of Sin City lights. Headliner DJs might include Tiesto, Dom Dollar, or David Guetta, and the club hosts special events such as a viewing party for the Big Game—or Super Bowl, for anyone who’s not a Las Vegas casino.
This circular bar's casual, lively atmosphere, comfy couchlike seats, sexy staff, and giant chandelier make it one of the best in town, and worth the trip to the impressive Red Rock Resort complex. What's more, the bar is steps away from Rocks Lounge, another hip spot that features live performers most nights of the week.
Tucked into a grungy strip mall behind Blueberry Hill diner lies a real treat, a dedicated jazz club, which is rare enough in Las Vegas, but even more valuable for folks who want to hear live music before the late evening: the bands start at 7 pm nightly (Thursday–Monday). The club caters to its performers, with a stage spanning the width of one wall and a real grand piano for musicians, who often play on nights off from their "real" jobs on the Strip. The food menu leans heavy on sushi, so those who come hungry or aren’t fans of sushi might want to dine elsewhere. A $25 minimum ($40 on weekends) can be applied to both drinks and food. Lately, Maxan has also been opening for lunch, without the live music.
Beer and pizza are in high demand at this lively sports bar on the second floor of City National Arena. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner most days, and is particularly hopping during Vegas Golden Knights games, when locals turn out to watch on big-screen televisions and enjoy food and drink specials. The connection to the Knights here runs deep; City National serves as the team’s practice facility, and you can watch practices for free on certain days.
Head to the Silverton's frontier-themed, salt-of-the-earth casino (or its sensational, museum-like hunting-fishing Bass Pro Shops), where it's well worth stopping by for a drink and taking a long look at the gigantic, sharks 'n' all aquarium. The aquarium holds 117,000 gallons of salt water and is home to more than 4,000 fish and as many as eight mermaids at a time (yes, really). There's live music spanning a variety of genres on Friday and Saturday, with no cover.
Did you ever think you'd be wearing a winter parka in the Las Vegas desert? If not, then you've underestimated just how creative these 21st-century bars can be. Don the parka provided by minus5°, pay attention to your orientation speech, buy those drink tickets, and step into the Ice Bar, where the temperature is always 5 below zero Celsius (23 Fahrenheit). This frosty clime ensures that you'll have a "cool" time here, but it also keeps the walls, bar, cocktail glasses, chairs, couches, and decorative sculpture in their frozen-solid state. Expensive fun for the sheer weirdness of it? Definitely! The drinks are tasty, too. Kids 7 to 12 are welcome before 9 pm, as long as they come with an adult. Additional locations are at The Venetian ( 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S) and The LINQ Promenade ( 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S).
Cigars team up with whiskeys (including barrels and flights) and small bites at this respite in the center of the resort. Find up to 1,000 cigars housed in a climate-controlled humidor, one of the largest in the city. If you're a sports fan, take in the fan cave with its 208-inch video wall and lots of screens. You can bring your own cigars; there's a $10 cutting fee. Become a member for discounts on beverages. There's also a location at Paris Las Vegas.
This festive room with an "outdoor piazza" vibe is a worthy Italian restaurant in its own right (it has family ties to Nora's a block or so away). But what really sets it apart is the live entertainment on weekends. The place turns into more of a cabaret, starting after the dinner rush at 8:30 pm. The house songstress is co-owner Naomi Mauro, but likeminded jazz vocalists and trios round out the calendar.
This baroque Paris piano bar can get loud, but it's all good fun. Free music flows Thursday through Sunday from 7 pm to 2 am; tip the dueling piano players well if you really want to hear your favorite song. Creative cocktails include the Banana Split Martini and Godiva chocolate–based Midnight in Paris, and cigar lovers can enjoy a smoke in the exclusive lounge area.
