2 Best Bars in Las Vegas, Nevada

Background Illustration for Nightlife

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.

Nine Fine Irishmen

South Strip

Don't be surprised to see patrons break into impromptu bouts of step-dancing at this authentic Irish pub inside New York–New York. It's so authentic that the place was built in Ireland, shipped over, and reassembled in Vegas. Today, barkeeps pour Guinness, Harp Lager, Smithwick's, and all sorts of Irish whiskeys, while cooks crank out traditional Irish dishes. Live Irish music rounds out the sing-along entertainment here. Live entertainment begins nightly at 9 pm; go before then if you want a table for dinner. Brunch is served Thursday through Monday from 11 am to 2 pm.

Rí Rá Irish Pub

South Strip

Like the Statue of Liberty, this pub was constructed in Europe, then shipped over piecemeal and reassembled in The Shoppes at Mandalay Place (yes, Lady Liberty is in New York; you know what we mean). Highlights include the music—which regularly comprises Irish sessions—and the menu, which boasts enough sausage rolls and fish-and-chips to make you feel like you've flown to Dublin. Another authentic touch: many of the wait staff are from Ireland. Live music is performed Tuesday through Sunday.

Pub
3930 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV, 89119, USA
702-632–7771

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