Great nightclubs

I highly recommend the clubs at the Palms. That's where you'll find me 3-4 times a week. There are many other great nightclubs in Vegas though.

Wynn has two megaclubs, Tryst and XS. Tryst has been around for a while and has a nice dancefloor, outside areas by the waterfall, private VIP areas and more. Thursday night is industry night and you will find the club packed with locals. Friday and Saturday are of course the busiest nights of the week. XS is the hottest club in Vegas right now, at least til the next megaclub opens up at the end of the year. XS is like Tryst on steroids. One of the coolest features is the huge pool area and the cabanas. There is also a gaming area at the pool if you really have to get in some blackjack while out clubbing. XS industry night is on Monday and their weekly nighttime pool party is Sunday.

Light Group operates Jet and the Bank. I'm not a huge fan of Jet although it is pretty popular. It features multiple rooms playing different types of music etc. Monday nights are industry night and they also push Thursday nights hard. The Bank is up there with XS and Moon as one of my favorite clubs. Located at the Bellagio it has several different levels and VIP areas. The bars are always packed so you really need bottle service to have a good time. Sunday is industry night.

I'd avoid Pure, LAX and Tao because of their treatment of customers. All three clubs are known for quoting one price and then charging you more when you arrive. Combined with aggressive security and tip hustling it's not an enjoyable time out.

Prive has had a lot of problems the last few months including losing their liquor license. They were forced to get rid of all senior management and are now operating under a temporary license. I haven't been there since they re-opened but I always enjoyed Prive in the past. They book a lot of special events and also have the Living Room for house music. Monday is industry night.

If you're going to clubs in Vegas and you aren't connected then you need to use a host and get a table. Otherwise you are looking at 1-2 hours in line, cover charge, etc. Depending on the club you will need to buy a bottle for every 3-4 people. A bottle of Grey Goose typically will cost you around $600 with tax and tip included. Now that sounds like a lot of money but you have to remember you are also buying real estate. You have your table for the night along with waitress and security. So if you go out with 4 guys it will cost $150 each which is a fair price in my opinion to have a table, skip the line and avoid the $40 per person cover charge. To get a host you can always just call the club but I recommend getting a recommendation from a host at another nightclub or even your casino host. They will most likely get you hooked up with a better, more senior host which helps get you a better table, better deals, etc than some junior host could offer.

good reviews jim. i have a few questions if i may. who are the hosts you speak of? i assume you dont mean the guys that stop you on the strip, or sometimes in the casino? Also what is a customary tip to the host?

Another thing i find intersting is my buddies tell me to skip the line just go to the vip line and hand the bouncers whatever cover is times how many people you have going in as a lump sum, they will pocket it and throw a wrist band on you. i must say that is some serious money the bouncers are raking in. i also assume this is illegal.

I would like to try and revive this thread

My one experience at a club was at the palms... I forget the name but it was at the top of the building and had an open portion. I did the whole waiting in line and paying 30 thing and had a reasonable time.

My question lies in getting a table. I understand the concept of a host, but how is this done? I am no high roller and would probably have no action at the casino I am staying at. Secondly you say 600 for a table for four guys. From what I understand, the table is technically free but you are required to buy the overpriced bottle service? Let us say I would have a group of something like four guys and three girls, approximately how would this scale up? A qualitative and/or quantitative answer would be fine.

Any help would be amazing, I am basically starting at square one. If it matters, weekend and weekday nights both.

My understanding is that you will get the table for a certain number of hours. I don't think that they will sit seven people. They don't post any figures on websites because they don't want you shopping around. You will be required to purchase two bottles at a minimum of $300-$350 apiece and they will provide some mixers. However girls will come up and make conversation in the expectation that you will pour them a drink. Although there is always a possibility, more than likely the end result is you will give away some of your alcohol. Since you will almost certainly run out of booze before you run out of time, expect to buy some more bottles. You may need some expensive tips just to get in the place and to tip the girls.

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MY OPINION

In Mexico bottle service is usually a cost saving measure. You simply sit down at a table with a bunch of guys and buy buckets of beer and a few bottles of something harder. It saves you money over buying individual drinks, and you don't have to wait for a waiter to refill your drink. They are also much more generous with snacks and treats. If you are not gambling and you just want to listen to great bands and eat and drink all night fly to Guadalajara (airfare is fairly cheap from most American cities).

If you don't want to fly then drive to Tijuana. If you can get over the amazement of your friends, Tijuana has great restaurants and nightclubs. Five star hotels are a little more expensive, but just get out of the gringo party areas and go upscale. Learn a little Spanish. Plaza Fiesta is where the young Tijuanese go to party. The violence you read about in the papers is not directed at tourists. I've been there a hundred times and never had any trouble. I recommend Hotel Hacienda Del Rio for about US$60 (just ask for a room in the back as the ones in the front are noisy). If you want a fine meal often with music then eat at Cien Años (no casual dress).

Plaza Fiesta (Zona Río) is a conglomeration of restaurants and clubs for all ages---but mostly popular with young people. Ah Jijo , with DJs playing reggae, pop, electronic and ranchero, and Monte Picacho are the favorites. Porky’s Place is a great 80s spot. Sótano Suizo os more of a sports bar, and you'll feel more comfortable there---a good place to meet and talk with friends. They serve food and the style of the place is Swiss. It’s name means “Swiss Cellar.” La Cantina and Pancho Villa's have great live banda music. (“Banda” is brass-based music from Sinaloa that typically plays Mexican genres like rancheras and cumbias but also pop and rock.) And all these are within Plaza alone! Learn some ROCK EN ESPAÑOL .

The club you were thinking of at the Palms is MOON.
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This is the best website I have found that explains the whole clubs/bottle service shenanigans:
http://jackcolton.com/how_to_reserve_a_table.htm

Working You Like A Cheap Watch

The hottest night clubs in Las Vegas are there for one reason and one reason only. And it's not to provide you with upscale entertainment and a lively atmosphere.

The whole bottle service trend came about during the peak in the economy. Some people still have money to burn, but if you aren't one of them then beware. The staff will work you like an expensive prostitute. Don't be surprised if you come back from dancing and your table has been cleared. Always leave someone to watch the table, and grease your host the most. That's the person that makes the decisions as to how much you'll be charged per bottle, and determines the cost per guests at your table. They are human, and would much rather see the tip in their pocket than going to the bar. But be discreet. The old hand palming a c note or two to your host can get you further than anything else.
Don't try to flash with the cash, you ain't Howard Hughes. Besides, celebrities usually get in free. It's good for publicity to have a Hilton or a Lohan at your club.

Clubs are very expensive to operate, the overhead is astronomical, not to mention all the unforeseen costs. So, it's not unreasonable for them to try to maximize profits. My only gripe with some is the way they go about it. I don't like to be "Worked". I'm not buying a used car here Paco.

Just like the upscale strip clubs. Those woman wouldn't give you the time of day for less that a hundred bucks. Me, if I'm going to pay a hundred or more then I would rather have a private session in my room, if you know what I mean.

I never shop unless I intend to buy something.

I've never understood the whole ultra-lounge/bottle service thing. Now, I could be categorized as "socially inept," and that would be charitable. But if I'm looking for nightlife, why would I go to some club to sit at a table and hemorrhage thousands of dollars just to look 'cool' and 'wealthy?' Yeah, maybe some girls would be attracted to your table, but are those really the kind of girls you're looking for? (I guess the answer to that question, in the short term at least, would be yes). It seems to me there is something else at work here, that, unfortunately or not, some of us will never be able to comprehend.

I'm just gonna take my $50, go to a regular bar or club, and that'll be it.

FWIW, I dislike the current strip club model as well, but that is a story for another day.

agree. why not go to a local bar instead? think of all the rounds of drinks you can buy for the money you wouldve spent at one of those expensive clubs. so many more people will like you there for being so generous and the bar will greatly appreciate your business and in return will give you free shots or not charge you for every drink or at a discounted rate.

Quote: teddys

I've never understood the whole ultra-lounge/bottle service thing.

I've never understood the "night club" thing at all.

I'll preface this by saying that 1) I don't enjoy dancing and 2) I absolutely hate loud music in a social setting (like a restaurant, bar, party, wedding, etc). Therefore anything like a club to me seems like nothing short of a very good approximation of Hell.

How about that? The preface says it all :)

I've read that up until the 50s or so, dance halls and night clubs were popular places for young men to make marriage proposals to their girlfriends, right on the dance floor while the music played. I don't know whether that's true, but today the poor suitor would need to mime his propposal.

I guess up til then music was live and not amplified electronically, or not too much at any rate. These days everything's played too loud, be it live music or DJ's or even an ipod speaker in the corner.

Quote: teddys

Now, I could be categorized as "socially inept," and that would be charitable.

I categorize myself as socially inept. Also as eccentric. ;)

I'm not much of one for clubs either. I'm out of the target demographic by 15-20 years and many thousands of dollars. The wife is more of a dancer than I am. We liked Cleopatra's Barge at Caesar's palace. It was busy but not wall to wall crowded, no cover, played good music, and had fast drink service. I'll go back there or to a local (non-strip) bar instead.

Quote: Toes14

I'm not much of one for clubs either. I'm out of the target demographic by 15-20 years and many thousands of dollars. The wife is more of a dancer than I am. We liked Cleopatra's Barge at Caesar's palace. It was busy but not wall to wall crowded, no cover, played good music, and had fast drink service. I'll go back there or to a local (non-strip) bar instead.

If its loud, smokey, crowded, I literally wouldn't give 10 cents to be there. Even when I was 25. I've aways loathed places like that and never understood the people who did. I'd rather sit in a quiet place sipping 12 year old Scotch and read a book.

Savages..

A young lady has suggested to me that I post her responses to the issues that have been raised.

Quote: teddys

I've never understood the whole ultra-lounge/bottle service thing.

Well, as long as its the current "in" thing, it doesn't really matter what it is. As long as its Ultra, its a very good thing! Whatever ultra means.

Quote: teddys

Now, I could be categorized as "socially inept,"

You mean old? That's okay... as long as you are rich and not too old looking, like over forty or something like that!

Quote: teddys

But if I'm looking for nightlife, why would I go to some club to sit at a table and hemorrhage thousands of dollars just to look 'cool' and 'wealthy?'

But I'd just absolutely die if I didn't look cool and wealthy.

Quote: teddys

Yeah, maybe some girls would be attracted to your table, but are those really the kind of girls you're looking for? (I guess the answer to that question, in the short term at least, would be yes).

Well, sure. Its not like a girl needs the music low enough to hear your name or anything. Why should a girl care about such things in this day and age. You just have to look hot and be with women who also look hot. Life is the In Look, the In Clubs, the In scents, the In cars.

Quote: teddys

It seems to me there is something else at work here, that, unfortunately or not, some of us will never be able to comprehend.

Comprehend? Is that like Coromandel? I like Coromandel? Will you buy me a bottle of Coromandel? Its only 206.00 a bottle. I simply can't go on living without it. You can give it to me when we wake up tomorrow. I don't mind that you are pushing 40, just be sure to bring some Coromandel and those two hot girlfriends that you are with.

Some time ago we had a group of 5 (2 guys, 3 girls) do bottle service at Tabu at MGM. We set it up the reservation thru our concierge at MGM Signature. I wasn't paying the bill so I don't know what kind of negotiations took place, but it appeared that a set price list was used.
It was fun but I don't think it was (however much my brother in law paid) fun for a bottle of Goose and 2 of Dom.
The service was very good by very attractive watiresses. No one ever had an empty glass. Of course that gets you thru the bottles faster...

Quote: FleaStiff

A young lady has suggested to me that I post her responses to the issues that have been raised.

LOL! BTW, I'm a good deal younger than 40, but sometimes feel like I'm that old.

Quote: JimMorrison

A bottle of Grey Goose typically will cost you around $600 with tax and tip included.

Sorry Charlie, but if I pay six hundred dollars for a bottle of booze something female had better come with it and I don't mean just to pour it!