Vegas Lounges?

Does anyone know of any good lounges at the Strip casinos or at the downtown casinos?

The type of lounge I'm picturing is one that I guess could be considered something between a bar and a club (i.e. more than a bar but less than a club). A place that has live entertainment in the form of a small jazz band or something that plays music at a noise level where you can still have a conversation without having to yell.

When I lived in Mississippi, I went to a casino called the Beau Rivage that had an open lounge like this close to the lobby area of the hotel/casino. There was no cover charge, there was plenty of comfortable seating, it was come & go, etc. It had a regular (not famous) low-key type of band that played in the evenings (mainly jazz & soft pop instrumentals). You could just walk in and take a seat, have a few drinks (they didn't serve food), and enjoy the music while still being able to converse with the person you were there with. I don't think it had any kind of dance area or anything.

Anyway, are there any lounges like this on the Strip or downtown?

Most casinos have a no cover type place. Some have more than one.

If it's not a busy night, they may not have a minimum either.


Even the crappy Imperial Palace, where I stayed last september, had two places that might qualify for you: A bar on the strip featuring a live band playing rock, as well as a karaoke bar upstairs near the sports book. I'm not sure if the strip bar had a cover or minimum (I kinda doubt it), but the karaoke bar had a posted two drink minimum. But it was a really off night the one time I was there. I sat from around midnight to 12:30 on a Wednesday night. Not only did I not have to meet the minimum, but there wasn't a waitress at all, and I didn't drink a thing!

I gotta assume that some of the larger / more upscale casinos, that have more than one such lounge on the casino floor, would be your best shot to find one that plays jazz.

Does the Orleans have a NoLa-themed Jazz bar?

Hmmm....

Curiosity got the better of me.

I recall that there were places in Imperial Palace that I didn't even look into.

Here's somethig from their website:

Quote:

Nomiya Lounge
Open nightly and offering live music Friday to Sunday courtesy of pianist Russ Martino, the Nomiya Lounge provides guests with a relaxing environment where they can unwind after their day while enjoying a cocktail and socializing with some of their fellow guests.

While it's tucked away on a different floor, if the crappy Imperial Palace has a place that qualifies, then I'm sure you'll find additional places.

I rather like that piano bar at the Bellagio, by the registration area.

Quote: blount2000

When I lived in Mississippi, I went to a casino called the Beau Rivage that had an open lounge like this close to the lobby area of the hotel/casino. ... Anyway, are there any lounges like this on the Strip or downtown?

Ah, yes, the Eight75 at Beau Rivage. That is one of the nicer spots I have found in Biloxi. It is close to both the casino and the buffet, but not so much that the slot machine noise intrudes offensively on the music. If the seating fills up, there is plenty of space on two sides of the room for people to stand "outside" at the rail (half wall) and listen to the music. Great spot.

There is a somewhat-similar spot at Bally's, a few steps higher than the casino floor toward the east (back side). It has a stage for performers and bar service to the customers at tables (unless that's a false memory). I have never gone in there, so I don't know whether there is a cover charge or not, but I have stood outside the rail a few times listening to the music. I think the type of music performed there varies quite a bit, so I can't really characterize it. One time, I heard a Motown group, maybe a resurrected one or maybe an imitation, and once I heard a group that may have been imitating the Eagles or CCR or something.

Quote: Wizard

I rather like that piano bar at the Bellagio, by the registration area.

Yes, indeed, another nice spot. Music limited to the piano (at least every time I have been there) with the added ambiance of the main lobby and Chahuly-art ceiling.

Quote: Wizard

I rather like that piano bar at the Bellagio, by the registration area.

The last time I was there they had a jazz trio (piano, small drum kit, bass) at the Baccarat Bar. That's the other bar you pass on the left as you walk from registration to the dice tables.

Thanks for all of the suggestions! Fortunately for me, it sounds like there may be more options out there for what I'm looking for than I was originally thinking. I was under the impression that pretty much the only plentiful choices on the Strip & downtown were either outright bars or large dance clubs. It is good to hear that there are choices in between the two.

One other place I saw online that I'm wanting to try is called The Downtown Cocktail Room, which is supposed to be close to Fremont Street. It's not in a casino, and it looks like it may be more like a "Martini Bar" than a lounge. But if it has a nice mellow vibe then I think I may enjoy checking it out.

Quote: rdw4potus

Does the Orleans have a NoLa-themed Jazz bar?

They have a nice lounge up by the front door with a stage and several tables. Just behind the tables is a bar with seats that also face the stage looking through the bar. Music varies with a girl country band the last time I was there. You're more likely to find a jazz band at their Irish pub.

Quote: kp

They have a nice lounge up by the front door with a stage and several tables. Just behind the tables is a bar with seats that also face the stage looking through the bar. Music varies with a girl country band the last time I was there. You're more likely to find a jazz band at their Irish pub.

Last time I was at that bar watching the band it was a decent classic rock/ blues cover band and the j or b progressive on the bar tops was at $1800!

Many casinos offer a no-cover bar, often with a house band or two. Occasionally you get a situation where its a cover on late weekend nights only and perhaps instead of a house band they bring in some not yet very famous group for a Saturday night or something.

Its nice to have a cheap bar with good but unamplified music (or atleast not this blasting of the ear drums that the yuppies all like). No particularly famous group, just a good jazz trio or something. The musicians are musicians who actually make a living at their craft. They don't have autograph seekers or groupies chasing after them. You can talk quietly at your table or listen to the music or whatever. In a casino such bars will charge for their drinks. If not associated with a casino such bars often charge more for their drinks but they provide a nice dimly lit spot where its a relatively sedate crowd. You have a couple of drinks, enjoy some soft jazz trio and no one is hustling drinks or trying to turn over the tables really fast. There are no "Drink Nights" where some distributor is pushing some particular vodka brand and a horde of people inundate the place and guzzle until they can barely stagger.

I think such places are on the upswing as a relief from job and other pressures.

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