The world’s favorite adult playground is always in flux. It’s one of the unwritten rules of Sin City that everything must change. But if you really think about it, it makes perfect sense. People want new experiences, and that is one area at which Vegas excels.
While hotels can last 30 years or more, and restaurants a decade or two, nightclubs and lounges have a life expectancy that, in many cases, is less than five years. And that’s not a bad thing. Usually the hot spot’s owners decide to reinvent a particular space to make it more relevant and exciting to their clientele’s changing tastes. It’s also a smart marketing move. People love talking about what’s new, not what’s so “five years ago.”
It’s a recipe that ensures Las Vegas is always fresh and exciting, and understanding what the newest and best spots in town are is a great way to win client loyalty.
Here are some of the newest places to unwind after that hot desert sun drops below the horizon.
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An ice sculpture of Elvis Presley at Minus 5 ice lounge |
Minus 5
What’s probably the coolest hot spot in Las Vegas—literally—is Minus 5, the country’s first ice lounge. In order to fully enjoy this place, guests have to don borrowed parkas and booties before entering this ultra-freezing environment.
It’s a wild experience to be outside in mercury-boiling weather just before entering this 23-degree Fahrenheit environment. Opened just last month inside Mandalay Bay, the intimately sized ice lounge is a great place to carve out a unique experience that can’t be had anywhere else in the country. This is not a place to party hard; rather, it’s more about trying something that seems unworldly.
Everything here, except the booze, is made from ice. Inside, visitors will find an environment filled with handcrafted ice sculptures and drink vodka-based cocktails out of “glasses” made of ice. Even the couches are made of ice. If it gets too cold, visitors can warm up in the adjacent Lodge, which is kept at normal room temperature. Admission into the ice lounge is $30 and includes a cocktail. Reservations and group, corporate and wedding arrangements can be made by calling 702-632-7714, or visiting [email protected].
LAVO
Another spot that made its debut last month is LAVO, a sizzling new nightlife venue from the creators of TAO Las Vegas, which is the most successful nightclub/restaurant in the country. Located at The Palazzo, this is a pretty large space featuring a 20,000-square-foot space lounge, restaurant and nightclub. It’s got a Middle Eastern design with tile walls, a curved bar, leather seating and Moroccan tables. The nightclub is located on the second floor and has views of the Strip, and the requisite VIP area has posh banquettes for bottle service, embossed leather walls and mirrored mosaic tile.
The club is open nightly (except Mondays), but the biggest crowds will be on the weekends and Tuesday nights. Expect Tuesdays to be jam-packed, as the club is trying to establish the night as an “industry night.” That’s jargon for a night that’s heavily promoted to Las Vegas employees, but it also means an opportunity for visitors looking for great club action mid-week. DJ Five, who gained prominence at the outlet’s sister club TAO, headlines. Wednesdays are dedicated to those in the fashion business.
The nightclub at LAVO is open from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. For more information and reservations, call 702-607-7777.
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The splashy interior of ROK Vegas |
ROK Vegas
Bottle service is a must-have amenity in any of the town’s nightclubs. Worries about cost, however, dissuade many people from spending for this luxury but, if you’re going to do a club in Las Vegas right, it’s critical to have bottle service. Not only does one get a prime piece of real estate for the night, there’s no need to wait by the bar and make futile attempts to flag down a bartender every time there is an empty glass.
ROK Vegas, a new club that opened at New York-New York just before Labor Day, offers half-bottle service, with all the glitz and glamour of partying like a rock star (pun intended) without the higher cost for full bottle service. ROK’s VIP tables feature handcrafted red banquettes with their own dance risers, built-in storage for personal belongings and custom tables that house ice, bottles and accoutrements.
Music is focused more on rock than hip hop, which is the predominant mainstay at most of the city’s clubs. It makes for a totally different feel from other joints. ROK also features the first-ever 360-degree video screen in a Las Vegas nightclub. From every angle, guests are surrounded by concert footage, live club feeds, lasers and animation. There is also an outdoor VIP lounge here, which is great when it gets a little too steamy inside.
ROK is open from Wednesday through Saturday from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Admission is $20 for the ladies and $30 for the guys. Reserve a table and the admission charge is waived. For more information, visit the ROK website or www.nynyhotelcasino.com, or call 702-740-6ROK (6765).
Other New Entrants
Wasted Space is the Hard Rock’s newest club offering and a centerpiece of the resort’s ongoing expansion. Also concentrating on the art of rock and roll, this is a small club by Las Vegas standards. The creators have dubbed the space an “anti-club,” meaning it’s as much about the atmosphere as it is about the experience. Wasted Space is open Tuesday through Sunday from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. with live music two nights per week and DJ spinning the other four nights. Check the website to see what’s coming up music-wise. Cover charges will be from about $10 to $25, based on talent. For more information visit or call 702-693-4040.
Meanwhile, Christian Audigier The Nightclub at Treasure Island has been extremely popular since its opening this past summer. Fashion industry superstar Audigier is behind this new club, which features a great VIP area and an outdoor patio overlooking the Strip. Music runs the gamut from rock to progressive house. The club is open from Thursday through Sunday from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. and is $30 for men and $20 for the ladies. However, hotel guests enter free. For more information and to get your clients on the guest list so they can skip the line, call 702-894-7580. For VIP table reservations call 702-466-9723.