A Guide to the Hottest Nightclubs in Las Vegas

As the sun sets behind Red Rock Canyon, the evening festivities at Apex Social Club kick off. Guests that can pull themselves away from the floor-to-ceiling windows that offer views of the Strip and distant mountains will find themselves in a contemporary setting on the 55th floor of the Palms Casino & Resort. A mix of indoor and outdoor space encompasses the 8,000-square-foot (743-square-meter) social venue, giving guests plenty of room to move around. With an expertly crafted cocktail in hand, there’s nothing like gazing out from the outdoor patio at the brightly lit resorts of the Las Vegas Strip while listening to music spun by world-renowned DJs.

Only one of the best nightclubs in Las Vegas could score entertainment like Calvin Harris, Tiësto, Steve Aoki and Lil Jon, and OMNIA at Caesars Palace is one such place. Bringing its unique style to the desert nightlife, the energy at OMNIA radiates the moment you step through the door. This high-end club uses lighting to create a party ambience beneath the focal feature – an oversized chandelier. OMNIA may look like the future of Vegas’s nightlife, but it sticks to the tried-and-true methods of keeping the crowd entertained through live music, the option for upper-level VIP seating and a spacious dance floor.

The Hakkasan name is no stranger to the nightlife scene with establishments across the world, including London and Shanghai. However, it’s the Las Vegas venue that showcases what Hakkasan is capable of with a multi-tiered event space in the MGM Grand. Celebrities like Tyga and Tiësto frequently host parties in the colorful and lavish Main Room and Pavilion level, and guests can also enjoy the VIP experience in the Mezzanine. Things taper off for a more relaxed and subdued evening at the Ling Ling Lounge & Club, which separates the lower-level private and main restaurants from the upper-level partying. Hakkasan Las Vegas is a hybrid of entertainment and five-star cuisine, a rarity in after-hours entertainment.

Drai’s has been a staple of Las Vegas for so long that it’s become known as the city’s longest-running nightclub. Since 1997, Drai’s signature style has been giving local people and tourists a place to kick back and enjoy an upscale atmosphere long after all other nightclubs have closed their doors for the day. Kick back with a cocktail in The Cromwell’s intimate space, basked in a red glow to give it a more tantalizing and devilish appearance. A dance floor and high-end leather furnishings make it possible to party at Drai’s until the sun is shining down on the valley – and you’ll still have money left to gamble with thanks to the reasonable cover charge.

TAO Nightclub at the Venetian is an icon of Sin City’s nightlife. One of the oldest clubs on the Strip, this classic joint has played host to hundreds of celebrities and has made local headlines for its lavish affairs. From the entrance lined with rose-petal-filled bathtubs to the red glow that coats the main room, TAO is a visual wonder that calls upon Buddhist inspiration for a finishing touch. Guests that need a break from the dance floor can retire to the Opium Room, an attached lounge with a bar and DJ booth. Having been on the Strip since 2006, TAO has become a favorite among many.

When residents and familiar travelers hear the name “Wynn” attached to a property, they immediately know to expect something high-end, lavish and shimmering with diamonds, gold and crystals. XS Nightclub is the embodiment of what the Wynn name represents, with gold-plated decor and the option for wealthy clients to sip on a $10,000 cocktail. With those features, it’s a surprise that XS retains similar pricing as other clubs on the Strip, coming in slightly higher, but nothing indicative of the elegant furnishings and drapery. There is a lot to take in with the indoor space, but when you need a break from gold, you can step outside on most nights and enjoy an outdoor party by the pool.

What happens when you combine the energy of a nightclub with the theatrics of a Las Vegas production? The minds behind The LIGHT at Mandalay Bay sought to answer that question when they designed this cutting-edge party space. The LIGHT will have your senses going wild as talented house DJs take to the center booth to kick off the party. At any moment during the night, acrobatic entertainers will swing through the air to add another level of awe to Mandalay Bay’s premier nightclub. Originally designed as a collaboration between Hakkasan and Cirque du Soleil, ownership may have changed in 2015, but The LIGHT has remained a unique nightlife space.

Many of Las Vegas’s nightclubs kick off their parties only after the sun goes down. However, Hyde Bellagio lets European decor shine and the evening sun pour in by opening half of its space a few hours earlier at 5pm. Along with an opulent area with indoor seating, guests can overlook the famed Fountains of Bellagio from the attached terrace and enjoy the evening water show. The drinks at Hyde’s two bars excel as they’re crafted by professional mixologists who follow a strict standard. Whether enjoying the calmer ambience or arriving just in time for the electricity of the nightlife party, Hyde’s entry is reasonable and compares to other clubs on the Strip.

If there’s a club name that best describes the venue, Intrigue Nightclub would be it. Located in the high-end Wynn Resort, Intrigue mingles over-the-top accent decor with simple but elegant furnishings to pique your interest. The lighting bathes the club and its guests in purple, blue, red and pink hues, which bounce off the crystal chandelier hanging over the dance floor. Renowned DJs like Diplo, Gianluca, Flosstradamus and RL Grime spin a mix of top 40 and house music to keep the dance floor packed. The biggest surprise of Intrigue may be its price, which, despite being in a luxury resort, is on par with the other best nightclubs in Las Vegas.

Catering to Las Vegas’s influx of young bachelors and bachelorettes, Marquee Nightclub offers three upscale, contemporary rooms in the Cosmopolitan. The main room features the expected arrangement of leather seating that overlooks the dance floor, but things change as you move throughout the club. The Library swaps out staple club lighting for a warmer atmosphere that serves as a good break from the energy of Marquee’s main room. The Boombox puts the focus on a 360-degree bar and an outdoor balcony that provides a refreshing touch of fresh desert air. Marquee’s arrangement allows guests to spend the entire evening enjoying the atmosphere while bouncing between rooms.