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Bright lights, big party: Discover Las Vegas' nightlife scene

No city parties quite like Las Vegas. Here’s the latest and greatest on going out in Sin City. | By Matt Villano | September 29, 2022 (Updated Januray 19, 2024)

Las Vegas is considered the entertainment capital of the world, and perhaps nothing entertains visitors more than the nightlife in and around town. We’re not only talking nightclubs here — think shows, immersive theater, bars, lounges and more. On your next trip to Vegas:

  • Join the clubs: Hit the dance floor of Las Vegas' hottest nightclubs and bars

  • Catch up on culture: Experience unrivaled theater, interactive art and live music

  • Go retro: Deep-dive into the culture of Vegas speakeasies

Event night, with light show
Top-tier DJs, themed party nights and high-tech elements are just a few of the perks when you party at Zouk Las Vegas. 

Join the clubs

No matter how much changes in Las Vegas, nightclubs remain at the heart of this vibrant city. One of the largest dance clubs on the Strip is Zouk Las Vegas at Resorts World Las Vegas. This world-class, all-night venue is the first United States outpost of a club brand born in Singapore, and it has attracted some of the hottest talent and big name DJs in the industry. Make your night in the club extra special by reserving a bottle service table. A VIP table not only gives you a place to rest throughout the night, but it also offers a large menu of bottle options. Zouk does have a dress code requirement ("dress to impress"), so be sure to wear your favorite club attire.

Prefer a more low-key Las Vegas nightclub? Head downtown where the party crowd flocks to Inspire and Oddfellows, both smaller and more intimate venues along Fremont Street East.

acrobatic performer in the air
Take flight with some of the Strip’s awe-inspiring interactive shows.

Performance with a twist

Another burgeoning aspect of the Las Vegas nightlife scene: immersive and interactive theater that can combine live performances and feats of derring-do with virtual reality. Two of our picks? The circus-style performances at Lost Spirits Distillery inside Area 15 and Majestic Repertory Theatre, a former vaudeville house and cinema on Fremont Street.

Mad Apple, the new Cirque du Soleil show at New York New York — conveniently located right on the Strip — incorporates acrobatics and seats audience members on stage for a unique point of view. Meanwhile, downtown’s Cheapshot delivers zany-yet-brilliant live performances.

Smiling couple sits in Kitty Kitty bar
Head to a speakeasy for a more intimate take on Las Vegas nightlife. 

Secret cocktail havens

Speakeasies and speakeasy-style lounges — a trend that has only intensified — remain white-hot in Las Vegas. Take Here Kitty Kitty Vice Den, a self-described hidden world of sin tucked behind a food stall in the food court at Resorts World Las Vegas. Most of the libations at this laidback hideaway incorporate Asian flavors and ingredients. Head mixologist Juyoung Kang also features a savory cocktail on each of her seasonal menus, including one that contained bone broth and tasted like spiked soup.

Other speakeasies worth visiting include Ghost Donkey, The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails and The Count Room in the back of Bugsy & Meyer’s Steakhouse at the Flamingo and The Lock, located inside The Cabinet of Curiosities at Bally’s. Of course, The Laundry Room, the downtown speakeasy that launched this Las Vegas trend, is still open and worth a visit.

outdoor event at night
Las Vegas’ music festival options are endless – from reggae to punk rock and pop to EDM. 

Festival fun

Another popular option for a memorable Las Vegas nightlife experience (and, for that matter, during the day, too)? Music festivals. These multi-day events bring together dozens of eclectic performers from across musical genres and from around the world.

The most popular music festival in town is Life is Beautiful, which unfolds over the course of three days in downtown Vegas every fall. Other ballyhooed festivals are the iHeartRadio Music Festival, which is mostly pop music; Electric Daisy Carnival, which spotlights electronic dance music and energetic DJ sets; and When We Were Young, which brings together popular bands from the 1980s and 1990s.

Vintage bar patrons receiving wine from a bartender.
Must-see drinking establishments often date back to the 1950s, transporting you back to retro Vegas. 

Kicking it old-school

Finally, the Las Vegas bar scene is stronger than ever, with craft beer and craft cocktails providing the biggest attractions for nightlife revelers.

While casino resorts on the Strip all have their share of bars and lounges, the most popular drinking establishments tend to hover in and around downtown. Old standards such as Atomic Liquors, Downtown Cocktail Room, Oak & Ivy and Herbs & Rye remain fan favorites, though the Silver Stamp, a beer bar from Atomic alum Rose Signor, is gaining serious attention.

Tiki bars such as the Golden Tiki and Frankie’s Tiki Room continue to thrive, evoking the Rat Pack heyday of old Vegas. Then, of course, there’s the Velveteen Rabbit in the Arts District, which holds firm as one of the most popular spots in town. Be sure to reserve a table in advance.

Suffice it to say, finding a place to truly experience the latest and greatest of Sin City’s nightlife scene won’t be an issue. The only problem may be running out of time to see all the ones on your list — but hey, that’s what return trips are for!

Freelance writer and editor Matt Villano has covered Las Vegas for more than 20 years — he has authored and co-authored 13 guidebooks about the city.