A night (or day) out in Las Vegas is unlike a night out in any other city. Partygoers can choose from a plethora of packed nightclubs, but the music doesn’t stop when the sun comes out—Las Vegas is also home to a number of “dayclubs” that keep the party hopping around the clock.
Keep reading our guide to partying in Las Vegas and learn more about getting into a night or day club, bottle service, tipping, and dress code.
Nightlife
With light shows and state-of-the-art sound systems, a night out at a Las Vegas club is as much a spectacle as the many popular shows on the Strip. From bass-thumping nightclubs to chilled-out lounges, every night owl can find the perfect haunt for their visit.
As a general rule, women have the advantage when it comes to clubbing in Las Vegas, often having greater access to deals like free cover, half cover, and ladies night deals in an effort to balance the gender ratio. Dress codes also aren’t as strict for women, but many still choose to dress to impress. Keep reading for our dress code tips.
How to Get into a Las Vegas Nightclub
Despite—and because of—Las Vegas’s clubbing reputation, getting into a club isn’t guaranteed. The long lines and straight-faced doormen may seem intimidating, but the process is actually fairly simple.
PRO TIP: Impress the doorman—if you look too intoxicated, haven’t followed the dress code, or pester them too much, you’ll likely be denied entry. Once that happens, you’re out of luck.
There are four ways to get into a Las Vegas nightclub:
1. General admission
This is the simplest, but also the riskiest, method of getting into a nightclub. You’ll have to wait in line, but you’ll usually get in eventually if you’re of age and fit the dress code. Arriving early (close to opening time) or later in the evening after the early rush can help you avoid lines. You’ll also have to pay cover, which can range between $20 and $100 depending on the club.
2. Purchasing tickets in advance
You can also buy tickets in advance. These tickets may get you in quicker, but they won’t get you a place to sit—seating for non-VIPs or those without table service is hard to come by. Advanced tickets occasionally offer additional perks depending on the club, and are often a good investment during peak tourism season or the holidays.
3. Table reservations
If you want the ultimate VIP experience, book table service. This will get you hosted entry through the quickest line, and also guarantees you seating.
The cost of table service depends on the venue and whether an event is running that night, but it’s usually between $350 and $575 per bottle (plus 8% tax and tip, which is about 20%). Most clubs require a minimum of two bottles to reserve a table, though some require one bottle for every 4-5 people in your group.
PRO TIP: Whether you book table service or not, bring a little extra cash just in case you spend more than you’ve budgeted.
Reservations are in high demand, and are often based on who you know. Try hooking up with a VIP host that works for the club; for a fee, a VIP host with the right contacts will get you into a club quickly, and may even transport you to the club in a limo. VIP hosted entry is a big business in Las Vegas, but be sure to do your research about your host before you commit. Your concierge might be able to connect you with a good host.
PRO TIP: If a street promoter asks for money or a tip, it’s probably a scam. Legitimate promoters won’t ask for money up front.
4. Guest list
Most clubs don’t like to publicize that they have guest lists, but many of them do, and they’re usually available to groups (especially groups of women). Women will often pay no cover, or significantly less cover, if they’re on the guest list, while men will pay about ⅓ or ½ of the standard cover charge.
Dress Code
Most Las Vegas nightclubs enforce a dress code for both men and women, but the dress codes are usually the same between clubs. As a general rule, the better you dress, the more likely you are to get in.
For men, a collared button-up shirt with nice jeans or dress pants and leather shoes is always a good bet. Some men opt for suits, but it’s not always necessary.
The dress code for women is less strict. Dresses or a nice top with stylish jeans are often acceptable.
Typically, you cannot wear any of these items:
- Baggy jeans
- Sports hats, though fedoras and similar styles are usually acceptable.
- Tennis shoes or sports shoes, including designer sneakers. Clubs accept dress shoes only. For women, sky high heels may look nice, but they aren’t always conducive to standing in line or walking, so choose footwear appropriately!
- Shorts
- Cut offs
- Capris
- Jerseys
- Beanies
- Tank tops and sleeveless shirts (for men only)
Tipping protocol
When it comes to Las Vegas nightlife, tipping makes the world go ‘round. You should tip your doorman, your bartender, and your server, especially if you have table service.
How much should you tip?
- Bartender: $1 per drink is usually okay, but if you want to stand out (and get all the associated perks, which can include free drinks and faster service), you are welcome to tip more.
- Server: Tip your server the same amount as you would at a restaurant, around 20%.
Clubbing in Downtown Las Vegas
Downtown Las Vegas has been the site of much development and revitalization since the Fremont Street Experience opened in 1995. It’s quickly becoming a clubbing hotspot, offering a more laid-back alternative to the Strip with a wide range of bars, lounges, and rooftop patios. Downtown clubs and bars are also cheaper, closer together, and usually less busy than their Strip counterparts, which makes them ideal for bar hopping or pub crawls.
Learn more about downtown Las Vegas.
Clubbing tips
- If you’re in a group of only men, you might have trouble getting in without a table reservation. Breaking into smaller groups and joining up with girls in line (be honest about your intentions) can help you get in faster, even if you bought tickets in advance. Women will rarely have the same issue.
- Be in line by 10 PM to make sure you don’t wait all night.
- If your club of choice is open, go on weeknights for shorter lines.
- Ask your hotel if they offer complimentary nightclub passes. Save cover and spend that cash on drinks instead!
- Some restaurants partner with clubs. Ask your server and tip generously—it might get you admission into that club.
- If you have a bad experience at a hotel club, don’t blame the hotel. Hotels hire management companies to run their clubs.
Dayclubs (AKA Pool Parties)
Who said partying is only for night owls? A number of casino-resorts now have “dayclubs”, which is a fancy word for “pool party”. Picture everything you’d expect from a nightclub—crowds, loud music, headlining DJs, and well-dressed partygoers—except around a pool sporting stylish swimwear instead of on a darkened dancefloor.
Victoria from Pommie Travels highly recommends checking out a dayclub:
What’s the difference between a pool and a pool party?
All hotels have pools for guests of all ages, but they don’t all offer music or other entertainment. On the other hand, pool parties are often managed by the same groups that manage nightclubs, and will attract more young people, celebrities, and fancy DJs. You also have to be 21 or older to attend a pool party—no kids allowed.
Hotels with pool parties
- Aria: Liquid
- Cosmopolitan: Marquee Dayclub
- Cromwell: Drai’s Beachclub
- Hard Rock Hotel: Rehab
- Mandalay Bay: Daylight
- MGM Grand: Wet Republic
- Mirage: Bare Pool
- Palms: Ditch Fridays
- SLS: Foxtail Pool Club
- Venetian/Palazzo: Tao Beach
- Wynn: Encore Beach Club
New to dayclubs? Here’s what you need to know:
- Opening Hours: They’re typically open from 11 AM – 6 PM, with headlining DJs usually hitting the stage between 3 and 5 PM, but some open earlier and some stay open later. Most dayclubs are only open on the weekends.
- Seasonality: Pool parties don’t run all year long. Hotels usually begin hosting these poolside soirees around the first week of March, then continue till late September or early October. Predictably, holiday weekends draw much larger crowds.
- Drinks: Drink prices are similar to nightclubs. Bottle service, however, is structured somewhat differently. Keep reading to learn more.
How to get into a dayclub
Dayclubs operate much like nightclubs, with similar guidelines for admission.
1. General admission
Waiting in line and paying cover is always an option. Cover is usually about $50 for men, and can range for women.
2. Advanced tickets
The earlier you buy, the cheaper your tickets will be. Presale tickets won’t guarantee you entry if the venue is already at capacity, but this is uncommon. They also won’t guarantee you entry if you don’t meet the dress code (more on this later), or if you’re visibly intoxicated.
3. Guest list
Some dayclubs offer guestlist access, but usually only for women. Contact a club host for more information.
4. Bottle service
Bottle service guarantees you a shady place to sit around the pool. The quoted price (which does not include tax or tip) will usually be the minimum you have to spend on food and drinks—unlike nightclubs, which have bottle minimums, pool parties have dollar amount minimums.
Dress code
Dayclub dress codes can vary between venues, but like nightclubs, sports apparel, cargo shorts, and men’s tank tops should be avoided. Here are a few more sartorial guidelines:
- Unsurprisingly, bathing suits are acceptable and preferred. Don’t dress in the same outfit you’d wear to a nightclub.
- Cover-ups, like T-shirts (or something more stylish), are common, and can help you avoid sunburn.
- Sandals are the preferred footwear, though sneakers are usually okay as well.
- Don’t bother with a towel—the hot Las Vegas sun will dry you off quickly. Some venues also have towels available to use or rent.
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