Las Vegas Nightlife — Best Bars, Clubs & Lounges

Las Vegas invented modern nightlife. The clubs here book the biggest DJs in the world, the cocktail bars could hold their own in Tokyo or London, and the sheer variety — from rooftop infinity pools to underground speakeasies to old-school dive bars — means there’s something for every mood and budget.

Here’s the real guide.

Mega-Clubs (The Big Production)

XS (Encore) — The crown jewel. 40,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor nightclub on the pool deck at Encore. The DJ booth overlooks the pool. Resident DJs include some of the biggest names in electronic music. Cover: $30-75 (much more for special events). Dress code enforced.

Las Vegas Nightlife — Best Clubs, Bars & Rooftop Lounges

Mega Clubs

Vegas nightclubs are on a different scale than anywhere else. Hakkasan at MGM Grand is a five-level, 80,000-square-foot club with world-class DJs (Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki, Tiësto have all held residencies). XS at Wynn is consistently ranked the #1 nightclub in the world — the outdoor pool area is stunning. Omnia at Caesars Palace has a massive kinetic chandelier that moves with the music. Marquee at The Cosmopolitan has both a nightclub and a dayclub with rooftop pool. Cover charges range from $30-75+ for men, often free or reduced for women on the guest list. Bottle service starts around $500 and goes up fast.

Orlando Nightlife — Beyond the Theme Parks

Orlando’s nightlife is more than Universal CityWalk and Disney Springs. The city has a genuine bar and club scene centered on downtown, Wall Street Plaza, and the neighborhoods where locals go after the tourists are back at their resorts.

Downtown & Wall Street Plaza

Wall Street Plaza — A block of connected bars and clubs in downtown Orlando. No cover at most venues on weeknights. Each bar has a different vibe — cocktail lounge, sports bar, dance club, Irish pub. It’s the all-in-one nightlife block for downtown.