A Resident's Guide to Nightlife in Las Vegas
To Las Vegas locals, it’s quite obvious that nightlife options are available in abundance. For some residents, visiting The Strip every weekend to spend time at dance clubs and bars is a fantastic perk of living in Las Vegas. But other residents like to avoid The Strip, opting for local venues and neighborhoods with far fewer tourists. Sometimes you’ll find that these local joints have lower cover charges, cheaper drinks, and longer happy hours, making them the top choice for Las Vegas residents. Here’s a local’s guide to nightlife in Las Vegas for those nights when you’re not interested in hanging out on The Strip.
Summerlin
Summerlin may be a great area for brunching and shopping, but it’s also among the best neighborhoods off The Strip to find nightlife in spades. The bars and lounges at Red Rock Resort and Casino are a great option for locals. At T-Bones Chophouse, enjoy creative cocktails and live music on a patio overlooking the pool deck. After dinner, move on over to Onyx Bar, which has live music until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Rocks Lounge also offers live music nearly every day, along with dancing and drinks. In Downtown Summerlin, Public School 702 has an extensive happy hour starting at 3 p.m. with well drinks and house wine by the glass just $5.
About ten minutes away from Public School 702, Tivoli Village is the perfect spot for happy hour because there are several bars and restaurants—like Brio, PKWY Tavern, and Echo & Rig—with daily specials and impressive wine, beer, and cocktail menus. Another unique bar within the retail village is Cork & Thorn, a wine and flower bar that also serves beer and hosts live music every night except Monday.
Downtown
Downtown is another hot spot for local nightlife. On Fremont Street, Commonwealth is a popular and architecturally gorgeous space featuring a 6,000-square-foot cocktail bar, rooftop patio with string lights and comfy seating, and a reservation-only speakeasy room called The Laundry Room—all of which evokes pre-Prohibition era Las Vegas. Open from Tuesday to Sunday into the early hours of the morning, Commonwealth has regular DJs and an impressive cocktail menu in the heart of one of the hottest districts in town. On the same side of the street is Beauty Bar, known for its live shows on two stages and Latin nights.
Gold Spike’s backyard is a top party destination in Downtown, where attendees enjoy oversized games, live music from resident bands like STOKED!, Cobra Zebra, and Josh Royse on Friday and Saturday nights, and special events like roller disco and food truck night.
Arts District
Just minutes away from Downtown, the Arts District has no shortage of great bars for locals who want to enjoy late nights. Velveteen Rabbit is known for its seasonal cocktail menu and whimsical decor. Weekend events, which include theme nights, start at 10 p.m. and are always free. Rebar is decorated with quirky antiques, which are all up for sale. This bar may be small, but the tight-knit atmosphere makes it a good place to meet large groups of friends and enjoy drinks that start at just $3. On Wednesday nights, Artifice hosts karaoke beside their 3,4000-square-foot bar. Other special events include Goth night and Salsa night.
Paradise
Because of its proximity to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Paradise offers nightlife options that are popular with locals and the college crowd. The Dispensary Lounge is more your speed if you’re into live jazz with a little 24/7 gaming. Home of the half-pound burger, The Dispensary Lounge is also popular with locals due to its charm. For karaoke fans, Champagne’s Cafe is the obvious choice. They have karaoke Friday through Monday, and their coffee house is open 24 hours a day. Happy hour on weekdays is from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and 2 a.m. to 8 a.m., for those who like to stay out a little late. Vanity Nightclub in the Hard Rock is a solid choice for those who want to book a VIP booth or get out on the dance floor where a chandelier shaped like a cyclone has 20,000 crystals lighting up the lively space.