Clubbing Capital: Las Vegas

Drai’s Beach Club © CPXi | Flickr

Drai’s

Open for nearly a year, Drai’s is the work of Hollywood-producer-turned-hospitality magnate Victor Drai. Located at the boutique hotel, Cromwell, Drai’s is actually three venues wrapped up into one: a multi-level day club featuring a rooftop pool, an intimate after-hours venue and the two-floor nightclub, which is the only nightclub in Vegas zoned for fireworks. 2015’s residents include Quintino, Adventure Club and Starkillers.

Hakkasan at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada © Christian Alcantara | Flickr

Hakkasan

Recently named the third best club in the world, Hakkasan is a venue that goes beyond the typical mega-club experience. Five levels house a variety of rooms and areas, all with their own unique atmosphere. The main dance floor on the fourth level is where most of the action is, but if you want something more intimate, there is also the Lin Lin Lounge, which can function as its own room with a separate DJ or act as an extension of the main dance floor. The fifth-floor mezzanine offers a quiet view of the main floor from above, and if you’re getting hungry, there is also a restaurant and private dining room available. The club spares no expense for resident DJs, whose 2015 roster includes Above & Beyond, Tiesto and Steve Aoki.

Steve Angello & Sebastian Ingrosso of Swedish House Mafia © Vincent Escudero | Flickr

LiFE

After dominating the Los Angeles and Miami hotel scene, SBE opened The SLS Las Vegas in 2007, complete with its premier mega-club, LiFE. Capable of holding 1,800 people on a tiered floor with 60-foot ceilings, SBE brought the old Sahara Theater back to life with three bars, 70 VIP tables, a rooftop pool, 460,000 LED pixels and a Funktion One sound system providing guests with a sonic and visual spectacle. This year’s residents include Eric Morillo, Fedde Le Grand and Steve Angello, who has worked his Reflections residency at LiFE for the past two years.

The SLS Hotel © Kobby Dagan | Dreamstime

Omnia

Two years after their first nightclub venture in Vegas, the Hakkasan Group just opened Omnia in Caesars Palace, taking over the space formerly occupied by Pure, one of the first upscale clubs in Las Vegas. At 75,000 square feet, Omnia is among the largest venues on the Strip, featuring an opera house-style main room, rooftop garden, lounge and mezzanine. Martin Garrix opened the club earlier this year, and the Hakkasan Group managed to poach Afrojack from Wynn Resorts for a 2015 residency.

Afrojack at Electric Daisy Carnival © Sara Cooper | Flickr

After

If you’re looking for an alternative to the touristy spots on the strip, check out After, an after-hours club that caters to underground tastes. They made a splash on the Vegas club scene last year with their infamous “DJ Rules”, banning mainstream EDM in favor of a more authentic club sound.