Best Vegas Lounges & Music Bars
Las Vegas is a really exciting place and, whether it’s your first time or you’re a regular visitor, it always offers so many things to do, so many shows, so many events, that you may just be tired and in need of a relaxing time in the evening. Personally, I go to the casino floor every night for a bit; however, when I win early, I still feel there’s a lot I could do, especially to wind down after a day of buffet or restaurant indulging, pool sun-soaking, Strip strolling and a great gym work outs.
Neither I nor my friends going to those ‘cheap’ bars to get drunk; we like to socialize a little, or simply to relax and continue the Vegas pampering experience. So, we’ve discovered lounge bars, places where you can relax without crazy loud, thumping music, feeling pampered just for the very fact that we are sitting in a luxurious Vegas lounge.
We like night clubs too, or just strolling along the fantastic Vegas Strip, but, since we’re often in Vegas for long stretches of time, there’s only so much ‘crazy stuff’ you can do each time. Many nights we spend them in the luxurious comforts of places such the Encore or Palazzo suites, with their fantastic TV channels or the superb digital quality of their movies (and TV sets). If you don’t have loud neighbors you can also enjoy this in a medium-budget place such as Mirage (great comfort despite the smaller size of their rooms!).
But Vegas is fantastic because it offers immense variety in a small geographical area: you can do so much and cater to any need you may have for any given day or night.
So, which are the best Vegas casino lounges or piano bars?
Let’s start with one of the most popular Vegas area, mid Strip. Here you will find the fantastic:
Petrossian Lounge at Bellagio. A very elegant, beautiful and highly comfortable place; the moment you enter you know you’ll be pampering yourself. The soft, large, velvet couches of this piano bar will make it difficult for you to leave; the food choices vary according to the time of day; in the afternoon you can dive into a ‘traditional afternoon tea experience’ (the tea imported from all over the world), accompanied by delicious sandwiches, pastries and other high-quality delicacies.
Sophistication goes up a notch in the evening, and you can sample caviar with house-made cocktails, among other things.
Mandarin Bar. A hot-spot these days, this beautiful lounge is on the 23rd floor and it therefore offers the fantastic Vegas Strip views all visitors want to enjoy. The atmosphere is ‘chic’, elegant and romantic, ideal for couples wanting to spend a night out in total comfort whilst still enjoying some privacy, thanks to the ‘discreet’ seating layout. At Mandarin Bar you can enjoy house-made cocktails (not cheap but fabulous) as well as food. For those wanting to go the extra mile with regards to self-pampering and self-serving behavior, the omnipresent VIP section, separate from the rest, is available, albeit by reservation only.
Want a glimpse of high-roller gambling whilst you enjoy the comfort and sophistication of a lounge bar? If so, the Baccarat Bar at Bellagio may be the one for you; you’ll be showered with martinis, specialty house-made drinks and exotic medley. This lounge is a little ‘higher tempo’ than the other Bellagio lounge (the super-elegant Petrossian), with its classical jazz music and the overall ‘sleek’ atmosphere. If, for some reason, the Petrossian is not for you, you’ll probably enjoy Baccarat.
Indigo Lounge at Bally’s. This lounge is a little different from the others listed here but I wanted to include a different option, both in terms of price and atmosphere. Your wallet will not be too light when you leave this lounge bar: no cover and mid-range prices. Here you will hear a mix of music to please all crowds, with some live (‘energetic’) bands, to which you can also dance if you want to. The ubiquitous house-made drinks are available here.
If you are in your mid-thirties or even a little more ‘mature’, we have written a page on the best Vegas lounges & bars for the 30-to-50 age group.
Pre or post clubbing (affordable) lounges, often suitable for the ‘young’ and ‘hip’: go to this page.
Nice Coffee & Tea places on the Strip