First Time Las Vegas » booze

What's the age for going to a strip club?

Steve the Texan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:26:06 +0000

I am going to be hanging out in Vegas with some girls who are 20, but we all want to go to some strip clubs. Are there any strip clubs in Vegas that are for 18 and older?

Sam
(Florida)

The answer is this: No… and yes.

Topless clubs in Las Vegas are exclusively for those 21 and older, oddly enough, the fully nude clubs are 18+ (except, for one, The Palomino, which has an age limit of 21). The reason is that topless joints serve alcohol but the nude clubs don't. The Palomino is a fully nude club that has been around so long it was grandfathered in under the various laws and is allowed to both have butt-ass nekkid dancers and sell booze. Not surprisingly, a man can go broke at the Palomino way faster than at the blackjack table.

I'll warn you that many of the nude clubs are not particularly classy places. Dancers at the topless bars make a lot more money — because drunk dudes don't keep careful track of how much they spend — so the very hottest women tend to work there. The nudie bar workers are more often the stretch-mark-and-stomach-scar types.

Vegas isn't really much of an under-21 town. There aren't many clubs the young girls will be able to get into — I don't know of any major ones, in fact — and they won't be allowed to hang around the casino. You might be better off ditching the young girls and running off with your legally aged friends. But if you decide to try one of the nude clubs, here's a list:

Babe's
Can-Can Room
Deja Vu
Diamond Cabaret
Little Darlings
Palomino (21 and over)
Pussycat Lounge
Sheri's Cabaret
Talk of the Town

Check with a hotel concierge or cab driver for any recent openings or closings. These people are always in the know about this sort of thing.

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What's the age for going to a strip club?

Making the most of the 'free' drinks

Steve the Texan — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:53:56 +0000

What is your best advice for someone who doesn't have that much money, but wants to have the most of the free drinks in Vegas?

Vikki
(Oregon)

First off, understand that there's no such thing as a truly "free" drink in Las Vegas. The casinos provide drinks at no charge, true, but only to gamblers. If you're not playing, the complimentary-drink well is dry for you. So what you really want to know is how to maximize the flow of booze to you while minimizing your contribution to the casino. Here are three ways to help with that:

Choose the right game

You're looking for a game that strikes a balance between the slowness with which it can drain your wallet and the frequency it is visited by waitresses. For example, you could play for hours on $20 at the nickel slots, but you may never see a waitress. Roulette is a slow-paced game and a small budget can be made to last a long time, but drink service usually isn't as snappy as at the blackjack tables.

Give roulette a try, but if the drinks aren't coming fast enough, move over to blackjack or craps.

Know how to play smart

Unless luck is on your side you're going to lose money gambling, but your goal is to play in such a way as to minimize the house advantage so that your budget is drained as slowly as possible. By memorizing a few basic "how-to" methods you'll avoid making mistakes that needlessly cost you cash. Start by taking a look at our Gambling section for the bare essentials of the most popular casino games.

Slow the pace

Make the game move slower for you by betting the minimum, sitting out the occasional hand and taking bathroom breaks from time to time. When you do that, either have a friend watch your chips or tell the dealer and ask if you can leave your seat for a minute. Craps is a fast-paced game, but you can actually play it very slowly. By making a minimum bet on the Pass Line, and no other wagers, you can play a long time. You almost certainly won't win anything playing like that, but you'll be able to keep your average cost per drink at a nice level.

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Making the most of the 'free' drinks

Boozing and clubbing

Karina Bright and Shiny — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 04:45:34 +0000

The Sin City Strip party scene has grown exponentially and changed just as much. Be prepared to fork over some major cash for cover and drinks. It's recommended to either arrive early at some places to avoid a cover charge (many clubs will waive cover, if you arrive before 8 p.m., but it'll be awhile before the scene kicks up). One recommendation is go to the clubs for the scene, but get your drink on at the casino bars, where the drinks are stiff and much more reasonably priced. Plus, lines at bars in most clubs can get really long and by the time you get your drink order to the bartender, you'll have lost your buzz. However, if you do decide to venture to the bar inside the club, remember have your cash or card out, so the bartender can see your ready to order and go ahead and get a double of whatever cocktail you desire, it may be awhile before you get back for another drink.

Drai's After Hours

Found inside Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon

Cover charge: usually around $20 for ladies, $30 for men.

While all Las Vegas clubs are open well into the wee hours of the morning, Drai's is THE after-hours club. A fine dining restaurant during the day, Drai's offers electronic and hip hop for the crowds that don't get going until after 12 am. A line starts forming outside the door well before doors open, so if you don't like standing around, I recommend getting a drink or two at the casino bar until the line dies down.

V Bar at the Venetian

Typically no cover charge.

V Bar at the Venetian is great space to get the night started. This lounge provides a hip, modern ambiance and drinks that don't skimp on the alcohol. Prices for cocktails are about the same as any other place on the Strip, but you don't have to pay a cover charge to get into the door.

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Boozing and clubbing

Food and drink

Karina Bright and Shiny — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 04:19:49 +0000

Dining in Las Vegas has expanded in the last few years from buffets and $2 steak (though many buffets have really kicked up the quality and cheap deals can still be found downtown) to really provide some high-end experiences. However, restaurants come and go in Las Vegas as quickly as money at the craps tables. Here's some restaurants that have been around for the long haul and provide consistently worthy fare as to weather the changing food and palate trends.

Cheap

The Buffet at Bellagio: Next to the "O" Theatre

Easily the best buffet in town, though not the cheapest, it's still the most bang for the buck with high-end casual fare at $25 per person. Lunch time is the most value because really unless you're stumbling in from the night before, you won't be making breakfast and you can get pancakes and eggs just about anywhere for less cash (See Denny's on the Strip). The Gourmet dinner is also worth skipping as it's really the same food with a fancier name so that the restaurant can charge premium prices. As with any buffet, this dining spot is no secret, so be prepared to wait in line.

Denny's on the Strip

Yes, Denny's. You know the only thing you crave (other than sleep) after a night of drinking and dancing is a Grand Slam or a Moon's over my Hammy. It's going to be your best bet at 3 a.m. after you've gambled or drank away your cash. It's on a prime location on the Strip and open 24 hours. Just so you know, the bigger your party, the spottier the service is going to be, but you probably won't remember the drama the next morning anyway.

Mr. Lucky's 24/7 Cafe: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Serving diner food at diner prices inside the Hard Rock, this is a great just-off-the-strip stop if you're budget is starting to get tight. Just know that the Hard Rock loves to live up to its name and PA system really is louder than normal and conversation is just about impossible. A not-on-the menu Vegas saver is the Gambler's Special — $8.95 for a steak, shrimp, salad, and broccoli or a potato. Ask your server.

Pink Taco: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

This is Southwest food done Las Vegas style. Calaberas, low-rider bikes and Mexican wrestling masks are just a part of the decor as is the louder-than-necessary music over the PA system. However, you will be visiting more for the ambiance and drinks rather than the food, which is better than average, but not special. Know that happy hour specials only apply if you're sitting at the bar.

Fine dining

Drai's Las Vegas French Restaurant & Lounge

Found inside Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon on the corner of Flamingo and Las Vegas Blvd., across from Caesar's Palace Resort.

For an old school Hollywood meets Las Vegas feel, Drai's is the place. Dark wood, leopard print furniture and lots poster-size pics of yesteryear Hollywood starlets lend to the opulent feel of this long Las Vegas favorite. Best known for it's French and vegetarian fare, treat yourself here if you've got some cash to spare. The after-hours nightlife scene at Drai's has also been a locals' favorite as THE party spot.

Aureole at Mandalay Bay

A creation and sister restaurant to Charlie Palmer's Aureole in New York, this restaurant is best known for it's extensive wine selection and for its "wine angels" – sommeliers harnessed to a bungee in order to navigate the wine tower. Aureole's seasonal menu changes according to ingredient availability. "Progressive American" fare mostly constitutes fowl and beef with some creative sauces. You can order a la carte or for a more complete (and slightly less expensive) experience, multi-course, prix fixe menus with or without wine pairings are available.

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Food and drink

Booze on the street

Steve the Texan — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:53:01 +0000

You're allowed to carry alcoholic beverages with you on the street, but there are certain times of the year when glass containers aren't allowed. New Year's Eve is the most notable time when the "no glass" rule is in effect. As a rule of thumb, if you visit Vegas during one of the times of year when it's extra crowded make sure your walking-around drink is in plastic.

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Booze on the street