Best Las Vegas Nightclubs 2025: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about LIV, Marquee, Zouk, and Drai's After Hours—from music and vibes to guestlists and door policies.
Las Vegas nightlife isn't what it was ten years ago. The mega-clubs that defined the Strip have evolved, new players have entered with billion-dollar resorts, and the competition for your night out has never been fiercer. That's good news for you—it means better production, bigger DJs, and more options than ever.
But more options also means more confusion. Which club fits your music taste? Where should you go for a bachelor party versus a date night? Which venues are worth the premium pricing, and which are coasting on reputation?
This guide breaks down the major Las Vegas nightclubs—Drai's, LIV, Marquee, Zouk, and more—so you can make an informed choice instead of just picking whatever name you recognize from Instagram.
The Vegas Club Landscape in 2025
The current Vegas nightclub scene is defined by a few key dynamics worth understanding before you pick a venue:
The New Guard vs. Old Guard: Venues like Zouk and LIV opened in 2021-2023 inside brand-new resorts with modern production and fresh design. Legacy clubs like Marquee and Drai's have history, loyal followings, and refined operations—but older bones. Neither is inherently better; they offer different experiences.
EDM vs. Hip-Hop: Most Vegas clubs lean heavily into one genre or the other, though many offer both on different nights. Knowing your music preference is the single most important factor in choosing the right club.
Location Matters: The Strip is long. Clubs at the north end (LIV, Zouk) require longer rideshares from central Strip hotels. Mid-Strip venues (Marquee, Drai's) are more accessible but deal with more congestion. Factor this into your planning.
Production Arms Race: The newest clubs have invested heavily in sound, lighting, and immersive technology. If cutting-edge production matters to you, the newer venues deliver. If you care more about crowd energy and music programming, the established clubs often win.
The Honest Truth About Vegas Clubs
No club is perfect. Every venue has off nights, overcrowded weekends, and fluctuating quality depending on who's DJing and what event is happening. The "best" club is the one that aligns with your specific priorities on your specific night—not the one with the most Instagram followers.
LIV
Fontainebleau, North Strip
LIV spent over a decade as Miami's most famous nightclub before expanding to Vegas in late 2023. The brand brings serious pedigree—this is where celebrities actually go, not just where they're paid to appear. Inside Fontainebleau's new $3.7 billion resort, LIV delivers the production values and crowd energy that made the original legendary.
Best For
- People who want the "scene"
- EDM fans (primary) with hip-hop nights
- Those staying at Fontainebleau
- Guests who value brand prestige
Regular Performers
John Summit, David Guetta, Marshmello, Alesso headline the EDM rotation. Hip-hop takeovers feature major rap artists. The booking team knows how to draw crowds.
The Verdict
LIV brings Miami nightlife culture to Vegas—fashion-forward crowds, celebrity sightings, and genuine energy over manufactured hype. The north Strip location requires planning (longer rideshares from central hotels), but the experience justifies the logistics. Best for guests who care about being somewhere that "matters" and want a mix of EDM and hip-hop options.
Marquee
The Cosmopolitan, Central Strip
Marquee is the Strip's most respected EDM institution. Open since 2011, it's outlasted trends and competitors by consistently booking quality talent and maintaining high production standards. The venue features both a main room and the intimate Boom Box room for hip-hop, plus the signature Library speakeasy for those who need a break from the bass.
Best For
- Serious house/EDM enthusiasts
- Groups wanting venue variety (multiple rooms)
- Central Strip convenience
- Guests who value consistency over novelty
Regular Performers
Marquee's resident roster has included Calvin Harris, Tiësto, and DJ Snake. Current bookings lean into house music with names that serious electronic fans recognize and respect.
The Verdict
Marquee is the safe choice in the best sense—you know what you're getting, and what you're getting is quality. The Cosmopolitan location is walkable from most central Strip hotels. The multi-room layout means you can switch vibes without leaving. It lacks the "new and shiny" factor of Zouk or LIV, but the experience is polished and reliable. Best for EDM purists and groups who want options.
Zouk
Resorts World, North Strip
Zouk represents a $100 million bet that production technology can differentiate a nightclub. Operated by Singapore's legendary Zouk Group, the venue features a kinetic LED ceiling that moves with the music, a Funktion-One sound system, and attention to detail that shows in every corner. The separate Empire Room provides hip-hop when you need a break from EDM.
Best For
- Production/technology enthusiasts
- Groups wanting EDM + hip-hop options
- Those who value sound quality
- Guests seeking a more international vibe
Regular Performers
Tiësto, Zedd, DJ Snake anchor the residency roster. The booking leans into big-name EDM with the production to match. Thursday industry nights bring more accessible lineups.
The Verdict
Zouk is the most technologically impressive club in Vegas. If production values matter to you—if you want to feel the bass in your chest and watch a ceiling move like a living thing—this is the venue. The Asian hospitality DNA creates a slightly different vibe than traditional Vegas clubs: more international, more sophisticated, less "Vegas bro." North Strip location requires planning. Best for guests who geek out on sound and visuals.
Drai's After Hours
The Cromwell, Las Vegas Strip
When every other club in Vegas closes at 4 AM, Drai's After Hours is just getting started. Located in the basement of The Cromwell, this intimate underground venue is the undisputed king of late-night Las Vegas. The vibe is different from regular nightclubs—darker, more intense, filled with people who specifically chose to keep the party going. Music alternates between hip-hop and EDM depending on the night and DJ, giving you the best of both worlds.
Best For
- Night owls who aren't ready to stop at 4 AM
- People coming from other clubs
- Hip-hop AND EDM fans (both genres featured)
- Those seeking a more underground vibe
- Dedicated party people, not casual tourists
The Experience
Smaller and more intimate than mega-clubs, with a crowd that's committed to the full experience. The dance floor has room to move, bar lines stay manageable, and the energy at 5 AM is unlike anything else in Vegas. Resident DJs know exactly how to read an after-hours crowd.
The Verdict
Drai's After Hours is a Vegas institution and the only serious after-hours option on the Strip. If you want to experience what Vegas nightlife really offers—not the tourist-friendly 12-2 AM window, but the dedicated 4 AM-sunrise crowd—this is mandatory. The later you arrive, the more intense the energy. Best for people who treat going out as a commitment, not a checkbox.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Here's how the major clubs stack up across key factors:
| Club | Primary Music | Location | Hours | Vibe | Price Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIV | EDM / Hip-Hop | North (Fontainebleau) | 10:30 PM – 4 AM | Scene, Celebrity | $$$$ |
| Marquee | EDM / House | Central (Cosmopolitan) | 10:30 PM – 4 AM | Polished, Consistent | $$$ |
| Zouk | EDM | North (Resorts World) | 10:30 PM – 4 AM | Tech-Forward, International | $$$$ |
| Drai's After Hours | Hip-Hop / EDM | Central (Cromwell) | 1 AM – 10 AM | Underground, Intense | $$ |
Quick Picks: Best Club for Your Situation
Best for Hip-Hop
You want to hear rap, R&B, and urban music
Best for EDM Purists
You care about the music and want quality electronic
Best for Bachelor Parties
Group of guys wanting high energy and table service
Best for Date Night
Impressing someone with ambiance and scene
Best Production Value
You want the most impressive visuals and sound
Best Central Location
You're staying mid-Strip and don't want long rides
Best for Night Owls
You want to party past 4 AM until sunrise
Best "New Vegas" Experience
You want to see what modern Vegas clubs offer
How Vegas Club Guestlists Work
Every major Vegas club offers a guestlist—a way to get free or reduced entry before a certain time. Here's what you need to know:
The Basic Rules
Women: Free entry before guestlist cutoff (usually 12:00-12:30 AM). No ratio requirements, no strings attached. Sign up, show up on time, walk in free.
Men: Free or reduced entry with even ratio (equal women to men in your group) before cutoff. A group of 4 guys and 4 girls qualifies. A group of 4 guys and 3 girls does not.
After Cutoff: Everyone pays general admission regardless of whether they signed up. GA prices range from $30-75 depending on venue and night.
What Actually Gets You On
Not all guestlist signups are equal. Generic web forms may or may not result in your name actually appearing at the door. The most reliable approach is connecting with a VIP host who confirms your spot and can coordinate with door staff if issues arise.
Guestlist Pro Tips
Arrive early: 11 PM-12 AM is the sweet spot. Lines build as cutoff approaches, and some venues close the list early on busy nights.
Dress code matters: The guestlist doesn't bypass dress code. Get turned away for athletic wear and your free entry is worthless.
Ratio is non-negotiable: Door staff count heads. Don't show up one woman short expecting to talk your way through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Saturday is the biggest night at every club—largest crowds, best DJs, highest energy, but also longest lines and strictest guestlist enforcement. Friday is nearly as good with slightly easier entry. Thursday and Sunday are industry/locals nights with more relaxed vibes and better guestlist odds.
Table minimums start around $500-1,500 at most clubs and scale up to $10,000+ for premium locations on busy nights. The minimum typically gets you 1-2 bottles and includes entry for your group (no ratio requirements). For groups of 6+, especially guy-heavy groups, bottle service often makes financial sense versus paying individual covers.
Men: collared shirts or high-end t-shirts, tailored pants or quality jeans, dress shoes or clean designer sneakers. Women: dresses, stylish separates, heels or fashionable flats. All clubs reject athletic wear, jerseys, shorts, sandals, and excessively casual clothing. When in doubt, dress up.
You can show up and pay general admission at any club. But signing up for guestlist in advance saves money, reduces wait time, and gives you a contact who can help if issues arise. For table service, advance booking is essential—premium tables sell out weeks ahead for major events.
Zouk's Funktion-One system is widely considered the best in Vegas. The room was designed around the sound, not the other way around. Marquee and LIV also have excellent audio. If sound quality is a priority, Zouk wins.
All major Strip nightclubs are 21+. No exceptions, no workarounds. If you're under 21, you're limited to 18+ pool parties during the day or specific concert venues.
Doors open around 10:30 PM but the real energy doesn't build until midnight. Peak hours are 1-3 AM. Arriving at 11 PM gets you in easily but means waiting for the venue to fill up. Arriving at 1 AM means walking into full energy but dealing with longer lines.
For regular nightclubs, hopping between venues isn't ideal—each club requires its own entry, rideshares take time, and you spend more of your night in transit. Pick one main venue and commit. The exception: going to a regular club (LIV, Marquee, Zouk) and then transitioning to Drai's After Hours when they close at 4 AM. That's a classic Vegas move and your VIP host can set up guestlist for both.
Get On the Guestlist at Any Vegas Club
Free entry. Skip the line. VIP host confirms your spot within 60 seconds via text.
Get On The List