Las Vegas Bars, Lounges and Comedy Clubs

Chapter 6: Entertainment & Shows

6.1: Getting married in Las Vegas
6.2: After the sun goes down
6.3: Best long running shows
6.4: Getting the best deals
6.5: What or who is playing now
6.6: The hot Vegas nght c lubs
6.7: Bars, lounges & comedy club s
6.8: Seamy side of Sin City

6.7 Bars, lounges & comedy clubs

Stand-up Comedy

Rita Rudner - Cabaret Theatre at the New York-New York Hotel/Casino - (3790 Las Vegas Blvd.) - Telephone: 702-740-6815 or 866-606-7111 - Showtimes: Mon.-Thurs. 8 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 9 p.m. - Tickets: $46 - Review here. - Her website here.

Rita Rudner

Improv Comedy Club -Harrah's Las Vegas (3475 Las Vegas Blvd. S.) - Telephone: (702) 369-5111 or (800) 392-9002. Showtime: Nightly 8:30 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. except Mondays - Tickets: $27.45.

Comedy Stop - Tropicana Resort & Casino (3801 Las Vegas Blvd. S.) -Telephone: (702) 739-2714 - Showtime: 8:00 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. - Tickets: $19.95 +tax & fee. (Includes 1 drink)

Comedy Zone - Plaza Hotel & Casino (Downtown, 1 Main St., - Third Floor) Tel. (702) 386-2110 / (800) 634-6575 - Telephone: (702) 386-2444 - Showtime: 8:00 p.m. Daily - Tickets $24.15.

Riviera Comedy Club - Riviera Hotel/Casino (2901 Las Vegas Blvd. S.) - Showtimes: Nightly at 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. - Tickets: $17.95 plus taxes. (Add $10.00 for VIP seating and line pass) - Telephone: (702) 794-9433.

The Second City - Flamingo Las Vegas (3555 Las Vegas Blvd. S.) - Telephone: (702) 733-3333 - Showtime: Nightly 8:00 p.m. (Dark Wednesday) Additional 10:30 p.m. show Thursday, Friday & Saturday) - Tickets: $39.95 +tax & fee. Review here.

Beacher's Comedy Madhouse - in “The Joint” at the Hard Rock Hotel/Casino (4455 Paradise Rd.) - Showtime: 9:00 p.m. Saturday only (From Feb. 4, 2006) - Tickets: $25.00 - Telephone: (702) 226-4650 or (800) HRD-ROCK

Bars & Lounge Entertainment

There are more than fifty lounges in Las Vegas and most hotels have more than one. It is almost impossible to keep up the with the lounge acts since they frequently change performers. But here are two lists (Lounge List No. 1) and (Lounge List No. 2) that are updated often. Most lounges feature live music and free entrance ...that is, they have no drink minimum or cover charge. Some recommendations:

Fontana Lounge, Bellagio (3600 Las Vegas Blvd., S.) Tel. (702) 693-7111. Located on the Casino level and features a superb terrace balcony with a breathaking view of the dancing waters fountain show. Live dance music. No cover but they expect you to buy a cocktail. Elegant, romantic atmosphere. A jacket is not required but you must be dressed fairly nice. Open: Sun-Thur 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., Fri-Sat until 2 a.m. Great for the over 40 set.

Flamingo Hotel - Casino

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville - Flamingo (North corner - 3555 Las Vegas Blvd S.) - Telephone: (702) 733-3302 - (800) 851-1703 - Open Sun-Thurs 11 a.m.- 2 a.m.; Fri-Sat to 3 a.m. - Live music: 7:30 & 10:00 p.m. - Margaritaville has a nautical, tropical, festive atmosphere. - No cover charge - A fun place. - Serves Key West/Caribbean food ...margaritas (naturally) their specialty. - Three floors with large outdoor balcony overlooking the Strip. - Does not take reservations, so go early (or wait in line!)

Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill - Harrah’s Hotel-Casino (on second floor) - 3475 Las Vegas Blvd S- Tel. (702) 693-6111 - Country music singer owns this bar which also features country cooking. Keith's serves food from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Bar open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. (Until 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays). Features live rock and country entertainment, dance floor and a guitar-shaped bar.

Gilley's Saloon, Dance Hall & Barbecue - New Frontier Hotel-Casino - 3120 Las Vegas Blvd S - Tel: (702) 794-8434 - Mud wresting: Tues. & Wed. 10:00 p.m. - Bikini bull riding Thurs-Fri-Sat. at midnight - Free dance lessons: Thurs-Fri-Sat 8:30 p.m. Cover charge: $10.00 after 8:00 p.m. - All you can drink beer $15. 9:00 p.m. Food: burgers, barbecue and such.

Rainbow Bar & Grill - 4480 Paradise Road, across the street from the Hard Rock -Telephone: (702) 898-3525. - New rock-oriented club is the Las Vegas version of the trendy L.A. Sunset strip nightclub. Open 24-hours, serves meals. Decor recreates the Hollywood location with red leather booths and rock-n-roll memorabilia adorning the walls. Live performances in the lounge.

Coyote Ugly - New York-New York - (3790 Las Vegas Blvd S.) Tel. (702) 740-6330 and (toll free) 866-520-UGLY - A southern style saloon featuring hot female bartenders who have elevated pouring drinks to an art form. Open: 7 days, 6 p.m to 4 a.m.) Get there before 9 p.m and avoid $10 cover charge. (Fun if free, but IMHO not worth the cover.) - A nutty place where sexy bartenders dance and do other rowdy stuff on the bar. No live music ...only jukebox. Only shots and beer are served ...no cocktails. Gal guests are asked to contribute to the "Bra Wall of Fame."

Kahunaville at TI - Treasure Island Hotel/Casino (3300 Las Vegas Blvd. South) - Telephone: (702) 894-7390 - Is it a theme restaurant, a nightclub, a pub, a bar ...a lounge? Actually it is all of these. But probably fits best as a lounge. Across from the Mystere theater, Kahunaville replaced the video game arcade. Crazy, unpredictable tropical atmosphere. (Wildest bar in Las Vegas; bartenders juggle bottles, light drinks on fire and have amazing pouring skills.) Live music ...even poolside service. A miniature version Bellagio dancing water show erupts every few minutes. Food has a Caribbean flair ...everything from sandwiches to full blown ($10-$25) mostly seafood entrees. Excellent margaritas. Restaurant open: 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Party bar until 3 a.m. seven days a week.