What’s a trip to Las Vegas without some dancing? Are you a huge fan of hip hop but, most clubs you walk into have been overrun by EDM? Does that leave you feeling like there’s no need to pack your dancing shoes when you’re leaving for Vegas?
Well, we’ve got some good news! We’ve done some legwork and made it our mission to find the best hip hop clubs in Vegas. Our helpful guide will give you all the information you need to find your new favorite hip hop hangout. Read on to see a few of our favorites!
Why is Hip Hop so Popular in Las Vegas
Hip hop became a large part of Vegas culture in the ‘90s when Dr.Dre and 2PAC took their L.A. dance music to Vegas on the weekends. While hip hop has seemed to take a backseat to EDM (electronic dance music) in the last few years, 2020 saw a massive hip hop revival. This has made hip hop clubs more popular than ever in Las Vegas. Finding a hip hop club in Vegas has never been easier!
Hip Hop Clubs that are All the Rage in Vegas
Many nightclubs claim to be the best in Vegas. While some offer more of an extravaganza with music, lights and dancers, others are all about the dancing and the music. And as most hip hop fans will tell you when you feel like dancing, all you want is good music and a huge dance floor. Let’s have a look at some of the more popular clubs we found.
1. Drais
No matter who you ask, or which website you look at, the name that stands out above all others is Drais Nightclub! The club and its energetic dancers offer visitors a dance vibe that you won’t find anywhere else!
Location
Since it’s inside The Cromwell Hotel, it’s actually in the center of the Las Vegas strip. Nestled on the roof, which is 11 stories high, there are exquisite views of the famous strip.
Best Feature
Aside from its enigmatic dancers, DJ’s and fabulous views, Drais is also known for its outdoor pool area. Another popular Drais feature is the 80-sided LED disco ball that hangs in the center of the lively dance floor.
Photo from Discotech
Since Drai’s is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday. Saturday and Sunday, you can get your hip hop on most nights of the week!
Celebrity Visits
Part of the allure to Drais is the “Live in Concert” artists who love to perform there. Big names in the hip hop world such as 50 cent, Big Sean, Chris Brown and Trey Songz are regulars.
2. Hakkasan Las Vegas
The Hakkasan Las Vegas is often referred to as the crown jewel of the Las Vegas nightlife scene. Situated in the MGM Grand, Hakkasan houses a main nightclub and the smaller Ling Ling club on one of its lower floors.
Location
Situated in the MGM Grand, Hakkasan houses 80,000 square feet of entertainment. This equates to five levels of lounges, restaurants and of course dance floors. Of course, different dance floors play different music.
Best Feature
The upper two floors make up the main nightclub area. Famous DJs such as DJ Tiests and Calvin Harris spin from upper balconies housed on these floors. Various VIP tables surround the dance floor in a semi-circle design. This gives all the guests an excellent view of the DJ when they aren’t dancing.
Hakkasan also features enormous LED screens, world-class performers and intense light shows, making it one of the most elite and luxurious nightclubs in Las Vegas. It’s easy to see why this club is such a hit with locals and visitors alike!
Celebrity Visits
Needless to say, a club as exclusive as the Hakkasan will obviously have a long list of A-list celebrity visitors which include Rita Orta, Taylor Swift, Christina Augilera and of course JLo. And from time to time, the likes of Pharrell Williams and Gwen Stefani have also popped in for a hip hop session or two!
3. Heart of Omnia
If you’re not looking for glamour, but merely a good hip hop party with excellent music and a fun time, Heart of Omnia is the place! Known to some as Omnia, but mostly referred to as Heart, this club has both underground and radio hip hop. Fun and dancing are on every menu here!
Location
The Heart is situated inside the Omnia Nightclub at Caesar’s Palace. Open nights are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. If you want to spend some time in this club, the weeknights are an absolute must.
Best Feature
Dance floor tables are on the dance floor, giving you an up-close experience of the dance floor. Tables are also more reasonably priced compared to other Omnia clubs.
Celebrity Visits
Just because Heart isn’t swooning with the glamour of Drais, doesn’t mean it’s boring! Justin Bieber and several sports stars have been known to unwind at Heart from time to time!
4. Ling Ling
If you’re anywhere near the MGM Grand Hotel, you should definitely get your dancing shoes over to The Ling Ling Club. As part of the Hakkasan Nightclub, The Ling Ling has a vibe and energy of its own. Famous for its radio hip hop rather than off-market beats, Ling Ling is the perfect place to unwind.
Location
Situated inside the Hakkasan Nightclub, Ling Ling is also popular for its dancing rather than its glam effect. So, if you want to be seen, hang around in Hakkasan but, if you want to dance, go downstairs to Ling Ling!
Best Feature
In general, hip hop clubs don’t put much emphasis on lighting. But that’s where Ling Ling is different from your average hip hop club. An LED lighting system is synchronized to the music and provides hip hop dancers with a show similar to an EDM dancefloor but to their favorite hip hop jams.
Celebrity Visits
While the Ling Ling might not be the first choice for most visitors to the Hakkasan Nightclub, it’s not short of celebs. Many famous faces like Drake, Dr. Dre and even JLo have been seen dancing the night away on the Ling Ling dancefloor!
5. Tao Las Vegas
With so many clubs competing for the number one spot in Vegas, it takes a lot of talent, hard work and crowd attraction to keep a club open. One of the oldest clubs in Vegas is Tao Nightclub.
Location
Tao is part of a 60,000square feet 3 story “Asian-like City” near the upper level of Doge’s Palace entrance. Aside from Tao, you’ll find a restaurant, enormous dance floor, hip hop lounge and even a beach.
Best Features
Tao divides its entertainment in an attempt to cater to everyone. The main room hosts EDM, top 40 and hip hop. So, if you’re just looking for a good vibe, that’s the room you want to be in. But, for serious hip hop fans, the Opium Room is where you need to be!
Celebrity Visits
Spending time at Tao means you’re possibly going to rub shoulders with the likes of Snoop Dog and Jermaine Dupri. Other celebrities who like to drop by the Tao when they’re in Vegas include Jay-Z, Rihanna, and Madonna.
6. Marquee Boom Box Room
To many hip hop fans, the Marquee Boom Box Room is more appealing than many of the clubs we’ve already mentioned. Thundering hip hop tracks and an array of remixes, the Marquee is where you go when you need to dance all night long!
Location
The Marquee Nightclub is situated at The Cosmopolitan on Las Vegas Boulevard and boasts a 40,000 square-foot venue. The venue houses seven different bars and three rooms, of which the Marquee is one.
Best Features
Some of the Marquee’s impressive features include its two lavish rooftop pools, various extravagant rooms as well as 160 VIP bottle service locations. If your hip hop urge coincides with your best friend’s bachelorette party, the good news is, the Marquee hosts various events as well.
Celebrity Visits
Travis Scott, French Montana and Drake are among the host of celebrities known to visit the Marquee. In fact, in 2015, Drake surprised a crowd at the Marquee by performing a dozen of his biggest hits, where the average is usually three performed songs!
7. Drais After Hours Hip Hop Room
If you’re still in the mood for dancing by the time the DJ starts packing up his gear, it’s time to head on to Drais After Hours Hip Hop Room. The party only ends with sunrise at around 6:00 am!
Location
Drais After Hours is located in the Cromwell and is very easy to find. Simply look out of the golden elevator marked with the curvy body of a voluptuous woman in a ruby red dress. Located in the basement, this club offers you after-hours fun and dancing.
Best Features
Drais is well known for starting the “after hours” clubbing notion way back in 1997. They have been giving die-hard party fans a place to party and dance until sunrise.
Two separate rooms make up the Drais After Hours Club. One is for EDM while the other is for hip hop.
An added advantage, if you sign up and arrive on time (4:30 am), in the right dress code, you can avoid standing in another club line by going straight to the dedicated guest line. So, sign and show up!
Celebrity Visits
You’ll be happy to know that you aren’t the only one who wants to be dancing past 4:00 am! A-listers like Drake, JLo and Faith Evans have been seen dancing the night away at Drais After Hours.
Some Pointers You Should Know Before You Hit the Strip
There are a few pointers visitors should know before they head out to the clubs. If you’re a regular, this might be old news to you, but, if you’re new to the Vegas Hip Hop experience, read on!
Know the Dress Code
The clubs in Las Vegas aren’t like some of the “come as you are” clubs in your hometown. Most Las Vegas clubs have a strict dress code and will enforce it at the door. Check the website of the club you want to visit before heading out.
For the most part, athletic attire, sandals, shorts and baggy jeans are a big no-no! Ladies, a nice fitting dress and heels are always acceptable. Gentlemen should focus on dress shoes and properly fitting jeans with a button-up shirt or sportscoat. This is of course unless you’re attending one of the club’s pool party days, in which case, anything you can swim in pretty much goes!
Know the Time
Many clubs trade between 10:30 pm and 4:00 am. If you don’t want to stand in long lines to get in, show up around 10:00 pm. Always check the times of the club you want to visit, to avoid disappointment. Remember, it’s only fun if you’re inside dancing!
If you haven’t satisfied your hip hop craving by 4:00 am, there’s always Drais Afterhours that runs from 10:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Check the Days
Not all Las Vegas nightclubs are open every night. And some clubs have special promotions for different nights. So, be sure to check these out on the website before making your booking.
Getting in for Free
Obviously, everyone is always looking for a free way to get into one of the clubs. The good news is most clubs have a “free girls guestlist” and some even have a “free even ratio guestlist.” That means it’s free if you have the same number of girls/ladies in your party. Check each club’s website for these types of offers.
Final Thought
There’s no doubt about it. Las Vegas houses some of the hottest, most glam venues for hip hop clubs. If all you want to do is be seen and rub shoulders with some A-listers, there are plenty of clubs for that.
But, if you’re serious about dancing to your favorite hip hop beats, the clubs on our list will provide you with exactly that! From glam settings at Drais to old-world chic at Chateau Las Vegas, there’s a club for every hip hop lover’s fancy. So, if you’re planning a trip to Vegas any time soon, remember to pack your dancing shoes!
Leave us a comment below with your opinion. We’d love to know which hip hop club in Las Vegas is your favorite! Or, if we’ve skipped one?