relax and reminisce

You're guaranteed to feel welcome at these Las Vegas hangouts.

By ROGER NAYLOR | March/April 2008

Photo: Charlie Johnston (Galleria Bar in Las Vegas)

Consider this a lesson in lounging. If you play dress up, wait forever in line behind a velvet rope, get eyeballed by beefy bouncers, and pay a cover charge, you’re about to enter a nightclub. If you go casual, waltz in unhindered, plop into a cushiony chair, and relax, then you’re lounging.

Nightclubs, it seems, hone their reputations on exclusivity while lounges welcome one and all. In a 24/7 town like Las Vegas, lounges provide necessary catch-your-breath moments. Maybe you want a place for a quiet drink or chat. Or maybe you’re just walking by and the haunting strains of “Summer Wind” snag you. That kind of scenario makes the Galleria Bar in Caesars Palace the quintessential modern Vegas lounge.

Classy understated décor helps the joint blend into its surroundings. Sitting just off the casino floor, you could pass by repeatedly without a glance. Then one night, the crisp notes and artful phrasing slices through the jangling clamor. The singer leans against the piano, mike in one hand, glass in the other, his voice rubbed raw by regret—and who hasn’t been there before? You order a scotch rocks and listen to the guy pour his heart into songs that were hits before you were born. Weeks later, that ring-a-ding memory reminds you that you went to Vegas, baby, Vegas.

Luxor’s Aurora exemplifies a new generation of lounge. With sleek styling and a contemporary vibe, even the trendiest scene-sters will want to be spotted sipping a specialty cocktail. Try the namesake Aurora consisting of Stolichnaya Blueberi vodka, juice of a lime, rock candy syrup, and fresh blueberries. You may get smashed, but you’ll be brimming with antioxidants.

The Aurora juts into the lobby at the very heart of the pyramid. The swoop of sky overhead provides an open feeling seldom found in crowded casinos. The other part of the lounge, tucked into comfortable back corners, offers a more intimate space.

Wherever you sit you can enjoy the show, an emulation of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Hundreds of fiber optic tubes suspended above the bar ripple with soothing ever-changing colors. Along with unfolding nature scenes on hi-def wall monitors, the Aurora may be the most tranquil spot on the Strip.

As soon as you saunter into the Peppermill Fireside Lounge, you’ll see why it was recently voted one of America’s 10 best make-out bars by Nerve Magazine. This retro palace is rimmed with mirrors and infused with soft neon. Cozy booths are scattered among the darkness and ferny foliage, providing a semi-private setting for couples feeling smoochy. Grab a booth and order a lavish drink, like the infamous Scorpion, a soup of alcohol served in a glass as big as a birdbath.

The exotic fire pit testifies to the Pep’s romantic mojo. In the center of the room, flames flicker in a bubbling fountain. The lesson? Everybody—even fire and water—pairs up at the Peppermill.