Hakkasan
Photo Courtesy of MGM Resorts International
While we could probably fill a library with all of the things the now-shuttered Revel hotel did incorrectly during its two-year existence, one thing you’ll never hear anyone snicker about at the failed Atlantic City resort is its nightclub, HQ. The place rocked every night with great music, beautiful people and some of the finest equipment. It’s just too bad that all the dazzling light shows and free-flowing Veuve Clicquot bottles couldn’t keep the place open.
Should you find yourself vacationing and not feel the need to call it a night at 11 p.m., you’re still in luck. From can’t-miss Vegas VIP sections to must-see dance floors in Dubai, there are a host of high-end hotels around the globe that are more than happy to get you a tab started in the midnight hour. So, DJ, crank up that Skrillex because a party isn’t a party until Forbes Travel Guide editors have put together a proper guest list of elegant properties with nightclubs.
Hakkasan, MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
There are countless hotels with after-hour attractions on the Strip, but we’re partial to Hakkasan Las Vegas for several reasons. First, we can grab an authentic Cantonese meal before hitting the dance floor at this restaurant/club hybrid. The second is the lineup of DJs who spin here — Tiësto (October 28 to 30) and Steve Aoki (November 1) are just a sample of names on the schedule. But the other thing we appreciate about the club has nothing to do with loud percussions or glow sticks. The fact that Hakkasan neighbors the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Skylofts at MGM Grand makes it quite appealing, too. There’s just something to be said for retiring to a room with an immersion shower and a menu of 15 pillow options after an all-night session with Steve Aoki.
Addiction, The Modern Honolulu
As if the beachside location, Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Morimoto Waikiki restaurant from Iron Chef star Masaharu Morimoto and fetching modern décor weren’t enough to make you hang out at this Four-Star hotel, its Addiction nightclub will clinch it. One of Oahu’s hottest clubs, Addiction pulses with hip-hop and house thanks to the likes of in-demand local DJ Anit. Dance under a bubbles-like sculpture made of 40,000 reclaimed light bulbs or survey the sexy scene of locals and tourists from a silver banquette and order bottle service.
Provocateur, Photo Courtesy of Four Seasons Hotels Limited
Provocateur, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
Like the unassuming schoolteacher who finally cuts loose at faculty karaoke night, this Jumeirah Beach stunner has two sides. The one that most people know is a stately 237-room palace that hits all the right luxury travel notes with regards to décor (55-inch flat-screen TVs, free-standing oval tubs) and dining (the interactive Suq restaurant). But when night falls, the property lets its hair down at Provocateur, a gorgeous spot that shimmers with so much silver that you’d think you were cruising on a spaceship — it helps in setting the out-of-this-world mood to have Funktion-One’s newest sound system, EVO 6, and a Ledscontrol-designed light display that illuminates the place with 15,000 pixels.
Aqua Lounge, Island Hotel Newport Beach
Newport Beach is a sedate Orange County pocket, but the 20- and 30-something locals head to this indoor-outdoor ultra-lounge for some rousing nightlife. The Four Star hotel brings in regional talent like L.A.’s DJ Tirade and DaCapo to play everything from feel-good party jams to hip-hop-tinged electro. Cocktails, made with fresh local fruit and herbs, are a must here. Rather than ponying up to the 360-degree bar, choose the reimagined bottle service — order DIY margaritas or Moscow mules for your table to concoct, or a ready-made punch bowl like the Sunset Punch (Mount Gay Eclipse Rum, Zacapa Rum, Marie Brizard Orange Curaçao, lime and orange juices, simple syrup, Angostura bitters and grated nutmeg).
Coast, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
The list of headliners coming to Biloxi’s Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Beau Rivage Resort & Casino over the next few months is impressive — Patti LaBelle (November 6) and Daughtry (November 20) stand out on the fall calendar — but it doesn’t exactly scream, “Party over here!” That’s where Coast joins in on the fun. The spot where snazzy-dressed guests go after they’ve sang their last song at the concert (or lost their last dollar at the slot machine), Coast keeps spirits high into the wee hours with an energetic dance floor and a lively rotation of DJ appearances, thrice-weekly live music and themed nights.
Bang Bang, Photo Courtesy of Pan Pacific Hotel and Resort
Bang Bang, Pan Pacific Singapore
Revelers flock to Bang Bang, a 5,000-square-foot nightclub inside this Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hotel in the Marina Bay neighborhood. This place is all about fun — and lots of it. Yes, a serious set of international DJs perform here, but Bang Bang doesn’t take itself too seriously (to wit, there’s a full-on pajama party on the calendar this fall). Start the night out at the Singapore hotel’s Match Cocktail Lounge for a full dinner, or end your night there (it’s open until 4 a.m.) with bar snacks and one more cocktail.
Hyde, Bellagio
This Four-Star hotel’s Hyde gives you a vantage point that you won’t find anywhere else in Vegas: right behind the famed Fountains of Bellagio. Watch the jets blast from the floor-to-ceiling windows or get closer on the spacious terrace. Inside, an Italian-villa-inspired theme (chandeliers, books, marble tile) from design guru Philippe Starck lends a more elegant feel. The best spots in Hyde are the 40 VIP tables; reserve one so that you won’t get lost in the crowds during popular events like Lost Angels on Tuesdays, an industry night that pays homage to L.A.
Masquerade, Harrah’s New Orleans
NOLA is a city filled with neighborhood bars, but when locals and visitors want to really throw down, they can head to Masquerade inside this Forbes Travel Guide Recommended casino hotel. The 12,300-square-foot club rivals those in Vegas with go-go dancers, all-star DJs, a VIP lounge and a towering media display that turns out a cool light show. Retire in one of the junior suites for great views of the French Quarter and Mississippi River.
Great Room Social Lounge, The Resort at Pelican Hill
This Five-Star Orange County hotel found that its 40-and-older clientele wanted a place to sip cocktails and dance to good music, but without an obnoxious vibe and thumping bass. That’s when the Great Room Social Lounge was born. During the day, the Great Room serves a modern take on afternoon tea against an ocean backdrop, but at night it transforms into a sophisticated club where a resident DJ spins contemporary music Thursdays to Saturdays. If you aren’t up for late-night antics, swing by the Great Room’s weekday social hour (5 to 6 p.m.) to partake in wine tastings, fashion shows, art pop-ups and more.
Silo’s, Napa River Inn
No one visits Napa for its nonexistent nightclub scene, but Silo’s is the place to be for a dark, sexy and cocktail-fueled evening on the town. Located inside the Historic Napa Mill (a more than 125-year-old complex that also houses Napa River Inn), live music aficionados pair up and listen to artists croon while sipping on creative cocktails, craft brews and, of course, Napa Valley wines. There’s space for only 50 couples; it’s an intimate-feeling venue where you can still catch a buzz from listening to excellent music. Book a room at the Four-Star inn and you’ll get a complimentary hangover cure via the breakfast goodies provided by Sweetie Pies bakery.
Lava, Photo Courtesy of Turning Stone Resort Casino
Lava Nightclub, The Lodge at Turning Stone Resort Casino
Upstate New York’s sprawling Turning Stone Resort Casino has more than enough to keep you busy for a long weekend — tennis, myriad restaurants and bars, golf, a palatial spa — and nighttime enthusiasts won’t be disappointed, either, with its Exit 33 entertainment complex (options range from a country-music bar to a live jazz lounge). Lava Nightclub delivers everything a city club does, including great DJs, a huge dance floor, bottle service options and several bars to belly up to. There are lots of guest room options, too, but we’re betting one of The Lodge’s roomy, serene suites will do just fine.
Club 9, Ho Tram Resort Casino Vietnam
After spending your day lazing under the sun at this beachfront resort 2.5 hours southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll need something to wake you up. Hit up Club 9 for a jolt. The stylish nightclub puts internationally known DJs on the decks — Russia’s DJ Feel recently hypnotized the crowd with trance — while the Ho Tram Girls dance on light-shade-topped poles. Join the mass on the dance floor or sit back in a booth with cognac or whiskey and a cigar.
Edge Nightspot, Peppermill Reno
This massive casino resort has 15 bars and lounges to suit your moods, but when the need to dance all night strikes, you’ll want to hit Edge Nightspot. The 8,000-square-foot club and lounge keeps the party going well into the night with DJs, LED laser light shows and bursts of smoky liquid nitrogen. Spring for a Tuscany Scenic View Suite (there are 600 suites to choose from) at the Reno hotel and you’ll be able to take in views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the morning or the lit-up Reno skyline before dozing off to sleep.
LIV, Fontainebleau Miami Beach
Miami’s beautiful people flock to the hot club at this Forbes Travel Guide Recommended hotel. So do the big-name acts, including Lil Wayne, Fatboy Slim and Tiësto. The 18,000-square-foot LIV was made with voyeurism in mind, so you’ll be able to spy the locals and visiting celebrities throughout the space. Party until the sun comes up to house, hip-hop and rock, preferably with table service in one of the 50 banquette areas or, even better, the six private skyboxes.
Edge, L’Auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge may not immediately spring to mind when you’re looking for a place to party for the weekend, but you’ll find plenty to keep you busy. Thanks to L’Auberge’s 1,400-seat Event Center, the southern Louisiana city hosts big-name musical artists (Candlebox, Aaron Neville, Buddy Guy) for both inside and outside concerts. For a more intimate nighttime experience, head to Edge, the hotel’s sexy little music bar overlooking the Mighty Mississippi. The morning after, head to the hotel’s rooftop pool to soak up some rays.
