Vegas VIP Club Connection

Hot spots across the country are copying New York and Miami’s hyper-expensive “bottle service.” Barney Gimbel explains why clubs are clamoring to let you play bartender.

By Barney Gimbel

New York City? Miami? Las Vegas? No, Indianapolis. Come again? “People here want to feel special too,” says Kyle Gilliatt, the club’s manager. “I’m not just selling a bottle of vodka, I’m selling exclusivity.”

Here’s how it works: You go to a lounge and sit in a couchlike seat at a cocktail table in a section typically separated from the rest of the club. You order by the bottle, and if menus are any measure, the emphasis is typically on vodka and champagne. (Ordering by the glass is against the rules.) With the bottle come glasses, ice, and mixers of your choice. You pour. And depending on the city, that same 750ml bottle of Grey Goose vodka that goes for $30 at the liquor store could set you back anywhere from $145 to $500. (Cristal or Dom Pérignon champagne can top $1,000.)

What’s happened in the past few years

The nightlife in Vegas keeps getting better . . . and more expensive. You’ve got to pay to play if you want to get into the hottest clubs.

If you’re not familiar with the term “bottle service” you will be if you try to get into one of the better clubs. If you have a group of guys and you want to get in, you better have some smoking hot women with you. If not, you need to make a reservation for a table and be prepared to order two bottles of liquor - that’s usually the minimum. The cheapest stuff will usually run you about $350 per bottle, so you should count on spending around a grand total for the evening after service fees and tips.

Don’t worry, you can still get in without this stuff, though you better show up early. There are also many other options if you’re not looking for the late-night club experience, like bars and live music (see below).

That said, the bottle service is worth it if you have the funds - you’ll get your own table and plenty of booze to lure in all the beautiful women in the club. It never hurts to be a VIP!