Nightclubs

VooDoo Lounge Details

• Hours of operation:
  Nightclub: Friday-Wednesday 9 p.m.-close, Thursday 10 p.m. Lounge: Open daily at 5 p.m.-close
• Cover price:
  • Front-of-the-Line Admission: $30.
  • Open Bar package (Sunday-Wednesday): $75, includes front-of-the-line admission and open bar at VooDoo. Starts at 10 p.m. NO shots. Table NOT included - inside bar only. The open bar at Voodoo includes domestic and imported beer, wine, basic liquors (SKYY vodka, Cruzan rum, Salsa tequila, Jack Daniels, Crown Royal whiskey, bourbon and Christian Brothers), bottled water, soda, energy drink and juice.  
  • Open Bar package (Thursday-Saturday): $110, includes front-of-the-line admission and open bar at VooDoo. Starts at 10 p.m. NO shots. Table NOT included - inside bar only. The open bar at Voodoo includes domestic and imported beer, wine, basic liquors (SKYY vodka, Cruzan rum, Salsa tequila, Jack Daniels, Crown Royal whiskey, bourbon and Christian Brothers), bottled water, soda, energy drink and juice.
  • VIP Bottle Package 1 (Sunday-Thursday): $300, includes front-of-the-line admission and table for four (inside seating only), one bottle of your choice between Skyy Vodka, Jack Daniels, case of imported or domestic beer, Jagermeister, Dewar's or Veuve champagne. Also includes mixers and gratuity. Guests must arrive before 11 p.m.
  • VIP Bottle Package 2 (Sunday-Thursday): $400, includes front-of-the-line admission and table for four (inside seating only), one bottle of your choice between Grey Goose, Belvedere, Absolut, Crown Royal, Bombay Saphire, Johnny Walker Black or Veuve Magnum bottle of champagne. Also includes mixers and gratuity. Guests must arrive before 11 p.m.
  • VIP Bottle Package 3 (Sunday-Thursday): $600, includes front-of-the-line admission and table for eight (inside seating only), two bottles of your choice between Skyy Vodka, Jack Daniels, case of imported or domestic beer, Jagermeister, Dewar's or Veuve champagne. Also includes mixers and gratuity. Guests must arrive before 11 p.m.
  • VIP Bottle Package 4 (Sunday-Thursday): $800, includes front-of-the-line admission and table for eight (inside seating only), two bottles of your choice between Grey Goose, Belvedere, Absolut, Crown Royal, Patron silver, Bombay Sapphire, Johnny Walker Black or Vueve Magnum bottle of champagne. Also includes mixer and gratuity. Guests must arrive before 11 p.m.
  • VIP Bottle Package 1 (Friday-Saturday): $400, includes front-of-the-line admission and table for four (inside seating only), one bottle of your choice between Stoli Vodka, Jack Daniels, case of imported or domestic beer, Jagermeister, Dewar's or Veuve champagne. Also includes mixers and gratuity. Guests must arrive before 11 p.m.
  • VIP Bottle Package 2 (Friday-Saturday): $500, includes front-of-the-line admission and table for four (inside seating only), one bottle of your choice between Grey Goose, Belvedere, Absolut, Crown Royal, Patron Silver, Bombay Saphire, Johnny Walker Black or Veuve Magnum bottle of champagne. Also includes mixers and gratuity. Guests must arrive before 11 p.m.
  • VIP Bottle Package 3 (Friday-Saturday): $950, includes front-of-the-line admission and table for eight (inside seating only), two bottles of your choice between Grey Goose, Belvedere, Absolut, Crown Royal, Patron silver, Bombay Sapphire, Johnny Walker Black or Vueve Magnum bottle of champagne. Also includes mixer and gratuity. Guests must arrive before 11 p.m.
• Payment information:
  Cash, all major credit cards.
• Location:
  Inside the Rio, 51st floor.
• Music:
  Top 40, hip-hop and dance music.
• Resident DJs:
  DJ Scotty Boy, Jeff G, Mike Toast, CB Shaw.
• Clientele/Age Group:
  21 and older.
• Attire:
  Dress to impress. No hats, white t-shirts, tank tops, baggy pants, shorts, sandals, flip flops, white tennis shoes, athletic or gym wear of any type.
• Occupancy:
  750.
• Parking:
  Parking located in garages at the front and rear of the Rio hotel-casino. Valet parking at the Rio.
• Reservations:
  Available for VIP tables and booths.
• Seating:
  Yes, general admission before 10 p.m. and VIP after 10 p.m.
• Handicapped accessible:
  Yes.
• ATM:
  Located outside of restrooms.
• Special events:
  • Thursday: "Voodoo Rising," local and industry night.
  • Sunday: "Solid Gold Sundays," '80s night inside and mash-ups outside.

VooDoo Lounge Review

Waiting in line to start the night at VooDoo Lounge, it might seem like the party is going on below you. From the frantic beeping of slot machines to the roving fun of Masquerade Village that's taking place just over the railing, it's an easy mistake to make.

But the great part about VooDoo Lounge is that the party is actually above you, 51 stories up, in a place not visible just yet. And any celebration going on around a video poker machine basically pales in comparison.

After making it through the line (or skipping it with a pass), the party-hungry masses are sent to two elevators in a dimly-lit (except for black lights) lobby. Since VooDoo Lounge is still one of the more hopping clubs in town and the elevators are making a trek to the top of the building, there's usually a little bit of a wait. The best use of this time is probably to check out the menus for VooDoo Steak -- the restaurant one floor below the lounge -- that adorn the walls. At the very least, it'll provide some ideas for tomorrow's dinner.

Once inside the elevator, try and grab a spot against the glass and watch the bright lights of the city grow tinier as the elevator climbs the side of the building. If you don't get a spot (or you're not tall enough to see over heads and hair-dos), take a minute to listen to the squeals and gasps coming from people that did. With the right group, even the elevator ride is a good time.

Following an elevator ride rivaled only by the diagonal ones at the Luxor, the club's secrets are unfurled slowly. A short walk through dark halls lit up by black-light voodoo drawings and you're in the club. A short walk through some doors and you're outside -- still 51 stories up.

Although the inside of the club is nice -- the bar is lit by candle decorations that give an air of potion-making to whatever the bartenders (who are pretty handy with a bottle -- just ask) are concocting -- it's the outside that sets VooDoo Lounge apart.

An unmatched view of Las Vegas -- hotels, houses, the whole thing -- surrounds the patio and on beautiful summer nights it's pretty hard to beat sitting on one of the VIP couches at the club, taking in the city.

A giant, 40-ton staircase connects the 50 and 51st floors (the restaurant and lounge, respectively) and climbing it puts you face-to-face with some of the club's go-go dancers and more than a few folks snapping their newest MySpace picture.

If the view isn't enough to keep things interesting for the night -- or you're a little afraid of heights - there's also an outdoor bar, a DJ spinning hip-hop and Top 40 and a token stripper pole to liven things up.

Back inside, there's space for a live band to perform and a few more VIP couches.

There's not a large space in the club dedicated just to the dance floor, but it works out. People dance on the patio. People dance in their booths. People dance on any square of floor they can eek out. Basically, people dance.

VooDoo has been around for a little while and has built up a following with a few different age groups. It doesn't seem to skew so heavily in one direction that anyone feels alienated or uncomfortable. It's also not solely large-group central. It's just as easy to spot a couple sharing a quiet smooch on the patio as it is to find a group of raucous 30-somethings in town to celebrate a bachelorette party.

Whatever ingredients are thrown into a night at the club, they always seem to mix up to a good time, and whether you like it shaken, stirred or 51 stories up, it's not hard to fall under VooDoo's spell.

-- Review by Jamie Helmick