Most ambient bar?

I recently posted %26#39;most ambient restaurant?%26#39; and have had some wonderful suggestions that will really make a difference to our trip so I thought I would ask a similar question about bars. We are looking for Wow places to have a drink and if they do light snacks etc I would be very interested to hear about that too. I don%26#39;t completely understand the cover charge system - if you are staying in the hotel where the bar is located would you still get charged?

Are tables only for bottle service? We are a couple and not big drinkers - we like trying different cocktails and my husband might have a few beers or a gin and tonic but we wouldn%26#39;t be able to drink a whole bottle of vodka for instance so I don%26#39;t think it would be worthwhile for us but sadly does this mean we won%26#39;t be able to sit at a table after say 9pm? When there is a cover charge - is it per person or per couple?

All suggestions for interesting places to have a drink will be very welcome and also could you say why you liked them so much.

Most ambient bar?

I%26#39;ve drunk at dozens of bars in Veags and never heard of any issues like you suggest, you can sit and drink what you want at your own leisure.

Most of the big casinos have bars that are in the ambient style, good ones we found imparticular were at the monte carlo and the west wing at MGM,the one up on the mezzanine level at planet hollywood was by far the best though but I can%26#39;t remember the name of it I%26#39;m afraid, their cocktails were great and different too,I had a Lychhee cosmo!

If you like to people watch you have to go to trader Vics at the miracle mile (ph), the outdoor seating area is great, you can watch the bellagio fountains, see the sea of people constantly coast by and they do great mojitoes!!

Most ambient bar?

I would say a couple of ';WOW'; places to have a drink would be:

Mix Lounge/Bar - top the THE Hotel at Mandalay Bay

Great views from the South end of the Strip. It is near the top of Mandalay with a view looking up the Strip. Go there before, I believe 9pm, and there is no cover charge. Great to have a couple cocktails and check out the view.

Other options, however, you will have to pay a cover charge is Voodoo Lounge at the Rio and the Ghost Bar at the Palms. However, the cover can be expensive if you only plan on going for a couple of drinks, especially if you go on a weekend.

Out of the 3 bars above, the view from the Ghost Bar is the best (IMHO)

Bottle Service is mostly in the clubs, although they do provide it at Voodoo and Ghost Bar. They have some seats that are not reserved for bottle service. Clubs may be a different story.

Old stand by...Margaritaville. 3rd floor deck or main level bar. Right on the Strip, great for people watching with a great vibe. Since it is basically a restaurant no cover there.

My favorite three hotel bar/Lounges are:

Down Parasol at the Wynn they have an indoor and outdoor seating areas, on the out door patio at night they have this amazing light show on the water that changes all the time. They have really good signature cocktails that they change by season, you can also order a bottle of wine or Champagne for the table and the prices for bottles if you want them are very reasonable. We stop here everytime we go to Vegas since it opened...we were there 4 times last year alone. There is also an Up Parasol as well that is more on the interior of the hotel you cant view the light show from there though.

Blush also at the Wynn love this place the bartendars the drinks also signature cocktails that change per season, It has a class about it but not stuffy or snobby and the couches are so comfy.

Mixx Lounge at Mandalay Bay love this place as well we always have to go here once as well. This is truly the best place to view the sunset on the strip and watch the all the lights come on.The cocktails here are so good as well and they have snacks.

Cheers,

Magic97

Some of the other suggestions are wonderful - here is my list

- Fontana at Bellagio (outdoor patio, view of fountains that really can%26#39;t be beat, and just beautiful)

- Mix at Mandalay Bay (go up before unset, usually 6-6:30ish, there is no cover and you can watch the sunset and the lights turn on over the strip)

- Red Square at Mandalay Bay (Russian themed vodka bar, really seductive interior complete with chandeliers that look like St Basil%26#39;s Cathedral, great martinis, bar made of ice - downfall is that it can get busy, best to go when it opens or near after that time, 4pm-6pm is a good time usually)

-West Wing Bar at MGM West Wing (just discovered this place out last trip, great comfortable sofas and sleek/sexy decor, and they have a happy hour from 5pm-7pm)

-Eastside Bar at Encore (beautiful view of the Encore pool, very colorful and interesting decor, they have great infused liquor drinks which they sell by various size carafes)

-Parasol Down at Wynn (Lake of Dreams view, as the other poster mentioned, great drinks and reasonable bottle prices for wines and champagne)

-Japonais Lounge at Mirage (they have a really interesting drink menu and light appetizers, tropical and pretty)

- Patio at Morel%26#39;s at Palazzo (view of the strip from lovely patio, you can see the Siren%26#39;s of TI show from there if you are interested, plus they have FANTASTIC food)

-Blush at Wynn (colorful lanterns in the ceiling, sofas and seating areas - just don%26#39;t go here after 12am, especially on weekends unless you want more of a club vibe)

-Caramel at Bellagio (dark and sexy spot for a drink, especially before dinner)

-Tao Lounge (not the club - this part opens at 5pm and you can go in just for drinks and check out the incredible decor, and leave before it turns into the most popular and busiest nightclubs in Vegas!)

Most places categorized as bars/lounges do not have cover charges (Blush does, but women usually get in free and often get free drinks during certain hours). Bottle service is more fitting for clubs (usually if you are in a group that wants to get into XS, Tryst, etc and you need to bypass the line - ie, you are guys). Most clubs have no tables other than bottle service, whereas bars and lounges do usually offer table seating if you are ordering cocktails/beers/wine etc.

Definitely the Fireside Lounge at the Peppermill. They do serve bar food. It is a great/funky/retro bar that is unique in Vegas. The drinks are great and so the whole atmosphere. There is also a rather nice restaurant attached but the Fireside Lounge is what makes the Peppermill so special.

www.usmenuguide.com/peppermillfireside.html

Chi-tourist - I forgot to ask, you mentioned the patio at Morels - is that full restaurant service or could you just order something light?

It is a full restaurant - and we really enjoyed it (we had one of the seafood towers, a few meats and cheeses, and soups which was more than enough food and delicious). You can check out all the info from the Palazzo website - its also great for lunch!