XS @ Encore

Posted by Charli

on June 18, 2009

If you head to Las Vegas this summer, consider XS at Steve Wynn’s Encore Las Vegas your must-see nightlife destination. Since the water-themed club and main attraction of the $2.3-million casino/resort opened New Year’s Eve, it’s been called by locals the “hardest club to get into” and “the best club in the country.” Great expectations? I’d say so. Here’s my full report on what it’s like, plus my secret to getting in hassle-free:

To get in with style, I recommend booking VIP entry with a concierge service like Sienna Entertainment for a modest fee. But why, you might say? You’re a hot girl; in fact, you’re going with a gaggle of women. Can’t you just bypass the line and smile your way past the cover for free? In response, I say, go for it … on a weeknight. But on a weekend, either try your luck or show them the money. To give you an idea of what to expect, here’s what I encountered:

Just before the club opened Saturday night at 10 p.m., multiple lines already stretched down the main hallway of high-end clothing boutiques like Chanel. (“My goodness, is Obama inside?” I quipped.) Luckily, our VIP host was able to walk us in within 5 minutes. Once in, the decor screamed “Vegas” with jeweled chandeliers, glittering go-go dancers, a massive dance floor and multiple platforms adorned with stripper poles (for patrons to use … yikes!). The loud, 40,000-square-foot space opened up to a serene outdoor pool area with a gambling island and bar in the middle. Drinks were not cheap, with shots priced at about $14 each and a near-famous “Ono” cocktail, priced at $10,000 (which I did not order — I draw the line there). By midnight, the dance floor was packed to the gills yet amazingly, the glamorous women’s bathroom was so well designed that I never had to wait for my very own, floor-to-ceiling stall — a crowning achievement I’ve never witnessed at any club. Alas, packed crowds give me the willies, so midnight was the perfect time to head to the neighboring (and very similar-looking) Tryst nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas for one last dance.

P.S. Feeling like a high roller? Catch Beyonce at the Encore Las Vegas theater on your next trip. Tickets for her “intimate” performances July 30-Aug. 2 start at $250.