Every year a new slew of nightclubs open up across the country promising unparalleled entertainment experiences. Nightclubs, being that they are in the business of the “new,” often have a short life-span. Clubbers generally want the freshest, trendiest, most exclusive venues to drop their hard-earned dough. And once a club becomes fully known and fully accessible, the patrons will leave and flock to the next latest and greatest. Bad news for the nightclub business, but good news for us clubbers! After all isn’t variety the spice of life? In fact gone are the days of the traditional dance floor and dj nightclubs. The nightclub of 2011 also features great food, original cocktails (“mixology” is the 2011 word for this), and even circus acts. But of course none of that matters without great music too. Below we explore our top 5 favorite nightclubs to dance away 2011.
1. Las Vegas: Marquee
Opening New Years Eve 2010 at the brand new Cosmopolitan hotel in Las Vegas, Marquee has already become the premier clubbing destination to hear top international house music djs. Overlooking the Las Vegas strip, Marquee is more than 62,000 square feet, with 50-foot high ceilings, four-story LED screens, state-of-the-art light and sound, and 3 different rooms. Additionally in the warmer months Marquee also functions as a dayclub, complete with bungalow lofts, cabanas, infinity pools, and of course party deck. In the short time it has been open, Marquee has already hosted top billing djs such as ATB, Kaskade, Roger Sanchez, and Robbie Rivera. The club’s expansive space, primo location, and top djs make it the club to be at this year in Vegas.
2. New York: Pacha
Although it’s not the newest club to hit the Big Apple, throughout the years Pacha has become the house music hub of Manhattan, hosting huge names such as Afrojack, Fedde Le Grand, and Chris Lake. With 30,000 square feet of space, Pacha is actually split among four different levels named the Main Room, the Atrium, the Pachita, and the Basement, each with its own theme and décor. Pacha is actually a part of a chain of 25 nightclubs world-wide, with the first opening in Barcelona, Spain. Today Pacha’s Ibiza location is the crown jewel of the Pacha family, hosting the biggest parties and biggest djs on the entire island. With the opening of Pacha: NYC in 2005, the company sought to bring the excitement and magic of the Ibiza location to the city that never sleeps. We believe they’ve officially succeeded.
3. Los Angeles: Eden
Occupying the space of the former Opera nightclub, Eden is the newest venture by L.A. hospitality giant SBE Entertainment Group. As its name suggests, Eden strives to mix a truly Biblical ambiance with the hedonism of nightlife. Covered in walnut wood overlays, honeycomb-inspired brass lighting fixtures, and black leather booths, Eden achieves the appearance of a nightclub settled snugly among the roots of a tree, if such a thing could exist. With an outdoor courtyard, lounge area, dance floor, and 19 VIP tables, the club has ample space for Hollywood’s young and hot to let loose.
4. San Francisco: Sloane Squared
Frisco’s most popular boutique club Sloane has recently been revamped with an additional 6000 square foot expansion, a concert-style sound and light show, and a custom chandelier featuring 4000 crushed glass Evian bottles designed by Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Lacroix. Even with the changes the venue has still maintained its historically industrial aesthetic, lined with red brick walls and a cold steel staircase, while transitioning from less of a lounge to more of a large capacity dance club. And with local Frisco djs spinning that Bay Area flavor every night, the new club has successfully merged the Vegas-style super club environment with the Bay’s free-spirited and fresh house grooves.
5. Miami: Mansion
Just like a real-life “mansion,” visitors to the club of the same name will think one thing when they walk in: BIG. Owned and operated by The Opium Group, Miami’s most successful hospitality company, Mansion boasts 4 rooms across 2 floors, decked out in what the owners have coined a “residence-meets-nightlife” style, complete with crystal chandeliers, fancy fireplaces, and cozy couches. Set in a historic Miami building in the heart of South Beach, Mansion’s main room is the feature presentation, with towering ceilings, a performance stage, suede and leather seating, six plexiglass video screens, and a custom-built audio-visual system that even includes one trunk horn array with six trumpets and two confetti three-shot barrel cannons. Riggings hanging from the ceiling allow trapeze artists to swing above the crowd of revelers, while stripper poles and platforms allow burlesque and go-go dancers to entice and enamor with their performances. The club has hosted parties by P Diddy and Britney Spears, performances by Macy Gray and John Legend, and dj sets by Steve Aoki and Afrojack. With a set-up like this, even the Playboy mansion will look like a dump.