V Bar

No cover, no line, no list. And may I add, no pretension, snobbery or attitude. V Bar recently went where precious few clubs have gone before by celebrating its five-year anniversary. Many a Vegas nightspot's lifespan can be clocked from grand opening to grand closing in mere months or in the time it takes to enjoy just one cocktail. But as with a fine wine, cheese or an unpaid parking ticket, this small bar has gained complexity over time.

V Bar, like Madonna, has had to adapt and redefine itself to stay in the game. Fluctuations in the status of the once-grand, now-extinct mega-club C2K; changes to the lineup of surrounding restaurants; and most importantly, changes within the V Bar staff, have greatly affected everything from the quality of the patrons to traffic patterns through the hotel.

With the addition of a new and prominent neighbor upstairs, the buzz-worthy Tao, the wave of additional visitors may find satisfaction in V Bar's tucked-away location across from the new Blue Man Theater. Its proximity to this, Restaurant Row and the convention hall certainly doesn't hurt, either.

If Bouchon and AquaKnox count among the Venetian's kitchens, and Tao is the Venetian's bedroom (where the magic happens), then V Bar is the smartly dressed living room. And as with your own living room, you should feel comfortable, wear what you like, drink what you like and feel free to dance like nobody's watching, even though they totally are.

-- Review by Xania Woodman