Discussion about Drink Prices

[lalate]

I get this question quite often - "drinks are expensive there, right?" The people are asking about drinks themselves, not bottles.

My opinion - no, not really. What does everyone think?

Ive seen a couple trends

1) Friendliness.

The bartenders in Vegas really are extremely friendly, not in a way to hustle for a tip, but just cool. If you know how you want your drink poured, that makes it stronger, they do it, and they are anxious to do it.

In other towns, many bartenders look at you like your request is a bother, and they resolve it by doing it there way. In Vegas they listen, they pour, they even ask afterwards if it was done right. They even make it a conversation piece sometimes.

So you get your drink as asked, generally.

2) Prices.

Not only are the drinks strong, if you want them, but they are generally decently priced. Sometimes Ive seen one club with two different bartenders on two nights will charge me a range of $2 difference on an original drink, but thats normal. Yes, the prices are distinctly higher than clubs in non-big cities across the nation, but compared to other big cities, Ive seen prices consistent, with ranges going from below to slightly above the average trend.

What does everyone else think?

[jjl1719]

I'd say that drinks are pretty reasonable here. If you think about it, ordering one drink in vegas is like getting a double anywhere else. So you may pay 8 dollars here for a strong drink and 4 anywhere else for some watered down gin and tonic...they pretty much equals each other out. I think Vegas is comparable with most other big cities also, but again the drinks are always stronger here.

Vegas thrives off of getting people wasted so they'll spend more money. It only makes sense to allow the bartenders to get the customers extra drunk especially if you ask them too. The bartender knows it'll pay off after a few drinks when you're so wasted ordering a drink you leave her a $20 for a tip instead of that $5 you thought you gave her.

However if you drink beer, you're outta luck. It is expensive out here and you can't have the bartender make it stonger for you.

[2kool4school]

Vegas drink prices are in line w/ other places although bottles are a tad higher.

[greenie]

Overall:

Prices in better clubs/lounges: good to fair

Prices in general bars and restaurants: expensive

Bartenders and service: mixed bag

I think that in better nightclubs and lounges, the $8-9 range is a very fair amount to charge given that you typically get something like Goose, Saphhire or Maker's.

However, paying that same amount at basic casino/resort bars is a crock -- especially when you are often getting plastic-bottle well crap for the same price. Playing video poker/whatever gets you around this, but it's not the most social thing to do. And it really burns me that when you sit down to eat, the majority of restaurants gouge you for the same drink prices. There are exceptions, such as Isla which has amazingly low prices on good tequila, but paying $8 for a bloody mary at brunch is a joke.

$4 for a small bottle of water is an insult, especially at a place where bartenders won't pour you a water from the gun. OK, I can understand that a club needs to make money off the rollers drinking nothing but water, but when someone orders a few rounds of drinks at $8 a pop then asks for a water, would it be so bad to toss them the bottle for a buck?

Speaking personally, I don't want my drinks to be overly strong. If my mission is to get plowed, I do it in the room for a hell of a lot less money. Then I'll just do shots when I go out -- and when you can get a Jagerbomb for $9-10 at most places in Vegas, no complaints there.

As for bartenders who pay attention and like to provide good service... speaking as a former bartender, I think Vegas is a mixed bag. I always tip well and return to the same bartenders. In return I'd expect at least a minimal acknolwedgment of doing so ("thank you" or a simple wave or nod seems pretty rare for Vegas bartenders in clubs/lounges), better still would be rewarding the better tipper by always picking them first out of the crowd.

For the most part I tend to get better service from cocktail waitresses anywhere in Vegas -- whether in clubs or lounges or casinos, they seem to respond better to good tips. Again, I'm not looking for drink strength, just prompt service for what I ordered..