Whether you’re into bars or clubs, casinos or cocktail lounges, seeing a show or dancing the night away, night time is the right time for letting your hair down and having some fun. The best US cities for after-hours action provide a variety of options, some taking you right the way through till dawn while others let you have a great night out before returning to the luxurious comfort of your hotel. Head out on your own, with a partner or with a select group of friends to enjoy the most exciting and sophisticated nightlife that the USA has to offer.
Los Angeles
You don’t have to act like an angel in the city of angels, but you may well find yourself in clubbing heaven. Downtown has nightclubs catering to every conceivable taste in music and stylistic subculture, from the hardest techno to mellifluous Latin sounds and cutting-edge pop. If money’s no object, you can enjoy spotting Hollywood stars in some of the city’s many high-end restaurants, and the cuisine in LA is as diverse as the music scene. Take a cab to West Hollywood or Beverly Hills for early evening cocktails, then head down to Silver Lake or Santa Monica to party with the locals.
New York City
They don’t call it the city that never sleeps for nothing! You can party around the clock in NYC at any time of year: summer gets hot and sweaty, while winter is icy cold but cheaper in terms of room rates. If you find yourself with a free moment while traveling into the Big Apple, log onto one of the great New Jersey online casinos using and you may even win yourself some spending money!
Take in a Broadway show, go bar hopping in the East Village, then hit one of the many Manhattan nightclubs till 4am. Head over to Brooklyn for hipsters haunts and live music, or enjoy a cocktail in SoHo. A breakfast burrito will see you right, and after a day seeing the sights or enjoying a spot of culture in the museums and art galleries, you can do it all over again.
New Orleans
The Crescent City has weathered many storms, quite literally, but its appetite for music and good times never flags. Head over to the French Quarter and Bourbon Street for the world’s best jazz clubs and enjoy the Creole cuisine while marveling at the legendary European-style architecture. Mardi Gras takes place in late February or early March, but New Orleans generally contrives to have a festival of one sort or another every weekend. Eat, drink, and throw yourself into the merriment.
Miami Beach
Miami, Florida has a subtropical climate: warm all year round but often wet, too, so take your umbrella. Peak rates for hotels are actually in winter, and June to November is hurricane season, so the best time to pitch up on America’s Riviera is in the spring. The North Beach is more family-friendly and affordable, while South Beach is where the party is at! Sip cocktails with the society set in a chic hotel lounge or a rooftop bar on Ocean Drive before heading out to a club. Don’t forget to sample the local fusion cuisine: Cuban pork sandwiches, stone crab, empanadas, and pastelitos.
Las Vegas
Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world, and if you’re looking for the very best in nightlife, then you’ve come to the right place. Performers and DJs from around the globe see playing Vegas as the pinnacle of their career, and the city’s name is a byword for spectacular shows and revues. Whether you’re looking for all-night dance clubs, live music from legendary artists, stunning circus performances, or 24-hour casinos, America’s playground has it all. Head for the Las Vegas Strip or Fremont Street, or explore the clubs, bars, and casinos in the major hotels. For something a little more relaxing, Vegas also has a wealth of luxurious spas and a wide range of boutique shopping.
The nightlife for travelers in North America’s major cities is always thrilling and caters to almost every taste. Try to work some local flavor into your fun wherever you’re at, by sampling some characteristic cuisine or diving into the indigenous music scene. A little research ahead of time goes a long way if you want to avoid the tourist traps and find the happening places. Make sure you budget accordingly, as nightlife can often be more expensive than you thought.