With National Finals Rodeo in town, Las Vegas nightlife goes honky-tonk

Photo by: Courtesy

Listen up country fans! For those who are in town for Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and those who feel like going country for the week, we lassoed together some hot spots around the city.

• It’s Music City meets Sin City at Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Bar, located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip at 63 CityCenter. The country music star brings his Nashville aesthetic to this two-level restaurant and bar, with an incredible rooftop space that overlooks bustling Las Vegas Boulevard. This week, the hot spot welcomes NFR meet and greets with Crown Royal bull riders including Wesley Silcox on Dec. 5 and Tory Johnson on Dec. 11. When not vying for autographs, enjoy live country music bands, down-home Southern eats and a menu of delicious, handcrafted cocktails.

• For years, Gilley’s at Treasure Island has been a go-to spot for NFR, so definitely put this on your party list. Throughout the rodeo, guests can line dance to live bands every night and cheer on the bull riders at the Official NFR Watch Party starting at 5:45 p.m. nightly. Tribute bands take the stage, too, including a Toby Keith tribute on Dec. 5 and a George Strait tribute on Dec. 6; karaoke country night is Dec. 2, and line-dancing lessons take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 2-3. And let’s not forget the beautiful Gilley’s Girls that keep the vibes hot, hot, hot, and specialty cocktails help round out the experience inside this country cornucopia.

Photo by: @endvrs

• Another Stripside spot that promises rodeo fans a boot-scootin’ good time is Blake Shelton’s Ole Red Las Vegas at the Grand Bazaar Shops. This multilevel country playground packs in the good eats and drinks, but the real star here is the rooftop, where a stage lights up with the Strip as its backdrop. At night, it’s a rager on the roof, especially during NFR, where you never know who might stop by for an impromptu performance—check Ole Red Las Vegas socials for some big reveals during the week. 

• If watching sexy ladies in cowboy boots and Daisy Dukes are your thing, then don’t pass up a chance to party at long-running Coyote Ugly at New York-New York. Here, the movie comes to life with bartenders that jump on the bar for some line dancing and shot pouring, and if you’re brave enough, you’ll get the chance to hang your bra from the ceiling where hundreds of past partiers have left theirs. If you like to drink water, this may not be the bar for you!

• For more live music, head to Westgate Las Vegas, where its free parties include nightly bands taking the stage beginning at 4 p.m. at The International Bar. Bands also take the Cabaret Theater stage Dec. 4-6 beginning at 8:30 p.m. You also can’t beat the propertywide drink specials at every bar—including $4 beers, $5 wines and $6 cocktails, available throughout NFR.

• A totally happenin’ honky-tonk hot spot resides in Town Square Las Vegas. Stoney’s Rockin’ Country is home to the famed Ladies Night every Thursday at 7 p.m. with $3 well cocktails, wines and Miller High Life drafts—and don’t miss the after-hours line-dancing parties throughout the week. There’s also a stage that welcomes live bands nearly every evening. This week, the talent ups the ante with special performances by David Adam Byrnes on Dec. 4, Britnee Kellogg on Dec. 5 and Clay Hollis on Dec. 6. This week, Ladies Night on Dec. 4 includes competitive bikini bull riding with DJ Manda; and for those that want to sharpen their dancing skills, don’t miss Saddle Up Sundays with dance lessons from 3-6 p.m. and open dance from 6-10 p.m., with $2 draft beers from 3-10 p.m.

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