Club Review: TAO at THE VENETIAN

TAO at THE VENETIAN

Every time we visit TAO, we are simply amazed by the sheer number of club goers it attracts. Granted, this venue is well marketed and intricate in design, but we saw nothing that would justify an average wait of around 2 hours for general admission and close to an hour for the VIP guest list. After verifying a one girl to one guy ratio (which Tao usually mandates for entry), the Scene crew entered this extremely busy “hotspot.” We were immediately disappointed by the entry point which had the feel of a “backdoor fire escape.” We found the doormen and security slightly rude, as a matter of fact, the only pleasant people we found on staff were a few ladies from the cocktail crew who were kind enough to pause and smile for a photo.

Upon entering, you are given two directions to choose from- either proceeding to the main room where you’ll find a large dance floor encompassed by multi-tiered VIP; first passing a smaller dance floor and full service bar to your right. Or, if you continue up the stairs to the third floor, you’ll find TAO BEACH. We strongly suggest that if you choose to subject yourself to this nightclub, you don’t stop until you reach the refreshing outdoors atop the indoor club. At least outdoors at TAO BEACH, the cool breeze and less intrusive atmosphere help drown out the fact that you just got done standing in line for two hours, shuffled through a stairwell, and shelled out $13 plus tip for a fairly weak drink. TAO BEACH just recently opened for the year and is a welcome addition to the TAO nightlife scene. It’s equipped with a DJ spinning poolside, lavish and comfortable cabanas, and a full service bar. You can relax under beautifully manicured palms and reserve bottle service here as well. We enjoyed our time at TAO BEACH, but dreaded the confusing maze of thousands of seemingly unsatisfied club goers we were sure to encounter on our way out. As we ventured to the exit we thought it would be humorous to time ourselves. We were familiar with the layout, and we wanted to see how long it would take to exit…Approximately 27 minutes!

TAO, like the Venetian, is an aesthetically pleasing establishment, packed full of grand artwork and artifacts, and showcases some very talented DJs and gorgeous dancers. However, we at Scene Las Vegas, have a few suggestions. Concentrate on the guests a little more. We understand your frustration having worked in the industry, but a little restraint and professionalism do go a long way. We witnessed someone being made fun of by security personnel in the stairwell for showing affection to what appeared to be his significant other. If you’re that bored, why don’t you pick up some of the empty cups and trash that litter the atmosphere you work in- much more productive than trying to humiliate a guest. Reduce the drink prices slightly, or simply make them better (as we found the mixed drinks poorly made). And third, do away with a few VIP tables that crowd where the masses are trying to walk. Finally we made it to the exit, more excited about picking our car up from Valet than dropping it off. This is the main reason we at Scene Las Vegas do what we do. With all the great night life Vegas has to offer, we hate to see you waste your time out at a club that just because of the hype you feel you “have” to see. TAO nightclub certainly has the potential to be, in our opinion a 5 star establishment, however, for your Saturday night we recommend one of the many alternatives.

Thanks for reading and if there is anything you would like to see in future reviews please let us know. And, as always, we hope you enjoy your night out!

-Jon Anthony
Find out more about your favorite nightclubs in Las Vegas at SceneLasVegas.com