Drai's After Hours Is Going All-Inclusive for $99. Here's What That Gets You.

^{Dustin Drai, president of Drai's After Hours, is bringing in some new concepts to the oldest nightclub in Vegas’s history to keep it fresh in the Vanderpump Hotel era. (Photo: courtesy of Drai's After Hours)}

LAS VEGAS – Drai's After Hours, the underground late-night nightclub operating on the Strip for nearly three decades, is joining the all-inclusive era of Vegas as the Vanderpump Hotel kicks off its opening. In a move timed to the hotel's June 11 opening, the venue has rolled out a $99 VIP open bar wristband alongside new programming and updates to refresh one of Vegas's most enduring after-hours spots. 

The Vanderpump Hotel is the fourth name the property has taken on since Drai's first opened on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo. What started as the Barbary Coast became Bill's Gambling Hall, The Cromwell, and is now Vanderpump. Despite all those changes, Drai's After Hours has remained a constant in the casino's basement. 

"When we shut down the rooftop club, a lot of people felt like that was it for Drai's and forgot that we’ve been after hours for over 30 years," said Dustin Drai, president of Drai's After Hours. “It's wonderful to be a part of a new project and a new future for the building." 

We sat down with Dustin Drai to talk through what the Vanderpump transition means for the venue, what's new, and where Drai's goes from here.

Drai’s Betting Big on Late Night Open Bar 

The all-inclusive trend has taken over Las Vegas hospitality this year. MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, and Resorts World all launched bundled resort packages combining rooms, meals, and drinks at several Strip properties in response. Circa did as well, and The Plaza Hotel and Casino downtown has been offering such deals since 2024.

Open bar packages have been available at megaclubs in the Strip casinos for years as well. But Drai's is bringing that concept down underground into the Strip's late-night after-hours scene, where the doors open at 1 a.m.

The new promotion works out to about $113 with fees and gives you a wristband that includes VIP entry and a two-hour open bar from 1 to 3 a.m. Like most open bar setups at nightclubs, it covers well drinks only and allows one drink per person at a time. Drai told Casinos.com the promotion may include a rotating specialty cocktail on select nights down the line.

To put the value in context: drinks at Drai's typically can run between $18 and $26. General admission tickets run $47 to $70. When you factor in VIP expedited entry plus two hours of drinks, the math makes it a great deal regardless of how heavily you plan to drink.

"This package is really for guests who want value and an amazing experience, who may not want to go to the big nightclubs," Dustin said. ”Drai's After Hours is different than the other clubs in that we are selling an experience first and not DJs.”

The promotion is also intended to serve as a discovery point for guests who may not have been planning to come to Drai's in the first place. This is perfect for people who want to start their night a little later or skip the bigger clubs on the Strip for something more intimate and focused on the social experience.

It is worth noting that this is not an all-night package with any and every drink included. Expect to pay out of pocket for specialty cocktails, shots, or any drinks in general after 3 am. But you’ll get two hours to get your money’s worth, which should be more than enough time.

Drai made sure to emphasize that responsible service was built into the planning of this promotion from day one. Because Drai's has already operated as a second stop in the night for many (often intoxicated) guests, the staff was already trained to monitor for over-service before this promotion existed. 

“We had a very long talk with all of our team, my management, and my bartenders about this promotion,” Drai added. “It's going to be a great value, and customers are going to love it. But they know it’s their responsibility as a team to monitor our guests and ensure no one abuses the value by being overserved.”

A Taste of Vanderpump Comes Downstairs

The all-inclusive package isn’t the only new addition at Drai’s. With the Vanderpump Hotel bringing a female-forward, glam vibe to the property, the club has introduced some new offerings that meet that energy without losing its own spunk.

The crown jewel is the Cotton Candy and Caviar Package, a bottle service experience that gets you premium champagne, caviar bumps, and a pink cotton candy bottle presentation for $695.

Cotton candy and caviar are a bit of a wacky combination. But it definitely works for the aesthetics. (Photo: Drai’s After Hours)

The combination might strike most as being a little bit unconventional, because who would think to pair a sweet treat like cotton candy with the expensive fish eggs that are caviar? According to Drai, caviar has been having a moment in nightlife, and the cotton candy element adds the kind of whimsy that fits well with the Vanderpump brand. For bachelorette parties and girls' nights, a package is an easy sell for those who want the full Vegas experience.

“Why not offer this really fun and whimsical package that's not too expensive?” Drai said. “You can get that whole experience for $695, which is pretty good value for when you normally would just buy one bottle for $695.”

Drai's is also helping guests satisfy their late-night snack urges with the addition of a dessert and snack tray to the menu, priced at $99 for bottle service guests. Drai says the idea came directly from his other business, Cafe on the Strip, a bus tour with a cafe that runs down the Las Vegas Strip. 

The small-plate format translated well over to the after-hours setting, designed for eating without utensils and looking good on a table. The tray includes sweet and savory bites like mini cake slices, brownie bites, deviled eggs, and turkey sandwiches.

"At three or four o'clock in the morning, some people want a full breakfast," Dustin said. "But a lot of times, people just are hungry enough that they want to leave and get a bite. If I can create something that’ll make you stay an extra 30 minutes or an hour and have more fun, that was the goal." 

The practical upside is that people do not have to leave the venue to eat, so there are no long reentry lines or the stress of getting back inside. Offering food is a simple idea that surprisingly few nightclubs have considered. 

At this time, the food tower will be available for purchase only to guests with bottle service, but Drai said they may consider adding a snack box down the line for general admission guests to take advantage of.

A Nightclub Built to Last for Generations

After the rooftop club closed to make way for the Vanderpump Hotel’s Soleia pool, After Hours became the only Drai's operation left on the property. During the months of hotel renovations leading up to the Vanderpump opening, the venue continued operating through a quieter period. With the hotel now open and the Vanderpump excitement high, Drai's is using the moment to reintroduce itself to both new and returning guests.

The vibes were high during the Vanderpump Hotel’s grand reopening afterparty at Drai’s, showing off over $250,000 in renovations the venue received. (Photo: Drai’s After Hours)

Keeping a nightclub relevant for over 30 years in Las Vegas is no easy feat. Many venues that were around when Drai’s opened are long gone. Drai said that what's kept the venue all these years is the consistency of the service and venue. Their philosophy has stayed consistent regardless of what the hotel upstairs was called. 

"I always tell my staff, people are going to come back for you," Dustin said. "You are the piece that they want to come back for because they had a great experience with a bartender or a waitress or a security guard."

The venue made a major defining decision about a decade ago when it doubled down on hip-hop at a time when most clubs on the Strip were still focused on electronic dance music (EDM). The hip hop identity has given the club its reputation ever since, though there is now a second room that plays EDM.

The programming has also expanded beyond those genres. R&B plays on Thursdays, and house music every Saturday. Drai even said a Latin night is coming this summer. The goal is to open the venue to a wider range of guests on any given night while preserving the idea that Drai’s is more about the experience than the DJ name.

“I'd rather have 300 people having the best time of their life, dancing and singing and connecting and enjoying each other's company, than 3,000 people staring at a DJ,” Drai said. “All of what we’re offering gives them one reason and even more reasons why they should come experience and see Drai's.