Are you ready to go on a trip to where you can try out your wine-tasting etiquette? Well, for a lot of people, they’ll go to wine country like Napa Valley, or maybe to a big city that’s known for wining and dining, and Las Vegas is honestly a pretty big one. Well, not just Las Vegas, though, but the Las Vegas strip too. As fun as all of that is, though, well, ordering wine on the Strip can go two ways.
Either it feels like a cute little treat that fits the night, or it turns into that moment where the bill arrives, and you’re a little too flabbergasted by the price (there’s a reason why some menus don’t have the pricing or at least make it way too unclear). Well, the difference usually isn’t the wine, it’s the choices around it.
You Need to Understand What Strip Pricing is Actually Charging For
So, it’s going to massively help to just start right here. So, Strip pricing isn’t about the bottle being rare; it’s about everything around the bottle. The room, the address, the staff, the convenience, and the fact that people are on holiday and feeling generous with their own money. And, no, that’s not automatically bad. A great setting is part of the fun. But it helps to clock what’s happening, so a simple glass doesn’t accidentally turn into a whole “how did this happen” moment.
Plus, you should really keep in mind too here that some spots price wine like it’s an accessory to the vibe, not the main event, which means the markup is more about the environment than the pour. It’s hard to notice these things unless you go to that sort of enviroment a lot. That’s usually the places where the menu is short, the focus is cocktails, and the wine list feels like an afterthought. In those places, the wine can still be fine, but it’s rarely the best value on the table. Again, it all varies, but you could honestly see this as a good rule of thumb, though.
Pick a Wine Spot with Intention
Now, just because the Strip is basically known to be the pinnacle of nightlife and alcohol doesn’t immediately mean every spot is going to be great. Plus, it seriously helps to keep in mind that a lot of overspending comes from choosing the most convenient place, not the best place for wine. So, a dedicated wine bar or a restaurant with a strong program is more likely to have thoughtful by-the-glass options (and they know what they’re talking about, which helps).
Sure, a casino bar can be fun, by all means try that if you want to, but it’s often priced for speed and impulse, not for a calm “this is genuinely good” experience. So, think of the ambiance you want, like a venue that has solid wine options and turns into a late-night scene with a live DJ set and performances that can cover the whole evening without needing a second location that comes with a second round of markups.
Prevent Any Casual Money Leaks
Alright, so the real damage usually isn’t one expensive glass (that can sting a bit), for the most part, it’s the slow drip of extras. Like, another round because the conversation is flowing, another stop because the group is restless, another rideshare because the place next door looked fun. It adds up, then loudly, like, really loudly, then it’s on the receipt staring back. It’s super uncomfortable. So just try and avoid splurging, maybe at best, just splurge on one bottle of wine, or one flight, and that’s it.
