The Complete Guide
I remember the first time I walked into TAO Las Vegas. I was a subcontractor for them; I handled their promotions in Chicago when they first opened in 2005!
I used to come to Vegas to host the legendary Erick Morillo parties at Tao on the Sunday nights of Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.
This was before Las Vegas became commercialized and they started overpaying the DJs; those days when Las Vegas knew how to party.
TAO is a “grandfather club” in Las Vegas, opened over 15 years ago, and it has relatively stayed the same throughout the years. Only a few changes - they moved the DJ booth from along the windows (balcony area) to the back wall.
One thing I like to say is: “If it's not broke, don't fix it”.
Clearly, after fifteen plus years in business, Tao continues to impress, and it is still going strong to this day.
I would say a lot of the success stems from the quality management team and the fact that they have a great Asian style Bistro attached to the venue that offers excellent food and it’s always busy.
Since its opening, TAO Las Vegas has attracted some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry such as Jay-Z, Usher, Drake, Rihanna, Madonna, Kim Kardashian, and pro athletes who like to celebrate their birthdays in style. more. So, it's not uncommon for party goers to bump into celebrities at a venue as highly acclaimed as TAO.
Their successful run in NYC and Las Vegas has helped them branch off with venues in Los Angeles and now in my hometown of Chicago.
I know the New York and Chicago locations do very well and have turned into iconic venues in their respective cities.
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About Brian Pfeiffer and Surreal
Just a little bit about my background. I have been in the nightclub business for over 20 years, started in Chicago in 2000, and moved to Las Vegas in 2013. I have been a licensed independent host contracted with the TAO Group since they opened in Las Vegas.
The first party went so well that it turned into a monthly event, then once a week, and eventually nearly every day for the past 20 years. I guess you could say it's in my blood; I know how to throw a great party! With my years of experience, along with my hundreds of connections, I can make your Vegas trip amazing.
While I still have part ownership in a club in Chicago and own a large Halloween and New Year's Event Company in Chicago, my home base is in Las Vegas and has been since February 2013. The Hakkasan Group moved me here to be the promotions manager for Hakkasan and Wet Republic.
Nearly one year into my Vegas Adventure, I realized I had enough customers to start my own independent hosting company. Now I am licensed by the Nevada Gaming Commission.
Understand we are working for you and not for the clubs.
Click on the links to my Nevada gaming licenses: Download the report and lookup Surreal LLC . The link to my Clark County Professional Promoter business license
Independent hosting is serious business in Las Vegas. You can't just be any person off the street and hope to work with these nightclubs; you have to get a gaming license, pass an FBI background check and have a legit company (State LLC) to do business with night clubs.
Words of advice, before you book any bottle service, please make sure you are working with a reputable company like mine.
The best and fastest way to get a quote is to fill out the form. We will ask you for the number of people in your party, guys and ladies, as well as the dates you will be in Las Vegas. I have several packages if you'd like to bundle some limos, dinners, or shows along with your Bottle Service.
Understand we are working for you and not for the clubs.
We always go above and beyond to make your Vegas Vacation amazing; please check out all of our 5-star reviews.
Let's talk about TAO Las Vegas
TAO Nightclub in Las Vegas is a timeless, design-driven entertainment and dining complex. It blends its traditional Buddhist decor with a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system and a well thought out 10,000 square foot floor plan that provides space for a unique experience. This hot spot is perfect for those who are just as passionate about dinner as they are about dancing.
Tao is an all in one multi-faceted, multi-story venue that houses a pool, lounge, nightclub and restaurant. Centrally located inside the 5-Star Venetian Resort just inside the Upper-Level Doge's Palace entrance at 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109.
When you walk up to the club itself, the VIP table area is right next to the entrance of the restaurant.
The Guest List and Ticket areas are sometimes in front of the restaurant and other times, depending on the demand, they move them to the outside.
Usually, there's a roped-off queue, and generally, there's not much of a wait for bottle service on most nights. But if you work directly with us, there won’t be any wait at all!
Put me on the Guestlist for FREE »There will be an ID checkpoint and a metal detector before you are given access into the elevators to head upstairs. Make sure to check out our complete Las Vegas security guide
As the primary cardholder, you will sign an envelope agreeing to your minimum spend and agreeing to an auto gratuity tip.
Note: At this time, you can agree to a 20% tip to the server or you can make a decision to tip 18%, which I typically do.
As you come up with the main elevator bank, you will make a left to walk through the Voyeur Hallway into the club, passing a bunch of Buddha statues around a rarely used bar.
On the right-hand side is the Opium room, typically reserved for busier nights.
You will then walk into the main room after you pass an exit to the restaurant area.
Inside the main room, you will see cabana style tables on your right and straight ahead, the skyboxes, also on your right and above are the cabanas.
General View
Dance Floor
Entry Level
Prime
Small 1st Tier Prime
Small Entry Level
Standard
On the left you will pass by a couple of smaller tables that butt up next to the moat; the moat is the VIP area of TAO
Also, on the left, is DJ booth along the back wall, the dance floor and then the prime Dance Floor tables.
The upper moat is three tables that overlook the VIP, area also considered VIP; these were my favorite tables to rent out during the Erick Morillo holiday weekend parties. We definitely had some bucket list type nights at those tables!
The main room bars are on the left, up next to the moat. The main bar is straight ahead; that's more of a central bar with service all around.
One of the cool features, centrally located in the main room, is the tub where pretty girls dance in a bathtub with rose petals and water.
Another feature of the main room is the outdoor balcony that overlooks the Vegas Strip and the gondolas in front of the Venetian. A a beautiful view for a snap or gram story.
TAO Nightclub is one of the most impressive nightclubs on The Strip, and they know how to throw an epic party.
What you need to know.
While many clubs are open for business on weeknights and have unique events during the weekends, TAO is not one of them.
Hours are exclusively Thursday - Saturday:
10:30 p.m. - 5:00 a.m.
What is the TAO Las Vegas Dress Code?
The dress code for TAO is the one thing that can be considered an across-the-board requirement for nightclubs in this city.
The club requests upscale-casual attire at the very least to be allowed in, which means button-down collared shirts and dress shoes for gentlemen; no baseball hats, tennis shoes or open-toed shoes for men.
Ladies, please keep your heels on, if you can't handle your heels all night, consider another pair of shoes.
Let's talk about the ladies at TAO
TAO Group knows they have an older venue, and to fill it, they have to incentivize the females to come in, which in turn drives the males to want to buy bottle service.
If you're a female, you're in luck!
We have some pretty fantastic packages at a reasonable per person rates, if you're looking to get a table for the entire night or just entry.
If you can't swing a table but want to go to a club and have a good time but not spend a fortune, we have connections to get free alcohol usually until around 12:30 a.m. on most nights.
Email me: brian@surrealnightlife.com
Let's talk about bottle service at TAO Las Vegas
Like most Cub clubs in Las Vegas, TAO has a supply and demand type system, and to get closer to the DJ or into the VIP area, you are typically going to have to pay a higher "min."
In Las Vegas, the word "min" is short for the phrase “minimum spend”.
Below are sample quotes for the typical minimums at TAO on a general weekend:
Thursday:
- $600 per 3-6ppl entry level
- $1200 - $1.5k standard
- $2k - $2.5k+ Prime
Friday:
- $600 per 3-5ppl entry level
- $1200 - 1.5k standard
- $2k - $2.5k+ Prime
Saturday:
- $600 per 3-6ppl entry level
- $1200 - $1500 Standard
- $2k - $2.5k+ Prime
As you can see, the pricing is pretty much the same.
Thursday is TAO’s industry night. In my opinion, that's the best night to go to TAO and probably the best Thursday night in Las Vegas, unless there's a monster DJ at one of the other open Thursday night-clubs.
How Do I Calculate My Bill?
Let's do the math:
$1500 (min) Standard Table + $125.63 (8.375% City Tax) + $120(8.00% Venue Fee) + $300 (20% to the server) = $2045.63 (this does not include any "shake" to the podium for location, express entry, specific table etc. (A "shake" can also help with a lower min spend)
When someone refers to the "shake," that means they tip on top of your table minimum and the tip, tax and venue fee that you will be paying.
There's also an opportunity in many cases to get lower than posted pricing with what's called a “shake” or “handshake” in Las Vegas. Basically, it's a gratuity to the podium for a lower minimum and a potential upgraded location.
The "shake" or “handshake” that goes to the podium, goes into the host's tip pool.
Sometimes a podium tip is required for a particular table or even to get a location on certain nights.
$1500 (min) Standard Table + $125.63 (8.375% City Tax) + $120(8.00% Venue Fee) + $300 (20% to the server) = $2045.63
Total Bill Calculator for TAO Bottle Service
TAO Bottle Service Packages
We have excellent bottle service specials at TAO on just about every night they are open.
Generally, you can get a premium 1 Liter premium bottle and a 1-liter bottle of Absolut Elyx for around $1,300 all in (this includes all tips and taxes.)
If you want it upgraded, then you're looking at a three-bottle deal for two premium 1-liter bottles and an Absolut Elyx 1 Liter for around $2100 all-in.
I do have some specials with champagne for the ladies, and potentially some birthday or bachelor and bachelorette options as well, just hit me up directly and I'll make sure we have something that works for you.
vip Packages
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TAO Bottle Service - what does it include?
I get asked this question a lot, and generally, with any of the above packages or minimum spend, I can get you a prime table on any given night, even holiday weekends.
You and your group will get in quickly via the table queue, and any cover charges will be waived with the table.
All the standard mixers come with your bottle service purchase, including cranberry, soda, tonic, orange, pineapple, and soft drinks like Coca-Cola.
Not included are bottled waters and canned red bulls. There will be an upcharge for those; usually around $10 each.
Another common question I get is if the table is yours all night, and generally speaking, yes, they will not boot you from your table if you're still there.
On rare occasions, if you finish your bottles and leave the table, it could get re-sat, but as long as you're hanging out at the table, then typically they won't resell it.
Making your Bottle Service Reservation
My standard procedure is a small deposit via a secure PayPal invoice. You will not need a PayPal account to check out, you can press a button and swipe any card.
For example, on a reservation with a $1,300 package price, a $300 deposit will suffice, and then the balance of 1,000 will be due at the table. Cash is preferred but of course credit cards are accepted.
You might ask why we prefer the cash? Because we can get the table purchase transaction done quicker with cash. Often times we run into issues with cards being fraud protected, and they won't go through.
Some customers prefer the option to prepay as well.
In some instances, through a package offer, we may take a prepayment and have your bottles ready on the table when you arrive.
Another advantage to prepaid, is we typically go there right at opening and get better seating locations than you would if you arrive later.
Where will my table be?
Generally, when you're at around $600 one bottle minimum number, you can expect to either be in the Voyeur Hallway or potentially in the Skybox, depending on the number of reservations.
The next level up would be your standard tables which will run you around $1,000 minimum, on a Thursday night; for a weekend the standard tables might be a little less.
The top-level of TAO are the prime tables and that includes your VIP area, a.k.a. the moat, the upper moat, and the dance floor tables.
There are a couple of small tables labeled 1, 2, and 3 on the map that are good for a couples table, or a group of three to four people.
They are not great tables as you don't face the DJ however there is a lot of traffic in that area.
Tao’s Better Tables
The best seats in the House are tables 31 through 32 also considered the owner's tables.
You always find a nice selection of pretty ladies dancing on the ledge behind them.
There are a total of 12 Dance Floor tables including the owner's tables, and they all butt up to the busy dance floor.
The only table that kind of sucks is table 63 because you have a beam right in front of you.
Tao’s infamous VIP Moat is considered the VIP section and in order to get in you have to have a wristband or be a female.
Guys you get a wristband by booking a table with me.
This section is my favorite to get a table in as it's always loaded with a ton of ladies.
The lower Cabanas at Tao deserve an honorable mention as they are roomy and have a lot of traffic in front of them.
The biggest problem with these tables as you don't really have a great view of the DJ unless you're in cabana 22.
The other options are the Opium room, but that is rarely open these days unless they have a big-name DJ.
All the tables in the Opium room are good if they have a separate DJ in there, but again it's rarely open.
The TAO Las Vegas Table Maps
Below, I have included custom floor plans for TAO so you can get an idea of all the table numbers.
I was also able to get my hands on a 2023 bottle service menu, and I added a little surreal flair to it as well.
TAO Bottle Service Menu for 2023
As you can see, the entry-level bottle price in 2023 is around $600 for Absolut.
TAO used to have list lower priced bottles on the menu, but this year they've decided to get with the times and be almost as expensive as everywhere else.
More About TAO’s Bistro
If you're looking to save money on either a limo or a ride, you might want to consider having dinner at TAO instead of someplace else.
In my opinion, TAO has great food vs. the cost, and they have a wide range of Asian-themed dishes.
Whenever I get the opportunity to eat at TAO in Las Vegas or Chicago, I do. It never disappoints. It’s a great meal and I highly recommended it!
Once you have finished with your meal, we can meet you in the restaurant and walk you right up to your table.
What is the crowd and vibe like a TAO?
The music programming at TAO is what we call open format. It's an excellent combination of top 40s, hip-hop, and EDM.
They rarely book large DJ's these days. They tend to have guys like DJ Five and other SKAM artist DJ's that play a nice mix of music that everybody's heard.
Probably the biggest headliner they have for 2020 is DJ Mustard.
The crowd is generally diverse; it's a nice mix from all over the world, so you can always find what you're looking for a TAO.
They also do an excellent job with getting the crowd riled up around 12:30 when the main DJ goes on. Some nights, they pass out those foam glow sticks and do a massive confetti storm which gets the place rocking.
Table Sharing at TAO
I've seen on some websites that they offer table sharing service. I would not recommend this, as I have combined many tables over the years, and its generally with people that I know personally. I know these groups would get along with each other, so in that case, it usually works out. Putting my faith in an app or website to pair me with someone that I don't know is not my idea of a good time.
For most of you reading this, it’s probably a big deal to go out in Las Vegas and get bottle service, and the last thing I want to do is have it get messed up by the group; this is not a good fit.
Hit me up we'll figure something out so that your TAO experience is everything you expect it to be.
Value Clubs
TAO is considered one of the more value clubs in Las Vegas, along with places like the Light nightclub , Encore Beach at night , and Chateau .
You're not going to pay full prices here, just hit me up and we'll make a deal happen.
Another question I get fairly often is what about a bottle service presentation?
As with many clubs in Las Vegas, you typically have to spend a minimum amount of money at once to get a display or buy some kind of champagne purchase.
TAO is no exception. Depending on the mood of the server, she may go above and beyond on your order, but yes, if you spend more money, you'll get a presentation.
Just ask me to communicate to the server on what the deal is for bottle service presentations on the night of your event.
Hopefully, that gives you the information you were looking for when it comes to TAO Nightclub. They have a lot of really cool areas in the club, including the balcony, and different forms of art scattered throughout the club that make great pictures.
Bring your crew, bring your camera phone, and let’s have a great night at TAO!
The best way is to fill out the form. We will ask you for the number of people in your party guys and ladies, as well as the dates you will be in Las Vegas.
I have several packages if you'd like to bundle some limos, dinners, or shows along with your bottle service.
I am a specialist in Las Vegas, and I work at all the pools, nightclubs, gentlemen's clubs, and all the shows. We have a lot of buying power, so we're able to pass on the savings to you.
Hopefully, you enjoyed my Ultimate Guide to Tao Las Vegas.
Thank you for reading until the end, and I look forward to working with you.
You can reach me directly at 773-459-8133, brian@surrealnightlife.com, and please subscribe to my YouTube(Link to YouTube)
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For questions, please check out the href="/forum/">Surreal Forum I am active on it daily!
Contact Information / Questions & Quotes
Contact your Surreal Host for all your Vegas Nightclub needs. You can reach me directly at 773-459-8133, and please subscribe to my YouTube. And CLICK HERE to checkout all my social media channels
If you have a question after reading through this guide, feel free to hit up the Surreal Forum. I am an active daily user and will be happy to answer any questions. From my experience, if you have a question, likely other people will have the same question. I do appreciate your support in the Forum.
But the fastest way to get a quote is to click on the button below and fill out the form. We will need the number of people in your party, guys and ladies, as well as the dates you will be in Las Vegas. I have several packages if you'd like to bundle some limos, dinners, or shows along with your bottle service. I will get back to you ASAP!
About Brian Pfeiffer »Hopefully, you enjoyed my Ultimate Guide to TAO Las Vegas Bottle Service. Thank you for reading until the end, and I look forward to working with you.
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