Sala Lounge

Remember back in the fifth grade when you wanted the same thing that your whole class had -- a Starter jacket, blonde tips, a Coach clutch, whatever it was. And your mom looked at you asked, "If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump off, too?"

In the fifth grade, that meant no Starter jacket - a bad thing. But in the nightlife scene of Sin City, it's actually a good thing, because it means somebody's doing something different and offering a nightlife experience that's one-of-a-kind in Vegas. Lucky for you, Sala didn't jump off the bridge.

Bringing a simultaneously classy, yet relaxed lounge is a noble goal, but not the easiest thing to actualize. So how did Sala do it? A combination of things.

The lounge, which is attached to Dos Caminos (a Mexican restaurant with a modern flair) is decorated with an eye toward the restaurant's themes, but definitely maintains an individuality. Sala's bar, backed by a kind of trippy Día de los muertos-esque wall, gives you something interesting to look at if the attractive person (hottie) standing next to you for drinks realizes you were giving them the eye.

VIP booths and the accompanying bottle services come in a couple of different flavors, including right in the thick of things or more private, curtained cabanas. And if you're on a tighter budget, Sala thoughtfully even provides some open seating, which, trust us, is rare.

And just what's inside the bottles, either at your booth, or at the bar, is definitely another thing to write home about -- more than 35 tequilas, served with flavored salts (think "sparkling habanero") are at your disposal. If you and tequila parted ways after a fight in college (...we're not saying anything), don't worry, there's also plenty of bottled beer and other spirits to lift, well, your spirits.

Sala is open seven days a week and the nighttime activities really get going around 11 p.m., when resident DJs Cyber Kid and Mega Man spin till 3:30 in the morning. There's not a very defined space for dancing, but it's still encouraged and no one's going to fault you for clearing a little area to shake your hips (especially if you're trying to work off the delicious-yet-filling dinner you had at Dos Caminos before you stopped at the lounge).

-- Review by Jamie Helmick