ROK Vegas boasts inviting atmosphere where patrons can enjoy good music

Over the past few years, Las Vegas has become a sort of worldwide Nightclub Central, where clubs that fill every conceivable niche of clientele, music and atmosphere can be found.

But, even with this diversity, not every club fits the bill for those seeking a more intimate sort of environment.

One that does is ROK Vegas Nightclub at New York-New York, 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South, which is as cozy as anyplace where hundreds of people gather to party can be.

At first, it may look like a "vast, open space," notes General Manager Rob Boyer. "But once you come in, it's a real cozy, intimate atmosphere that you don't expect when you're going into a large club.

"That's one of the things we pride ourselves on, the fact that we're not pretentious. We just want people to come in, relax, have a good time, kind of tear it up and enjoy the night."

The main room of ROK Vegas is ovalish, adorned in large swaths of red, blue and black, and without the alcoves and side spaces that other clubs use in an attempt to fend off claustrophobia. It is, Boyer says, a layout designed to allow patrons to see one another and create "kind of one huge party room where everybody's involved. Everybody feeds off the energy."

Amenities include a 36-foot-long bar that runs the length of the room, a stage where visiting artists -- Vanilla Ice and Naughty by Nature were two recent celebrity attendees -- can perform, lush booths and a 2,000-square-foot outdoor patio that affords patrons a bit of air, a great view of the Strip and, on Friday nights, an outdoor party at which a house DJ does his thing.

The music is a mix of mashup, contemporary, classic rock, Top 40 and hip-hop. And, on the visual side of things, ROK Vegas features a 360-degree video screen on which can be displayed concert footage, live club feeds, lasers and animation. The video system earlier this year received the "Best Video System" award at the 2009 Club World Awards.

ROK Vegas seats about 880 and is open from 10:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Wednesdays are industry nights. From 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, there's happy hour on the patio.

There's never a cover charge for local women. Nonlocal women pay $10, and men pay $30. For more information, call 740-6765.

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.