Vegas dominates list of top joints

A new survey says the top grossing clubs in America (and probably in the world) are Cosmopolitan’s Marquee and Wynn’s XS. Each earned $80-$90 million in 2012.

Jon Taffer, president of the national Nightclub & Bar Media Group, put out the list of America’s top clubs.

He tells me mega-clubs are bigger here than in Asia and Europe because they get business from tourists and locals; and they stay open longer, especially during dayclub months.

“That’s why Las Vegas is the nightclub capital of the world,” Taffer says.

Even restaurants do crazy business here. Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville pulls in $32 million a year, he says.

“It’s not exactly a palace,” Taffer says of Margaritaville. “In any other city, you could never do $32 million if you built a palace.”

Taffer proclaimed XS and Marquee a tie at No. 1.

The other top 30 grossing clubs from Vegas:

■ No. 3 Tao ($60-$70 million).

■ No. 5 Surrender ($45-$60 million).

■ No. 6 Pure ($35-$45 million).

■ No. 8 Tryst ($25-$35 million).

■ No. 9 Lavo ($25-$35 million).

■ No. 12 Hyde ($25-$35 million).

■ No. 13 Haze ($25-$35 million).

■ No. 14 1 Oak ($15-$25 million).

■ No. 16 LAX ($15-$25 million).

■ No. 20 defunct Vanity ($15-$25 million).

■ No. 21 ghostbar ($15-$25 million).

■ No. 24 Chandelier Bar ($15-$25 million).

■ No. 25 The Bank ($15-$25 million).

■ No. 30 defunct Drais ($10-$15 million).

Taffer moved to Vegas last year, and over the weekend he was filming an episode of Spike TV’s reality hit “Bar Rescue” at iconic gay nightclub Gipsy. He gave it a makeover.

Taffer will perform another “Bar Rescue” makeover to a second Vegas bar this week, but he wouldn’t give me the name because it will be a surprise to that bar’s staff.

Gipsy was in bad shape, Taffer says: “When I looked at this bar Gipsy, this guy’s losing $15,000 a month. He’s $2 million in debt.”

In addition to changing Gipsy’s name (to SBLV: South Beach Las Vegas) and updating seating and other cosmetics, Taffer beefed up the cocktail staff and restructured service to make drinks move faster.

And here’s a neat trick: By turning some servers into bevertainers, Gipsy won’t have to pay 10 percent entertainment taxes during portions of the night.

If you’re reading this online, listen to my interview with Taffer by playing the audio to the right.

BRANDI ON EDDIE

Brandi Glanville of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” partied at club Lavo on Friday while promoting a new tell-all book. Before that party, I asked if she thinks her ex, Eddie Cibrian, will cheat on his new wife, LeAnn Rimes (because Cibrian and Rimes were caught cheating together on Glanville).

“I don’t know if he’s dumb enough to do that at this point. I mean, I hope it doesn’t happen. I’m sure it will. Once a cheater, always a cheater. Once you cross that line, it’s so much easier to cross the second time.

“I really hope that’s not happening. I don’t wish that on them at all.”

SIGHTINGS

Super Bowl winner Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens danced as if he were running the ball Saturday at club Tao. ... Spotted partying Saturday at Mirage club 1 Oak: Actor (and Reese Witherspoon-ex) Ryan Phillippe; Josh Henderson of “Desperate Housewives” fame; and comic great Nick Swardson. ... Phillippe ate at Stack in the Mirage on Saturday. ... Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman took wife Beth to see Donny and Marie Osmond at the Flamingo on Saturday, then met the siblings. ... British pop singer Leona Lewis partied with friends and champagne magnums Saturday at club Hyde Bellagio.

Doug Elfman’s column appears Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. He also writes for Neon on Fridays. Email him at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.