Vinyl Room Brings Japanese Listening Bar Cool to Las Vegas

When it opened softly wrong Hollywood’s iconic Palladium theater, the members‑only Vinyl Room promised awesome cocktails and thoughtful Asian‑influenced snacks in an arresting, Japanese listening‑bar‑themed space. The concept resonated strongly on nights the Palladium was operating, prompting Live Nation to bring the idea to Las Vegas. As of August 10, Vinyl Room has expanded to one of Vegas’s most hallowed nightlife venues. Live Nation and MGM Resorts partnered to transform the former Foundation Room on the 63rd floor of Mandalay Bay into a 15,000‑square‑foot homage to analog music and the golden era of the recording industry. Open daily at 3 p.m. and operating until late, the Vegas venue features cocktails crafted by Sean Kenyon, previously of Williams & Grahams in Denver, and a menu overseen by chef Ryan Derieux, former executive chef of Voltaggio Brothers Steakhouse in Washington, D.C. Both food and drink draw subtle inspiration from Japanese lounge culture. Highlights include tuna tataki topped with caviar, king crab dumplings priced at $125 per serving, chile‑crunch chicken wings, and a baked truffle crab roll. The kitchen also serves entrée‑sized miso black cod, Australian wagyu steak portions, and a katsu sando sandwich, positioning the spot as both a drinking destination and a meal‑focused restaurant. Cocktail offerings reference music history: the David Bowie‑inflected “Life on Mars” blends Nikaido shochu, honeydew melon, cucumber, and soda; the Rupert Holmes‑inspired “Escape (If You Like Pina Coladas)” mixes rum, coconut oolong syrup, miso, and pineapple. The interior is dim and wood‑lined, housing more than 4,700 vinyl albums. A high‑fidelity sound system equipped with Mastersounds Clarity‑M speakers and other audiophile‑grade components provides background audio that is curated to enhance the ambiance rather than dominate it—a contrast to the clubstaurant model where the DJ drives the experience. Mirroring the Los Angeles original, the Las Vegas Vinyl Room operates a membership tier that grants general public access while reserving a private room, curated events, and entry to Vegas shows for members. Initiation fees start at $2,500, with details available at https://www.vinylroomlasvegas.com/membership. Reservations are accepted via OpenTable, and the venue occupies the top floor of Mandalay Bay.