There are a few things that are synonymous with Las Vegas. There’s gambling, obviously, and buffets. But alcohol is right up there near the top of the list.
Las Vegas is home to more than 1,000 drinking establishments, some in hotels on the Strip and some on their own, well off the Strip.
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While the bars located off the Las Vegas Strip often cater more to locals than they do to tourists, every once in a while, there’s a spot that attracts both.
That is the case with Blue Martini, a longtime Las Vegas nightlife fixture loved by locals and visitors alike.
But good things sometimes come to an end. After 18 years at Town Square — just off the Strip and practically at the end of one of the runways at Harry Reid International Airport — Blue Martini closed permanently.
Image source: Pixabay
Why Blue Martini mattered
Plenty of Las Vegas residents and visitors will love to hear that the closing is temporary, sort of: Blue Martini will move to a new location.
The owners plan to open a new location, which will be a three‑story space right on the Las Vegas Strip.
Blue Martini, which opened its doors in 2007 at 6539 S. Las Vegas Blvd. South, bid farewell via Instagram: “Whether you were a regular, a one‑time guest, or someone who cheered us on from afar — thank you … You helped create something truly special.” The statement continued: “We’ll forever carry those memories with gratitude and pride.”
Over two decades, Blue Martini built a following with daily happy hours — from 5 to 8 p.m., drinks and apps were half price — themed DJ nights, and hookah lounges.
A new chapter on the Las Vegas Strip
Located in Las Vegas’s Town Square outdoor mall, Blue Martini made its mark off the beaten path. Its multi‑level format, vivid lighting, and musical programming created a club‑style atmosphere in a more laid‑back retail setting.
Blue Martini is relocating to a striking new space in the former Urban Outfitters footprint at Miracle Mile Shops inside Planet Hollywood. Architectural permits list the project cost at $9.3 million, making it one of the most significant nightlife relocations in recent Las Vegas memory.
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When fully built out in spring 2026, the new location will span three floors: a ground‑level terrace bar with casual drinks, a tropical‑themed open‑air second floor with deck overlooking the Strip, and a top level housing a signature stage bar, private VIP lounges, and a hookah lounge.
Las Vegas locals push back
“If you’re a local‑born Las Vegas resident who turned 21 any time in the past 18 years, you likely have a story tied to Blue Martini,” wrote Eater Vegas. The outlet reports the bar’s farewell message: “But this isn’t goodbye. It’s simply a thank you… with an invitation to return and create new memories in the next chapter.”
The move reflects broader shifts in Vegas nightlife: property redevelopment, rising rent and build‑out costs, and steeper expectations for high‑glamour, high-margin venues. But declining traffic in off‑Strip corridors means fewer visitors passing through suburban hubs like Town Square.
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Yet it’s not just about economics — the closure also marks a reset in brand strategy. Blue Martini hopes to tap into the higher foot traffic, tourist visibility, and curated nightlife ecosystem of the Strip itself.
Locals are disappointed. “It won’t last on the Strip. Locals won’t go now they have to pay for parking,” wrote one person on Facebook. Someone else commented, “Put a nail in the coffin now. strip will be a waste. like everything else there. not for locals.”
In the meantime, other Town Square tenants — like Stoney’s Rockin’ Country — will remain open through 2025 before also relocating elsewhere in the market.
Local media commentary captures a bittersweet tone: Many customers are sad to see a “neighborhood” nightlife fixture leave, while others see opportunity in its transformation. Blue Martini’s resurfacing on the Strip could bring a rejuvenated, upscale iteration of its past identity.
