The venue at the top of Mandalay Bay is one of the Foundation Rooms, a group of exclusive members-only clubs owned and operated by House of Blues, with other locations in New Orleans, Chicago, Cleveland, and Los Angeles (Sunset Strip).
The club consists of an elegant dining room, a bar and lounge area, and a number of smaller secluded "prayer rooms" and private dining rooms for more intimate gatherings. The ambience reflects the principles behind the HOB Foundation, which is all about promoting cultural awareness and creative expression, particularly in the field of music. The décor is plush and exotic -- think ultra-lounge meets Hindu temple. Big comfy sofas piled high with squishy pillows are perfect for lounging by the fireplace; eclectic artwork and artifacts range from Caribbean folk art and European paintings to Indian tapestries and Tibetan Buddhas. With a vantage point looking straight up the Strip from 43 floors high, the view from the terrace is among the best in Las Vegas.
Membership grants you access to all the Foundation Room clubs across the United States, plus invitations to specialty nights, such as wine tastings and celebrity-chef dinners. Among other perks, membership also means notification of all upcoming House of Blues concerts and events before the information is released to the general public, plus priority seating in the House of Blues restaurants, and a number of complimentary Gospel Brunch tickets. But it's not cheap. Prices start at $2,250 for annual Individual Standard Membership, going up to $8,500 for Corporate Gold level, which comes with extra perks. A portion of the fee goes to support the International House of Blues Foundation charity. There's currently no waiting list to join.
If you'd like to check out the Foundation Room, but don't want to sign up for the pricey annual membership, there are other options available. One is the temporary four-day membership package, which for $500 gets you lounge access for yourself and five guests, plus opportunities to make dinner reservations in the main dining room or rent a private prayer room or dining room. Alternatively, from 11 pm on Monday nights, the Foundation Room teams up with local club promoter Mike Fuller for a house and hip-hop night called Godspeed, which is open to non-members ($10 for locals, $30 for everyone else). Getting a suite at Mandalay Bay also confers temporary Foundation Room privileges. Your casino host may also be able to get you in, if you show him enough action. Of course, the cheapest, although probably the hardest, way to get in is to ingratiate yourself with a member and be taken as a guest, for free.
If, one way or another, you have the opportunity to dine in the Foundation Room, expect a typical dinner with a cocktail to cost about $90 per person. Here’s a link to a sample menu: www.hob.com/venues/clubvenues/lasvegas/dining.asp
There's also another "penthouse" dining venue in the Mandalay Bay complex, namely Mix, the restaurant on the 43rd floor of THEhotel, the all-suite hotel tower opened in December 2003. Mix is an Alain Ducasse restaurant with panoramic views of the Strip; it’s described as "Kubrick-esque" in its arresting futuristic design, which features a 24-foot chandelier composed of 1,500 hand-blown glass bubbles. The cuisine is contemporary and classic French and American, with entrées ranging from $30 to $60. A typical dinner for two, with appetizers and drinks, will set you back $200-$250. Advanced booking is recommended. For further information and sample menus, visit the Alain Ducasse Web site at www.alain-ducasse.com
