The opening weekend of Bruno Mars’ new cocktail and jazz lounge, The Pinky Ring, had all the fanfare of an outrageous, star-spangled housewarming party. The global superstar and his band of Hooligans christened the Bellagio bar with soul-centric standards and duets with music sensations Janelle Monáe and Victoria Monét. It was, at its core, a fabulous Vegas party for one of the most fabulous Las Vegas showmen around. But it was also a solid sample of just how fun a venue can be when an entertainer’s vision is at the forefront.
The Pinky Ring opened on the Strip over Super Bowl weekend, replacing the former Lily lounge with one of the grandest redesigns we’ve seen in some time. Solid walls encase the space for privacy and a sense of exclusivity, tones have been mellowed out with light golds and earthy colors, and the stage has settled into the center of this circular room.
Mars’ style can be traced all over this penthouse-style party pad. He even has his Grammy awards on display in The Pinky Ring’s entrance hall—you know, because the 14-time winner has some trophies to spare. Toward the back, there’s the brightly lit, vintage Champagne Room, where Mars is said to hang out with his crew. Big spenders can reserve the room and it comes with a massive ice pit to stash bottles.
The glamor of the space really hits when the band kicks in. Mars’ longtime band, the Hooligans, have been playing multiple sets nightly since opening—in tandem with DJs—and it’s done nothing but contribute to the ’70s-era fever dream. Bootsy Collins’ “I’d Rather Be With You” breaks the funk-infused seal, with the eight-piece band, in their powder pink tuxedos, finessing their way through the song with style and charm. Eric “E-Panda” Hernandez, Mars’ brother, also keeps time on the drums.
The Pinky Ring’s specialty cocktails were all named after the band, explaining why the Skin-E Panda, a fine take on a coconut rum mojito, sounds so familiar. All these drinks come in bold on flavor, especially The Hooligan, a spicy tequila-based margarita with tajin and freshly cut jalapeños that’ll leave your lips tingling. These are sexy drinks, expertly mixed to make the night even sexier.
As the band slinks into Outkast’s “Prototype,” then The Whispers’ “And the Beat Goes On,” the dance floor fills up like something out of an episode of Soul Train. Couples grab their partners, ladies grab their friends—and there’s not a single cell phone in sight.
The Pinky Ring being a no-phones venue might sound inconvenient or even sacrificial, but it’s the best thing that’s happened to nightlife. The Hooligans have such a magnetic energy, reading that last text is the last thing on your mind. People engage here. They drink in the scene with their eyes. It’s a beautiful place to be present, a snapshot of a bygone era to which we need to return.
Mars deploys the no-phone policy at his residency show at Park MGM, so it makes sense to see it reprised here. But can we keep it that way? A venue of this ilk almost seems too retro for such technology.
THE PINKY RING Bellagio, bellagio. mgmresorts.com. Sunday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m.; Friday & Saturday, 5 p.m.-3 a.m.
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