High Roller Observation Wheel

The High Roller is the world's tallest observation wheel at 550 feet, and they found a way to make it even better: open bar during your 30-minute rotation. For $69 you get a ride to the top with unlimited drinks while you take in panoramic views of the Strip. It runs daily from 4pm to midnight, which technically makes it the longest "happy hour" in Vegas. Is it gimmicky? Absolutely. Is it also kind of genius? Also yes.

How It Works

You pay $69 for a ticket (prices can vary during peak times or special events), and during your 30-minute rotation you get unlimited beer, wine, and cocktails. The cabin has a bartender inside serving drinks—full bar setup, not just beer. You can have one drink or six; they're not counting.

Each cabin holds up to 40 people, but they usually don't fill them completely unless it's super busy. You're sharing the space with strangers (unless you book a private cabin, which costs way more), but it's spacious enough that it doesn't feel cramped.

The Drink Situation

The bar inside includes beer, wine, and mixed cocktails. We're not talking top-shelf liquor, but it's solid—think standard Vegas bar quality. The bartender mixes drinks to order, so you can get whatever you want within reason. Want a vodka soda at the start and a beer halfway through? Go for it.

Because you only have 30 minutes, most people pace themselves to 2-4 drinks depending on how fast they drink and how much time they want to spend actually looking at the view versus staring into their glass.

The Experience

The views are legitimately incredible. You get a slow 30-minute rotation with 360-degree views of the Strip, downtown Vegas, the mountains, and the entire valley. Sunset rides are prime—watching the sun drop and the neon lights turn on while drinking a cocktail is peak Vegas experience.

Inside the cabin: air-conditioned (crucial in summer), comfortable, music playing, and everyone's in vacation mode. The vibe is surprisingly chill—people are taking photos, sipping drinks, chatting. It's not a party atmosphere; it's more like a relaxed cocktail hour 550 feet in the air.

Math Check

Is $69 expensive? Sure. But compare it to other Strip experiences: a standard High Roller ticket without drinks is around $30-40. Add 2-3 cocktails at casino prices ($15-20 each) and you're already over $69. So if you're drinking anyway, the open bar version is actually reasonable value—plus you get the built-in time limit so you can't go too crazy.

Who Should Do This

Couples looking for a cool date experience. Groups celebrating something and want a unique setting. Anyone who wants Strip views without hiking up to a rooftop bar and fighting for space. People who like the idea of day-drinking (or night-drinking) while slowly rotating above Las Vegas.

Skip it if: you're terrified of heights, you don't drink, or you're on a tight budget and would rather spend $69 on five happy hours elsewhere.

Real Talk

This is a splurge, but it's one of the more unique happy hour experiences in Vegas. Where else are you drinking unlimited cocktails while hovering 55 stories above the Strip? It's touristy as hell, sure, but sometimes tourist activities are fun when they're done well. The High Roller open bar hits that sweet spot of gimmick meets genuinely good time.