Las Vegas is built on the idea that if you’re going to do something, you might as well do it louder, bigger, and with better lighting. Cannabis culture here has always been a little weirder than most places, so it makes sense that the city’s first real, legal consumption lounge didn’t pop up on the Strip under some corporate umbrella. It popped up on Paiute land, curated by the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, inside NuWu Cannabis Marketplace — aka the world’s largest dispensary — and it’s been holding the “OG lounge” title ever since.
If you’ve heard people say “Vegas has cannabis lounges now,” what they really mean is: Vegas finally caught up to what NuWu has already been doing since 2019. NuWu opened Nevada’s first legal consumption lounge back when the state didn’t even have a full lounge framework on the books. Because NuWu operates on tribal land, the Paiutes were able to build a compliant, safe, tourism-friendly lounge before the rest of Nevada had the rules sorted out. That first lounge was known as the Vegas Tasting Room. Today it’s evolved into the Sky High Lounge, a full-blown indoor-outdoor social space that’s equal parts weed bar, cultural hub, and “you had to be there” Vegas memory factory.
So yeah — if you’re looking for the most legit, historically important, and still-most-fun cannabis lounge in Nevada, this is the one. Let’s get into it.
Where It’s At (And Why That Matters)
Sky High Lounge lives inside NuWu Cannabis Marketplace just north of Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas. You’re close enough to the chaos to feel it, but far enough away to enjoy yourself without getting body-checked by a bachelorette party in matching sashes.
The location also matters culturally. NuWu and Sky High are operated under the Las Vegas Paiute Cannabis Authority. This isn’t some brand-cosplay version of “community.” This is sovereign, Indigenous-owned cannabis commerce in action — one of the clearest examples in the U.S. of how tribal nations are shaping the future of legal weed on their own terms.
That independence is exactly why NuWu could become Nevada’s first lounge trailblazer in the first place. Before Nevada formally allowed licensed lounges, NuWu was already operating one — safely, successfully, and with a real hospitality approach.
The Evolution: From “Tasting Room” to Sky High
When the original lounge launched in 2019, it was a proof-of-concept: “Can we offer adults a safe place to consume cannabis in a city where hotel rooms say ‘no smoking’ and sidewalks say ‘don’t even think about it’?” The answer was a loud yes.
Since then, the lounge has grown up fast. Sky High expanded into a large indoor-outdoor facility designed for actual event flow: bigger seating areas, multiple service zones, and space that feels like a proper Vegas venue — not just a backroom with a dab bar.
This rebrand wasn’t cosmetic. It was NuWu doubling down on the lounge as a destination, not an add-on. The vibe now lands somewhere between rooftop party energy and “chill, but make it Vegas.”
The Vibe Check
Sky High is a lounge in the real sense — not a “sit here, hit this, leave.” You can post up for a while. You can meet people. You can watch a show. You can spend the night with your crew without feeling like you’re doing something sketchy.
Expect:
- Multiple bar-style service areas for cannabis products and non-alcoholic drinks.
- Seating zones that range from casual walk-up spots to VIP table setups.
- Indoor and outdoor areas, which matters in Vegas where weather changes your plans more than your friends do.
- A crowd that blends locals, tourists, industry folks, and the occasional “I’m not sure I’m high yet but I think I’m smiling too much.”
This isn’t a silent meditation lounge. It’s social, lively, and built for people who want cannabis to be part of their night out — not something they have to hide in a parking lot first.
What You Can Actually Do There
Sky High isn’t just a place to smoke. It’s a curated consumption experience with structure, options, and hospitality.
On-site Legal Consumption
You’re consuming legally, with staff trained to support safe use and responsible service. That’s still a rare privilege in the U.S. lounge world. Nevada’s lounge standards are heavy on air quality, lab-tested products, and rules that keep things safe for everybody — Sky High meets those expectations while keeping the vibe fun.
Walk-Up Entry and Rotating Packages
Sky High has long offered walk-up options and curated packages that usually bundle lounge access with cannabis products and in-lounge perks. Offers rotate depending on season, demand, and events, so check current menus before you go. The key point is this: the lounge isn’t a stiff, one-speed operation. It adapts to who’s coming through the door.
VIP Tables and Group Reservations
If you want the full “Vegas, but make it weed” experience, the VIP reservations are the move. Think bottle-service energy, but with THC and terps instead of vodka. Table service also helps the lounge keep everything clean and dialed between groups, which is exactly what a real hospitality experience should feel like.
Events, Comedy, Music, and Culture
Sky High has leaned hard into programming. Over time it’s grown from a “tasting room” into a proper entertainment venue with live comedy, music, and events that feel like Vegas — not a weed-themed afterthought.
Here’s the blunt truth: Nevada talked about cannabis lounges as a tourism boost for years. NuWu did it.
Even now, while other Nevada lounges have been approved or are in the pipeline, plenty are struggling to open or gain traction because of capital costs, real estate headaches, and regulatory friction. Sky High has years of operational reps, customer trust, and cultural legitimacy.
In a state where cannabis tourists outnumber cannabis-friendly places to consume, Sky High isn’t just a lounge — it’s infrastructure. It’s the example the rest of the market is trying to copy.
Pro Tips for First-Timers
- Start in the marketplace.NuWu’s selection is massive. Dial your products first, then bring the right vibe into the lounge.
- Know your tolerance.You’re on vacation, not on a hero’s journey. Pace yourself. Sky High is built for hanging out, not speed-running your edibles.
- Plan your timing.Lounge hours and last-call policies can change with seasons and events. Check the lounge’s current schedule before you roll up.
- If you’re rolling deep, reserve.Walk-up space is limited on busy nights. Reservations keep you out of line and in the vibe.
- Respect the space.This is sovereign Paiute land and a flagship for legal lounge culture. Be cool. Tip your budtenders. Don’t be that person.
Sky High Lounge isn’t just “a place to smoke in Vegas.” It’s a landmark in the normalization of cannabis hospitality.
NuWu and the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe built something Nevada needed before Nevada was ready to admit it needed it. They proved that lounges can be safe, profitable, tourist-friendly, and culturally real — not sanitized corporate playgrounds. And now that more lounges are online (or trying to be), Sky High still feels like the blueprint: cannabis with community, cannabis with entertainment, cannabis with grown-up rules and grown-up fun.
If you’re a consumer, go experience it.
If you’re an operator or brand, study it.
And if you’re still pretending lounges aren’t the next big frontier in legal cannabis… Vegas already passed you on the right.
Pull Up and Tap In
NuWu Marketplace and Sky High Lounge define Las Vegas’s cannabis lounge scene with their Indigenous ownership, cultural roots, tourism-ready appeal, and leadership in showcasing how to do legal consumption right.
For more lounge spotlights, retail culture, and real talk about where cannabis is headed, keep riding with Beard Bros Media. We’ll keep finding the places that don’t just sell weed — they move culture.
