Did you feel that warmth coming into the air? That’s the first inklings of spring hitting America, which means we’re coming up fast on pool party season. Yes, pool parties, the only places where it’s perfectly acceptable to spray expensive champagne on complete strangers and meeting someone while wearing almost nothing is the norm. While the best ones are obviously in Las Vegas and Miami, other warm weather cities have some pretty respectable pool scenes too. Here are the best pool parties in America, to wet (get it?) your appetite for summer.
Cosmopolitan – Las Vegas, Nev.
Much of Las Vegas’ pool party scene is seasonal, preferring to keep the waterlogged fun to the warmer months. But Marquee, the dayclub at the Cosmopolitan’s rooftop deck, keeps it going all year by covering the pool in its custom Marquee Dome. The temperature-controlled atmosphere keeps talent like resident DJ Pauly D and Sam Feldt playing even when the weather’s not scalding hot. If you’ve got the cash, opt for one of Marquee’s three-story bungalows, where you can not only keep your own supply of alcohol, you can also enjoy king-for-a-day views from a private deck overlooking the madness.
Encore at Wynn – Las Vegas, Nev.
The Encore Beach Club at the Wynn’s Encore Hotel hosts as big of names as any nightclub in the world, with headliners like The Chainsmokers, Marshemello and Diplo often playing on the same weekend. The venue is worthy of the A-list names, though, as the 60,000-square-foot space has three tiers of swimming space and loads of two-story bungalows. You’ll also find an entire cabana devoted to swimsuit gambling, so if the itch for blackjack strikes mid-party, you can scratch it pretty easily. You can also come by at night, as the Encore Day Club at Night lets you enjoy a similar scene, minus the sunburn.
Goodtime Hotel – Miami Beach, Fla.
Goodtime Hotel lives up to its name with its sceney Strawberry Moon pool deck, which in the year it’s been open has already become the hottest day party in Miami. Metalwork palm trees and pastel decor make Goodtime’s sunny soirees an influencer’s dream, where fountain-filled photo ops and bright frozen drinks make this the most Instagrammable pool party in America. The hotel is co-owned by the same group that opened Miami megaclub LIV, so the DJ talent and crowd are similar to what you’d find there. This spring, the hotel kicks off its new Wavy parties, which get the weekend started early with a Friday afternoon throwdown.
Hard Rock Hotel – San Diego, Calif.
Though San Diego may lack the party city reputation of Los Angeles, during late spring and summer the rooftop pool at the Hard Rock can hold its own with any scene in SoCal. Gaze out over the Gaslamp Quarter while reveling among the pool’s intricate landscaping. While you won’t find big-time DJs, you will find a packed deck with comfortable cabanas and daybeds for those who don’t feel like spending all day in the water. The views are as much a draw as the party, and when summer rolls around in San Diego there’s no better place to be.
The MGM Grand’s Wet Republic pool party is a splashy stalwart along the Las Vegas strip, the default destination for any visitor looking for a good day rage. The sprawling, 6,000-square-foot pool deck remains one of the most sought-after tickets in town, where a lineup of resident DJs like Tiësto, Kaskade, Martin Garrix and Zedd make every weekend a veritable chlorinated music festival. Recent renovations also added a couple of brand-new 100-foot-long plunge pools, as well as a dozen new bungalows and 10 new cabanas.
Resorts World Las Vegas – Las Vegas, Nev.
When empty, the pool deck at the new Resorts World Las Vegas looks like a tranquil Balinese garden, a bamboo-strewn space that invites peace and harmony. Not the case once people show up, as this Asian-inspired garden turns into flat-out bedlam. The Ayu Dayclub boasted residencies from Zedd and Tiësto in its inaugural season, and this spring it welcomes shows from G-Eazy and Jonas Blue. With a full stage setup and no shortage of bubbly-blasting bottle girls, Resorts World has quickly shot itself to the top of the Vegas pool party scene.
Saguaro Hotel – Palm Springs. Calif.
The retro, rainbow-colored Saguaro might throw the most scenic pool party in America, where the Original Pool Parties rage on under the shadow of the San Jacinto Mountains. The human scenery isn’t bad either, as the hotel has long held a reputation as the place for daytime party people in family-friendly Palm Springs. If you’re looking to soak up some of the booze you’ve consumed, grab an order of the fish tacos, which might be the best in the city, pool party or not. You’ll also catch fantastic up-and-coming DJs, as the Saguaro opts for local talent instead of big, international names.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino – Hollywood, Fla.
This shiny guitar-shaped hotel pops up from the pancake-flat landscape west of Ft. Lauderdale, announcing that a world-class party awaits. And while the hotel and casino are rarely lacking for action, the Hard Rock’s top scene is at the DAER Dayclub. The epic 44,000-square-foot pool deck has become a destination in itself, drawing both visitors and South Florida locals for its weekly chlorinated bacchanals. It’s also proven to be a chic celebrity hangout far from the peering eyes of South Beach, where athletes and their entourages cut loose to top DJ talent. The party rages on after dark too, as DAER goes just as hard as a nightclub as it does during the day.
With nature’s greatest swimming pool — aka the Atlantic Ocean — only a few yards away, Miami Beach hotels don’t have the monopoly on water-filled fun like they do in Vegas. Still, if you’re looking to dance the day away in South Beach, no party tops the one at Hyde Beach at the SLS, where champagne spraying and oversized floaties are regular weekend staples. The swanky poolside bash is made especially alluring with bites from Katsuya, the vaunted sushi restaurant that also calls the SLS home. Hyde’s party doesn’t stop when the sun goes down either, as A-listers like Sofi Tukker and Markus Schulz keep the beats going well into the night.
The Standard – Los Angeles, Calif.
While the legendary Standard in West Hollywood has sadly closed its doors, its DTLA brethren keeps the pool party legacy going strong at Skybar. While you won’t find the champagne-spraying superparties you might in Las Vegas, you will find L.A.’s chicest pool scene, where fancy cocktails and aspiring entertainers make it an icon of Hollywood day drinking. The views from the pool are also tough to beat, as the windows between the ivy-covered walls look out on the expanse of the L.A. Basin. You’ll find the place equally as alluring at night, as it transforms into a twinkling ultra lounge based around a glowing turquoise swimming hole.
