Springtime. Fountains. Cocktails. They’re going to have to physically pry us off that patio.

The problem with being right up close to the Bellagio fountains is that looking out over them, we kind of want to try to ride the Bellagio fountains up into the air, like Mr. Magoo walking out on top of Old Faithful right as it spurts.

Fortunately, Hyde Bellagio has protective glass around its balcony for idiots like us.

What it also has is an intimate little space — conceptually, “a lost villa at the Bellagio” — with homey touches like books, plush leather banquettes in a light, creamy brown and smooth black, with a DJ booth tucked behind a fireplace overlooking the main floor.

Come through a narrow hallway and Hyde opens onto the center of the room. You’re better off starting by going to the right, up to the top of the room — what would have been near the outer section of the Fontana bars — where you can turn and take in the whole expanse.

The intimate lounge isn’t huge and isn’t designed for massive crowds — at 10,000 square feet it’s only specced for a little more than 700 people. But what it does have is a nice cool breeze coming in courtesy of the exposed patio at the east end of the lounge, certain to be joint’s main draw.

During the evening, between 5 and 10 p.m. a curtain will come down to separate the back of the lounge from the patio and main dance floor areas. Tapas from Circo will be served while entertainment comes courtesy of the fountains — which will get right of way over the soundsystem during the performance. Though the DJ wrestles priority back at 10 p.m.

Mixology will join the craft fray, with a couple of twists. Hyde features a Bellini cart, for a selection of peach-and-bubbly delights, while a seasonal liquid nitrogen cocktail (informed by Jose Andres, who partners with SLS in L.A.’s Bazaar) will rotate on the menu for tableside prep. They’re launching with Tony Abou-Ganim’s Cable Car, with Bacardi Oakheart, orange curacao and lemon. Appropriate to use one of Abou-Ganim’s, given the Bellagio setting.

Hyde gets going proper on New Year’s Day with Paul Oakenfold headlining at night. Industry night is set for Tuesday, and it will only run nightclub operations on Friday and Saturday otherwise. Come fall, SLS will be launching a winter version of its 14 party, a 5 p.m. house-fest for the growing ranks of daytime parties.

By Jason Scavone

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