THE sweaty beer garden could be a thing of the past with hoteliers looking to Las Vegas for tips on staying cool.

The newly-renovated Strawberry Hills Hotel in Surry Hills has joined many other pubs across the state installing high pressure misting systems to keep temperatures down this summer.

"When we built the space, there was a really dry and humid feel, and we weren't expecting it to be so hot," licensee Brenden Lawless said. "I remember being back in Las Vegas at the beach at the Mandalay Bay Hotel which has the misters...It made me comfortable and I wanted to stay."

Mr Lawless said he's had no complaints so far, even when he was trying to get the mister's strength right.

"It was definitely too vigorous at first and was almost like a trip to the spa," he said. "But it only took a day to fix it up and now, when we turn it off, it's too uncomfortable here. It drops the temperature by around 10 degrees."

A high pressure pump pushes water through fine nozzles, causing the moisture to instantly evaporate and create cool air.

Michelle Dunphy, 22, was worried about how the moisture would effect her sleek blow dry at the popular inner city drinking hole yesterday.

"When we first got here, I wasn't sure what they were for. My friends said it felt like we were being gassed," the Coogee resident said. "I think they're really good at keeping the temperature down."

Cooling specialists Alfresco Spaces in Potts Point, supplied the hotel's misting system.

CEO Warren Turley said the company is inundated with more requests.

"The new smoking laws have created a different drinking environment in Australia," Mr Turley said. "Clubs and hotels have been heating gaming rooms for outdoor smoking and dining but now realise that these outdoor areas get really hot in summer. So the trend is now to cool the areas."

The company has already supplied Bulli's Woonona Bulli RSL Memorial Club, Revesby's Crown Hotel and Sydney airport.

"By the end of January, there'll be at least five more hotels with this system," Mr Turley said.

Originally published as Hotels fall in love with misters