January 19/26, 2015; Volume 28/Number 15
Working your way around the massive International Surface Event will be exhausting. At the end of the day, if you have the energy, you’ll want to see what Las Vegas has to offer in the most relaxing way possible. Focus on perfecting your business schedule; FCNews has compiled a list just for you of places to go, things to see and food to eat.
Let’s eat!
You’re sick of the same old options and want to try something notable while you’re in town. The amount of dining options in Las Vegas is overwhelming—let FCNews help you narrow them down. There is something for every palette and every budget in Sin City. While your feet may be tired from walking the show, your stomach has some exploring to do.
Jacks ($)
Social House – Crystals at City Center (Asian)
Social House is an original Pan-Asian restaurant with an upbeat feel, inspiring cuisine and a sake menu that is unparalleled. For afternoon dining, a $20 lunch prix fixe menu is available. Dinner is served until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The lounge is open for night owls.
Julian Serrano – Aria (Spanish)
More affordable than its sister restaurant, Picasso, Julian Serrano features an impressive yet classy menu from its chef with the same name. Menu favorites include “new style tapas” and a variety of takes on the classic Spanish dish paella. Open daily until 11 p.m. (11:30 on Friday and Saturday), a special three-course early evening menu is available for $39 until 7 p.m.
Queens ($$)
Wicked Spoon – The Cosmopolitan (Eclectic)
Wicked Spoon is the upper-end version of the Vegas buffet, tossing out the usual options and replacing them with innovative foods that create excitement. Consider pad Thai in Chinese takeout boxes and fried chicken in mini fryers. The dining selections are limitless at Wicked Spoon, with brunch, dinner and happy hour offered daily.
RX Boiler Room – Mandalay Bay (New American)
New at the Mandalay Bay, RX Boiler Room comes from celebrity chef Rick Moonen and features his take on classic comfort foods. The restaurant has a playful feel, with a menu called the “Nourishment Chart” that consists of “substances necessary for growth, health, happiness and comfort.” Small bites are offered in addition to a full range of entrees including steak, seafood and specialties like pan fried game hen and waffles. RX Boiler Room is open daily from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Kings ($$$)
Veranda – Four Seasons (Italian)
Highlighting authentic Italian cuisine with contemporary influences, Veranda offers a vast selection of homemade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, fresh seafood and more. In addition, Veranda’s lunch menu features Italian classics mixed with American cuisine. Afternoon tea is available Monday through Friday from
3 p.m. to 4 p.m. with an extensive list of teas to choose from in addition to tea sandwiches and pastries. Reservations for tea must be made 24 hours in advance.
Joël Robuchon Restaurant – MGM Grand Hotel and Casino (French)
If you win big, this is where you want to dine. The only chef Joël Robuchon fine dining restaurant in the U.S., Joël Robuchon Restaurant in the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino is the first and only 3 star Michelin Guide winner in Las Vegas. Limited seating creates the most intimate dining experience; reservations are highly recommended. Dinner is served nightly starting at 5:30 p.m. serving only the finest French cuisine, including truffled langoustine ravioli and farm chicken and foie gras.
I love the nightlife
Make the most of your time in Vegas. Working all day means some fun at night. There are plenty of great shows and activities not far from Mandalay Bay, many with special mid-week pricing. Act now—a lot of tickets are selling fast, and some shows may never come to town again.
I’ve got the music in me
Elton John
It will require a drive down the strip, but seeing Sir Elton John perform his classics will be well worth the trip. He will be performing at The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace as part of his Million Dollar Piano tour. Shows will take place on multiple nights during Surfaces week starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at vegas.com.
Smokey Robinson Presents Human Nature: The Motown Show
With widespread popularity in Australia, Human Nature has traveled to Las Vegas to give a sample of its vocal stylings to the American public. The harmonies of the four members— Toby Allen, Phil Burton, Andrew Tierney and Michael Tierney—create the sound of Motown loved by many, performing hits such as “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” “Baby I Need Your Loving” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” with a six-piece live band. Performances start at 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and are each 90 minutes long. Tickets start at about $74.
Paying homage
Vegas! The Show
A tribute to Las Vegas legends, “Vegas! The Show” is a 75-minute revue performed twice nightly at the Saxe Theatre at Planet Hollywood. The show reenacts and highlights iconic moments from Vegas’ entertainment history through the performances of 40 singers and dancers and 11 musicians. Featured artists include The Rat Pack, Elvis and Tom Jones. Tickets start at $40. Dinner and show ticket options are available as well.
Piano Man
Piano legends Elton John, Billy Joel and Barry Manilow are honored in this revue at the V3 Theater in Planet Hollywood. Enjoy 75 minutes of classics like “Uptown Girl,” “Tiny Dancer” and “Copacabana.” Performances take place daily (except Sunday) at 5:30 p.m. VIP ticket options are available featuring prime seating.
Only in Vegas
The Beatles Revolution Lounge at The Mirage
A nightlife experience created by Cirque du Soleil, The Beatles Revolution Lounge takes guests on a musical journey in a psychedelic sensory environment. Not only does it blend cutting-edge interactive design and art, but the sounds make for a celebration of music that transcends the Fab Four. DJs spin rock-centric mixes with hip-hop and house beats as well as ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and contemporary dance mash-ups.
Now what?
Still have some time to explore and have fun? Good! Las Vegas is the perfect place to try new things and see sites that don’t exist anywhere else. Relax, play daredevil or just do something cool. You name it, Vegas has it.
The Chandelier – The Cosmopolitan
Open 24 hours, The Chandelier is a three-level bar that is actually part nightclub, part art gallery and part lounge. The bottom of The Chandelier is more high energy, an upper-end version of a classic casino bar. Inside The Chandelier at the second level is an upscale cocktail lounge, while the very top has a softer, relaxed side.
Shark Reef – Mandalay Bay
Shark Reef in Mandalay Bay is home to over 2,000 animals in 1.6 million gallons of water. The exhibit is open daily, Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are available online and through the Mandalay Bay hotel. If you want to get up-close and personal with the animals, Animal Encounters features stingray feeds, sea turtle feeds and shark feeds available for booking as well. In addition, the Dive with Sharks program is open to dive-certified guests.
Dream Racing
A fun option for guests who have some extra time in Vegas, Dream Racing is located 20 minutes north of The Strip at the Las Vegas Motorway. Those participating in the Race Car Driving Experience, where you can drive laps in a Ferrari F430 GT, receive complimentary transportation from Crystals at City Center. Driving “experiences” offer a number of dream car options, including a Lamborghini Aventador, McLaren mp4-12c, Mercedes SLS AMG, Porsche Cayman GTS and more. Visit www.dreamracing.com or call 702.605.3000 for more details, including pricing and available dates.
Bathhouse Spa – Delano
You deserve to relax. If you’re staying at any of the hotels adjacent to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center you don’t have to travel for some top-notch relaxation. The Bathhouse Spa in the new Delano Las Vegas—formerly The Hotel—includes steam rooms, saunas and treatment rooms where you can enjoy a full menu of services including wraps, facials and massages.