The best bars in Las Vegas, presented in alphabetical order.
The best bars in Las Vegas, presented in alphabetical order.
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09/04/08
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1
Canaletto
Grand Canal Shoppes, The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109 / 702-733-0070
Another concept of the creative minds behind the Il Fornaio trattoria-bakeries that began in the San Francisco Bay area and spread across California and Nevada, this eatery presents a Venetian menu served beside the ersatz Grand Canal and St. Marks Square of The Venetian’s indoor re-creation of Italy. The view from its 300-seat patio includes the square's lively shows. The open kitchen, with a marble counter and big-flame pizza oven, dominates the back of the restaurant, designed for cozy dining. A winding staircase takes guests to a mezzanine with a plush reception room, a sparkling marble-topped bar, several rooms to accommodate private parties, and views of the shops and square below. Among starters, we like the polenta squares with six toppings---spicy sausage, shrimp, smoked salmon, asparagus and Gorgonzola, and porcini mushrooms with white truffle oil. Try the calzone filled with mozzarella, mushrooms, ricotta, ham and tomato sauce. The risotto with shrimp, scallops, calamari, brandy and black squid ink is a winner. Carnivores like the rack of lamb with thyme and garlic served with fingerling potatoes and sautéed spinach. As with all of the Il Fornaio outlets, the breads and pastries are scrumptious. Save room for the Treviso-style tiramisu and the chilled zabaglione with baicoli cookies, fresh berries, Bellini sorbet and whipped cream.
2
55 Degrees Wine + Design
Mandalay Place, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, 3930 Las Vegas Blvd S, Ste 101, Las Vegas, NV 89119 / 702-632-9355
As part of Mandalay Place, the mall inside Mandalay Bay's skybridge to the Luxor, 55 Degrees Wine + Design is surrounded by dozens of boutique stores. When you're done shopping, stop in to choose a bottle of wine from their list of more than 2,000. Or, pull up a suede stool for a tasting at the wine bar. The eclectic collection includes wines from around the world; selections even hail from such unexpected places as Lebanon and Slovenia.
3
The Grill at Valentino
The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109 / 702-733-5000
When Piero Selvaggio of Valentino does an Italian restaurant, he does it right. This charming companion adjacent to the entrance of the ultra-swank Valentino is designed in a casual, chic Mediterranean style, complete with a wine bar, tiny bar tables huddled up against a divider, and a spacious but understated dining area done in breezy earth tones. What makes this place special are its accessibility and its modest pricing. Among our favorite appetizers are the savory grilled tomato and cheese pizza and garlicky bruschetta topped with fresh tomato. Main dishes run from the familiar (a lasagna alla Bolognese) to the rustic (swordfish steak with a tomato, olive and caper salad), and even to the luxurious (a terrific veal osso buco with saffron risotto cakes). For dessert, don't miss the mango ice cream cake with mango salad or panna cotta with fresh fruit soup and passion fruit sorbet, and finish with a three-ounce pour of moscato d’Asti.
4
Le Central
Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109 / 702-946-7000
Stroll from the lobby or the casino at Paris Las Vegas into the gazebo-like Le Central, where you can enjoy a glass of Champagne or a late-night pousse-café and feel like you just landed on the Left Bank of the Seine---that is, if the Left Bank were accompanied by a cacophony of bells and jangles from slot machines lining its thoroughfares.
5
Mist Bar & Lounge
Treasure Island Las Vegas, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109 / 702-894-7111
Mist's low-key atmosphere is a welcome contrast to the coin-spitting, bell-ringing action of nearby casinos. Sink into a comfy leather couch, order a pint and watch a ball game on the plasma TVs. Don't confuse it with a beer hall. Hardwood floors and Persian rugs create an elegant ambience, and a decent cocktail list attracts a hip crowd.
6
Mix IN LAS VEGAS
THEHotel at Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89119 / 702-632-9500
Owner Alain Ducasse may very well be the most famous chef in the world. Mandalay Bay honored him with a $14-million restaurant, which boasts a $2-million kitchen. Ducasse only visits Las Vegas periodically, but French chef Bruno Davaillon sees to it that the master's handiwork is not compromised. Avant-garde designer Patrick Jouin creates eye candy with his chic, Jetsons-modern dining rooms and special effects that shine, like the half-million-dollar Champagne bubble chandelier. Reserve a balcony table for the best Strip view in the city. Then dig into Ducasse's classic duck foie gras terrine with pineapple chutney; potato gnocchi with fresh morels and asparagus; roasted Maine lobster au curry with coconut basmati rice; and bison tenderloin with sauce au poivre and a MIX of vegetables. The baba au rhum, a specialty of Ducasse's Monaco restaurant, is fabulous, as is the MIX candy bar. So are the after-dinner drinks such as Far Niente “Dolce” Napa 2003 and 20-year Port Tawny Fonseca.
7
Nine Fine Irishmen
New York-New York Hotel & Casino, 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109 / 702-740-6463
This dynamic, two-story authentic Irish pub seats 350, including outdoor dining on the spacious patio overlooking the Strip. The brainchild of The Irish Pub Company of Dublin and New York-New York executives, it is named for nine mid-nineteenth-century Irishmen who rebelled against the British Empire, were exiled and returned to do good things for Ireland and England. Designed and built in Ireland, it serves authentic Irish stouts, lagers, creamy ales and premium spirits the way they're poured in the homeland. The menu features a few Irish signature dishes, plus an array of variations to accommodate American palates. Among starters, we like the lump crab cake with crisp greens and chive crème fraîche. The full Irish breakfast is created with farm-fresh eggs, rashers of bacon and sausage, tomatoes and mushrooms. The Prime beef burger with cheddar, tomato chutney, garlic mayo and a drunken onion is popular for lunch. Among specialties served for lunch and dinner are the signature colcannon soup---cream of potato, cabbage and bacon---served with homemade farmhouse soda bread. Favorites also served all day and evening include traditional bangers and mash. Among irresistible desserts is Bushmill's bread pudding, a buttery baked brioche served in a large cup accompanied by smaller cups of whiskey cream and caramel toppings. Irish bands play nightly and Friday through Sunday afternoons.
8
Risqué
Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109 / 702-946-4589
Enjoy your cocktail on the second story balcony and take in a great view of The Strip. Red velvet curtains and a Moulin Rouge-style burlesque show make the bar seem over-the-top, but with table service and a decent wine list, it's a great place to unwind.
9
Trattoria del Lupo
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89119 / 702-740-5522
Foodies always wondered what Wolfgang Puck's cuisine would have been like had he focused more on Italy than France. They have good reason to be very happy in this smart, striking restaurant with an elegant bar as popular as the dining room. The kitchen is ably presided over by executive chef Eduardo Perez, a 21-year veteran of the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group, most recently as chef de cuisine at Spago, Las Vegas. Lupo’s menu changes daily, reflecting the best and freshest products. Among popular insalatas is the “tre colore” with arugula, endive, radicchio, ricotta, pine nuts and lemon vinaigrette. Homey soups, such as garden vegetable minestrone served with breadsticks, are winners. Favorite pasta creations include tortelloni alla balsamic---cheese-filled pastas with sage, aged balsamic and shaved Pecorino. Among pizzas might be the patate---thinly sliced potatoes with shallots, black truffles, Fontina and thyme. Entrées have included grilled swordfish with porcini mushrooms and tarragon cream and salsiccia alla casalinga---house-made sausage, white polenta, peppers and onions. Also on the menu are gamberetti and fagioli---sautéed prawns with rosemary- and garlic-flavored white beans; lasagna verde Bolognese---handmade spinach pasta layered with béchamel and Bolognese; and osso buco---slow-braised veal shank with ricotta gnocchi and broccolini. The wine list is filled with hard-to-find boutique Italian bottles and surprises from other regions. Save room for the chocolate hazelnut cake---chocolate mousse, crunchy wafers and raspberry sauce, and the cherry ricotta cheesecake with a chocolate-pistachio crust and port-glazed cherries.
10
V Bar
Grand Canal Shoppes, The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas, NV 89109 / 702-733-0070
V Bar's chaises longues, enormous leather booths and light jazz encourage conversation, not all-night dancing. Known for its specialty martinis and extensive scotch menu, this low-key hangout is perfect for meeting a client or chilling with friends.
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