Las Vegas has reimagined itself in recent years, moving away from its former “Sin City” image. Instead of focusing on a hedonistic reputation, the city is now attracting visitors with the promise of unparalleled experiences. The iconic slogan “What happens here, stays here” subtly transformed in 2020 into “What happens here, only happens here,” reflecting this new focus on unique offerings.
A Whirlwind of Entertainment
The sheer volume of entertainment options in Vegas can be overwhelming! It’s a place where you can play classic pinball machines, watch headlining acts like Adele and Bruno Mars, indulge in a 16-course underwater-themed dinner, and even play blackjack by the pool – all within a night, under the watchful eyes of the Rialto Bridge and the Eiffel Tower. Navigating this kaleidoscope of experiences is the real challenge.
Beyond the Strip: A Culinary Journey
To truly experience the evolving landscape of Las Vegas, you must venture beyond the Strip. It’s here that you’ll discover hidden gems that will surprise and delight you.
Wakuda, a new Japanese restaurant inside the Venetian hotel, is a must-visit. While the $500 omakase menu may seem exorbitant, there’s more to Wakuda than just high-priced fish. The restaurant’s adjoining lounge is a gold-flecked, dreamlike haven, offering some of the most distinctive cocktails on the Strip. For a truly refreshing experience, try the Japanese highball ($20), made with a machine that infuses it with five times the CO2 of a regular soda, or the Cable Gai ($24), named after Tokyo’s Golden Gai district and featuring a harmonious blend of fresh-pressed apple juice and Mars Iwai whiskey. Light bites like sashimi toast (small crackers with lobster, $25, or marinated tuna, $10) and yuzu-drizzled kanpachi ($35), or amberjack, offer a tantalizing taste of the main dining room, which marks the U.S. debut of renowned chef Tetsuya Wakuda.
A Touch of History: Piero’s Italian Cuisine
Piero’s, an elegant and moody Italian restaurant, has been serving up history and culinary delights since 1982. This iconic establishment, which appeared in Martin Scorsese’s 1995 film “Casino,” embodies the colorful past of Las Vegas. Its real-life mob connections, including visits from “Fat Herbie” Blitzstein and Tony “The Ant” Spilotro, are whispered about in hushed tones. Of the six dining rooms, locals favor the oak-paneled Tarkanian Room, which requires reservations, while the Monkey Bar offers a perfect opportunity to channel your inner Rat Pack with a classic martini. Family-style portions of bone-in veal parmigiana ($65), a four-hour-simmered osso buco ($49), and the iconic Pat’s Meatballs ($21) are culinary highlights.
An Enchanting Evening: The Magician’s Study
The Magician’s Study, a unique magic show, offers a departure from the jumbotron antics of David Copperfield. With an intimate audience of just 40 guests (children are not allowed), the show features card magic and Houdini-style stunts performed by a mysterious, nameless magician. The ever-changing venue adds to the intrigue and suspense, with the location revealed just hours before the show. The night begins with an email revealing the secret address and culminates in the magician’s dramatic entrance, masked as a giant rabbit, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats. The fact that this show can maintain such mystique in the age of oversharing is truly remarkable. Tickets start at $99.
Escape the City: Red Rock Canyon
Leave the bustling Strip behind and embark on a nature escape to Red Rock Canyon. While there’s no bus service connecting the canyon to the city, the half-hour drive is well worth the effort, especially if you arrive early to avoid the scorching midday heat. The Calico Basin trail is a popular hiking option, offering a 1.5-mile loop that winds through a natural spring with vibrant cottonwood, oak, and honey mesquite trees. Ascend the rocky path to admire the 180-million-year-old Aztec Sandstone peaks, towering like giant embers against the sky. The canyon is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including sagebrush lizards, gray foxes, desert tortoises, and jackrabbits, who use the protruding rock formations as a refuge from the desert heat. The nearby Red Meadows Boardwalk, a wheelchair-friendly half-mile trail, leads you through a lush saltgrass meadow. Take a moment to relax on a bench and listen to the cheerful songs of white-crowned sparrows and spotted towhees.
A Culinary Adventure: Chinatown
Las Vegas’s Chinatown, which began as a single strip mall in 1994, has evolved into a vibrant and multicultural neighborhood. The Spring Mountain Road corridor, a foodie paradise, is best explored on foot. Start your journey at Taiwan Deli, where you can enjoy Taiwanese doughnuts and fresh soy milk ($7) in a dining room that evokes the glamour of 1930s Taipei. Next door, Shanghai Plaza boasts an array of restaurants and bakeries, including Shanghai Taste, renowned for its delicious sheng jian bao, or pan-fried soup dumplings ($8.95). End your culinary exploration at Sul & Beans, a Los Angeles-based Korean dessert chain specializing in bingsoo, or shaved ice sundaes, in flavors like fresh mango and injeolmi, made with roasted soybean.
A Moment of Tranquility: Guardian Angel Cathedral
Peace, prayer, and penance may not be the first words that come to mind when you think of Las Vegas, but they are inscribed on a sea-blue mosaic outside the Guardian Angel Cathedral, hinting at the calm that awaits inside. Designed in 1961 by Paul Revere Williams, a prominent California-based architect, the cathedral boasts a stark, light-filled interior, offering a serene oasis amidst the bustle of the Strip. During Sunday morning mass (11 a.m., open to visitors), the clean, unbroken geometry of Mr. Williams’s design is both soothing and inspiring. The cathedral provides a moment of tranquility that you can carry with you as you step back into the vibrant world of Las Vegas.
