Those long, Spago-less months in Las Vegas are finally over! After ending its 25-year run inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in January, Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group has now debuted the new Spago Las Vegas at the Bellagio Resort & Casino.
Photo Credit: MGM Resorts International
Talk about a ship-worthy pairing, right? One is a widely-acclaimed restauranteur with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and an unprecedented influence on the local culinary scene; the other, an iconic AAA Five Diamond resort on the Las Vegas Strip with its own 8.5-acre lake. The chef himself called it a match made in heaven.
“For us, it’s the perfect synergy between Spago and Bellagio,” said Wolfgang Puck. “The resort’s clientele and my longtime guests align perfectly with Spago’s exceptional offerings and elegant atmosphere.”
Photo Credit: MGM Resorts International
Speaking of a match made in heaven, it was the chef’s own talented wife, Gelila Puck, who designed the new restaurant’s memorable atmosphere, along with architects Massimiliano Locatelli and Annamaria Scevola of CLS Architetti. She considered the restaurant’s proximity to the world-famous Bellagio Fountains crucial to her vision.
“The fountains were everything for us,” said the philanthropist and fashion designer. “We used the water as a key element in the design of the restaurant, bringing the beautiful feature to the forefront of the dining experience from the moment our guests enter the restaurant.”
Photo Credit: MGM Resorts International
The main dining room features topographical art by Las Vegas artist Katie Lewis that’s inspired by the Nevada desert landscape. One wall is dedicated to a three-dimensional, Japanese-inspired wall hanging crafted by Jacob Hashimoto. Two chandeliers accent the contemporary aesthetic.
Guests can watch the fountains of Bellagio through the dining room’s sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows, but the most desirable seats in the house are those on the completely remodeled circular, al fresco patio, where guests enjoy unobstructed front-row views. There are also two private fountain-view dining rooms.
Photo Credit: MGM Resorts International
As for Puck’s cuisine, the Spago Las Vegas menu follows a farm-to-table ethos of seasonally-inspired, hand-selected ingredients and signature fare. Puck also added specific dishes exclusive to the Spago at Bellagio such as a Saffron Risotto with Santa Barbara Spot Prawns (housed in a special tank at the resort).
Cocktail highlights include a twist on a traditional tiki cocktail called “Trouble in Mind” using Bourbon instead of Rum. The wine list features seasonally-picked wines from around the world, plus nearly one dozen wines from Wolfgang Puck’s private label.
Photo Credit: Anthony Mair
Spago replaces Todd English’s Olives, which closed in Via Bellagio in December.
Prior to the public opening, Jennifer Lopez joined Chef Puck for a party at the restaurant celebrating the release of her new single, “Dinero.” Guests and celebs like Salt-N-Pepa, French Montana, Ashlee Simspon and Normani savored Puck’s delicious dishes before dancing the night away in the main dining room.
