From a rotating restaurant to a year-round ski lodge speakeasy, these are the most unique dining and drinking experiences in Sin City.
Top of the World
World famous for its spectacular views of the Las Vegas Strip and mountains from a 360-degree rotating dining room, Top of the World sits 800 feet high in The STRAT’s iconic 1,149-foot STRAT Tower, the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States. Newly remodeled with contemporary elegance, the circular dining room is framed by floor-to-ceiling glass windows and is the only revolving restaurant in Las Vegas with a dining room that rotates 360 degrees every 80 minutes. Come for the view, the award-winning wine list, highlights of which include Kistler ‘Les Noisetiers’ 2017, DeLille Cellars Chaleur Blanc 2018, and Barbaresco Vietti ‘Masseria’ 2013, among others; sublime service; and fantastic fare, which includes an impressive seafood tower stacked high with Australian lobster, King crab, and oysters, as well as exceptional steaks such as a Wagyu New York strip, bone-in filets, and ribeyes.
Happy Camper
Photo Credit: David Borzkowski
Happy Camper has a distinct vibe, and that is a party. Filled with vintage campers, disco balls, fire pits, and neon lights, it’s raucous good time — and best of all, its retractable roof allows for prime patio seating year-round (with fire pits and cabanas to boot). It’s party food to be sure — the pizza in particular is a must — though we recommend the “Struggle Bus Brunch,” with a menu that includes everything from chicken and waffles to a breakfast pizza, as well as bottomless mimosas and the Hangover Iced Coffee.
Eiffel Tower
Photo Credit: Lindsay Eberly
From its location 110 feet above the Las Vegas Strip in the Paris Resort & Casino, Eiffel Tower Restaurant gives those who can’t make it to the real Paris an opportunity to have dinner in the Eiffel Tower, offering picture-perfect views of the Bellagio Fountain paired with food and wine by chef J. Joho. In addition to its truly romantic, wedding proposal-worthy vibe, it offers a robust wine list comprised of nearly 12,000 bottles of 1,200 selections, focusing on the major regions of France, and a seasonal menu that can be enjoyed a la carte or as a tasting menu with wine pairings.
Paris Resort & Casino, 3655 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109
Ski Lodge
Photo Credit: Spiegelworld
Hidden with Superfrico inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the unmarked Ski Lodge requires a sense of adventure (or a bit of insider knowledge) to find. This is a year-round wintertime wonderland where the lights are always low, the pizza, drinks and good times flow, and every day is a snow day. Beyond its wild and winter aesthetic, which includes a picture window overlooking a forest snowfall and a climate-friendly crackling fire blazing 365 days a year, Ski Lodge, which is inspired by the world’s coziest apres-ski bars (predominantly the legendary slope-side hole-in-the-wall Bar-Gyu in Hokkaido, Japan), courtesy of Spiegelworld (which guarantees a good time is to be had), offers a menu of signature frico-crusted square pizzas, toasted s’mores, and a winter-friendly cocktail list.
OddWood
Photo Credit: Laurent Velasquez
Located in the heart of AREA15 is Oddwood Bar, where the focal point is an ever-changing, nearly 23-foot-high Japanese maple tree with more than 5,000 twinkling LED lights. What makes it additionally unique is its all-encompassing sound system and intuitive lights that immerse you completely. The cocktail list is playful and Instagram worthy: the Lavender Old Fashioned —Angel’s Envy bourbon, heirloom flora, and lavender — is served with a lavender smoke skull, while the Smoke & Berries — The Botanist gin, fresh strawberries, Aperol, fresh lemon, agave, and egg whites — is served with a bubblegum bubble.
The X Pot
Photo Credit: The X Pot
The X Pot is
the first and
the only hot
pot restaurant on
the Las Vegas Strip, but make it Vegas. There’s an
interactive 5D light show, robotic servers, a traditional face-changing ceremony, and even a noodle dance, where hand-pulled noodles are created right in front of your eyes.
Grand Canal Shoppes At The Palazzo, Fl 2, 3327 S Las Vegas Blvd, 89109
Unknown
Photo Credit: Palms
Imagine sipping a cocktail underneath a three-piece, formaldyhyde-preserved tiger shark, and that’s the experience you’ll have courtesy of British artist Damien Hirst when sipping cocktails at Unknown Bar in the lobby of the Palms. The 13-foot shark — caught by a fisherman in Australia — was a shark, and now serves as art from Hirst, dubbed The Unknown (Explored, Explained, Exploded). What makes the experience even more unique: as part of the casino’s $620 million renovation, Hirst completely created this space, from coasters and swizzle sticks, to matchbooks, to even the felt on nearby gaming tables. There are also another nine pieces of art from his Pharmaceutical Spot series. Make it a game and see if you can spot them.
Park On Fremont
Park on Fremont is a feast for the senses. The space — both indoor and outdoor — is visually arresting and entirely whimsical. There’s actual taxidermy, wild paintings that seem to be looking at you, a ceramic fireplace with over 150 handcrafted ceramic butterflies, and a back patio with gnomes, flowers, and a painting of two horses doing something that feels very Vegas. For those who plan on taking in the lights and wild energy of Fremont Street, this is a must.
506 Fremont St, 89101
The Golden Tiki
Photo Credit: Golden Tiki
The Golden Tiki isn’t your average tiki bar, oh no. This Las Vegas institution offers an expectedly rum-heavy menu alongside pirate decor and a fabulous concept, that of the terrible and missing 17th century buccaneer William Tobias Faulkner, but what sets it apart is it dedication to the shrunken head. Yes, you read that right. It’s most famous visitors — or most frequent — are immortalized with their own “shrunken heads” that line the back wall of the off-Strip tiki bar. Look carefully and you’ll see Rod Stewart, U2’s Bono, Siegfried & Roy, among others. Hang out there carefully and you might just be immortalized yourself. Insider tip: make sure not to miss the bathrooms.
Electric Playhouse’s Teamtime in Wonderland
Photo Credit: Electric Playhouse
“It’s always tea time, and we’ve no time to wash the things between whiles,” The Mad Hatter tells Alice in Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Alice, the Hatter, and tea are the whimsical themes at Electric Playhouse, an experiential entertainment destination located inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, which offers a immersive teatime adventure that transports guests into a world of enchantment with interactive storytelling and an expertly crafted menu by celebrity pastry chef Keris Kuwana of Food Network’s “Chopped – Gold Medal Games: Baking” as well as her prior roles at Alan Wong’s Michelin-starred restaurant in Honolulu, Alex Stratta’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant at the Wynn Las Vegas and Charlie Palmer’s Steakhouse. “Teatime In Wonderland” takes place in a multisensory environment of motion-activated imagery and sound. As guests move through the experience, the walls and tables will come to life utilizing 360-degree projection mapping that fully immerses attendees in the enchanting culinary adventure. Each item is served will be thoughtfully crafted to reflect the magic and wonder of Alice’s adventures, providing a feast for both the eyes and the palate. In addition to artfully arranged fare and sweets, there are also cocktails on offer for the 21+ set, including Purring with Cheshire, a blend of Empress Gin, passion fruit puree, lime juice, and basil syrup, and Down the Rabbit Hole, an indulgent espresso martini featuring espresso, vodka, Kahlúa, Baileys, and simple syrup.
