When it opened in 1998, Bellagio raised the ante for major players on the Strip. From its graceful dancing fountains out front to the jaw-dropping Dale Chihuly glass flower sculpture in the lobby, this grand dame aims to impress. It even starred in the remake of the Rat Pack caper movie Ocean’s Eleven. Stroll down the deluxe shopping promenades, wander the indoor...
Rising between CityCenter and Bellagio, the Strip‘s flashiest casino resort has upped the ante. Forget about stuffy casino hotels that lamely try to imitate the elegance of Old Europe. Cosmopolitan is aptly named; it’s sophisticated, young and ambitious. Here beauty has finally tamed the beast of the Strip. Whimsical contemporary art and priceless museum pieces are everywhere you look around the...
Casino impresario Steve Wynn has done it again. This glam casino hotel at the north end of the Strip is the sequel to the Wynn resort next door. Encore delivers on the hype, with more of what the original is famous for: Italianate design, high-stakes gaming, high-flying chefs’ dining rooms, hot nightlife at XS and Surrender ultra lounge, and the posh Encore...
Artificially blue skies with fluffy clouds float over Elysian fields of designer boutiques. Stalwart houses of fashion – Armani, Dior, Versace – and youthful names like 7 for All Mankind and Juicy all find their place in this faux Roman marketplace with over 160 shops. Ladies, look out for Agent Provocateur for lingerie. Meanwhile, Lush and Kiehl’s carry everything good for your...
Sporting a faux Italianate cityscape, the Venetian’s luxury mall is almost a world unto itself. Let yourself float here off the Strip via the mini Rialto Bridge and its anachronistic moving walkway. Inside high heels go clickety-clack down cobblestone streets past designer shops, while operatic singers provide “streetmosphere.” Catch a free live performance in St Mark’s Square while waiting in line at...
On weekends, you’d be forgiven for thinking every twenty- and thirty-something from Southern California had decamped here. Walk dazedly around the expanded casino, where go-go dancers shimmy above the blackjack tables, and take in the museum-worthy collection of rock-star memorabilia, from black leather jackets worn by everyone from Elvis to the Ramones. Feed yourself at star-studded Nobu sushi bar. Mr. Lucky’s...
What was once the kitschy Imperial Palace casino hotel has become a buzzing new place to be in the middle of the Strip. Renovated from top to bottom and rebranded as the LINQ, you’ll still find a few old favorites here, but much more stuff that’s brand new. You’ve still got Irish-themed O’Sheas casino for low rollers, the gluttonous Hash House...
Revolving around Planet Hollywood’s casino, this lotsa-bang-for-your-buck shopping mall feels endless. And with good reason: it’s 1.2 miles long, stuffed with over a dozen restaurants and 170 stores. Most are ubiquitous chains, but you’ll find a few standouts like the Tatyana boutique for retro pin-up and rockabilly fashions. The Strip side of the mall is towered over by two restaurants with bars that...
The deluxe Palazzo casino resort almost outshines its elder sister, the Venetian. More intimate than its neighbor, the Palazzo also delivers more bang for your buck, not just with its sumptuous hotel suites, but also its high-end shopping mall, anchored by Barneys New York department store and a small galaxy of catwalk stars and sought-after European imports. Lavo, an Italian...
Get ahead of your vacation budget at Vegas’ best outlet shopping mall. Not far west of downtown, you’ll find primo brand names heavily discounted here, including Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, DKNY, and AllSaints. Public buses shuttle to the mall frequently, including the SDX express route from the Strip and downtown. From the Strip, it’s at least a 30-minute bus ride, or about 15 minutes...