America’s entertainment capital has come roaring back, with new shows, hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and spas debuting regularly. The devil-may-care attitude that seeps into your bones here is singularly unique to this modern microcosm of flashy fun in the Mojave Desert. If you need a break from the Strip, a hike at Red Rock Canyon outside the city is a relaxing contrast to a night out on the town. There’s no better place to live large and revel in the moment, with world-class performances and nightlife every day of the week. After all, anything goes in Las Vegas.
Photography provided by Waldorf Astoria
Stay
The most elegant hotel in town is undergoing a two-year, multimillion-dollar transformation. The first phase of the property-wide refresh includes brightening up all 389 guest rooms and suites as well as meeting spaces with a desert-themed color palette. Later in the year, a new fine dining restaurant will replace Twist by Pierre Gagnaire. For now, the 23rd floor SkyBar boasts some of the best panoramic views on the Strip. Formerly the Mandarin Oriental, the Waldorf Astoria maintains the non-gaming and non-smoking standards that create a serene oasis. It’s easy to spend the entire day at the expansive two-story spa, relaxing in the vitality pool, laconium and sensory rain showers before a pampering treatment employing OSEA Malibu products. The hotel sits adjacent to the Shops at Crystals for high-end shopping, and a house car is on standby to take guests anywhere on the Strip.
Photography provided by All In Aviation
Do
This Cirrus Training Center is one of the most luxurious flight schools in America, with 16 Cirrus and Cessna planes. There’s been a huge surge in interest for flight training in the past couple years, and Las Vegas remains one of the best places to learn. With All In Aviation, adventure seekers can design their own flight lessons anywhere in the Southwest region. Bring up to three guests and visit destinations like Zion, the Grand Canyon or Sedona, Arizona, with views of Lake Mead, Red Rock and the Hoover Dam along the way. Stop for lunch or a round of golf — Mesa Grill at Sedona Airport is especially scenic — before returning to Henderson Executive Airport. Bonus: All time in the air counts toward hours to obtain a private pilot’s license if you opt to enroll in flight training.
Photography by Anthony Mair
Dine
Whether you’re in the mood for dim sum, hot pot or whole Peking duck, Red Plate delivers one of the most exquisite Chinese culinary experiences in Sin City. Executive Chef Yip Cheung prepares fresh live seafood and rare delicacies like sea cucumber, fish maw and bird’s nest in traditional Cantonese fashion using techniques like braising, steaming and double boiling to accentuate each ingredient’s delicate flavors. Every dish is listed on the menu in both English and Chinese, and the Champagne-colored dining room is dotted with plush red banquettes. Pair your meal with creative cocktails and rare teas. Evening dim sum standouts like abalone tarts and black truffle xiao long bao are the perfect prelude to heartier meats, noodles and clay pot rice. Whole suckling pig and whole Peking duck are available for larger groups, plus there are plentiful vegan and vegetarian options, like delectable Sichuan spicy tofu.
Photography provided by Etoile
Shop
Fashionistas must visit chic indie brand Etoile’s flagship boutique at Grand Canal Shoppes for versatile handbags that balance style and function. Montreal native Annye Grande founded the brand in 2016 to compete with the likes of Dior and Prada, and her creations are crafted using the best European materials right here in the United States, with touches like soft suede lining and secure magnetic flap closures. Each bag is really two in one: Signature totes include custom inserts that can be worn as a small crossbody, and bucket bags come with suede wristlets. Choose from python leather, fluffy shearling and functional nylon fabrics and customize your bag with novelty leather shoulder straps depending on your mood. New accessories include leather water bottle holders and earbud cases. More Etoile outposts are set to open in 2022, but for now, this is the brand’s only retail location.
Photography provided by Guy Savoy
Dine
Tucked away in the Augustus Tower at Caesars Palace is legendary French chef Guy Savoy’s only eatery outside Paris, and it’s the finest display of haute dining in Las Vegas. Dinner is both an art and a performance, with Champagne, bread, cheese and more than two dozen petit fours all served tableside by trolley. The artichoke and black truffle soup is a must-try dish that earned chef Savoy his third Michelin star, served with a side of buttery toasted mushroom brioche to sop up every last drop. New on the menu this winter are a hearty game meat chanterelle stew and a vegan root vegetable medley. Ambitious gourmands can even book a private cooking class with Executive Chef Nicolas Costagliola to learn the secrets behind signature dishes then enjoy the fruits of their labor at the Krug Chef’s Table in the kitchen.
Photography provided by The Stirling Club
Do
Discerning spa goers seeking peace and quiet head to this recently renovated private club just off the Strip. The mansion-like property boasts a gym, pool, spa and salon, and its sweeping marble staircase and gilded gold ceiling make a striking first impression. Members have access to private cigar, wine and gym lockers, and day passes are available for non-members. After playing tennis on the city’s only clay courts, sip sangria in a poolside cabana. The medical spa features high-tech offerings you won’t find elsewhere, including microneedling and laser therapy for lifting, tightening and pigment control. After your treatment, get ready for an evening out at Michael Boychuck Salon while enjoying complimentary bubbly. The celebrity colorist has worked with stars like Lady Gaga and Katy Perry here, and the salon offers hair and eyelash extensions along with balayage and blowouts.
