"Las Vegas is the only city in the world where the hotels are the destination."
Las Vegas has reinvented itself multiple times — from mob-run gambling den to family resort to luxury destination — and the current iteration is the most compelling. The hotels on the Strip are extraordinary works of architecture and hospitality; the dining scene has attracted the world's finest chefs; and the entertainment lineup, anchored by the Sphere and multiple Cirque du Soleil productions, is unmatched anywhere in the world. The city is best experienced as a luxury destination, not a budget one — the difference between a Wynn suite and a budget motel room is the difference between two entirely different cities.
"The Sphere — the most extraordinary entertainment venue ever built. Nothing else comes close."
TastesOf Editorial
At a Glance
What Not to Miss
The Strip at Night
Las Vegas Boulevard at night — four miles of neon, LED, and spectacle that is unlike anything else on earth. Walk it from the Stratosphere to Mandalay Bay, stopping at the Bellagio fountains, the Venetian canals, and the Wynn's Lake of Dreams. The best free show in the world.
World-Class Fine Dining
Las Vegas has quietly become one of the finest dining cities in America — with outposts of Joël Robuchon, Guy Savoy, Nobu, and Carbone alongside homegrown institutions like Bazaar Meat and é by José Andrés. The concentration of Michelin-starred and James Beard-recognised restaurants per square mile is extraordinary.
Cirque du Soleil
Las Vegas is the permanent home of multiple Cirque du Soleil productions — including O at the Bellagio (the water show) and Mystère at Treasure Island. O is one of the finest theatrical productions in the world; book well in advance.
The Sphere
The most extraordinary entertainment venue ever built — a 366-foot-tall spherical structure covered in 1.2 million LED lights, with an interior screen that wraps 360 degrees around the audience. The immersive concert experience inside is unlike anything else in the world.
Red Rock Canyon
Twenty minutes from the Strip, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area offers 13-mile scenic drives, world-class rock climbing, and hiking trails through the Mojave Desert. The contrast with the Strip is absolute and necessary.
The Wynn and Encore
Steve Wynn's masterpiece — two connected luxury resorts with the finest casino floors, the best pool complex, and the most consistently excellent dining on the Strip. The Wynn Golf Club is the only golf course on the Strip.
Where to Stay
The Wynn Las Vegas
Ultra-LuxuryThe finest hotel on the Strip — impeccable service, extraordinary dining, a world-class spa, and a casino that is the most beautiful in Las Vegas. The standard against which all other Strip hotels are measured.
Bellagio
IconicThe hotel that defined modern Las Vegas luxury — the fountains, the conservatory, the gallery of fine art, and a dining lineup that includes Picasso and Prime Steakhouse. Still the most recognisable hotel in the world.
Resorts World Las Vegas
New LuxuryThe newest major resort on the Strip — with Hilton, Conrad, and Crockfords brands under one roof, a rooftop pool complex, and a dining lineup anchored by Carversteak and Brezza.
The Verdict
Invest in the hotel, book the Sphere, eat at the Wynn — Las Vegas rewards those who do it properly.