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City Cast Las Vegas

Rob Kachelriess

, but some chefs and restaurateurs go above and beyond in Las Vegas, establishing culinary empires that deliver a variety of food in multiple locations — without skimping on quality.

 to the neighborhood dining scene. The chef’s farm-fresh Italian cuisine (and that bread!) at 

 helped establish the Arts District as a must-visit dining destination. He then set his sights on Tivoli Village with 

 (a larger dining room with Italian-American classics done right) and 

, which started out as a pizza and ice cream shop before transforming into a wine bar with food that punches well above its weight class. Back in the Arts District, Trees moved Esther’s into a larger location and brought in Ada’s to take over the old space. Down the street, the chef and his team run French bistro 

. Trees finally made it (almost) to the Strip with 

, a steakhouse on the top floor of the Rio hotel tower.

🥩 We’re keeping celebrity chefs at bay on this list, but making an exception for José Andrés, who’s been especially active in Vegas. 

 at the Cosmopolitan presents a loyal take on Spanish cuisine, featuring a wood-fired paella grill that’s a show all by itself. 

 is an exclusive, restaurant-within-a-restaurant that celebrates the chef’s love of gastronomy with just two intimate seatings a night. The Cosmopolitan is also home to 

, which serves both Asian and Mexican dishes (while resisting the urge to “fuse” them together). Andrés’ grandest restaurant, the 

 after moving from the Sahara to the Palazzo, while 

 shifts the focus to seafood inside the Shops at Crystals. The sleeper pick? 

, which combines Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and African flavors at the Forum Shops. A special $100 anniversary tasting menu (available through June 1) throws a little of everything your way with no choices to worry about — and worth it for the chilled yogurt soup and smoked lamb shoulder kleftiko alone.

🍸 Chef Oscar Amador turned a small Spanish tapas restaurant, EDO, into one of the most acclaimed restaurants in Chinatown before expanding the concept to the Gramercy with 

, which brought an Italian influence into the mix. Amador closed the original, renaming it 

personal, experimental take on Latin flavors

, which combines familiar elements (gin and tonic, anyone?) with French inspiration east of the Strip. The kitchen is in great hands under the direction of corporate executive chef Tayden Poha-Ellamar (a veteran of L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon) and executive chef Roberto Higuera. If that’s not enough, a new gastropub is on deck to open this year at the Gramercy in the old DW Bistro space.

 has only grown and gotten better under the ownership of Ivy Ma and husband Nick Lin. The Chinatown original was knocked out of action a few years ago due to a fire, prompting a 

 in Shanghai Plaza and later, the brand’s 

 at Palace Station. All three serve a spirited take on regional Chinese cuisine, from dumplings to crispy beef, under the guidance of longtime executive chef Bing Chou. The smaller 

 is geared towards takeout orders in Summerlin and Spring Valley, while 

 is more casual, serving beef rolls, soups, and other bites near Charleston Heights.

Some of our city's best chefs and restaurateurs prove it's possible to have quantity without sacrificing quality. 

Culinary Empires That Help Make the Vegas Dining Scene Great

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Las Vegas. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Las Vegas Food & Drink

Food & Drink

It’s hard to miss the ever-growing campus of 

 alongside the 215 in the Southwest Valley. The buildings make an eye-catching impression with bright pops of red against pale shades of grey — almost like an Air Jordan reimagined as architecture. Business must be good, right? But what’s it all about?

Self-described as the "Fort Knox of data,” Switch designs and operates data centers in not only Las Vegas, but Reno, Atlanta, Grand Rapids, Austin, and Houston. The business is all about the storage and protection of high-volume digital data, but has branched further out into AI infrastructure and high-density computing over the years. 

 like Google, ebay, FedEx, and on a local level, MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment and even the City of Henderson.

reputation for being a high-security compound

 with rumours of military-style protection, including drones and even the recruitment of former Navy Seals to hold the digital fort down. However, the company keeps tight-lipped on security details, preferring to neither confirm or deny the gossip.

 (yes … real name) in 2000, based on his own patented tech innovations. The company 

, raising $531 million in an IPO, but went private again when it was 

 for $11 billion in 2022. There has been talk about offering another IPO with a 

 in 2024. The figure would surely be higher today as stocks related to AI are booming — but are 

. Switch could easily cash in now, but might be better off in the long run by waiting for things to settle down first.

 is growing across the country. (Boulder City is 

.) But Switch isn’t quite the resource-sucker others are. The headquarters and “The Core” Las Vegas campus add up to more than 2 million square feet — and it’s all powered by the company’s own solar power operation in North Las Vegas. The panels alone 

. Switch also uses 100% recycled water in its data centers while claiming to 

 up to two times more water than it uses for a net-positive result. 

Can the "Fort Knox of data” show Las Vegas that data centers aren't something to fear?

So What Does Switch Do Anyway?

What Las Vegans have been wondering. We break down why things in Las Vegas are the way they are and how they work.

Las Vegas, Explained

Las Vegas is full of neighborhoods that aren’t always easy to define. We’ve got our share of townships — Paradise, Enterprise, Winchester — that nobody references in everyday life, and sometimes it’s hard to know when Henderson is really Henderson. (The guessing game on Eastern between the 215 and St. Rose is a good example.)

The Gateway District occupies its own land of confusion. I tend to think of it as “Arts District South,” containing the 

 and a few other random things. Upon consulting 

, the boundaries become more clear. The neighborhood stretches down to tourist destinations like 

, while brushing up to Las Vegas Boulevard on the east side and the Industrial Corridor to the west, drawing in small businesses like the historic 

The border between the Gateway District and the Arts District is officially on Imperial or at times, a fuzzy area in the block between Imperial and Colorado. But while the “18b Arts District” is technically 

 that inspired its proper-ish name, the neighborhood’s spirit carries over elsewhere, effectively pushing the Gateway District further south. Do you really feel like you’re leaving the Arts District when bar crawling to 

? To add to the confusion, some just refer to the area near the Strat as Naked City

“The Gateway District does kind of overlap with other places, more physically with Naked City and culturally with the Arts District,” says UNLV history professor Michael Green. “Naked City supposedly got its name from the showgirls, employed on the Strip, who sunned themselves at the apartments there, but it more likely had to do with the area's decline in the early 1980s.”

As the area evolves, efforts are underway to 

. Sometimes, Naked City feels more like gritty backstreets servicing The Strat than anything else, but small homes and apartments still have a presence, especially near Stupak Park, which shares a name with a community center that includes Meadows Library.

But the influence of the Arts District is changing everything in the area — just look at all the murals, painted by local artists, inside 

 driving range and other unexpected spots. “The artwork suggests you’re entering an area where the arts matter, and that neatly sets us up for the Arts District,” Green adds.

 sticks to referencing the “gateway” of 

 (illuminating the way to Fremont Street) and 

who might as well be pointing to the Arts District.

 in the middle of what is now the Arts District? It’s long gone, replaced by a Siegel Suites, which couldn't be a better metaphor for what we gain and lose in Las Vegas.

Can you tell the difference between the Gateway District, Arts District, and Naked City? It's getting harder to do. 

Where Is the Gateway District in Las Vegas?

The Art of Sharing Space in the Gateway District

Everything to know about Las Vegas neighborhoods: Where to go, eat, shop, drink, and more.

Las Vegas Neighborhood Guides

Neighborhood Guides

David Copperfield’s show at the MGM Grand 

 after 25 years. By all accounts, it’s one of the most successful residencies in Strip history, capitalizing on a famous run of CBS television specials in the ‘80s and ‘90s that featured stunts like walking through the Great Wall of China and making the Statue of Liberty disappear.

Before the MGM Grand came calling, Copperfield had a Vegas presence at Caesars Palace, where he performed for 15 years inside the Circus Maximus ballroom. He also hosted a 

 on property that saw the magician escape a straitjacket while hanging from burning ropes 

Much like his stunts, nothing is ever too big for David Copperfield. He 

 in 2016 for $17.55 million, then a record for a Las Vegas home. (Based on his annual 

, he could’ve purchased three of ‘em with change to spare.) Before that, he lived off Tomiyasu Lane in a house (that 

 in 2023) between Sunset Park and Wayne Newton’s Casa de Shenandoah.

Off stage, Copperfield kept a low profile for a local celebrity, stepping out on occasion to represent Vegas at awards shows, 

, claims to help those with “physical, psychological, and social disabilities,” but is almost nonexistent. The nonprofit 

, collectively worth $30,000, to three recipients over the five most recent years of data. Revenue peaked at just over $8,000 in 2020. Last year, 

Copperfield made a greater investment in founding and financing the International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts, a Vegas warehouse that honors magic with more than 

More artifacts were stored in Copperfield’s four-story New York penthouse, which was 

. The performer also spends time at his own tropical resort, 

, an archipelago of 11 islands in the Bahamas that welcomes private groups of up to 12 guests, 

It’s another Caribbean location — Little Saint James or “Epstein Island” — that could ultimately define how we remember David Copperfield. According to federal evidence, the magician 

 with convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and was infamously 

 with co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. Add in 

 by at least 16 women, and you may understand why MGM Resorts is now ending its relationship with the headliner sans fanfare. (Copperfield’s lawyers have denied any wrongdoing, and denied he had any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes).

I crossed paths with David Copperfield exactly one time in Las Vegas — backstage at the MGM Grand before a show. He was very nice. I got a press discount for a front-row table that was actually too close to the stage to soak everything in. (When Copperfield addressed the audience, I could see directly up his nostrils. Not a booger or stray hair in sight. His grooming was impeccable.) The show was fine. There was no Statue of Liberty to make disappear, but his grand finale involved something with a small plane.

You can see it for yourself. Tickets remain for the final three performances tomorrow. Just don’t expect any money you spend to make its way to the Project Magic Fund.

David Copperfield’s Las Vegas Residency Ends: Was He Ever Really One of Us?

People, places, and scenes from Las Vegas's past.

Las Vegas History

It’s not uncommon to find a coffee joint inside a bookstore, mall, or even a casino here in Las Vegas. But we uncovered a few more secret-ish spots, tucked away inside unlikely local businesses.

, a Summerlin hair salon. Whether you have a hair appointment or not, you’ll appreciate the fresh-brewed coffee, featuring Onyx beans with fun creations like a PB&J Latte, made with peanut butter espresso and apricot syrup. A few options are more health conscious with protein powder, monk fruit, or date syrup.

 is a Southwest Valley bicycle sales and service shop with its own coffee counter. Java nerds will love the pour-over option. Just pick your own beans (locally roasted by Vesta) and give it a few minutes. The pastries, made exclusively by MG Patisserie, are excellent. So try a croissant or brownie. 

, which rents exotic cars and three-wheeled slingshots off the Strip. Guests are welcome to sip away on lattes and espressos while checking out high-performance vehicles on display. The menu is also big on matcha and “Red Bull infusions” 😳 Come by on Sundays when the party picks up with vendors, a DJ, and sports viewing parties.

 is a coffee shop inside a thrift store near Flamingo and Buffalo. Browse discount clothes, home goods, vinyl while saving a few bucks on coffee, which, like everything else in the space, is priced on the affordable side. (The Cuban Coffee is less than three bucks.) Those on the run can place an online order for pickup.

 inside Neiman Marcus at Fashion Show mall. Sure, you can enjoy an espresso or cappuccino, but the champagne list actually dwarfs the coffee menu. Cocktails and lunch bites are available too. No matter what you order, the best seats are on the patio overlooking Las Vegas Boulevard.

 is a mobile coffee bar that now has a location inside the 

 on the corner of Decatur and Oakey. Just look for space D-61 to enjoy a pan dulce and horchata latte while shopping for anything and everything from hundreds of merchants.

 The West Valley food scene is picking up in a big way. 

caught up with two of our favorite foodies, Al Mancini and Gemini Stevens of the Food & Loathing podcast, for a revealing look at why 

North Summerlin is booming with new restaurants

Can the Summerlin North Dining Scene Compete with the Strip?

We uncovered a few secret-ish coffee spots, tucked away inside unlikely local businesses.

Secret Coffee Houses Hidden Inside Las Vegas Businesses

 of the Hard Rock’s ever-rising guitar-shaped hotel tower has become a spectator sport in Las Vegas, and while I’m looking forward to seeing it finished — I kinda miss the old place.

The Mirage lasted from 1989 to 2024 at the Hard Rock’s new address, ushering in the era of the “megaresort” and changing Las Vegas for good. The man behind it says its design was based on the three primordial sources of life 💧 🌻 ☀️ 👀

“You’ll notice all the hotels we built depended heavily on the use of water, plants, and indoor-outdoor spaces where the sun was shining,” 

Those elements were reflected in the rainforest atrium, aquariums, and tropical-themed swimming lagoons at the Mirage. Wynn also put his creative stamp on the Bellagio with its conservatory and fountain shows, which remain iconic imprints of Las Vegas today. By the time his own self-titled resort came around, a waterfall was the kind of thing you could see inside a restaurant and floral displays threatened to outpace slot machines on casino floors. (Well, 

 … but you get the idea.) In each case, the goal was to create a hotel that “invites people and makes the place aspirational.”

These musings aren’t coming to light in a memoir or docuseries, but on Instagram, where Wynn might be the social media network’s most active 83 year old. 

 the Strip on the Treasure Island pirate ship.

At times, he almost seems to be chronicling his own career, producing an autobiographical documentary post by post instead of waiting for somebody else to come along and do something more official.

These bite-size news nuggets reveal how Wynn’s influence continues to shape Strip tourism, even while he remains absent from it. The casino giant was effectively booted from the Las Vegas industrial complex after a 

With a mixed legacy, it’s hard to assess if Las Vegas is better off with or without Steve Wynn. But even if he doesn't deserve a like, his account might be worth a follow.

While persona non grata in the Vegas casino industry, Steven Wynn is busy chronicling his life and career on social media.

Steve Wynn: Missing From Vegas, But Active on Instagram

You’ve probably noticed those new, rectangular, driverless robotaxis on Las Vegas roads. But making the decision to actually step inside one is another matter. The vehicles (funded by the same company that brings toothpaste and protein bars to your doorstep — Amazon), are now active on and around the Strip. And they’re ✨free ✨… at least for a little while.

I decided to test the system out. It’s called 

. And much like Uber, the name seems destined to be used as both a noun and a verb. So, if you want to 

 pickup and dropoff locations are currently available at New York-New York, Luxor, Excalibur, Topgolf, Resorts World, Wynn, Fashion Show mall, and AREA15.

I found ordering a Zoox wasn’t any more or less difficult than ordering a rideshare, but it did arrive noticeably faster. (That could change once business expands.) From there, identify your ride by license plate, press a button on the app to open the doors, and step inside.

The Zoox won’t depart until all passengers plug in their seatbelts. You also have to press a digital button for the ride to begin. In both trips I took, 

 by Radiohead was playing as I entered. (I hope they’re getting royalties for this.)

There are two seats facing forward and two facing backwards. I’d rank the comfort level above a McDonald’s fiberglass booth and below the softness of an average car seat. Each passenger has their own digital tablet to adjust the temperature and view the minutes remaining to the destination. Control the music by skipping ahead on four channels: ZooxFM (moody stuff), Greatest Hits, 80s Hits, and Top Charts. Your digital driver doesn’t care about how loud you play Sabrina Carpenter. I checked.

Zoox noticeably avoids Las Vegas Boulevard in favor of side streets, which may be for efficiency as well as added safety. It took me 12 minutes to get from New York-New York to the Luxor, while cutting through the Excalibur valet. For the most part, the driving felt normal. There was only one abrupt stop — possibly to avoid a lingering pedestrian who threatened to jaywalk.

Things not allowed in a Zoox: Alcohol, children under 8, and emotional support pets. (Trained service animals are welcome to sit on the floor.)

Upon arrival, a swipe on the tablet opens the doors and the ride officially ends. Afterwards, the app requests a star rating and review. (If a Zoox ever asks me for a tip, I’m burning Las Vegas to the ground.)

I could see myself getting used to this. Zoox provides uniform consistency and reliability, plus you don’t have to chat with any annoying human drivers. But is that 

 what I want? People pick up rideshare shifts after losing jobs to automation. Will the artificially intelligent chopping block come for the gig economy too? Cities that have experimented with driverless shuttles are now coping with a 

Safety remains a concern too. Then again, I trust Zoox more than the Vegas Loop, 

. Highway travel could be a different story, but I’ll worry about that later — if it happens at all.

Zoox is expanding service to the T-Mobile Arena and Sphere soon. Even during the free rollout, you’re required to enter credit card information to book. The people behind this are counting on getting you hooked, then cashing in later. We’ll wait and see if that strategy pays off.

 from an "interview" with a Zoox robotaxi. [Desert Companion]

How to get a free ride on the Strip. (No driver included.)

What It’s Like to Ride a Zoox Robotaxi in Las Vegas

Tips and tricks for living your best Las Vegas life, by locals, for locals.

Las Vegas Life Hacks

 has been a locals favorite in Charleston Heights for more than 20 years. You can’t miss the distinctive arched roof on the corner of Decatur and Alta, but the restaurant just unveiled a few changes.

Renovations include an enhanced outdoor dining patio, a refreshed Benjamin Franklin mural, and a new retro-style sign, while preserving the original at the Neon Museum. POP’S also debuted a food truck for special events and regular Saturday appearances at 

The name represents the “Pride of Philly Steaks” with the City of Brotherly Love well represented on the menu. Just walk up to the counter and order. The restaurant’s open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some staff members have been part of the team since day one, including general manager Jose Hernandez.

POP’S was founded by Perry and Barbara Walton; North Carolina transplants who moved to Las Vegas, but loved the food and culture of Philadelphia. It’s been a family-owned business all this time and is now run by daughter Christina.

POP’S cheesesteaks are made with sliced Ribeye, locally baked buns, and vegetables brought in fresh daily. There are lots of options on the menu, but typically you’d choose between American or Provolone cheese (or if you really want to get crazy, authentic Cheese Whiz). Ask for the sandwich “wit” or “wit-out” onions. You can go with chicken instead of steak too.

The most popular cheesesteak is the #32 with provolone, peppers, and mushrooms. POP’S occasionally rotates in seasonal specials like the Holiday Hoagie ( sliced turkey with gravy, mayo, cranberry, and stuffing, layered with sweet potato fries) and a summer Lobster Roll on lettuce and tomato.

Fried sides are the specialty, so load up on mac n’ cheese bites, green beans, mozzarella sticks, and more. The coconut dipping syrup with the sweet potato fries is a nice touch. POP'S even has packaged Tastykake treats, which all Philadelphians crave, but is hard to find outside the Northeast.

 is an iconic spot that helps define the character of Charleston Heights, a neighborhood you might want to 

Visit an iconic, 24-hour cheesesteak restaurant that helped shape the identity of a Vegas neighborhood west of the Strip.

POP'S Philly Cheesesteaks in Las Vegas

How POP’S Got Vegas Hooked on Round-the-Clock Cheesesteaks

, but a full-fledged, stand-alone, accredited art museum has yet to show up. So, it was something of a surprise when the 

 suddenly opened near Main and Charleston last week.

The museum takes over what used to be the Burlesque Hall of Fame and JRNY Gallery (for digital art) with the two spaces separated by a courtyard that will have a Hawaiian Tiki theme. The museum was designed with private events in mind, from silent disco sessions to artist receptions. The Silent Muse is an in-house bar and lounge that won’t be open for at least another month or two.

🤔 Is This Really Just Another Gallery?

Galleries sell art, while museums are strictly for viewing. And the Southern Nevada Art Museum is exhibiting more than 500 pieces by nearly 90 artists over a combined 10,000 square feet, none of it for sale. The idea is to have as much variety as possible, from 15th century manuscripts to clay pottery by Picasso and the expansive “Stairway to Heaven” set of paintings by Salvador Dalí, which depicts Dante Alighieri’s “The Divine Comedy.” Local artists like 

Founder and executive director Chris Davin says the pieces, bought from galleries, as well as auction houses like Christie’s and Sotheby’s, are all originals, “authenticated and appraised.” A full, official museum accreditation is in the works, but takes up to 14 months.

The price is $30 for nonresidents or $20 for Nevada residents with discounts for seniors and students. Admission is just $5 for anyone during First Friday. You can also buy an annual membership for $100, which covers unlimited visits for two people.

Davin says he isn’t concerned about getting mixed up with the long-awaited Las Vegas Museum of Art, which was 

 in Symphony Park, but got pushed back at least another year. “There are so many different ways museums can do art,” he says. “We've got a little of everything. We don't know what type of art museum they're going to be.”

Davin concedes that if the name wasn’t already taken, he would’ve called his own project the Las Vegas Museum of Art, but is happy with how things turned out, noting the opportunity to emphasize local art that extends to places like Mesquite or Laughlin.

Davin, who’s also the executive director of the 

, says a corner exhibit dedicated to The Stonewall Inn and LGBTQ culture will evolve on a monthly basis. The museum functions as a nonprofit, and money from admission fees, donations, and sponsorships will be reinvested into the community via scholarships, artist-in-residency programs, and other efforts.

The Southern Nevada Art Museum just opened in the Downtown Arts District. So, what's the difference between a gallery and a museum?

What’s Up With that New Art Museum in Downtown Vegas?

Local chefs and businesses are having fun with fungi lately. So let’s get familiar with some of the best ways to enjoy mushrooms in Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Tasting Society tends to organize events for tequila, whiskey, and stuff like that, but the group is presenting 

Magic of Mushrooms: An Exotic Tasting Experience

 this Sunday, March 1 in the Arts District. Roam between stations to munch on 10 plant-based mushroom recipes, including fun stuff like lion’s mane “crab cakes” and king oyster carpaccio. Upgrade the experience to add on a menu of potato dishes as well as vodka or wine pairings.

 grows their own mushrooms right here in Las Vegas — sold to the general public and prized by some of our city’s best chefs. Order familiar favorites like shiitake, maitake (hen of the woods), and a variety of oyster mushrooms, or less familiar options like pretzel cap and coral tooth. Desert Moon also sells grow-your-own mushroom kits and makes regular appearances at farmers markets at Downtown Summerlin and St. Rose Corporate Center in Henderson.

My wife loves the wood ear mushroom salad, served cold, drenched in sesame oil and soy sauce, at China Mama’s two Chinatown locations (the 

stir fries wood ear mushrooms (named for their color and shape) with sweet potato and snow peas as a vegetarian-friendly side dish.

business

Culinary Empires That Help Make the Vegas Dining Scene Great

So What Does Switch Do Anyway?

The Art of Sharing Space in the Gateway District

Latest articles

Culinary Empires That Help Make the Vegas Dining Scene Great

So What Does Switch Do Anyway?

The Art of Sharing Space in the Gateway District

David Copperfield’s Las Vegas Residency Ends: Was He Ever Really One of Us?

Secret Coffee Houses Hidden Inside Las Vegas Businesses

Steve Wynn: Missing From Vegas, But Active on Instagram

What It’s Like to Ride a Zoox Robotaxi in Las Vegas

Latest articles

David Copperfield’s Las Vegas Residency Ends: Was He Ever Really One of Us?

Secret Coffee Houses Hidden Inside Las Vegas Businesses

Steve Wynn: Missing From Vegas, But Active on Instagram

What It’s Like to Ride a Zoox Robotaxi in Las Vegas

How POP’S Got Vegas Hooked on Round-the-Clock Cheesesteaks

What’s Up With that New Art Museum in Downtown Vegas?

Las Vegas Is Mad About Mushrooms