LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

LAS VEGAS

UPDATED

Where we Stayed: Bellagio; Waldorf Astoria (Previously Mandarin Oriental)
Highlight: Top Golf & Milk (cereal milk ice cream)

We have been to Vegas numerous times, and while we do visit for work, we have never had the same experience twice. We like to keep work trips short but not so short that we don’t enjoy ourselves. We visit Vegas twice a year for the World Market Show (for products for stores and design), and once a year for the International Surfaces Event (usually Surfaces and World Market land close to or on the same weekend, thankfully, meaning one trip instead of two).

Our first trip to Vegas was booked two days before we went. We found out about the trade shows three days before their scheduled beginning through one of our business friends. We weren’t even sure if our credentials would be verified in time (trade-only event). We received an insane deal through the Bellagio ($250/night for the penthouse suite), and it did not disappoint. The hotel itself was overwhelming, large lobby, long check-in lines, and filled with cigarette smoke (didn’t realize you could smoke inside in Vegas). We did a lot of walking, we walked up and down the strip — we felt like we needed to see everything; we tried and failed.

We tried Pin-Up Pizza (attached to Planet Hollywood), which has pizza slices larger than your head, and it’s delicious. Not far from Pin-Up is PBR Rockbar & Grill known (at least to us) for the 100oz Cocktails. The novelty wears off quickly, especially for just the two of us. It is a lot of beverage to consume. I am not exaggerating when I say my stomach sloshed for two days. Wilson was wrecked after about 20oz and left me to finish the other 80. I am still not sure how I didn't feel it, but I carried Wilson back to the hotel.

We saw Piff the Magic Dragon, a comedian/magician, and America’s Got Talent runner up, in a hilariously goofy show. We stopped for some daiquiris on the strip. We went shopping at the Forum Shops by Caesar’s Palace. (PS There is a Honolulu Cookie Company in that mall, make sure you go there for a sample at the very least.) The Grand Canal Shoppes was a cool mall (Venetian Hotel) with the artificial canals and gondolas. We didn’t gamble at all during our first trip, but we did watch the Bellagio fountains a few times.

We ate at Gordon Ramsay Steak and we’re quite disappointed. W & I enjoy a good steak and it was very underwhelming; especially considering the price point. The restaurant was on the small side with tables very close together.

On our second trip, we decided to stay at the Mandarin Oriental because we didn’t gamble at all on our first trip, and we don’t smoke, so to walk through the Bellagio lobby and casino every day felt quite exhausting. The Mandarin Oriental Hotel doesn’t allow smoking, and it doesn’t have a casino on-site, so it is much quieter. We had a great stay; the Mandarin Hotel is right next to the Crystal Shops. The pool area was very spacious and clean; they have a great pool bar menu for food and drinks. The staff is incredible, and the rooms are spacious and decorated well. It was a very quiet and relaxing hotel stay.
(UPDATED): Since our visit, the hotel has been replaced by The Waldorf Astoria, which has still been kept the same standard in service. 

Restaurant Recommendations

Breakfast: La Creperie
Bruxie Original Fried Chicken
Lunch: Momofuku
Hell’s Kitchen
Shake Shack
Chick-fil-a
Dinner: La Pizza E La Pasta
Cut by Wolfgang Puck
Nobu
Flour and Barley
Harvest
Pin-Up Pizza
Drinks: Vanderpump Cocktail Garden
PBR Rock Bar & Grill
Dessert: Milk

Restaurant reservations and timing are necessary to avoid waiting in long queues for meals. Hell’s Kitchen at Caesar’s Palace is amazing; we’d recommend going for lunch, it is way less busy, reservations are easier to get and are available on short notice.  Vanderpump Cocktail Garden is an elegant spot for drinks inside Caesar’s Palace. The drinks are delicious, and the snacks are very tasty as well, worth checking out. We have had dinner at Harvest in Bellagio, the food and service are incredible. Our favorite steak spot, so far, is Cut by Wolfgang Puck, located inside the Grand Canal Shoppes mall (connected to the Venetian) we’d recommend checking it out for a romantic night out. If it’s Italian food you're after, check out Eataly at the Park MGM. In Eataly, there is a restaurant called La Pizza E La Pasta, you need a reservation, but they have excellent gluten-free options; I had to double-check my pizza crust was gluten-free — a few times. Wilson loves Momofuku at the Cosmopolitan; it is a great Asian fusion restaurant, and next to it is Milk, a sweet spot for cereal milk ice cream. La Creperie is an excellent spot for breakfast if you like crepes. It’s located inside the Paris Hotel along the strip with all the restaurants and shops past the lobby. Flour & Barley has great pizza; by the Linq Hotel, they have an express window so you can order pizza by the slice to go. Bruxie Original Fried Chicken has the best fried-chicken Wilson’s ever had. A must visit if you’re into fried chicken. If you’re looking for a great buffet experience, Caesar’s Palace's restaurant called Bacchanal Buffet offers a massive variety of foods. It is a pricier buffet than others but the variety of food makes it worth it. Buffets on the strip are also cheaper for breakfast and lunch than they are for dinner. We always have a spectacular time at Nobu, and we like to be adventurous when we eat there because they make everything so well. The Nobu menu has two sides to it; one side is the classics (dishes served at Nobu world wide). The other side is the “Now” menu, a specialized menu that is only available at that location, pulling in influence from the local cuisine. The Nobu in Las Vegas in Caeser’s Palace, and we would highly recommend visiting if you can. 

A couple of attractions we enjoyed would include the High Roller Ferris Wheel, expensive but a great view of the Vegas Strip; Top Golf, an extremely fun driving range style restaurant and bar; Fremont Street Experience, Old Las Vegas Downtown strip; Container Park, lots of shops and little bars and restaurants; and finally the roller coaster and arcade at the New York New York Hotel.

We have also seen a couple of shows in Vegas. Tape Face has a permanent show at Harrah’s. It is entertaining and funny, but be aware it is an interactive show where he pulls random people from the audience, if you have anxiety about that kind of stuff, this may not be the best show for you. We watched Potted Potter at Ballys, incredibly funny show if you are a Harry Potter fan. They go over the entire Harry Potter series in 70 minutes. We also got the chance to see Tim Allen at the Mirage, he’s hilarious — my face hurt for hours from laughing.

Vegas is known for many things, and shopping is one of those. Almost everywhere you look there are malls and shops, our two favorites would be Las Vegas North Premium outlets and the Crystal Shops.

If you want a tattoo in Las Vegas, both Wilson and I have been to Vegas Ink a couple times. There are two locations, one inside Miracle Mile mall, and the other across from Crystal Shops. This shop is 24/7, so you can expect the minimum charge to be $150+. We would recommend keeping your tattoos here small, being respectful and decisive. You’re more likely to be treated well at any shop if you behave well. It is pretty cool that you could just walk in at any hour and get tattooed. I’ve been tattooed a few times by Nolan at Vegas Ink; he is a great artist who does excellent work too, so look for him!

It is worth it to get an MLife Card or a Caesar’s Rewards Card (or both) and rack up points over time. The points reset each year but the point perks are worth it, especially if you plan on visiting more than once a year. It took us 3 or 4 trips to get one and after 2 or 3 stays, we have enough status to just pay the tax on our hotel rooms. It would have been useful information to have the first time we went but hey, that’s what we're here for.

We will continue to update this Vegas post as we explore and learn more over time.