STAY
The Conrad Hotel
Resorts World Las Vegas
The Conrad Hotel in Las Vegas is part of Hilton Hotels trifecta of properties making up Resorts World. The Conrad tower is joined by Crockfords Resort, the high-end of the three options and Hilton, the largest and most affordable of the three properties.
Resorts World is on the former Stardust Resort and Casino site and is the first all new hotel to be built on the Vegas strip in more than a decade. The Conrad property is the largest of the brand in the world with 1,496 room sand suites. Rooms average 550 square feet with soothing white and cream color schemes and red accents. Bathrooms are on the small side for Vegas hotels but include cool mirror lighting and Byredo Mojave Ghost amenities. There is also a stocked minibar, empty fridge for storing drinks and leftovers, Frette slippers and robes and electronically controlled drapes and sheers.
Resorts World and The District, their adjoining shopping mall, house 40 diverse food and beverage outlets ranging from fine dining to casual cuisine. There’s also the first plant based restaurant Crossroads in the casino area as well as the Famous Food Street Market stalls with cuisine from China, Japan, India, the Philippines, Thailand and Taiwan.
Another standout restaurant is Wally’s gourmet market, wine shop and restaurant offering more than 8,000 different libations. The Alle on Level 66 offers stunning views, small bites and custom cocktails.
After a day at the tables guests can indulge in the “Fountain of Youth” treatment at their Awana Spa. The three-hour experience includes six vitality pools, a sauna with heated beds, steam rooms, misting showers and an invigorating rain walk. There is also a great fitness center including Peloton bikes, weights and a Theragun station.
The 5.5-acre pool deck houses seven pools including a gorgeous infinity edge pool, loungers, beds, chairs, cabanas, bars and huge surrounding sculptures. Reservations available at https://www.hilton.com.
DINE
In addition to restaurants at Resorts World, there are also a few new spots to indulge in a great meal.
Balla Italian Soul
Sahara
https://www.saharalasvegas.com/restaurants-bars/balla
Head to Balla Italian Soul at the Sahara for Chef Shawn McClain’s seasonal Italian cuisine. The huge space offers diners seating at tables overlooking the strip or in booths near brick walls and wood paneling under brass light fixtures and olive trees. Guests can choose from antipasti, pizza, pasta, main and side dishes. Standouts include a large charcuterie platter, meatballs with fennel, spaghetti Bolognese, lasagna, sea bream, scallops and steaks. There’s also a wide variety of very large desserts.
Wakuda
Palazzo Las Vegas
https://www.venetianlas.vegas.com.
Wakuda, located off the Palazzo lobby, offers decadent dining in an opulent setting. Diners are greeted by beautiful artwork by Hiroyasu Tsuri at the entrance and a long installation by Yusk Imai in the main dining room, which also houses two huge sumo wresting sculptures. There’s also an inviting bar where guests can enjoy signature cocktails as well as dinner entrees. The main dining room is bathed in cream and brown tones with both booth and table seating. Inspired by the Shinjuku area of Tokyo, Chef Tetsuya Wakuda has created a unique dining experience.
Appetizers include oysters, Kanpachi carpaccio, seared tuna with ginger and soy in a caramel sauce, seared beef with ponzu, citrus marinated lobster, tuna or avocado in crispy rice, a smoked beef tartar, baked scallops in miso, marinated fried chicken wings, Wagyu udon, and a variety of delicious sashimi toasts and yakitori. There’s also a wide variety of sushi sashimi and rolls. Main dishes include miso marinated toothfish, a must order, as well as grilled salmon with ginger, seasonal fish with ponzu, a whole lobster and a surf and turf including tenderloin and scampi in a chimichurri sauce.
There is also both Omi and A5 Wagu priced by the ounce, chicken, rib eye and lamb.
Diners can choose to indulge in the Chef’s Tasting menu with six and 9 course options. Cocktails are also delicious and include the Ichigo Fields with gin, lemon, honey, strawberries and champagne and the Snow Monkey with gin, amaro, lemon, yuzu, egg whites and Kinako powder.
Jack Binion’s Steak
Horseshoe Las Vegas
https://www.caesars.com/horseshoe-las-vegas/restaurants/binions-steak
Jack Binion’s Steak, now at the new Horseshoe (recently opened on the Bally’s old site), an old school steakhouse with some surprise dishes. The Bloody Mary salad is a great starter with a big wedge with fried green tomatoes, bacon and blue cheese stuffed olives covered in a Bloody Mary vinaigrette. The colossal seafood tower impresses with six different kinds of crab and enough seafood to be a main entrée. Their steaks are outstanding, perfectly marbled, dry aged for 28 days and broiled at 1800 degrees. Diners can choose from filets, New York strip, rib eyes, porterhouse and a Wagyu rib cap. Sides are plentiful with roasted veggies, bourbon bbq baked beans, balsamic cipollini onions, and a huge baked potato with six toppings among other sides. Desserts are also huge, including the banana cream pie, black berry cobbler, cheesecake and very big chocolate layer cake.
Reservations at 702.967.4711.
EXPLORE
Hear Kitty Kitty Speakeasy
Resorts World
https://www.rwlasvegas.com/dining/here-kitty-kitty-vice-den/
Resorts World has a secret speakeasy, Hear Kitty Kitty, hidden within their food court. Guests can locate it by entering Ms. Meow’s Mamak Stall in the Famous Food Street Market and providing a password to one of the cashiers. The wall featuring the waving cats magically will open to a full bar with green lounges and Asian décor. Guests can indulge in a variety of specialty cocktails.
The Arcade
Horseshoe Las Vegas
https://www.caesars.com/horseshoe-las-vegas/things-to-do/attractions/arcade
Located in the mall level of the Horseshoe Resort is the new 7,000 square foot Arcade. The venue houses 80 supersized fun games including air hockey and skee ball as well as virtual reality games such as Mission Impossible and King Kong. Guests can purchase reloadable cards to use for games as well as cocktails, wine and beer at the bar.
shaena engle
Shaena Engle is the lifestyle, food and travel editor for Perception Magazine and also writes for the Los Angeles Times, Pasadena Magazine, M Magazine, Los Angeles Times Las Vegas Magazine, The Daily Meal, AOL, WeHo Times and other outlets. She has authored The Best Places to Kiss in Southern California, The Cheap Bastard's Guide to Las Vegas and other outlets. She writes about travel, food, welln...(Read More)