ARIA Resort & Casino has changed the face of Las Vegas in many ways, including its abundance of world-class dining venues. Take a look at the F&B concepts that are redefining dining in Sin City:
As guests enter ARIA’s dramatic three-story lobby, they will see Bar Masa (left) from Japanese chef Masa Takayama. The outpost—designed by Richard Bloch Architect—offers two dining spaces: the casual Bar Masa, located beneath a dramatic vaulted ceiling, and the more exclusive Shaboo, set in an intimate, reserved room.
The Spanish restaurant, Julian Serrano, reveres and reinvents classic Spanish fare. The design by Gente de Valor captures the convivial social energy of Spain’s tapas bars through an innovative patio setting that opens to the walkway of Crystals, CityCenter’s retail and entertainment district.
Jacques Garcia Decoration led the design at the sophisticated Sage from Chicago chef Shawn McClain, who offers a New American menu laced with strong Mediterranean subtexts.
One floor up, an elevator leads to another trio of restaurants, united by a sculptural courtyard designed by Adam D. Tihany. The triangulation of marble-clad pyramids signifies camaraderie between the venues, while the spikiness of golden barrel cacti implies a playful competition. Tihany’s firm designed Sirio Ristorante (right), led by the Maccioni family. The design channels the romance of Rome circa 1960s.
Next door, American Fish pays homage to rustic cooking methods from across the country—lobster boils, clam bakes and campfire cookouts—with an air of finesse. The décor by SLDesign brings a contemporary tone to the comfort and familiarity of a mountain lodge backdrop, as it evokes the spirit of the continent’s great landscapes and salutes the time-honored quality of American craftsmanship.
At Jean Georges Steakhouse, an amphitheater-inspired layout by Dupoux Design sections the space into a high-octane lounge, elevated dining areas, and a private chef’s table chamber.
On the casino floor, award-winning pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury joined forces with design group Norwood Oliver Associates for Jean Philippe Pâtisserie, an 85-seat café with an on-site kitchen serving gourmet meals.
Situated near the VIP gaming area, Blossom (left) takes on a contemporary Chinese menu. The modern décor by Studio A Design brightens traditional Chinese design principles with a contemporary color palette apropos to the restaurant’s festive Las Vegas context.
Across the baccarat tables from Blossom, Lemongrass tutors guests in the authentic flavors of Bangkok. The first Thai restaurant on the Strip to reside within a major resort features an interactive satay bar that lines the 100-seat dining room, as well as a 51-seat lounge. AvroKO has established contemporary interiors that are reminiscent of a traditional Thai silk factory with lush fabrics, bold colors and textures, and rough industrial materials.
Along the resort’s north wall is the 600-seat Café Vettro, which incorporates a 40-foot-high glass wall. Design firm Bentel & Bentel has integrated garden sculptures that interact with a stone cliff motif, along with hundreds of stacked stones faced in softly lit frosted glass along the café’s exterior.
The 6,000-square-foot UNION Restaurant & Lounge, courtesy of the Light Group and Adam D. Tihany, is subdivided into semi-secluded dining alcoves through the placement of architectural wooden "trees." Paneled ceilings and a serene color palette join this gentle grove to create a soothing yet spirited dining ambiance with panoramic views of the casino action.
At the back of the casino in the Race & Sports Book area, SKYBOX Sports Bar & Grill boasts 23 high-definition screens and design by firm Remedios Siembieda, which framed the space in an artistic, glass photo montage in celebration of sports.
Upstairs, past a radiant skylight with suspended sculpture by Antony Gormley, guests will encounter another contemporary spin on the gourmet Buffet (right).The décor by Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis Architects transforms typical cafeteria-drab into a 25,000-square-foot haven flooded with natural light from panoramic windows that overlook ARIA’s pool deck. A cloud-like ceiling of undulating fabric aligns itself along a series of bamboo-clad booths. A glass-tiled wall wraps around from the venue’s exterior to frame the upscale presentations at the buffet.
For Sweet Chill near the Spa at ARIA, designer Karim Rashid evokes the swirl of an ice cream treat with a ribbon-like pink design flowing across the curved ceiling and onto the walls. Candy-colored butterfly chairs further the Candyland appeal.
