Romantic Las Vegas

Our Local Expert Says:

This Las Vegas-style Venice is a must-see. The Venetian offers first-class accommodations and amenities, along with canals and gondoliers.

Description:

One of the most elaborate hotel spectacles in town, The Venetian falls squarely between an outright adult Disneyland experience and the luxury resort experience currently dominating the Vegas landscape. The big draw here is the rooms, all suites, and all successful examples of that same luxury resort mindset, though the commitment to theme in the Grand Canal Shoppes is certainly appealing.

The hotel's exterior, which re-creates most of the top landmarks of Venice (the Campanile, a portion of St. Mark's Square, part of the Doge's Palace, a canal or two), ranks right up there with New York-New York as a must-see, and since you can wander freely through the "sights," it even has a slight edge over New York-New York. This may be the only hotel in Vegas where it seems inviting to wander around outside in the front. As stern as we get about re-creations not being a substitute for the real thing, we have to admit that the attention to detail here is impressive indeed. Stone is aged for that weathered look, statues and tiles are exact copies of their Italian counterparts, security guards wear Venetian police uniforms -- all that's missing is the smell from the canals, but we are happy to let...

Description:

The Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino is about as close as you can get to seeing the real City of Lights without the hassle of international customs. The designers of this mega-hotel successfully incorporated unique Parisian architecture seamlessly into the Las Vegas environment, transporting travelers to a mini-Paris. A scaled version of the Eiffel Tower is attached to the hotel, and three of its legs actually jut in to the floor of the hotel. The rooms are French-themed and highlight the country's different provinces. Adding to its authenticity, the majority of the staff speaks French, allowing guests to get total immersed in their Parisian fantasy.

Don't forget to check out Paris' many on-site facilities, including the Paris Spa by Madera, Le Boulevard, which is a faux Parisian streetscape lined with chic shops, and, of course, its fantastic restaurants. Paris's Eiffel Tower Restaurant, which is located in the landmark replica, is one of Las Vegas's signature dining experiences.

Our Local Expert Says:

Romantic, French restaurant at the top of Paris Las Vegas' Eiffel Tower.

Description:

Just above the Strip, on the 11th floor of the Paris Las Vegas' Eiffel Tower replica, Chef J. Joho's Eiffel Tower Restaurant offers French cuisine and breathtaking views of the Las Vegas Strip. The Eiffel Tower Restaurant's combination of ambiance and gourmet food set it apart from other restaurants on the Strip. Yes, other Las Vegas restaurants may have a view and great food, but they're not at the top of a miniature Eiffel Tower. This is a great place to see the Bellagio's Fountains do their dance, but with this kind of romance in the air, you'll probably be more interested in what's going on at your table than anything else.

Chef Joho has artfully updated a French classic menu. Highlights include a grand seafood platter with lobster, shrimp, crab, oysters and clams; lobster thermidor; a terrine of foie gras and marinated figs; tournedos rossini with foie gras and truffle sauce and banana souffle. Chef Joho combines classic French fare with a modern twist; look for dishes like the roasted rack of lamb with tarragon jus and glazed turnip.

Lunch and dinner menus are available, and reservations are strongly suggested. The dinner menu offers a la carte items and a tasting menu for... read more

Description:

Thomas Keller made his name with his Napa Valley restaurant French Laundry, considered by many to be the best restaurant in the United States. Bouchon is a version of his Napa Valley bistro. We had mixed expectations. On the one hand, he's a certifiably genius chef. On the other hand, he's not going to be in the kitchen, which will be producing bistro (which is to say, not innovative) food and, what's more, based on the rather lackluster Napa Bouchon.

Our negative expectations were confounded by the right, left, and center of the menu -- yeah, we've tried nearly all of it and can report that humble though these dishes sound, in nearly every case they are gold-standard versions of classics. Someone is certainly keeping a close eye on this kitchen, and that someone has learned the lessons well. Ever wondered why people get worked up over raw oysters? The sweet and supremely fresh (kept in water until the moment they are served to you) Snow Creek oysters will enlighten you as they seem to melt on contact with your tongue. Fifty dollars seems like a lot for pâté, but here a complex multiday preparation produces a buttery whip that is so rich, it's an appropriate -- and highly recommended...

Description:

The Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian Hotel Casino are a Vegas-ized version of Old Venice. St. Mark's Square is filled with swanky restaurants like Wolfgang Puck's Postrio or upscale Italian food at Canaletto. Upscale retailers like Dooney & Bourke, Kenneth Cole, and Banana Republic fill the village-like mall. Here you'll find "Streetmosphere," the Venetian's term for the wandering, costumed street performers who sing and imitate statues. But without canals and singing gondoliers, Venice would be incomplete.

The Las Vegas Venice's canals travel through the Grand Canal Shoppes and emerge outside in front of the Venetian. Two rides are offered: one inside, one outside (outside dependent upon the weather). Rides are $16 for adults, and be sure to look your best for your photo opportunity (extra for pictures at the end of the ride). Rides last 10 to 15 minutes.

Inside the Grand Canal Shoppes, you can watch the gondolas to get an idea of what the ride is like. Stop at the area next to the Taqueria Canonita (or go inside the restaurant and ask for a table "outside" on the patio, overlooking the canal) and you'll have a great view of the gondoliers singing to their passengers before... read more

Description:

This is a 90-minute, intermission-free, heavy-on-the-special-effects, costly staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber's ubiquitous musical, The Phantom of the Opera. The show's fans (and they are legion) will doubtless yowl, but they survived the movie adaptation, while the rest of us might be a little happier with some of the fat trimmed away, though somewhat befuddled by the plot. The lowdown: There's a guy in a mask, and he loves a girl who sings, and she loves him, but she also loves another boy, and there are caverns and canals and romance and tragedy and mystery and murder and light opera. Staged on the former site of the failed Guggenheim Museum (transformed into a $40-million theater), the musical is even more high-tech than the original Broadway staging, with increased special effects and whatnot (like anything can top that chandelier crash). Phantom is over the top, but then, so is Vegas, and this seems like a good fit. Monday through Saturday at 7pm, Monday and Saturday also at 9:30pm.

Description:

This huge dining room is located inside the Mt. Charleston Hotel and offers sweeping 180-degree views of the surrounding mountains. Fieldstone fireplaces and cathedral ceilings add to the charm of this pleasant restaurant. Entrees include delectables such as Tournedos of Beef and Salmon Filet with Dill Sauce. Your meal will come with salad, vegetables, potato and freshly baked bread. Wine and cocktails are available from the full-service bar.

Description:

Nestled within a garden atop the Venetian Hotel, this 69,000-square-foot facility offers complete fitness, wellness and beauty facilities for the mind, spirit and body. A typical treatment is the Rasul Ceremony, featuring medicinal muds and steamed herbs, with alternating rinsing treatments. The King's Bath offers a relaxing bath in exotic oils, with floating rose petals and candlelight, followed by a massage. The Canyon Ranch Cafe, offers tasty and healthy foods prepared in gourmet style.

Description:

ZUMANITY is a Cirque du Soleil production, but it is more Cirque du Sensuality than Soleil. Billing itself as "Another side of Cirque du Soleil," this New York-New York Hotel & Casino resident production makes the most of its difference from other Cirque shows. A combination burlesque/cabaret, ZUMANITY, recalls the ribald Rocky Horror Picture Show of years gone by. The flavor of ZUMANITY can best be tasted on its menu of production numbers like Body2Body, Dislocation, 2Men, and Midnight Bath and Orgy. Needless to say, ZUMANITY is not a show for the little ones, but it's pure Las Vegas entertainment, with a sharp sexual edge. As part of the Cirque du Soleil international brand, all of the production values and especially the performaces and visuals are extraordinary. Audiences also enjoy the direct interaction with the cast, as is typical Cirque behavior, when the players make everyone part of the show. Contortionists, dancers, aerialists and other high flyers jam enough stunts into the 90-minute show to leave you exhausted by the time you walk out of the Zumanity Theatre.Performances: F-Tu 7:30p, 10:30p; W-Th Dark Tickets: $65-$125

Description:

Wine angels, high-tech gadgets, and fine dining characterize Charlie Palmer's Aureole at Mandalay Bay. The exterior of the restaurant, a wall embedded with sculptures of body parts, is the first sign that this Las Vegas restaurant offers a different kind of experience.

The four-story glass wine tower is the centerpiece of Aureole. Over 9,000 bottles of wine await a wine angel's touch-the lovely ladies who "fly" like aerialists to retrieve the bottles. An iPad holds the wine list, which is probably a good idea considering how long it would be in printed form. Tech-loving guests will enjoy the gadgetry that assists them in navigating the extensive wine offerings.

The food is American, but with influences from many cuisines. One of the signature dishes is the wood-grilled filet mignon with a cabernet sauce. As with any restaurant of this caliber, the menus change seasonally.

Diners can choose from two rooms: seats in the main dining room allow guests to watch the wine angels, while a table in the Swan Court offers a view of the swan pond. Meals are more expensive in the Swan Room, and menus in the two areas are slightly different. Three-course prix-fixe menus begin at... read more

Description:

Another Las Vegas hit for restaurateur Wolfgang Puck, this place presents an eclectic offering of globally inspired dishes in a romantic atmosphere. Freshly baked breads start off the meal, as well as wonderful appetizers. For an entree, try the famous wood-fired pizzas or the more exotic quail with spinach. The lamb chops are also exquisite. Two options include the relaxed bistro cafe or a dining room for more formal meals. Both restaurants feature complete wine and bar services. Located inside the Venetian Hotel. Private dining is available.

Description:

How about getting married in a gondola while floating down the Grand Canal? Or perhaps say your vows at the Rialto Bridge, where legend has it that if you kiss your mate under this bridge, your love is destined to last. No matter what ceremony you choose, it is sure to be truly memorable and unique. This venue is located at the Venetian Hotel Casino.

Description:

At the Paris-Las Vegas Hotel, two elegant wedding chapels await you: Chappelle du Jardin (seating 30 guests) and Chappelle du Paradis (up to 100 guests). Besides simple ceremonies, there are six packages to choose from. The Eiffel Tower package allows the couple to wed at the top of the authentic replica, surrounded by the spectacular lights of Las Vegas. Another package includes a massage for the bride and groom, the ultimate in luxury and relaxation.