Earning its moniker of Entertainment Capital of the World, Vegas is a high-octane trip for the senses. Mega-hotels housing high rollers, Elvis impersonators, drive-thru wedding chapels, and flashing neon are some of the most iconic images of this fascinating desert city, but Vegas is so much more. Here will you find top chefs serving 5-star creations and some of the best shows found anywhere. Here’s how to spend 48 hours in Vegas.
Friday
Go full glam and check into your room at the Four Seasons, a peaceful sanctuary without a casino, but with direct access to the Mandalay Bay Casino in case the mood should strike you. Lounge by the pool and attendants will cater to your every need, including providing you with Evian spritzes, frozen fruit skewers, and chilled water. Welcome to the glam life!
Guests of the Four Seasons enjoy signing privileges at Mandalay Bay’s many incredible restaurants. Go on a world tour through small plates at Fleur by Hubert Keller and discover the flavours of France, Mexico, and Italy without ever leaving Nevada.
Walk off your meal with a tour of the famous Las Vegas Strip and keep the global vibes going with visits to New York-New York, Bellagio, Paris Las Vegas, and the Venetian.
Then, catch a cab to Vegas’ Arts District and settle in for dinner at Esther’s Kitchen, offering light, seasonal Italian plates like fresh gnudi with farm beets and pistachio pesto. If you’re really digging the dishes, thank the cooks with a round of beer (yes, that’s an actual menu item).
Post-dinner, a nightcap at Velveteen Rabbit is on order. This craft cocktail bar run by two sisters has crazy delicious seasonal tipples. Try the Scarlet Pepper, a blend of gin, Lillet, red bell pepper shrub, and sparkling wine.
Saturday
Sleep in as late as you want and enjoy a decadent breakfast at Café Bellagio any time of day. Try the café’s classic omelet, stuffed with Maine lobster, asparagus, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese.
Get a taste of the desert’s natural beauty at the Springs Preserve’s expansive botanical gardens and nature trails. Walkways lead the way through acres upon acres of gorgeous desert plants, providing the perfect retreat from the buzzing Strip.
Tonight is all about classic Las Vegas. Enjoy an indulgent dinner classic steakhouse style in an over the top way only Vegas can serve up. Try Kobe beef at SW Steakhouse, one of the few places serving it in the city, or at Bazaar Meat by José Andrés, where you can order it grilled on a stone right at your table.
You can’t go to Vegas without catching a show, something the city is as famous for as its casinos. Go for the most jaw-dropping of them all and catch Cirque du Soleil’s “O” at the Bellagio. We suggest booking your tickets as soon as you lock down your travel plans for the best chance at getting seats. This water-centric show, whose name is a play on the French word for water, is all about paying homage to all things aquatic.
Sunday
Brunch at Honey Salt is an affair. Choose all you can drink bubbles or Bloody Marys to go alongside breakfast plates that run the gamut from Cocoa Puff French toast topped with Nutella and whipped cream to a grain bowl brimming with quinoa, lentils, avocado, fennel, and radish.
You don’t have to go to a museum to appreciate art in Las Vegas. The city is marked by plenty of colourful and vibrant works throughout its streets. Goofy roadside attractions, delicate sculptures, and meaningful murals have all found homes in Vegas. Follow this map to discover works of art all over Las Vegas. The blend of kitsch and refinement is just so perfectly Vegas, don’t you think?
