3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd., (877) 583-6423, (702) 414-1000. 4,028 suites.
The last large themed casino to be built on the Strip, this Italian-themed all-suites hotel complex was built in the 1990s as a romantic gift to the owner’s wife. The Venetian is authentically Italian and now, with its new Palazzo tower, has 7,000 suites--and claims to have more convention space than San Francisco and Los Angeles combined! And, as is true everywhere, there are suites and then there are SUITES. In suites here, plenty of marble is used throughout, and the more exclusive suites have high ceilings and a private steam room, sauna, and oversize whirlpool tub. Some also have a screening room, pool table, walk-in closet, exercise room, and/or grand piano—for which arrangements can be made for someone to come up and play it. Dropped guest names include George Clooney, Ben Affleck, and George W (he stayed in the Presidential Suite when he was in office). Butler service is available, as is a private penthouse gaming club. Ordinary suites begin at $149and are spectacular, too, and each features a sunken living room.
Once “The Phantom of the Opera” musical ran here for about 10 years in a showroom modeled after the Paris Opera House. But times have changed. Now the draw is live music, and The Judds just opened in that same venue. Public facilities here include Canyon Ranch--the world’s largest day spa--and an array of big-name restaurants.
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| casino entry hall at B&B Ristorante in The Venetian in Las Vegas |
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| guest suite at B&B Ristorante in The Venetian in Las Vegas |
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| guest suite bathroom at B&B Ristorante in The Venetian in Las Vegas |
●Gondolas
Sun-Thur 10 a.m.-11 p.m., F-Sat 10 a.m.-midnight. $21. Gondoliers are very Italian and attentive, and once you are gliding along through a ¼-mile-long replica of Venice’s Grand Canal they will serenade you. It is hard to believe, but there are two circuits—one inside, one outside—that’s how big The Venetian is!
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| gondolas at The Venetian in Las Vegas |
(702) 266-9977. When Mario Batalli cooks, people show up. In droves. This spot is usually packed to overflowing. Great wines are stocked from every region in Italy, but a relaxing cocktail can be delightful when you are finally seated. In my case it was a sweet one--Under the Maple Tree--made with Bulleit bourbon and maple syrup plus lemon and orange juices. My preset dinner appetizers included a variety of house-cured salami and pickles, grilled octopus with fagioli marinati and spicy limoncello vinaigrette, and an spectacular roasted kabocha squash with burrata and pumpkin-seed pesto. Whole wheat troffie pasta was perfectly al dente and tossed with butternut squash and more pumpkin-seed pesto. But I considered the roasted lamb leg with parsnips and purslane so undercooked as to be inedible. Since we were running late for a show, our vanilla gelati and pear sorbetti dolce was thoughtfully scooped into a paper cup for us to grab and go.
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| house-cured salami at B&B Ristorante in The Venetian in Las Vegas |
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| house-cured pickles at B&B Ristorante in The Venetian in Las Vegas |
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roasted kabocha squash with burrata and pumpkin-seed pesto at B&B Ristorante in The Venetian in Las Vegas |
(702) 388-8588. This hot club is a branch of the NYC hot spot and features a spectacular décor of Buddhas, including one that is 20 feet tall and floats above an infinity pool. It has VIP booths and is popular with celebrities. Seductive Asian-themed TAO Beach is an extension of the club. Downstairs, TAO Asian Bistro is America’s highest grossing and offers
everything from Kobe beef to traditional Peking duck.
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| interior of Tao Nightclub in Las Vegas, Nevada |
We love the Venetian and B & B - it is so delicious. I was not aware of the new tower, wow 7,000 suites. They do a great job with the authentic Italian feel of the hotel.
ReplyDelete7,000 suites TOTAL, counting both towers is my understanding.
ReplyDelete