Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/787116
‒ Secret Source ‒ ROBERT RIPPEE WHO: Director of Hospitality Innovation Lab and eSports Lab at the International Gaming Institute, UNLV; board advisor to RiCH Robotics, Zora, and Dronesmith Technologies. BEST OLD-SCHOOL BARBERSHOP EXPERIENCE: "Hi Rollers Barber Shop (1120 S. Maryland Pkwy., 702-382-6790; hirollersbarbershop.com) has great barbers and an old Las Vegas ambience—barber chairs, hot lather trims, shoulder massages, and the smell of the tonics." BEST PLACE TO FIND YOUR INNER PEACE: "Chaiya Meditation Monastery (7925 S. Virtue Ct., 702-456-3838; chaiyacmm.org) is an authentic Thai Buddhist monastery with a wonderful outdoor meditation garden." BEST DAY HIKE: "The Arizona Hot Springs trail (south of Hoover Dam) takes you right to a beautiful section of the Colorado River, and if that wasn't worth the hike, there is a small canyon that leads to three natural hot spring pools." BEST PLACE FOR LUNCH AROUND THE UNLV CAMPUS: "The food trucks outside Lied Library. There's nothing like a college campus at lunchtime to feel the energy and enthusiasm of talented minds converging." end of the Strip is the focal point of a resort complex that also features a sprawling pool playground, aquarium, and events center. 877-632-7700; mandalaybay.com MANDARIN ORIENTAL Traditional Eastern influences mix with a minimalist modern aesthetic. A hidden gem is Twist, by Michelin three-star chef Pierre Gagnaire, for its witty takes on traditional French cuisine. After lounging in the spa's early 20th-century Shanghainese-inspired spa, head to the 23rd-floor Tea Lounge for breathtaking views. The cabanas around the hushed, very grown-up pool are some of the best around. 702-590- 8888; mandarinoriental.com MGM GRAND Guarded by a 45-foot bronze lion, this massive 5,000-plus-room hotel is home to Hakkasan nightclub and restaurants from celebrity chefs Emeril Lagasse, Tom Colicchio, and the brand-new Morimoto Las Vegas by Masaharu Morimoto, among many others. INSIDER TIP: Formerly only available by invitation, The Mansion at MGM Grand, a decadent 29-villa retreat within the resort, can now be booked by anyone (60 days ahead of time). Luxuries like antique furnishings and access to a Michelin three-star Joël Robuchon restaurant abound. 877-880-0880; mgmgrand.com THE MIRAGE The Mirage's tropically inspired grounds channel the spirit of Polynesia with an erupting volcano, saltwater aquarium, and dedicated animal habitats. 702-791-7111; mirage.com MONTE CARLO RESORT & CASINO The palatial Monte Carlo Resort offers nearly 3,000 guestrooms and suites, as well as prime positioning near the new T-Mobile Arena. Its own new theater, The Park, a 5,000-seat stadium, opened with Stevie Nicks and the Pretenders, and will host residencies by Cher, Bruno Mars, and Ricky Martin among others in 2017. 702-730-7777; montecarlo.com Giada De Laurentiis's eponymous restaurant, Salvatore Calabrese's bar Bound, and the rooftop Drai's Beachclub & Nightclub. Rooms are quirky, with a steampunk vibe—but the hotel is one of the best located for those who love to walk the Strip. 702-777- 3777; thecromwell.com DELANO LAS VEGAS The breezy sophistication of Miami's original Delano meets grandly modern desert décor at this boutique hotel at Mandalay, which occupies its own tower. The more than 1,000 suites each measure at least 725 square feet in a white-on-white color scheme. Don't miss the serene Bathhouse Spa and Alain Ducasse's 64th-floor kingdom, the French Riviera-themed Rivea. 702-632-7888; delanolasvegas.com ENCORE LAS VEGAS Wynn Las Vegas's sister resort is home to a dynamic collection of suites, restaurants, and indoor/outdoor entertainment venues, including Encore Beach Club and XS Nightclub. INSIDER TIP: The Tower Suite lobby bar is one of Las Vegas's power rooms for casual meetings and drinks with clients. 702-770-7000; wynnlasvegas.com FOUR SEASONS LAS VEGAS This rare boutique Four Seasons provides a casino-free respite from Vegas. Guests have their own entrance and elevator as well as access to babysitters, making this a family favorite. The brunch at the recently renovated Veranda restaurant is a huge draw, and it's the weekday breakfast and lunch of local and visiting power brokers, casino executives, and Hollywood elite. 702-632-5000; fourseasons.com GREEN VALLEY RANCH RESORT, SPA & CASINO Just a short drive from the Strip, Green Valley's lush Mediterranean resort has an award-winning spa and a clutch of great new restaurants, including Bottiglia (Italian) and Borracha (an upscale Mexican cantina). Just renovated at 15 years, the 500-room resort is newly glam—its lobby lined in travertine marble from Peru, Spanish limestone Promenade columns, and with 12-foot-tall and 21-foot-wide high-def LED video displays in the Race and Sports Book—the best viewing technology in the industry. 702-617-7777; greenvalleyranch.sclv.com HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO Embrace Vegas's rock 'n' roll spirit at this memorabilia-filled resort with multiple nightlife venues, theaters, and action-packed pools. One mile off the Strip on Harmon Avenue, plenty of guests come in for concerts at The Joint and stay for the outrageous pool scene. Meals at 24/7 diner Mr. Lucky's are one of the best deals in Las Vegas, and there's a lesser-known (but delicious) Nobu outpost. Culinary Dropout and Pink Taco both have outdoor patios that overlook the pool scene. 702-693- 5000; hardrockhotel.com JW MARRIOTT LAS VEGAS RESORT & SPA The grand Spanish colonial-style resort 20 minutes west of the Strip on 50 acres of gardens is a locals' escape for its Spa Aquae and one of the best‚ —and most sedate—pool scenes around. It's also minutes from TPC Las Vegas, and its new Hawthorn Grill steakhouse, fronting a waterfall and tropical foliage, is set to become one of the west side's popular escapes. 221 N. Rampart Blvd., 702-869-7777; marriott.com MANDALAY BAY The gold-plated palace at the south The SOURCE: SPACE 100 VEGASMAGAZINE.COM