Las Vegas casinos have quietly turned themselves into destinations where fashion houses and celebrity chefs compete for attention just as much as the gaming tables do. This diversification is important for an economy that’s so reliant on gambling and is under threat from the emergence of gambling sites offering incentives like online casino bonuses.
The Great Reinvention
Las Vegas casinos weren’t always like this, as dining at the properties in the city for most of the 20th century meant bargain buffets. Casinos saw food as a loss leader and a cheap way to keep gamblers on the property. Shopping didn’t really come into consideration, with gift shops selling keychains being the height of it in a lot of places.
One of the major turning points was in 1992 when Wolfgang Puck opened Spago inside the Caesars Palace Forum Shops. This was a big gamble in itself, as nobody knew if tourists would pay fine dining prices. However, the smoked salmon pizza there quickly became legendary and within a decade, all of the major Strip resorts had luxury retailers and celebrity chefs on board.
The Fashion Offering
The shopping that you’ll find these days within Las Vegas casinos can rival anything that Fifth Avenue in Manhattan or Rodeo Drive in LA has to offer.
The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace is where it all started and is one of the best-performing shopping centres in the US. It almost feels like walking through Ancient Rome with the painted sky ceiling and the marble fountains. There are flagship boutiques from the likes of Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Versace and other luxury houses.
Just a short walk away in The Venetian is the Grand Canal Shoppes. There’s theatre mixed in with the shopping due to the passing gondolas and opera singers.
The more sleek luxury option is The Shops at Crystals, which is part of the ARIA Resort & Casino. This still feels more like a contemporary art museum than a mall. Some of the flagship shops for Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Tiffany & Co are present here. The rotating art installations make every window feel unique.
Other standout options on the Strip include the Wynn Plaza and the Wynn Esplanade, where Steve Wynn’s attention to detail led to one of the most refined shopping environments in the city.
You'll find the likes of Chanel, Dior, Cartier, and Hermes all along the flower-lined corridors. Some of the boutiques here will even stock exclusive pieces that aren’t found at any other location of the same brand. This is where Vegas high rollers come to find their one-of-a-kind items.
Casino shopping in Las Vegas also stands out due to the stores staying open late into the night, which matches the non-stop city’s rhythm. A good run at the blackjack table can lead to a midnight shopping spree and the resorts have designed everything to make this type of horizon feel effortless.
A Culinary Capital in the Desert
The food scene in Las Vegas casinos is also remarkable, having turned into one of the world’s leading dining destinations. Almost all of the popular casino resorts have celebrated restaurants housed within them.
Caesars Palace for example is home to Restaurant Guy Savoy, which is the only restaurant the legendary French chef operates outside of his home country. It’s situated far from the gaming floor and has been a go-to for anyone who likes fine dining.
Diners can even enjoy a view of the Las Vegas version of the Eiffel Tower across the road at Paris Las Vegas. Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen is also part of Caesars, which has played host to the famous television show for many years.
The Encore and Wynn Las Vegas have top chefs actually cooking in the establishment and not just lending their names to the restaurants. Wing Lei was historically the first Chinese restaurant in North America to get a Michelin star. Other options include Cipriani, which is a famous Italian restaurant, and Delilah is one of the hardest reservations to get in town.
The ARIA is another culinary powerhouse in the city. It has Gymkhana, a now Michelin-starred London restaurant, which chose the ARIA as its location for an American debut.
Even the humble buffet has gotten a facelift. The Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace and The Buffet at the Wynn are genuine culinary experiences, with chefs attending stations serving all types of wonders. The bargain buffet of old is nowhere to be seen anymore on the Strip.
How It All Comes Together
There are reasons why the combination of gambling, cuisine, and shopping all come together so well in Las Vegas. The casinos know that the modern visitor wants more than just gambling. Many guests these days don't even place a single bet.
They come for the restaurants, shopping, and the overall spectacle. Non-gaming revenue is now becoming an increasingly high proportion of the Strip’s overall success and the resorts put huge effort as a result into attracting the biggest names in fashion and food.
It’s often a matter of celebration that goes along with special occasions. Las Vegas should be buying a handbag in the Forum Shops or a tasting menu at the Guy Savoy. The casinos have built the idea that indulgence, on its own, can be a form of entertainment.
Next time you’re considering where to travel to, don’t just assume all that Las Vegas has to offer is gambling and conferences. There’s a lot more that goes into the diamond in the Nevada desert.