Over the past year, Las Vegas has added an impressive lineup of new restaurants, each with its own story to tell. From star-studded Strip debuts to cocktail-forward Arts District lounges to neighborhood gems giving locals and culinary tourists something to brag about, the city has leveled up once again with superb food, spectacular presentations and stunning design.
Here’s the guide to the restaurants making headlines right now.
Tamba
Tamba isn’t new to Las Vegas — its original location, now closed, opened on the Strip in the early 2000s. But at its new home in Town Square, it has quickly become one of the city’s dining stars. With lighting set at a perfect 2700 degrees kelvin throughout the space and imported desert oak walls, Tamba 2.0, from restaurateur Sunny Dhillon, the son of the original outpost’s founders, spotlights Indian regional cuisine with a raw bar, a charcoal oven, an Arabic mangal grill, a clay tandoor and a wok.
Chef Anand Singh, formerly of Arbol at the Five-Star Las Ventanas al Paraíso, A Rosewood Resort, guides diners through Indian cooking techniques with dishes that surprise and delight. Curries are soulful and rich, while rice options are layered with fragrant spices.
Highlights include tamarind-spiced hamachi with Asian pear, curry emulsion, tamarind ponzu and serrano pepper, along with resident sushi master chef Sung Park’s Tambazushi — an Indian take on nigirizushi in three varieties, with the wagyu topped with caviar, yuzu kosho and truffle oil as the standout. Other specialties include the lobster green curry with green coconut masala, Mexican chili, coriander-mint purée and hand-ground coastal spices as well as pahadi paneer, pressed milk cheese done with spices, rich yogurt, mint and coriander.
The restaurant’s Bar Jadu is an experience in itself, featuring elixirs like the Peacock Martini, an interpretation of a Pousse-Café-style pour that’s made tableside with gin, citrus solution and vapor-distilled house tonic syrup.
PISCES Bar & Seafare at Wynn Las Vegas
Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Wynn Las Vegas’ shimmering ode to the Mediterranean, PISCES Bar & Seafare is positioned on the resort’s Lake of Dreams, with executive chef Martin Heierling helming the voyage.
The fresh fish selection includes whole roasted Dover sole, whole grilled orata (sea bream), salt-baked loup de mer and a paella alla Pisces for two — each with dramatic tableside finishing touches for a little show with dinner. The menu shifts between Spanish, Greek and Italian influences, with dishes such as classic caviar and jamón Ibérico croquetas sprinkled with gold leaf, and sea bass, hamachi and salmon crudi prepared lightly and vibrantly.
As with every restaurant at Wynn, design is integral to the culinary experience. Todd-Avery Lenahan, president and chief creative officer of Wynn Design & Development, immerses guests in a mysterious, moody underwater world. Four hundred Murano glass orbs hang above the seafood display and bar, a hand-laid mosaic floor features copper-infused glass, and Carrara marble covers every walkable surface.
After taking in the details, make your next order a Spirit of the Sea hot and dirty martini, crafted with spiced Mediterranean olive brine to awaken the taste buds.
Zaytinya in The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace
Chef José Andrés has been a prominent figure on the Strip since opening Jaleo and China Poblano at Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas nearly two decades ago. His collection expands with the debut of Zaytinya at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, an eatery celebrating the cuisine of the Eastern Mediterranean, including Turkey, Greece and Lebanon.
This is Andrés’ latest Zaytinya location, where mezze — small dishes served as appetizers — take the lead. The chef’s experience menu guides diners through must-have bites, from familiar hummus and baba ghanoush to the fun adana kebab (ground lamb) and garides me anitho (sautéed shrimp). À la carte highlights include the spicy soujouk sausage pide (flatbread), whole fish and a family-style kebab platter. These kinds of mains are fairly unique to the Las Vegas menu.
The room, designed by the Rockwell Group, captures the spirit of the region with large oak doors draped in trellises and plants, a back bar with a glass structure symbolic of the Greek evil eye and ornate hand-painted pendant lamps.
The cocktail selection is just as bold with interesting Greek liquors woven into the drinks, such as Minoan Sour with the grape-based spirit tsipouro, lemon, olive oil, egg white and citrus ash.
Nudo Italiano
From restaurateurs Jenna and Michael Morton and culinary director William DeMarco, Nudo Italiano is the neighborhood restaurant Las Vegas craves — all the riches of the Strip without the commute. About 15 minutes south of the central Strip in Southern Highlands, it delivers the same high-quality, well-composed cuisine found at the group’s other restaurants: One Steakhouse at Virgin Hotels, La Cave at Wynn and Crush at MGM Grand.
An exhibition kitchen and a lively bar anchor the dining room, with sculptural lighting, natural textures and a convivial hum that makes every table feel like the best seat in the house. Handmade pappardelle with veal ragù, pancetta and sheep’s milk ricotta; Neapolitan pepperoni pizza with vodka sauce, ricotta salata and honey; and vitello piccata with capers, lemon and spinach are three must-try dishes on the menu. And save room for dessert: the pistachio cake with chocolate sauce and the whimsical “spaghetti and meatballs” cheesecake — chocolate truffles serve as the “meatballs” — are winners.
Behind the bar, Johnny O’Donnell, Morton Group’s self-proclaimed “president of funology,” holds court on Monday nights and serves up a sublime spritz.
Four Sixes Ranch Steakhouse at Wynn Tower Suites
At Five-Star Wynn Tower Suites, Four Sixes Ranch Steakhouse channels the heritage of the legendary Texas ranch owned by Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan. The limited-time pop-up, which transforms the breakfast and lunch restaurant Tableau each night, has been such a hit that it is expected to run through the end of the year. While Sheridan’s name and the popularity of his television universe draw crowds, the menu goes beyond celebrity to celebrate the authentic cuisine of the American cowboy.
The cocktails set the tone — the Wide Open Spaces elevates ranch water with Don Julio Blanco tequila, lime, housemade watermelon soda and cilantro-spiced salt, served in a soda siphon. Pair it with the caviar tower, layered with potato tots, kettle chips and country-fried chicken tenders. Starters also move into bold territory, such as the Texas wedge, which twists a steakhouse classic with wagyu burnt ends, slow-roasted tomatoes, blue cheese and herb buttermilk dressing.
Still, the highlight is the Four Sixes Ranch prime beef. Signature cuts include the dry-aged cowboy steak, “Taylor’s Cut” inside skirt steak and the spice-crusted boneless rib-eye, carved at your table.
Bar Boheme
A modern French brasserie in the bustling Arts District about 10 minutes off the Strip, Bar Boheme mixes urban glamour with French Riviera vibes through a zebra marble bar, bohemian-inspired chandeliers and floral wall décor. The menu runs through French favorites with a few twists.
Gougères (truffle cheese mousse canapés) and ratatouille with basil are great starts. The fresh-baked Parisienne baguette bread service with French butter is essential. Follow with escargots en vol-au-vent, gnocchi à la Parisienne and boeuf bourguignon. While it might be hard deciding which dining adventure to take, every road leads to a crisp gin martini, either alongside dinner or at the Paris-inspired cocktail bar Petite Boheme tucked behind the restaurant.
Stubborn Seed at Resorts World
Top Chef winner Jeremy Ford’s Stubborn Seed may be new to Resorts World, but it already runs like an award-winning institution similar to its same-named sister restaurant in Miami. The intimate room beams with energy while the food strikes a balance between precision and play with plenty of surprises. A tasting, à la carte and even a late-night menu make up the experience. Don’t miss the inventive sake- and citrus-cured Japanese yellowtail, Ibérico ham fritters and the smoked beef rib accompanied by red gem lettuce leaves that fold into wraps.
The beverage offerings are just as well played, leaning on crafty interpretations such as the Negroni à la Ford (Del Maguey Vida mezcal and ancho chile liqueur) or the Kill Dill (Gin Mare, dill syrup, Fresno pepper and egg white).
Nomikai at The Venetian
This speakeasy inside The Venetian is all about food, friends and fun. Hiding behind a sushi counter of the same name, the dark yet electric restaurant and cocktail bar has a vibrant drinking and dining menu. Kitchen highlights from identical twins Yongju An (Nick, the culinary director) and Yongjun An (Jun, the executive sous chef) showcase an innovative take on traditional Japanese cuisine, featuring nigiri, cut rolls, sushi experiences and small plates. Share the spicy tuna chips, bluefin tuna pizza or the daily sushi selection.
Pair any dish with the Rice Washed Negroni (Nikka Coffey gin, blanc vermouth, bitter bianco and sushi rice) or the Ube Espresso Martini (Haku vodka, coffee liqueur, cold brew, ube and sweet milk) and you won’t regret it. This is seriously delicious food that doesn’t take itself seriously at all.
