ELLE DE NUIT
One of the newest additions to the Paris Las Vegas hotel, the Chateau Nightclub & Gardens opened March 5 and offers guests an indoor-outdoor nighttime experience replete with gardens, a terrace and a two-story, 45,000-square-foot club that evokes Old World nostalgia with ornate chandeliers, vintage grandfather globes and a 10-foot marble-mantle fireplace.
On the terrace, garden vines and decorative shrubbery surround three bars, 10 VIP cabanas and an elevated DJ booth that is visible from the strip. During the day, the terrace features the Chateau Beer Garden, with a selection of 20 draft brews, specialty cocktails and a small French cafe menu beginning at 10 a.m. daily.
The nightclub frequently hosts concerts, including past performances by artists Ke$ha, Nick Cannon and Flo Rida. T-Pain, Nicki Minaj, Armand Van Helden and Nelly are scheduled to perform this month.
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Opening on July 4, the 22,000-square-foot rooftop garden will feature several cocktail bars amidst foliage modeled after the gardens at Versailles and panoramic views of the Las Vegas skyline. — Alexandria Geisler
Chateau Nightclub & Gardens
Paris Las Vegas
3655 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Tel.: 702-776-7777
Open 10 p.m. until closing on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Cover charge: $30 for men, $20 for women.
LOCAL FAVORITE
For a modern boutique bar downtown, visit Vanguard, owned by a local couple with 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Jennifer and Andrew Wheatley opened the Fremont Street location in September 2010, just 10 minutes from the Strip in the Fremont East area, one of the few places where no gaming is allowed.
“[The appeal is] being able to go to four to five different bars without going through a casino,” said Jennifer Wheatley. “We didn’t want to be in competition (with the other bars), just give an added incentive to head to the downtown area.”
The modern decor and cement floors complement a working garage door that allows al fresco relaxation — a rarity in the downtown area. The lounge serves up craft cocktails, beer and small-batch boutique wine by the glass or bottle. Specialty cocktails are $10 to $12 and feature in-house infused liquors and interesting ingredients (egg whites, crème de violette). A DJ spins Tuesday through Saturday, and happy hour Monday through Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m. features half off well drinks, domestic beer and house wines by the glass, and $7 craft cocktails.
—Lexy Lebsack
Vanguard
516 Fremont St.
Tel: 702-868-7800
Monday-Friday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.; closed Sunday
FRENCH FLAVOR
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has welcomed an outpost of the popular West Hollywood brasserie Comme Ça. Inspired by traditional neighborhood brasseries in France, the restaurant is owned by Los Angeles celebrity chef David Myers and features tufted red leather benches, a mosaic-tiled floor, amber glass chandeliers and a handwritten menu on chalkboard walls.
“It’s similar to the one in Los Angeles, but there are definitely things that are Las Vegas-specific. Our outdoor patio has an incredible view of the Strip and the Eiffel tower. It’s probably a better view than anywhere in Paris,” Myers joked.
Entrées include an extensive selection of shellfish from the raw bar, the signature angus beef Comme Ça burger, beef stroganoff and roasted Maine lobster, and range from $16 to $52.
In line with the restaurant’s 1920s esprit, a secluded bar reminiscent of a speakeasy serves the brasserie’s Prohibition-style cocktail menu, referred to as 18A. Consulting with Sam Ross, the mixologist behind New York’s Milk & Honey, Myers offers cocktails like the Penicillin — honey, scotch, lemon and ginger — and the Mad Hatter, with rye, lemon, fresh lime, sugar and absinthe. Bartenders craft the elaborate drinks, chipping ice from a large ice block in the middle of the bar. Besides the cocktails, the restaurant features more than 150 wines, including 20 selections by the glass. —A.G.
Comme Ça
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Tel.: 702-698-7910
Open daily. Lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; dinner: 5 to 11 p.m.; late night dining: 11 p.m. to closing
HIDDEN TREASURE
Traveling down a dark hallway is never a good idea — unless it’s on the third floor of the Cosmopolitan Hotel and leads to a “secret” pizzeria.
Located between the Blue Ribbon Sushi and Jaleo restaurants, the hidden corridor is lined with a collection of vintage Italian records. At the end of the hall sits a small kitchen and an eating area filled with high counters, mismatched antique bar stools and vintage arcade games.
New York-style slices and whole pies are available to enjoy with a Pabst Blue Ribbon or Dogfish draft beer, or for carryout. The Pizzeria opens at 11 a.m. for lunch and stays open to the wee hours of the morning for postparty bites. —L.L.
The Pizzeria
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
3708 Las Vegas Blvd.
Tel.: 702-698-7860
Open Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 a.m.; Monday, Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 a.m.