I spent the weekend in Vegas recently with my best travel buddies; the same three dear friends I do a girls trip with annually. We always travel in spring or summer, but wild schedules necessitated that we go earlier this year. Due to the timing of our getaway, we opted for Vegas instead of our usual beach destinations.
Can you believe this was my first ever visit to Las Vegas? I am so glad my inaugural experience was with these ladies! My friend, Jennifer, took the lead as she is the most versed in all things Vegas. Let me just say that she did a spectacular job. From the hotel to dinners to shows to brunch to casinos, she mapped out the perfect itinerary for us. Per usual, we did a horrible job taking photos as we were too busy having fun to whip out our phones.
We arrived Thursday and checked into our home for the weekend, the Cosmopolitan. This is a great spot: centrally located, vibrant casino, great views and a fabulous Italian restaurant. We ate dinner that evening at Scarpetta, which was tasty and authentic. Highly recommend.
View From Our Rooms
Thanks to the time change, we were up bright and early Friday morning. We couldn’t help but laugh at ourselves at the slot machines with our fresh pressed juices at 7:30 AM while others had clearly been there all night.
Early Morning Slots
Cosmopolitan Lobby
We made our way to The Wynn for brunch and loved our meal at Jardin. Excellent service and really fun drinks. The Wynn was decked out for The Year of the Dragon! I really enjoyed the ambiance at Wynn and would probably stay there the next time I visit Vegas. The (window) shopping was outstanding.
Jardin and Chinese New Year
We spent the rest of Friday meandering down the strip and popping into all the different shops, hotels and casinos. As expected, the people watching was superb. We popped into a little spot near Paris and enjoyed a late lunch.
Paris
Friday evening was my favorite, but you’ll just have to take my word for it because I do not have a single picture. We began our evening with the secret numbing flower drink at the Cosmopolitan. Let’s just say it’s memorable. Then we made our way to the Bellagio where Jennifer had booked amazing seats for O by Cirque du Soleil. I love Cirque shows! The water element really makes O extra special. From there we made a bee line to Nobu for our late dinner. Nobu was, of course, fantastic.
We were up early again Saturday (we never really got off east coast time, which served us well coming home) and this time ventured to ARIA for brunch at Bardot. Bardot is stunning. The aesthetic is handsome and fun, yet glamorous at the same time. I had the world’s biggest slice of quiche and was literally full the rest of the day. It was huge! And delectable.
Bardot
Since our brunch portions were massive, we didn’t stop for lunch. We did, however, stand in line for a round of drinks and a light snack at Vanderpump Cocktail Garden in Caesars Palace. Truthfully, this was my least favorite dining experience of the entire trip, and that includes the California Pizza Kitchen at the airport. Whomp whomp. It’s aesthetically pleasing and the cocktails are pretty and inventive, but the service is AWFUL. I thought we were being punked. Given how long we waited to snag a table, I’d have to say that this is something I will skip in the future. Cannot recommend. But I did take a picture of our fun drinks.
Vanderpump Cocktails
Our final dinner was one for the record books: Papi Steak at the Fountainbleu. Of course I do not have any pictures, but do yourself a favor and google this restaurant. The food was traditional steakhouse fare, but the atmosphere is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It’s quintessential Vegas, but elevated. Just look it up. Yes, it’s excellent quality and service, but you’re there for the scene.
We all left Sunday morning for the long journey home. I am so thankful for these travel buddies of mine! We take some fabulous trips, but I have fun anywhere with them.
