Where to Eat

• Bouchon

  The courtyard fountain and super-friendly service will remind you that you’re not actually in a Parisian bistro, but Bouchon comes close. From chef Thomas Keller of French Laundry fame.

  3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 877-883-6423, venetian.com

• Sinatra’s at Encore Las Vegas

  Chef Theo Schoenegger riffs on modern Italian cuisine, and the result is a menu full of surprising combinations, like butternut squash ravioli with vanilla and amaretto. Make room for the chocolate-filled doughnuts. You won’t regret it.

  3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-248-DINE, encorelasvegas.com

• Switch at Encore Las Vegas

  With a trick ceiling and its walls-on-wheels, the dining room changes its décor, lighting and music every 25 minutes. But Chef Marc Poidevin’s menu outshines the gimmick with delectables like lobster salad drizzled with truffle vinaigrette and slow-simmered short rib of beef.

  3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-248-DINE, encorelasvegas.com

• Firefly

  The fun and affordable tapas joint is a favourite among locals, who keep the place full. The crispy duck rolls in cherry hoisin sauce and spicy chili shrimp are two perfectly good reasons to return, on top of a fair selection of new-world wines by the glass.

  3900 Paradise Rd., Suite A, 702-369-3971, fireflylv.com

• Marché Bacchus

  Way off the Strip, near the city limits, is this bonafide French bistro with a Vegas twist. First, stop in at the wine shop to select a bottle or two for the evening. Then step into the restaurant and savour a lakeside meal. Chef Jean-Paul Labadie’s glazed Chilean sea bass with soba noodles and carrot-ginger coulis is a multi-flavoured sensation.

  2620 Regatta Dr., #106, 702-804-8008, marchebacchus.com

• Stripburger

  Sometimes you need a no-nonsense menu, and that’s what Stripburger delivers. The chrome-lined, space-station diner specializes in American portions of unpretentious food, with a dash of West Coast holism. The turkey burger and atomic cheese fries really hit the spot. Also try the refreshing King summer shaker cocktail, mixing gin, grapefruit juice and basil leaves.

  3200 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-737-8747, lasvegasstripburger.com

• Picasso

  Executive chef Julian Serrano's food is as good as the art – which is to say, masterful. Ask for a window seat overlooking the man-made lake to take in the spectacle of the Bellagio fountain show (it erupts every 15 to 30 minutes).

  3600 Las Vegas Blvd S., 866-259-7111, bellagio.com

• Daniel Boulud Brasserie at the Wynn Las Vegas Resort and Country Club

  There’s no gamble on Vegas high-stakes dining, starting with the slick Daniel Boulud Brasserie, which serves up its famed DB Burger, stuffed with braised short ribs, foie gras and black truffle.

  3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-248-DINE, wynnlasvegas.com

Where to Drink

• Lavo Nightclub at The Palazzo

  In proper Las Vegas fashion, Lavo lets you do it all: lounge, eat, drink, dance. The environment feels like a glamorous ancient Mediterranean tavern. The menu encourages sampling among friends, and the cocktails are especially creative, with the spiked lemonade and apple martini somehow being so much more.

  3327 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Suite 1760, 702-791-1800, lavolv.com

• Tryst at Wynn Las Vegas

  Is it too much to ask to have a view of a waterfall with your bubbly? Steve Wynn doesn’t think so. That’s why Tryst was built on the “more is more” creed. From the plushy décor to the sweeping patios and posh patrons, it’s pointless to do anything within reason.

  3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-770-3375, trystlasvegas.com

• XS at Encore Las Vegas

  Former Hollywood producer Victor Drai likes to slip in and out of different worlds, and that’s how he creates his club atmospheres. First with celebrity-magnet Pure, and now with XS at Encore. The poolside club is utterly extravagant, but that’s the point. If you’re lucky, you’ll see a high-roller sipping the $10,000 cocktail, made with Dom Perignon and Remy Martin Black Pearl and served with jewelry.

  3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-770-0097, xslasvegas.com

• VooDoo Steak & Lounge at Rio

  This rooftop club attracts a surprising number of locals. Start with dinner at the steakhouse, and follow up with a night of dancing and dallying at the lounge. While you’re at it, marvel at the view of late-night Las Vegas, all lit up.

  3700 Flamingo Rd. W., 702-777-7923, riovegasnights.com

Arts & Culture

• Las Vegas Art Museum

  9600 W. Sahara Ave., 702-360-8000, lasvegasartmuseum.org

• The Neon Museum

  702-387-NEON, neonmuseum.org

• Cirque du Soleil

  Céline is gone, but Quebec’s unofficial ambassadors to the world are still here. There are six Cirque du Soleil shows in Vegas: Criss Angel Believe (the magic show), Kà (by Robert Lepage), “O” (the water one), Zumanity (the erotic one), Love (the Beatles tribute) and Mystère (classic Cirque).

  800-963-9634, cirquedusoleil.com

• Le Rêve

  Fans of the Cirque and Céline shows will revel in the aquatic acrobatics of this Franco Dragone production. It’s likely you won’t see the same show twice, since the production is constantly evolving.

  888-320-7110, wynnlasvegas.com

• Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art

  3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 877-957-9777, citycenter.com

• Dust Gallery

  900 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Suite 120B, 702-880-3878, dustgallery.com

• First Friday

  702-384-0092, firstfriday-lasvegas.org

• Fremont Street Experience

  425 Fremont St., 877-VEGAS4U, vegasexperience.com

• Liberace Museum

  1775 E. Tropicana Ave., 702-798-5595, liberace.org

Shopping

• Fashion Show

  Boutiques include Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Abercrombie & Finch, Guess, Lacoste, Cole Haan, J. Crew, Marciano and Quiksilver.

  3200 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-369-8382

• Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood

  Boutiques include bebe, H&M, Urban Outfitters, Steve Madden, Ben Sherman, Betsey Johnson, BCBG, Victoria’s Secret and Sephora.

  3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-866-0710

• Wynn and Encore Esplanade

  Boutiques include Manolo Blahnik, Oscar de la Renta, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Dior and Cartier.

  3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 877-321-9966

• The Shoppes at the Palazzo and the Venetian

  Boutiques include Barneys New York, Diane Von Furstenberg, Ralph Lauren, FEndi, Michael Kors Collection, Kenneth Cole, Burberry, Jimmy Choo, Movado and Davidoff.

  3325 & 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 877-883-6423

Attractions

• Wynn Las Vegas Golf Course

  Casino king Steve Wynn famously spent more than $40-million creating Shadow Creek, a faux-Carolinas track near Las Vegas, complete with pine trees.

  3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 877-321-9966, wynnlasvegas.com

• Desert Road Trip

  Las Vegas is surrounded by nothing but desert and mountain ranges, so it's easy to spend the day exploring the outskirts. Drive a little further and you'll reach the Grand Canyon. Bring plenty of water (it gets very dry), and avoid nighttime critters by coming back before dusk. Renting a car is a cinch, but sometimes it's nice to get the guided treatment. Here are a few.
  
  Creative Adventures, 702-893-2051, creativeadventuresltd.com
  
  Desert Adventures, 702-293-5026, kayaklasvegas.com
  
  Desert Off Road Tours, 702-361-0676, desertfoxhummertours.com
  
  Pink Jeep Tours, 888-900-4480, pinkjeeptours.com

Getting from the Airport

McCarran International Airport is located in the city, so it only takes 10 minutes to get to Las Vegas Boulevard or downtown by car. Taxis line up near the exit.

Taxis

Cab drivers won’t be hailed. They take passengers at hotel entrances. If you’re not at a hotel, you’ll need to call a taxi to arrange for pick-up.

Public Transportation

The Las Vegas monorail is a popular means of getting around because it takes you around the Strip. A 3-day pass costs $28, a fraction of the cost of taxis. To get further in the city, buses go by regularly. The fare is $1.75 on regular vehicles, and $3 on Deuce double-deckers. Pay on the bus or at a ticket vending machine, found throughout the city. rtcsouthernnevada.com