Designer restaurants, a recent trend in Las Vegas and other American cities, incorporate unique or over-the-top ideas into the dining atmosphere. Chefs and restaurant owners combine the work of interior designers with large budgets to create exciting and ambitious dining spaces. The Shibuya at the MGM Grand Hotel, Aureole Restaurant and Mix at Mandalay Bay all represent the designer theme found in contemporary Las Vegas restaurants.
Shibuya, located in the MGM Grand Hotel, is a Las Vegas designer restaurant that uses jungle design themes and interactive media to create a unique dining environment. For an interesting design effect, the Shibuya created a 50-foot wall for videos. The video wall is located directly behind the main bar to draw attention to the area. The Shibuya also created table partitions with bunches of bamboo that reach up to the ceiling.
The Shibuya designer restaurant offers authentic Japanese cuisine such as sushi and seared akami tuna. The restaurant has won numerous awards, including the Best Las Vegas Japanese Restaurant SNCHA for the years 2004 through 2008 and again in 2010.
Shibuya
3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109
702-891-3001
mgmgrand.com/restaurants
Aureole is another well-known designer restaurant in Las Vegas, located in the Mandalay Bay resort. Aureole is owned and operated by famous chef Charlie Palmer, who also owns Aureole in New York City. Aureole used the help of Adam Tihany, a restaurant designer, to create a surprising, sophisticated atmosphere. One of the most talked-about features of Aureole is a four-story glass wine tower that holds all of the restaurant's wine bottles. To retrieve the high bottles, Aureole hired women as "wine angels" to be lifted up on high wire to the desired wine for all to see. The restaurant also features elegant decor touches, including live swans and large floral bouquets.
Aureole features Progressive American Cuisine such as wood-grilled filet mignon and sea scallop sandwiches.
Aureole
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89119
702-632-7401
aureolelv.com
Mix is yet another well-known Las Vegas designer restaurant that is located in the Mandalay Bay resort and uses unique interior design elements, such as chandelier lighting and sweeping staircases, to create a stunning dining atmosphere. Mix was opened by famous chef Alain Ducasse and was designed by restaurant designer Patrick Jouin. The entire restaurant is decorated in white and silver, with a breathtaking 15,000 hand-blown glass chandelier on the center of the ceiling. Mix was also created with two huge staircases that bring guests to the main dining room.
Mix offers guests classic French and American dishes, such as a rack of Colorado lamb and filet mignon rossini. Mix was also named Best Restaurant by Travel & Leisure magazine in 2006.
Mix
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89119
702-632-7777
mandalaybay.com/dining/
