Where to Strike Gold in Las Vegas

They say gold doesn't always glitter—unless you're in Vegas, where everything from facials to foie gras gets the King Midas touch.

By: Lynn Coulter

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Tony Tran Photography

Photo By: MGM Resorts international

Photo By: MGM Resorts International

Photo By: Maverick Helicopters

Photo By: Jenn Smulo

Photo By: Golden Gate

Photo By: MGM Resorts International

Photo By: Wynn Las Vegas

Vegas Golden Knights

The T-Mobile Arena was awash in gold and purple lights during its grand opening in 2016. Now it's home to the Golden Knights, a professional ice hockey team and the first major pro sports team based in Vegas. Go for the gold and visit when you’re looking for all kinds of entertainment; it also hosts everything from basketball tournaments and UFC bouts to concerts by Imagine Dragons, Guns N’ Roses, Depeche Mode and other performing artists.

Gold Leaf Caviar

Talk about gold-plated. Joel Robuchon, the only chef in Las Vegas with three coveted Michelin stars, plates up an amazing dish, Le Caviar Imperial. Look for it on the menu in his namesake French restaurant, Joel Robuchon, at MGM Grand. It’s prepared with Oscetra caviar (a prized sturgeon caviar) served atop a silky-smooth crustacean gelee with pureed cauliflower. The finishing touch: an edible, 24-karat gold leaf, making it as beautiful as it is scrumptious.

Gold Key Concierges

Les Clef d’Or, French for "keys of gold," refers to the most elite group of concierges in the world, men and women who wear crossed keys pinned to their lapels to symbolize their exceptional service. You could say the keys are worth their weight in gold. Before joining this prestigious organization, each applicant goes through a six-month vetting process and must pass a long test. When you're in Vegas, ask a Gold Key concierge where to kennel your pet or have a zipper repaired; they handle everything.

Sky Suites and Villas

Out of only 650 Gold Key concierges in the U.S., 10 are employed at ARIA, where luxury-loving guests stay in the hotel’s Sky Suites and Sky Villas. Both have touches and sweeps of gold decor as well as floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the glittering cityscape. Sky Suites feature spa-like bathrooms and separate living rooms, master bedrooms and wet bars. Two-bedroom Sky Villas range up to 3,370 square feet in size and give guests access to private elevators, butlers, personalized poolside services and other amenities.

Gold Knesko Facial

Indulge in a fabulous gold facial in The Spa at ARIA. The Knesko Skin Nano Gold Mask is made with real gold and applied to your face, neck and décolletage to help hydrate and soothe your skin, erase fine lines, and bring out a healthy glow. It’s available for all ages and skin types (and yes, even men with facial hair or stubble). A 50-minute session is $200, or $300 for 80 minutes (prices are subject to change).

Gold-Dusted Lago Cocktail

Think gold rush when you order the Lago Cocktail at Lago by Julian Serrano, the Bellagio’s upscale Italian restaurant. You'll get a rush from this signature drink, priced at $18. It's prepared with Absolute Elyx vodka, Mancino Vermouth Secco, orange blossom syrup and butterfly pea flower extract; the recipe was created by award-winning Executive Chef Julian Serrano. It’s served over an icy sphere with a flower in the center and finished with a flourish of gold flakes.

City of Golden Lights

You may know that Vegas is called the City of Lights, and the downtown area is nicknamed Glitter Gulch. Soar above the Strip on a Maverick Helicopters night flight, and you’ll see why. After a welcoming champagne toast, up to seven passengers board a well-appointed ECO-star helicopter (also known as the "limousine of the sky"). After takeoff, your pilot narrates the 12-15 minute trip as you enjoy panoramic views of the hotels and casinos below. Bring your camera to snap the Luxor pyramid, Bellagio fountains and other magical sights.

Gold Crusted Quail

If gold-dusted cocktails don’t quench your appetite for the precious metal, try La Caille, or Gold Crusted Quail Farci au Foie Gras, at Le Cirque at Bellagio. Le Cirque, which boasts a AAA Five Diamond Award, stuffs a small, boneless quail with foie gras. It’s garnished with gold leaf and two "quail wings" of shaved Parmesan. When plated up beside a "tree" made from potato mousseline and black truffle "leaves," it’s a dish fit for a king or queen.

Golden Gate Hotel and Casino

Located on historic Fremont Street, the Golden Gate Hotel and Casino dates back to 1906. After recently being renovated, it now features a casino floor twice the size of the original and a bigger outdoor bar. There's also a glam new entrance with Jazz Age-inspired drapes made of gold velvet. Weighing an incredible 500 pounds, the drapes—which are two stories tall—are held back from the doors with large gold medallions. Look for a 24-foot-tall video sculpture in the rotunda, and a chandelier with faceted crystals that looks like a cascade of glittering gold.

Jewel Night Club

LED lights sparkle like gems in Jewel, a jewel-box of a nightclub furnished in sophisticated gold decor. Guests mingle and dance in the 24,000-square-foot space as DJs and artists like rapper Lil Jon and electro house musicians Steve Aoki and Zedd make the party happen. Behind the DJ’s booth, lights on a high-tech wall pulse to the music. Want your own intimate space? Request one of the five VIP suites that encircle the mezzanine.

Ono Cocktail

Gold isn’t always yellow; there’s also white gold, an alloy of pure gold and white metals such as silver. Take some gold home when you order The Ono at XS Nightclub in Encore, at Wynn Las Vegas. The cocktail is made with Charles Heidsieck Champagne (Charlie 1981) and Louis XIII de Remy Martin Black Pearl cognac. Sure, it’s extravagant at $10,000 a glass, but it’s meant for a couple to share. It also comes with a pair of silver cufflinks and a black pearl pendant on an 18-karat white-gold chain.

Shows

Hosts

Trending

Top Videos

Digital Exclusives

From Our Shows

Trending

Top Domestic

Top International

Trending

Explore By Region

Trending

Top Interests

By Trip

By Traveler

Travel Tips

Trending

Las Vegas

Where to Strike Gold in Las Vegas

Related To:

Shop This Look

Vegas Golden Knights

Gold Leaf Caviar

Gold Key Concierges

Sky Suites and Villas

Gold Knesko Facial

Gold-Dusted Lago Cocktail

City of Golden Lights

Gold Crusted Quail

Golden Gate Hotel and Casino

Jewel Night Club

Ono Cocktail

We Recommend

Top Spot: Las Vegas 11 Photos

Paris Las Vegas

Treasure Island Las Vegas

Las Vegas' Best Imitators

The Flamingo Las Vegas

Las Vegas' Late Night Clubs

More From Travel