What’s the latest in Las Vegas? We spent a few days in Vegas in January, and here are some of the highlights about what’s new and trending for events in the ever-popular desert city.

Fountainbleau

Fontainebleau Las Vegas officially opened its doors Dec. 13, 2023. Located across the street from the West Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Fontainebleau Las Vegas features a 150,000-square-foot casino with 42-foot ceilings and 3,644 hotel rooms and suites.

Staying here: The 67-story resort features a bevy of high-end amenities, including a six-acre elevated pool deck, a 14,000 sq. ft. fitness center and a 55,000 sq. ft., two-level spa. Standard rooms, which are 488–660 sq. ft., feature mountain or Strip views. One touch opens and closes the automated drapes.

Meeting here: A 90,000 sq. ft., three-level, multifunctional theater with approximately 3,800 capacity with a pre-function space for groups. The conference center features 550,000 sq. ft. of indoor-outdoor customizable meeting and event space. On Jan. 24, the conference center hosted the Las Vegas Preview, an annual event and mini-trade show produced by the Las Vegas Chamber.

Related: Long-Awaited Fontainebleau Las Vegas Set to Debut in December 

Dining here: With restaurants in Miami, New York and Mexico City, KYU serves unique interpretations of wood-fired Asian cuisine with an open kitchen and view of the Las Vegas Strip. For lunch, we tasted tuna crispy rice, smoked hamachi crudo and thai rice stone pot with king crab — among other lunch menu items. The full restaurant can be bought out for 214 guests.

Formula 1 Grand Prix Pit Building & Plaza

Located at the corner of Koval Lane and Harmon Avenue just off the Strip, Grand Prix Plaza officially opened last November for the inaugural Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix.

Need for speed: The multi-use complex is now open as a year-round destination for private events and will soon feature interactive experiences and exhibitions, a merchandise store and much more. The 39-acre property houses the state-of-the-art Las Vegas Grand Prix Pit Building, the home of Formula 1 in North America.

Meeting here: Located 3 miles from the Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Grand Prix Plaza boasts 39 acres of indoor and outdoor entertainment event space for private events. The entire plaza is paved, and outdoor space can be used for temporary event structures, concert stages and outdoor activations. The venue includes portions of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit, including turns 1, 2 and 3, pit lane entry and pit lane.

Rooftop views: The three-story Grand Prix Pit Building, which includes 14 5,100-sq.-ft. garages, offers meeting space on each level, plus a rooftop with 71,800 sq. ft. of outdoor event space and unobstructed 360-degree views of the Las Vegas Strip and surrounding mountains. Capacity for the rooftop is approximately 3,000 guests for reception-style events.

Caesars Palace: Peter Luger’s Steakhouse and Brasserie B

Caesars Entertainment continues to mix up and add to its food and beverage offerings with established brand names, like Peter Luger and Bobby Flay. Since November, two restaurants opened at Caesars Palace, the iconic Las Vegas Strip resort that features 3,980 hotel guest rooms and suites, including the redesigned 182-room Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace, the renovated Colosseum Tower and The Laurel Collection by Caesars Palace. 

Meat market: Legendary Peter Luger Steak House opened in November, marking its first U.S. location outside of New York, according to a press release. Operating for more than 135 years, Peter Luger is one of New York’s top-rated steakhouses. With its notoriously gruff, bow-tied waitstaff, old-world charm and on-site dry-aging of legendary USDA-Prime steaks, dining at Peter Luger has become a culinary rite of passage. For dinner, we sampled the steaks – a sizzling plate with T-Bones, ribeyes and filets – that were served family style.

French flare: Opening in January, Brasserie B by Bobby Flay offers delicious and distinct French-inspired dishes for brunch, lunch and dinner. Located across from the Nobu Hotel entrance, the restaurant features an L-shaped bar with a lounge that flows into the main dining space, and a raw bar with a lit canopy spilling over the tables below. The intimate, 140-seat dining room features blown glass chandeliers, cane-backed cafe chairs and handmade subway tile, giving it a classic Parisian feel. The menu is an intersection of French cuisine and Flay's creative touches. On the brunch menu, we tried the Pain Perdu (French toast) with blackberries and whipped creme fraiche and thick cut bacon with honey dijon and thyme.

Bellagio: The Vault & Lago

The Bellagio Resort and Casino celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2023. With 3,900 rooms and suites, the hotel features more than 200,000 sq. ft. of convention space. 

Secret spot: The Vault, which opened in August 2023, can be accessed with an exclusive reservation, as there’s only space for about 30 people. It’s tucked away behind a nondescript doorway near the table games, just off the casino floor. Inside the Vault, you’ll find a dark and cozy lounge with velvety banquettes, and a bar stocked with some of the most expensive bottles found in Las Vegas. Signature handmade cocktails are each around $55. The main attraction is the bar’s collection of vintage and hard-to-find spirits. For example, there are bottles of Bacardi from the 1960s, when the rum was bottled in the Bahamas, unlike in Puerto Rico today. We tried a sampling of bites that included a dish of fried potatoes that are cut and shaped like croissants, served with crème fraîche and caviar. For reservations, send a direct message on Instagram to @thevaultbellagio and request a reservation or use the link in the Instagram page bio. With live entertainment, the Vault is open daily from 5 p.m. until 1 a.m.

Fountain view: LAGO by Chef Julian Serrano, which has been open since 2015, offers fresh coastal Italian fare. With views of the iconic Fountains of Bellagio with indoor and outdoor seating, the elegant eatery features an array of pastas made fresh daily and pizzas made for sharing. Newly reimagined lunch and dinner menus offer distinctive à la carte selections. Try coastal-inspired cocktails or its expansive selection of Italian wines. For lunch, we tasted the burrata salad, salmon crudo, beef carpaccio and branzino — to name a few. A full buyout can accommodate 250 guests.

Venetian Resort: HaSalon

Bold presentation: HaSalon, an upscale restaurant that opened in 2023, features the flavors of the Mediterranean land and sea with a menu that changes nightly. In Hebrew, HaSalon means “the living room.” Located in The Palazzo tower just off the casino floor, chef Eyal Shani offers creative Israeli cuisine such as roasted branzino, langoustine and shrimp tortellini. A full buyout of the restaurant will accommodate 200 seated and 500 standing.