David Werly will be executive chef at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, expected to open this spring at the former site of the Hard Rock Hotel. Werly, a veteran of such esteemed restaurants and resorts as Aria, Vdara, Mandarin Oriental, Le Cirque and more, will oversee the Virgin in-house concepts, including the Kitchen at Commons Club, Funny Library Coffee Shop, the Juice Bar and the F&B offerings at the guest pool and dayclub and in-room and banquet dining.
Big new bar concepts are popping up or in the works around the Vegas Valley. At Area15, Emporium Arcade Bar has opened for drinks, games and live shows, an extension of the Chicago outpost opened in 2012. Classic arcade games, pool tables, pinball, foosball and other activities complement a local craft beer program and innovative cocktail menu. The two-level, 10,000-square-foot space is open Thursday through Sunday from 5 to 9 p.m.
Landini's Pizzeria makes its Las Vegas debut this week.
Meanwhile on the Strip, Caesars Palace is set to open Stadia Bar, taking up 2,186 square feet adjacent to the Forum Food Court, sometime this spring. The 120-seat bar and lounge will feature curated craft cocktails served in a comfortable space designed by the Rockwell Group with multiple HDTV screens for sports viewing, including from the elevated bar one of five VIP leather-wrapped domes. Stadia will be situated across from Vanderpump Cocktail Garden near the entrance to the Forum Shops.
Red Rock Resort’s indoor-outdoor pop-up lounge will transform into Crimson in Bloom starting this week. A garden-inspired décor will set the scene for a tableside rosé cart and other spring-focused cocktail selections, and DJs will spin Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. Crimson in Bloom will be open February 12 through May 16 every Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Known for New York-style pizza, panini and pasta, San Diego’s Landini’s Pizzeria is set to celebrate its grand opening in Las Vegas on February 9—National Pizza Day—at 9440 W. Russell Road. The new restaurant is Landini’s largest yet at 1,386 square feet, seating 30. The original was founded in 2009 in San Diego’s Little Italy and a second store opened in Point Loma in 2018. To celebrate the Vegas opening, Landini’s is offering $1 slices for guests dining in and for any 18-inch pizza ordered to-go, guests will receive a one- or two-topping pizza of equal or lesser value for free. Landini’s is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
In other pizza news, Eataly Las Vegas at Park MGM will be serving up a traditional Italian Pizza Giro at La Pizza e La Pasta during Presidents Day weekend, February 12-14. The cost is $65 per person and includes unlimited pizza and one curated cocktail pitcher that holds four cocktails and serves two people. A beer option is also available. Reservations are required and can be made at eataly.com.
Just in case you haven’t shattered your New Year’s resolutions yet, Marie Callender’s bi-annual pie sale is back. Freshly baked whole pies to-go start at $7.99 with available flavors including lemon meringue, apple, chocolate, pumpkin, banana cream and key lime.
