ESC A PE T H E ST R I P
Hyde Bellagio
H y d e B e l l a g i o c o u r t e s y o f MGM r e s o r t s i n t e r n a t i o n AL
The name, of course, like any clever place worth checking out, is a pun. Hyde Bellagio is a patio bar hidden behind the Bellagio fountain, but the bar is also the Strip’s laidback alter-ego. The white canvas furniture and greenery make you feel like you’re in the Hamptons instead of the sleek house that Wynn built. Arrive before 10 p.m. and skip the cover charge, the scene and being seen. After a couple different water shows and a few drinks, your inner Hyde may be tempted to reveal itself, but that’s okay, no one can see you. Cheers: $17 might be steep for a Bellini, but it’s pretty cheap for the experience of being beamed to another place and time. MO 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-693-8700, bellagio.com
legal and government sectors, even as it’s seen a greater influx of tourists since the renovation and open of the adjacent Downtown Grand. The menu is unchanging, save for the specials, which are always excellent. (The “Downtown Wings” are the hidden secret: They’re among the best in the valley.) Wash them down with beer, or a glass of wine from the corner wine cabinet. SS 201 N. Third St., 702-384-2761, triplegeorgegrill.com
Morton’s An expanded bar in this steakhouse at Flamingo and Paradise roads was a welcome addition for political types who like to see before they’re seen. (People just entering from out-
side, especially before sunset, haven’t had time to allow their eyes to adjust to the low light inside.) The bar is ridiculously well-stocked, the happy hour menu is top-notch, and there’s a wine tower in the corner to tempt you to drink more, or even stay for dinner. Parking requires either valet (in the front) or a short walk (in the back). They will make any drink you desire, but there’s just something about sipping a classic Scotch or a sparkling martini in a steakhouse. SS 400 E. Flamingo Road, 702-893-0703, mortons.com
Hank’s The steakhouse inside the Green Valley Ranch was named for Las Vegas Sun founder and publisher Hank
Greenspun, back in the days when the Greenspun family had an interest in the casino company. All that’s left now is the name, but thankfully, the quality of the restaurant or its bar hasn’t changed. The bar is ultra-modern, with underlit tables, plenty of metal accents but an oldschool piano for live music. It’s very spacious, so there’s almost always a seat, and for Henderson-based business types, it’s extremely convenient. The martini is a specialty (they claim the finest in Las Vegas), but there are virtually no limits to what you can imbibe here. SS 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, 702-617-7075, greenvalleyranch.sclv.com
ESCAPE THE STRIP ( W H I L E O N T H E S T R I P)
Comme Ça The so-called deluxification of the Strip in recent years hasn’t changed the ground game much. In casinos, on sidewalks, at bars, the shambling masses still clutch well drinks, light beers and daiquiris in Eiffel Towers and Statues of Liberty. But there are small islands of civility and good taste on the Strip, such as at Comme Ça. Their 18A cocktail menu is a faithful throwback to Prohibition, when a nationwide federal crackdown, ironically, inspired a sort of cocktail rebellion-cum-renaissance that focused anew on craft. And craft is in full effect here — in the rich and complex Sazerac, in the bitey but smooth Gordon’s Cup, and in mischievous riffs such as the Mezcal Old Fashioned. AK The Cosmopolitan, 702-698-7910, commecarestaurant.com
Press This non-gaming resort from the luxe Four Seasons brand has long been the place to get away from the ding and the bling of the Strip. Even better, the property recently accomplished M AY 2 0 1 4
DesertCompanion.com
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