This weekly update covers noteworthy restaurant openings and closings, dining news, culinary events, and entertainment news
Events
Bardot Brasserie — January 1
ARIA will welcome 2026 with the return of Diane’s Bloody Mary Brunch Party to Bardot Brasserie.
The interactive experience includes Queen of Brunch Diane Mina as MC, who will bring her signature Bloody Marys. Along with Bardot’s regular brunch menu, special food and drink features will include:
- L.I.E. (Long Island Egg) Breakfast Sandwich with double egg, poppy seed kaiser roll, Paris ham, hash browns, and seasonal fruit
- DBM Double Burger with American cheese, caramelized onions, pickle, secret sauce, mustard-grilled brioche bun, and duck fat fries
- Champagne Battered Fish & Chips with pickled ketchup and caviar tartare sauce
- Signature Bloody Marys garnished with peppadew pepper, salami, cornichon, manchego cheese, pimento olive, chicharron, and Millionaires Bacon.
- Mama’s Michelada with Diane’s Dirty Mix and Mexican lager
- G.B.U. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly with 2 oz Shot Cocktail Tequila, 2 oz Diane’s Original Mix, and 2 oz Mexican lager
Reservations are available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the exclusive engagement. Visit ARIA online to make a reservation or call Bardot Brasserie at 702-590-8610.
Chéri Rooftop — January 1
Chéri Rooftop at Paris Las Vegas will host an elevated New Year’s Day brunch experience from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Priced at $49 per person, the all-you-can-eat feast will Housemade Granola, Fresh Cinnamon Rolls, Petite Avocado Toast, Shrimp Cocktail, Bagels and Smoked Salmon, Eggs Benedict, Herbed Chicken and Waffles, Cavatappi Pasta with Italian Sausage & Basil Vodka Cream Sauce; cooked to order Egg and Omelet Station; and desserts including Freshly Baked Miniature Breakfast Pastries, Cookies, Brownies, Layer Cakes and Fruit Tarts.
There will also be a DJ and options of build-your-own Bloody Mary bar ($16) and Bottomless Mimosas ($30).
To view the complete menu and to make a reservation, visit cherirooftop.com/new-years-day-brunch.
La Fontaine — January 1
La Fontaine at Fontainebleau will offer a New Year’s Day brunch menu from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Priced at $135 per person, it will feature a cold and hot buffet with a slow-roasted prime rib carving station, soufflé pancakes, crêpes sucrées, and optional enhancements such as caviar service, shaved truffle, and seared foie gras. Additionally, guests can upgrade their experience with an endless champagne add-on featuring Veuve Clicquot, starting at $65.
Reservations can be made here.
Kona Grill — January 1
Kona Grill will kick off the year with an all-day New Year’s Day happy hour.
The restaurant will serve fan favorites offered exclusively in the bar area, with several items priced at $3, $6, and $9. $3 deals include Chicken Satay, Shrimp Taco, Edamame, Kona Big Wave, and shot of sake; for $6 there are ¼ lb Cheeseburger & Fries, Macadamia Chicken, Chicken Fried Rice, Spicy Tuna Roll, Kona Margarita, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangria and Voodoo Ranger IPA; and $9 options such as KG Sliders & Fries, BBQ Chicken Flatbread, Ribeye Meatballs, Avocado Egg Roll, Kosmopolitan, E.W. Old Fashioned, Moscow Mule, 22 oz Sapporo can, Bonanza by Caymus Cabernet, and Butter Chardonnay.
For the complete happy hour menu, click here.
Electra Cocktail Club — January 1
If watching College Football Bowl Games is in your game plan for New Year’s Day, Electra Cocktail Club at The Venetian has you covered.
The full slate of College Bowl Games will be projected on Electra’s massive 40-foot HDTV with immersive game sound, with the Orange Bowl at 9 a.m., the Rose Bowl at 1 p.m., and the Sugar Bowl at 5 p.m. You can opt for all-you-can-eat wings for $40 or an open bar for $50, each with a three-hour time limit.
To reserve, visit electracocktailclub.com/events.
Pinkbox Doughnuts — December 30-January 1
To ring in the new year, Pinkbox Doughnuts has a lineup of festive holiday creations at all 14 of its shops and online through Jan. 1.
The lineup includes:
- Cheers Cake: white frosted “ube” cake topped with New Year’s sprinkles
- Hello 2026: frosted raised bar with New Year’s sprinkles
- New Year’s Clock: white frosted raised doughnut filled with confetti whip topped with clock décor
- Celebration Pooh: chocolate cake topped with chocolate buttercream and covered in chocolate icing with New Year’s décor
- Celebration Pinky: vanilla cake topped with vanilla buttercream and covered in pink icing with New Year’s décor
- New Year’s Pee-Weez: glazed chocolate cake with New Year’s sprinkles
For more info on store locations, hours, and to place an order, visit pinkboxdoughnuts.com.
Pick of the Week: ReBAR/Davy’s
Since ReBAR opened at 1225 S Main St in 2016, it has held a vital role in advancing the desirability and growth of the Arts District. It also established itself as an institution known for its museum-like décor, with every quirky knick-knack in the place available for purchase.
In fact, when I asked the GM, Buck, how much in the place was for sale, he quipped, “Everything here is for sale except for the employees.” The wares include taxidermy, neon signs, bar mats, artwork, an actual phone booth, and the bar stools and booths in use in the bar and on the patios. Prices are negotiable for all items, and Buck also noted that the best-selling items are smaller collectables, especially those related to beer.
PC: David Canela
The main room of the dive bar can get a bit lively, so if you want a quieter environment, there is a spacious outdoor back patio with plenty of seating, communal seating on a front patio abutting Main Street, ideal for people watching, and inside Davy’s (ReBAR’s sister property) two doors down for a more laid-back ambience.
Although described as “bar food” with a collection of pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, and wings, it’s about as good as the culinary style can get. The offerings are created by Executive Chef Pedro Estala, a Mexican native who brings authenticity to the Beeria section of the menu. It’s misspelled on purpose as the seasoned beef is slow-cooked in a local beer. Highlights include the Giant Beeriadilla, a symbolic name for the birria in the quesadilla ($15), and Beeria Tacos ($14), both served with a dipping sauce of the delectable broth, along with cilantro and diced onions.
Other popular sellers are the Epic Cheeseburger with a 1/3-pound Angus patty and American cheese ($12) and all-beef Elote Dog topped with street corn and Mexican crema ($12).
Seven pizzas ($13-$16) come in traditional varieties like Pepperoni and Margherita, and non-traditional varieties such as Cuban with pulled pork and mustard aioli, and Smoked BBQ with chipotle aioli and Ancho BBQ sauce.
Vegans are welcome here, with a menu of half a dozen choices including “Al Pastor” Tacos, Black Bean Burger, and Vegan Works Dog.
Food prices here are further evidence that good deals can be found in Vegas, with the highest-priced menu item at $20 and the vast majority priced between $10 and $15. Additional good deals include a Mystery Beer, Mystery Shot, or Mystery Draft for $3, and $2 PBR until 3 p.m. daily.
Beer reigns supreme here, and Owner Derek Stonebarger has garnered a reputation as being a massive supporter of local beer, dating back to when he opened Nevada Taste Site (now Davy’s), sporting more than 30 taps of all Nevada-brewed beer. More proof is in ReBAR’s beer list and stock, with one entire cooler in the bar filled with local cans from pretty much every brewery that produces enough for outside accounts. During my recent visit, I found Nevada-brewed beers from Able Baker, Beer Zombies, Big Dog’s, HUDL, Las Vegas Brewing, Lead Dog, Lovelady, North 5th, and Revision. Their rotating $3 Mystery Beer sometimes features a local beer; currently, it’s CraftHaus Silver State Blonde Ale (but it’s a mystery, so don’t tell anyone). Buck explained the reasons for supporting local: “It’s important to the community and local economy, and better to support local. Some of the beers we serve here are literally brewed on the same street.”
After ordering your grub, you’ll follow a string of red lights to direct you to pick up your order through the back patio and into the back entrance of Davy’s. This establishment, which shares the kitchen and food menu with ReBAR, is worth a visit for nothing else but to see the iconic Davy’s Locker neon fish sign. It was initially from a dive bar built in 1962, located at the corner of Maryland and Desert Inn. When Davy’s Locker closed in 2016, the sign was cut up and left in a large pile of debris in the parking lot. It was later recovered and restored by Derek Stonebarger. Interestingly, Davy ranks #1 in Nevada for Pabst Blue Ribbon sales, and ReBar ranks 2nd. While at Davy’s, be sure to try one of the draft cocktails, such as the Hook with tequila, mezcal, mango, carrot, jalapeno, and lime.
Later in 2026, look for the opening of Arty’s Steakhouse in the former Cue Club in the soon-to-be revitalized historic Commercial Center by partners Buck, Derek Stonebarger, and Chef Pedro Estala. The name is a hint to Stonebarger’s love of art and his sizeable collection, and with the track record of this trio of innovators, it’s sure to be groundbreaking.
ReBAR and Davy’s are open daily from noon to midnight and till 2 a.m. on weekends. For more information and the full food menu, visit rebarlv.com; for Arty’s, visit artyslv.com.
Dining News
The Tiki Bar Opens at Excalibur
The Tiki Bar, MGM Resort’s first-ever tiki bar concept, is now open at Excalibur Hotel & Casino.
Inspired by the legend of the dragon, “Murphy” said to slumber beneath Excalibur’s drawbridge, a thatched portal beneath a glowing lantern casts the dragon’s fiery silhouette across the ceiling. Other décor elements include tiki totems; gothic iron chandeliers tangled in wild tropical foliage; carved wood tables adorned with glowing tiki votives; plush seating featuring mid-century tropical patterns, lizard green velvets, and exotic prints ranging from leopard to peacock; and a stage framed by stacked lava rock walls and flowing magma drapery setting the scene for live performances.
Signature tiki cocktails include Whip Tai ($18): Myer’s Dark Rum, Malibu Original Rum, orgeat, and pineapple whip; Tiki Time Tea ($18): Tito’s Handmade Vodka, pineapple syrup, pineapple juice float, and unsweetened iced tea; Buzzed Tiki Torch ($18): Rum Chata, Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, coffee liqueur, banana liqueur, and simple syrup; and Blue Hawaiian ($45): Malibu Original Rum, Blue Curacao, pineapple juice, sweet & sour, and cream of coconut syrup (designed to be shared)
The Tiki Bar is located off Excalibur’s casino floor next to the MGM Rewards desk. The bar is open daily from 11 a.m., the lounge opens at 5 p.m., and live entertainment is on Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Caesars Entertainment Extends Locals Discounts
Caesars Entertainment is extending its locals’ offers through Feb. 26.
Nevada residents with a valid ID can enjoy complimentary self‑parking Sunday through Thursday at its eight Las Vegas resorts: Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood, Paris, Horseshoe, Flamingo, Harrah’s, The Cromwell, and The LINQ. In addition, Caesars Rewards members can save 25% on food and beverage at more than 100 restaurants, bars and lounges; and deep discounts at several attractions and shows like the High Roller Observation Wheel, Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck, Real Bodies, Matt Franco, Donny Osmond, Wayne Newton, Menopause the Musical, Piff the Magic Dragon, and Criss Angel Mindfreak.
To view all the locals’ deals, visit caesars.com/las-vegas/hotels/deals/locals.
Recently, on the Food and Loathing Podcast
Be sure to check out Food and Loathing this week (and every week). The podcast features veteran food writer Al Mancini, along with co-host Samantha Gemini Stevens and producer Rich Johnson, as they give the lowdown on what’s new, hot, and delicious in America’s most glamorous city, as they talk with chefs, bartenders, journalists, and other experts on where to go and what to order when you get there.
Al, Gemini, and Happy Hour Vegas’ Andrew Morgan are together in the Arts District for the final episode of 2025, coming to you from Bjork Caviar on Main Street. Owner Christian Sandefeldt covers the basics of sturgeon roe, so you’ll be comfortable making the indulgent treat part of your New Year’s celebration. We also have restaurant reports from Amador Cocina Fina, Le Club by Partage, and Butcher & Thief, as well as interviews with Ellie Parker of Main St. Provisions, Keith Glynn of Nacho Daddy, and Gabby Goodman of How Ya Dough In. And of course, a happy hour report from Happy Hour Vegas’ Andrew Morgan.
To listen, click here.
Entertainment News
GlowFest Holiday Night Market
GlowFest has debuted at 2600 Paradise Rd, adjacent to the Sahara Las Vegas Monorail Station, and will run through February 22.
The 200,000-square-foot all-ages outdoor installation is a holiday night market and light festival featuring food and drink, crafts, family-friendly activities, children’s play areas, beautifully illuminated sculptures, and live entertainment. Across the grounds, visitors can explore five themed realms—Reality, Nature, Ocean, Celestial, and Exotic Lands—connected by a narrative following a baby dragon’s journey on Earth. At each realm, guests can scan a QR code to follow the baby dragon’s journey. Large-scale installations include the Tree of Life, Lotus Garden, Pegasus, aquatic animals such as dolphins and whales, and a ride featuring lifelike dinosaurs.
In addition to the colorful, lighted environments, there is the Vendor Village, curated in partnership with Market In The Alley, where guests can browse and purchase jewelry, toys, and crafts from local makers and small businesses. Within the Village are more than 15 food and beverage vendors with a rotating lineup that includes Designer Dogs, Cookie Baby, China Mama, GastroPUB Nisei Bar & Grill, Smokey Jays BBQ, In Limbo Burgers, Dustland Bar, Crab Corner II, Signora Pizza, Border Grill, PopNPies, MILKFISH Bakeshop, and Tourage Patisserie & Confections.
GlowFest is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and till 11 p.m. on weekends and select holidays. For ticketing, schedules, and VIP options, visit glowfest.com or follow @GlowFestLV on Facebook and Instagram.
