5 Vegas date nights to rev up romance

Nosh on some of the best sushi in Las Vegas at Bellagio’s Yellowtail.

By Joe Ward

When it comes to date nights, I’ll be the first to admit: My past M.O. involved a movie and dinner at TGIF. (Maybe you can relate.) But being a resident of the ever-twinkling and bustling Las Vegas, it recently dawned on me that it was time to shake things up. That’s when I decided to surprise  my girlfriend with something more fantastic — date nights dressed up as Las Vegas vacations.  After all, what’s more exciting than being a tourist in the Entertainment Capital of the World?

If your ready for a more exceptional kind of date night, it doesn’t get any betterthan Vegas. Behold five tried-and-true Las Vegas date nights that will have your sweetheart saying, “You had me at hotel.”

Date 1: Bellagio

Looking to “fancy” up date night, I made reservations at Yellowtail at Bellagio — probably one of the most unique sushi restaurants in Las Vegas.  You can’t beat the view of Lake Como or the patio area with views of the water show.  Start with the Big Eye Tuna Pizza appetizer, which is dressed in truffle oil and bursts with huge flavor, then order the show stopper: the Popping Spicy Crab roll, a delightful throwback to a favorite childhood candy.

After dinner, I pulled out the big guns: tickets to “O” by Cirque Du Soleil, a sensory explosion with some fantastic water scenes. Saying any more would give the show away, but you and your beloved will definitely be amazed by the stage and acrobats. We wrapped up the night with a stroll through the Botanical Garden in the hotel lobby, where elaborate designs blossom with each season.

Travel tip: Bellagio is still one of the most popular hotels in Las Vegas so definitely make reservations.  If you own an iPhone or iPad, download the Cirque du Soleil app for access to ticket promotions!

Date 2: The Mirage Hotel and Casino

Riding on the theatrical highs of “O,” this time I decided to take my girlfriend to see “LOVE”  by Cirque Du Soleil, a tribute to the Beatles. My lady is a huge Beatles fan so it was the perfect fit. From the opening act to the finale, the show immerses the audience in a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds. If John, Paul, George and Ringo feel like they’re actually singing in your ears, that’s by no mistake. Each seat has built-in speakers.

See “LOVE” by Cirque Du Soleil at’ Mirage Hotel and Casino.

For a romantic meal, we stopped by Stack, which specializes in date-friendly small plates that are meant to be shared. Definitely try the adult tater tots, a gussied-up version of the classic with bacon and brie. Dessert beckoned us to Carnegie Deli,  where a slice of cheesecake was the size of our heads. What a sweet nightcap to the perfect date.

Travel tip: Stack offers a Prix Fixe tasting menu for $39.99 (USD) that includes an appetizer, entree and dessert.  My favorite combo is the Lobster Taco appetizer, Penne Pasta, and for dessert the JellyDonut Munchkin holes.  Looking for discount Cirque Tickets?  Become a member of the Cirque Fan Club (it’s free) and you’ll score discount tickets to all of your favorite shows.

Date 3: Luxor Hotel

Because every relationship needs a heavy dose of comedy, we made a bee line for Luxor, which hosts nightly performances of Carrot Top. He kept us laughing during the entire performance with his outrageous props,  social commentary and a finale — not to give too much away — that left the whole audience wondering how this scrawny guy from the 1-800-Call ATT commercials became such a beefcake.

Date 4: Mandalay Place

Thankfully my girlfriend doesn’t require champagne and caviar to be wooed. That’s where the mall between Luxor and Mandalay Bay known as “Mandalay Place” comes in. Both Burger Bar and Hussong’s offer great casual dining options that are easy on the pocket book. At Burger Bar, you can create your own customized burger for about $9.  If you go to Hussong’s, win her over with Plazero Grilled Corn appetizer, a grilled white corn on the cob that can be brushed with mayo-butter and covered with cotija cheese and chili flakes.  (You may want to avoid smooching directly afterward.)

Travel tip: If you’re driving, park at the valet at Mandalay Place — perhaps the quickest and easiest to valet to get out of.  This valet is also the closest to the show room.  Luxor has a special deal running right now: $75 (USD) for two shows.  You can see any show at either Luxor or Excalibur for $75 per person; call the box office directly to book.  Active military and civil service employees (fire/police) can receive a discount as well.

Views of Aria and CityCenter.

Date 5: Aria Resort & Casino at CityCenter

Probably one of our best dates even with all of the exercise from walking everywhere.   We decided to check out CityCenter to experience the “Big City” — CityCenter’s city-within-a-city experience, overflowing with hotels, shops, restaurants and art.

The architecture is a feast for the eyes. Glass, steel, leaning buildings — it has it all. One of our most memorable experiences was strolling the art galleries at the entrance of Aria. Our first stop was Richard MacDonald, famous for his bronze sculptures depicting the human form.  The gallery pays tribute to Cirque du Soleil performers with pieces that hearken to a flying gymnast caught in mid-air and then frozen into bronze. Pretty cool — kind of like the scene from Star Wars where Han Solo gets frozen into Carbonite.

Next door to Richard MacDonald, the Rodney Lough Jr. Wilderness Collections Gallery was our next stop, followed by the gallery featuring the works of Dale Chihuly whose signature piece is the glass flower ceiling at Bellagio. Don’t bring a clumsy date here because the glass artwork starts at around $1,000.

After we had our fill of art, we decided to check out Aria Hotel.  Just walking into the hotel is spectacular!  From the Focus water wall at the entrance to the largest bust of Elvis we’ve ever seen, the hotel  mesmerizes. Our whirlwind visit was nothing short of spectacular, starting with Deuce Lounge, a VIP club without the pretense, plus kitschy photos of Christopher Walken and blackjack tables. Next up: Crystals, a mall with high-end designers like Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Hermes, Louis Vitton, and Tiffany’s. Fearing for my credit card to be maxed out, I dragged my girlfriend back to the casino.

And because no date in Sin City would be complete without an Elvis sighting, we hit Viva Elvis, a compilation of the King’s music and Cirque Du Soleil. The performance is definitely more old-school than typical Cirque, with booths and long couches lending a retro feel.

Finally, we finished off the night at  Jean Phillipe Patisserie.  This world renowned pastry chef is known for the World’s Largest Chocolate fountain at Bellagio.  A coupleof pieces of chocolate for my girl and a scoop of pistachio gelato for me and the night was done.  We were tired but it was well worth it.

Travel tip: Plan your dates and Las Vegas vacations when the weather is comfortable (March to May or September to early November), so you can walk outside with our freezing or sweating.  The great thing about CityCenter is that you can walk around and see all the art and architecture for FREE.  Just wear comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking to do. Check out the gallery websites for special events — you might be able to catch the artist at the gallery and get something autographed. A tram also connects City Center to Bellagio and Monte Carlo.  If you don’t want to park at Aria, you can park at one of these properties and take the tram.

Related resources

• Cirque du Soleil: Get to know the Las Vegas shows
• Top 3, not-to-miss cheap Las Vegas eats
• Las Vegas hotels
• Cheap flights to Las Vegas

Joe Ward is the Orbitz Market Manager for Las Vegas and a 30 year resident.  He has explored most of the state and loves to try out all of the new shows and restaurants on the fabulous Las Vegas strip.

Tagged: Hotels, Las Vegas