Las Vegas (Day 3): Aria Resort & Casino

Oct 30

Oct 30 Las Vegas (Day 3): Aria Resort & Casino

pool at Aria spa Day 3 of being spoiled. rotten. Thanks to Aria Resort & Casino.

I rolled out of bed (as this is the only way to get out of bed after late nights in Vegas---just try not to hit the floor on your way out). I ambled onto the elevator and shimmied (forgetting it was early morning and I was no longer at HAZE nightclub) to the ARIA Spa & Salon.

Now be nice: I know I am spoiled but my shoulders hurt from lifting rocks, chicken-tracked hay and large pots of boiling water---in no particular order. Having a massage is a pleasure I rarely indulge in: it is always overdo. I like a good, deep-tissue massage. One that makes a difference. One that almost hurts it feels so good. The Signature Massage was a 50 minute massage, and my Tweet about it said it best: 'it felt so good I thought my face was going to slide off.'

Best, best tip (pay attention: this is for your trip down to Aria Resort Las Vegas): go to the Spa. Get a service like massage or a facial or any number of other things (because I KNOW you are overdo for a pampering)---and you can use the Spa all day. Even if you don't have a service, you can still buy a Day Pass. The Spa is great place to just hang out: snacks, beverages, Eucalyptus steam room, tanning beds, hot tubs and enough plush towels to cover my whole house. But the kicker is: you can exit to an outside deck where there are cushioned lounge chairs and a heated pool (overlooking the large pools and liquid pool below). So peaceful. Sunny. It just might be my new Happy Place.

Next time I am in Vegas, I will plan to spend hours and hours in this little slice of Happy.

This time: I had places to go, people to see things to do. Such as breakfast at Jean Philippe Patisserie. Besides the famously long [yet-efficient] lines for a better-than-the-best breakfast you have ever had: this patisserie is laden with showcase pastries, larger than life cakes and hand-crafted 'desserts' (think Top Chef Just Desserts and all pastry chefs aspire to). I sampled a classic Quiche Lorraine, double cappuccino and almond pastry. Well: I had to go light, it was almost lunch.

Then it was lunch.

Julian Serrano was as hospitable as they come; I was consistently wowed all weekend by the passion that each chef, each restauranteur espoused. To the fork. To the service. To the ingredient flown off the boat---or in from another country (in this case: Spain). Think: no limits when creating your dream theme, iconic restaurant, namesake baby. THESE are the restaurants you find at Aria Resorts, hosted, created and implemented by iconic chefs.

Back to lunch: Julian Serrano blessed us with chorizo and crisped potatoes with a perfectly fried egg (the perfect hangover food: NOT that you would need that in Vegas or anything..). Each tray was full of beautiful bites of goat cheese stuffed peppers, gazpacho shooters, chorizo bites and ahi tuni. You can choose white or red sangria, Spanish varietals and end with peppered chocolate ganache and hand-rolled churros. I know: hungry is irrelevant. Pass the ganache.