WORLD-CLASS DINING ABOUNDS AT ARIA RESORT & CASINO

Masayoshi Takayama, Shawn McClain, Michael Mina, Julian Serrano, Jean-Georges
Vongerichten, Sirio Maccioni, The Light Group and Jean-Philippe Maury
Bring Award-Winning Tastes to Luxurious Resort at CityCenter

LAS VEGAS – High-voltage gaming, palatial accommodations and expressive architecture comprise only the amuse bouche of ARIA Resort & Casino’s refined living. The eco-minded hotel in the heart of CityCenter, Las Vegas has assembled a cadre of the country’s top chefs and restaurateurs, as it carves out its niche as a world-class dining destination. Desert newcomers Masa Takayama and Shawn McClain join the Las Vegas culinary buzz, while top tastemakers already pivotal to its legendary reinvention unleash their latest wisdom. Shored up by a 5,000-label-strong wine collection and an animated cocktail program, ARIA’s tally of A-list restaurants adds another layer to the serious culinary cunning unfolding on The Strip.

As guests enter ARIA’s dramatic three-story lobby – with its park-like décor, natural streams of light and Maya Lin’s phenomenal 84-foot “Silver River” sculpture – they will quickly spy the resort’s first trinity of world-class restaurants. Chef Masa Takayama, whose Japanese cuisine has become synonymous with greatness, makes his much-anticipated entrance onto the Las Vegas stage with Bar Masa. Continuing the tradition that has made his New York restaurant legendary, the ARIA outpost offers two dining spaces, each unique in ambiance, service and cuisine: The casual Bar Masa, located beneath a dramatic vaulted ceiling, invites guests to sample modern Japanese food from an à la carte menu, while the more exclusive Shaboo, set in an intimate, reserved room, offers an omakase-style experience orchestrated anew each day by Chef Masa. Wrapped in a design by Richard Bloch Architect, the interior’s use of natural elements creates an effect both intimate and serene, aptly reflecting the purity the cuisine.

The Spanish restaurant, Julian Serrano, marks another exciting culinary debut – award-winning Chef Serrano’s first professional exploration of his native cuisine. The new restaurant reveres and reinvents classic Spanish fare with both traditional and innovative tapas, seafood, paella and more. Designed around multiple menus, the restaurant will please fast-paced Las Vegas travelers and lingering diners alike with its flexible options. The first restaurant in the United States to be designed by famed Spanish design group Gente de Valor, Julian Serrano captures the convivial social energy of Spain’s tapas bars with inventive food and an imaginative patio setting that opens onto the lively walkway to Crystals, CityCenter’s stunning retail and entertainment district.

Celebrated Chicagoan Shawn McClain brings his distinctive style to an all-new audience with Sage. The restaurant’s spirited New American menu laced with strong Mediterranean subtexts showcases the chef’s culinary verve as it embraces the seasonal plentitude of neighboring California and the Pacific coast. Just-picked produce, artisanal meats and sustainable seafood converge in a sophisticated space designed by Jacques Garcia Decoration.

One floor up by elevator, ARIA’s second trinity of world-class restaurants are united around a sculptural courtyard designed by Adam Tihany. The triangulation of marble-clad pyramids signifies camaraderie between the venues, while the spikiness of golden barrel cacti implies a playful competition.

Here, the legendary Maccioni family introduces its impeccable Italian taste to ARIA with Sirio Ristorante, a new contemporary restaurant named for the family’s charismatic patriarch. Sirio Maccioni is one of the world’s most visionary restaurateurs, and the balanced Italian menu at Sirio represents a collection of favorites from his childhood and travels. Most dishes are faithfully traditional; others are Italian-American fusions born in the boroughs of New York City; and a few introduce the extravagance of more contemporary stars. The glamorous interior designed by longtime-Maccioni collaborator Adam Tihany channels the romance of Rome circa 1960s with “la dolce vita” (the sweet life) headiness, gently subdued by a sleek backdrop of early 20th-century Italian architecture.

Next door, Michael Mina’s fifth Las Vegas restaurant, AMERICAN FISH, pays homage to rustic cooking methods from across the country – lobster boils, clam bakes and campfire cookouts – then applies them with modern finesse for a truly refined affair. Dishes draw on authentic regional products from the nation’s great rivers, oceans and woodlands, with freshness and seasonality setting the pace. The décor by SLDesign brings a contemporary tone to the comfort and familiarity of a mountain lodge backdrop, as it evokes the spirit of the continent’s great landscapes and salutes the time-honored quality of American craftsmanship.

At Jean Georges Steakhouse, world-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten pushes the boundaries of traditional steakhouse expectations with a decidedly fresh, contemporary reinterpretation. The highest-quality meats and seafood from around the world cook to perfection with flavor-releasing techniques, then receive a signature Vongerichten jolt via unexpected sauces and side dishes. Alive with bold, often Asian-inflected seasonings, house-made steak sauces, mustards, rubs and flavored salts deliver a take-no-prisoners satisfaction, while sides burst with the atypical flavors of steamed pumpkin, roasted porcini mushrooms and truffle. An amphitheater-inspired layout by Dupoux Design sections the space into a high-octane lounge, elevated dining areas for maximum see-and-be-seen stimulation and a private chef’s table chamber. This wicked spin on a time-worn tradition melds beloved steakhouse touches with a chic, in-the-now experience.

Back downstairs on the casino floor, award-winning pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury brings beauty, whimsy and sublime indulgence to ARIA with his second Parisian-style pastry shop: Jean Philippe Pâtisserie. Echoing its sister shop in Bellagio, the new pâtisserie displays an array of sweet and savory treats as tenderly as rare artifacts, then quickly finds its own voice with unique new features: a larger layout with an 85-seat café; an on-site kitchen serving quick gourmet meals; a 45-flavor line of house-made gelato; gourmet meal boxes to go; exquisite chocolates by the piece; and seasonal flavors for every delicacy. Maury and design team Norwood Oliver Associates combine their likeminded ingenuity once again to demonstrate that pleasure in food owes as much to the eye as it does to taste.

Near the VIP gaming area lies Blossom, where guests will discover the triumphs of Chinese cuisine through a 100-dish lineup that spans every preference, from comfortably classic to cutting-edge. Its meticulously fashioned menu offers the best of China’s culinary wisdom tailored for the western palate and a more contemporary Chinese collection brimming with trend-forward dishes fresh from Beijing and Hong Kong. The modern décor by Studio A Design brightens traditional Chinese design principles with a contemporary color palette apropos to the restaurant’s festive Las Vegas context.

Across the baccarat tables from Blossom, Lemongrass tutors guests in the authentic flavors of Bangkok. As the first Thai restaurant on the Strip to reside within a major resort, Lemongrass travels far beyond the standard with the best modern dishes from contemporary Bangkok alongside pitch-perfect renditions of classic favorites. Chef Krairavee brings spices and sauces straight from Thailand, to ensure the genuineness of Thailand’s inimitable flavor fusions. An interactive satay bar lines the 100-seat dining room, affording guests a front-row view of char-grilled preparations, while a 51-seat lounge welcomes guests to relax for a cocktail or even a full meal. Designed by James Beard Award Winner AvroKo, the contemporary interiors are reminiscent of a traditional Thai silk factory with lush fabrics, bold colors and textures, and rough industrial materials weaving a backdrop at once elegant and accessible.

Stretching along ARIA’s north wall is the 600-seat Café Vettro, open 24/7 and serving three meals daily in one of the city’s largest café spaces. The design by Bentel & Bentel – known for their spectacular work on the restaurant at New York’s MoMA – incorporates a 40-foot-high glass wall spanning ARIA’s north face. Spectacular views of Vdara Hotel & Spa as well as Nancy Rubins’ Big Edge art installation are supplemented by streaming natural light throughout the space. Inside, moments of garden sculpture interact with a stone-cliff motif. Along the café’s exterior, hundreds of stacked stones are faced in frosted glass and subtly back-lit for a calming, pastoral welcome.

UNION Restaurant & Lounge offers a spirited and edgy, contemporary-American experience by The Light Group. Executive Chef Brian Massie’s fresh, seasonal fare is delivered with impeccable service, alongside an eclectic selection of American and international wines, and a forward-thinking cocktail list. The 244-seat venue’s sleek design was conceived by renowned hospitality designer Adam Tihany and subdivides the restaurant’s nearly 6,000 square feet of space into semi-secluded dining alcoves through the adept placement of architectural, wooden “trees.” Paneled ceilings and a serene color palette join this gentle grove to create a soothing yet spirited dining ambiance with panoramic views of the casino action.

At the back of the casino in the Race & Sports Book area, avid sports fans will enjoy SKYBOX Sports Bar & Grill, a 102-seat, fully integrated bar, grill and one-stop To Go shop. Guests can place their bets, then settle in to anticipate the outcome among 23 high-definition screens as they relish the best-of-the-best classic American “pub grub” and 12 beers on tap. Catering to late-night cravings, early morning breakfast needs or mid-day business lunches, SKYBOX’s extended hours make it everyone’s best friend. SKYBOX To Go offers additional convenience from its location near the Poker Room, where quick meals can be packed up for spectators short on time. The bar’s design by hospitality firm Remedios Siembieda frames the space in an artistic, glass photo montage in celebration of sports.

Back upstairs, past a radiant skylight with suspended sculpture by Antony Gormley, guests will encounter another contemporary spin on a standard – the gourmet, all-you-can-eat Buffet. The delectable array of beef, game, fresh seafood, vegetables and fruit, along with French desserts from the pâtisserie of world-renowned Pastry Chef Jean-Philippe Maury, will unequivocally rewrite the definition of the Las Vegas buffet. In tandem with the food, the décor by Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis Architects transforms typical cafeteria-drab into a 25,000-square-foot haven flooded with natural light from panoramic windows that overlook ARIA’s pool deck. A cloud-like ceiling of undulating fabric aligns itself along a series of bamboo-clad booths, simultaneously creating intimate dining shelters and maximizing the amplitude of both space and spectacular views. A glass-tiled wall wraps around from the venue’s exterior to frame the gourmet presentations at the buffet.

Near the Spa at ARIA and the arcade, Sweet Chill features old-fashioned ice creams, sorbets, gelato and paninis in a relaxing, yet dynamic atmosphere perfect of a quick chill-break. Evoking the swirl of an ice cream treat, Sweet Chill’s interior by high-profile designer Karim Rashid portrays one continuous gesture, with a ribbon-like pink design flowing across the curved ceiling and onto the walls. Candy-colored butterfly chairs further the Candyland appeal.

Teeming with world-class dining prodigies at every turn, ARIA Resort & Casino raises the bar even further on what guests can expect of this quickly burgeoning foodie-town in the desert.

About CityCenter

CityCenter is an unprecedented urban metropolis on 67 acres between Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. CityCenter is a joint venture between MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World. CityCenter features ARIA, a 61-story, 4,004-room gaming resort; luxury non-gaming hotels including Las Vegas’ first Mandarin Oriental and Vdara Hotel & Spa; Veer Towers, the development’s only strictly residential buildings; and Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district. Vdara, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Veer Towers include approximately 2,400 residences total. CityCenter also features a resident Cirque du Soleil production celebrating the timeless musical legacy of Elvis Presley; and an unparalleled Fine Art Collection with works by acclaimed artists including Maya Lin, Jenny Holzer, Nancy Rubins, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, among others. CityCenter is a design collaboration between MGM Resorts International and eight internationally acclaimed architectural firms including Pelli Clarke Pelli, Kohn Pedersen Fox, Helmut Jahn, RV Architecture LLC led by Rafael Viñoly, Foster + Partners*, Studio Daniel Libeskind*, David Rockwell and Rockwell Group, and Gensler. At the forefront of sustainability, CityCenter is the world’s largest private green development. ARIA, Vdara, Crystals, Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas and Veer Towers all have received LEED® Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. This marks the highest LEED achievement for any hotel, retail district or residential development in Las Vegas. The Harmon Hotel has been postponed until such time as CityCenter determines to proceed with its completion. For more information about CityCenter, please visit www.citycenter.com.

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** For press materials, images and video please visit www.citycenter.com

Contact:
Andrea Brown
MGM Resorts International Public Relations
(702) 650-7534
abrown@mgmresorts.com