Stylish and Sparkly Las Vegas Sights Worth Visiting
Las Vegas: the city that reinvents itself faster than I can find my reading glasses. I thought I knew it all: been there, done that, took a blurry selfie with a neon cowboy. But on a recent visit, I discovered a side of Vegas that made me go, “Wait… since when is this a thing?!”
If you’ve ever strolled the Strip and thought, “Cute, but where are the cool Las Vegas sights?”, this post is for you. I dug up some truly unexpected sights: think jaw-dropping art, glittering cocktails, futuristic spheres (yes, spheres), and more sparkle than a ‘70s disco ball.
So whether it’s your first trip or your fifteenth, come wander with me through the Vegas you didn’t know you needed.
Shows / Exhibits
The Sphere: Yes, It’s a Giant Ball—But You Need to Go
The Sphere is a ball-shaped building that houses arena-style seats facing a huge screen and stage. The outside of the Sphere constantly projects various moving images. The Sphere opened on September 29, 2023. It features live performances and immersive movie showings.
The lineup rotates constantly, so what's playing depends entirely on when you visit. The Wizard of Oz immersive film has become the venue's steady draw, running most months, and the concert residencies cycle through big names. Check here for the current schedule and tickets before you plan your trip. Check here for the details and the latest.
Click here for full honest review of what seeing The Wizard of Oz at the Sphere was like!
Princess Diana Exhibition: Come for the Gowns, Stay for the Feels
The Museum of Illusions: Worth It? Only If You Like Trippy Fun
This is located right next door to the Princess Diana Exhibition. I was walking past it when an employee approached me with a coupon for $5 off. I decided to go in and check it out. Once inside I asked for the total price which was $40! I turned to leave and the employee offered me admission for $25 so I took it. I'm not sure if that was a one-off occurrence, but you might want to try to haggle the price!
The Museum was cool with lots of interesting and mystifying displays. However, it was a place better visited with someone rather than solo. Many of the exhibits involved watching someone else do something, so on my own, there was no way to experience some of it except watching strangers who might happen to be exploring that exhibit.
Watch this video for an overview:
Dining
The Chandelier Bar at the Cosmopolitan Hotel: Cocktails Inside a Crystal Fantasy
If you've ever wanted to lounge inside of a chandelier, this is your place! Dazzling lavender-lit curtains of crystals surround this 3 story bar/lounge. If “I Dream of Jeanie” had a bar this would be it! If you like pretty, sparkly things be sure to check it out!
Vanderpump à Paris at the Paris Hotel: Velvet, Vino, and a Parisian Vibe
First let me gush about the Paris Hotel! I'd stayed here years and years ago but had forgotten how charming it is! I do believe I will stay here next visit. The attention to detail, the chandeliers, the pretty floral sinks in the bathrooms, the Eiffel Tower, the view of the Bellagio Fountians…I'm in love!
I saw some pictures of the Vanderpump à Paris restaurant and had to check it out. I was dazzled! The atmosphere is of an old Parisian chateau and courtyard on a rainy day. It was full of Art Nouveau-style decorations with velvet, crystals, and black wrought iron. You can be seated on a velvet chaise lounge for dinner! Again, I'm in love!
Incedentally, the food was delicious! I got the Coq au Vin Pot Pie (basically Chicken Pot Pie) and it was amazing! Beats Marie Callender's hands down 😉
By the way, Vanderpump has her own hotel now, The Vanderpump Hotel. I can't wait to check it out, from the pictures it looks like it has the vibe of the restaurant!
Canaletto Restaurant at the Venetian Hotel: A Taste of Italy Without the Jet Lag
Even though it's not new, it is always cool to hang out at the Venetian! The decor with an actual Grand Canal and gondoliers is enchanting! Be sure to go to “St. Marks Square” and dine at the Canaletto Restaurant. It has delicious Italian food and it's so fun to look out at the excellent Clocktower replica, just like you're there!
Hotels
Caesars Palace: Still Got It or Just Resting on Its (Golden) Laurels?
Fontainebleau Hotel: I Visited When It Felt Empty. It Doesn't Anymore.
The Fontainebleau Hotel was under construction for 16 years before it finally opened in December 2023. It was a victim of the 2008 Financial Crisis, then changed ownership multiple times before construction finished. It's a sister hotel to the Rat Pack-era eponymous hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.
I visited on a quiet Tuesday afternoon in January 2024, just weeks after it opened, and it showed. The building is the tallest in Nevada at 67 stories, and back then it had the feeling of a mostly empty convention center. Vast open spaces, shiny marble floors, and not many people to fill them.
That was then. More than two years on, the Fontainebleau has settled into itself. It's picked up a MICHELIN Key, filled out its dining lineup to more than 30 restaurants, and added an ice rink and a serious spa. The one thing that hasn't changed is the location: it sits at the far north end of the Strip, next to the Convention Center, so you'll want a rideshare or the Loop tunnel to get to the middle of the action. If you've stayed here recently, let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Encore Resort: Old School Glam Still Holding Up?
Resorts World: $4.3 Billion and a Pretty Great Food Court
Resorts World opened in 2021, after having started construction in 2008! It went through ownership changes, impacts from the 2008 Financial Crisis, and a lawsuit from Wynn requiring design changes because it was too similar to the Wynn/Encore. Resorts World is the most expensive resort in Las Vegas, costing $4.3 billion!
It is comprised of 3 different hotels (Conrad, Hilton, and Crockfords), a couple of theaters, 40 restaurants, and bars. There's an underground 1-mile Loop tunnel connecting it to the Convention Center.
The feeling was very modern and not particularly plush. The food court was the most impressive part for me, with a huge variety and decent food. The resort is at the far north end of the Las Vegas strip so it's quite far from the other attractions on the strip.
Las Vegas Monorail: Helpful or Hype?
After many visits to Las Vegas I'd still never tried the monorail. I figured it was high time to check it out and see if it could save me any precious energy needed to traverse the gigantic hotels!
I caught the Monorail at the Flamingo (took me about 10 minutes to walk from the front door of the Flamingo on the strip to the Monorail platform behind it). I was trying to get to the Encore Hotel, so the closest stop for me was just one stop away at the Harrah's station. Honestly, this probably did not save me any time at all because walking through the resorts to get to/from the Monorail platforms takes so long. Of course, if I'd been going a greater distance it probably would have been a time/ energy saver.
The Monorail was clean and easy to use. Be sure to check it out if you're going from place to place on the East side of the Strip.
Final Thoughts from the Strip
Whether you're sipping cocktails under a chandelier, wandering through a neon dreamscape, or channeling your inner princess at an exhibit, there’s always something new to see (and plenty of reasons to come back).
I hope this list sparked a few ideas for your own fabulous Vegas adventure, because life’s too short not to splurge on a sparkly cocktail or watch a robot in a giant glowing orb. If you’ve got questions or your own favorite Vegas find, drop it in the comments. I love hearing from fellow adventurers!
