Cocktail-centric, boutique S Bar arrives at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip
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Mandalay Bay has always maintained one of the biggest and most diverse samplings of entertainment, dining and nightlife on the Strip, but right now, the property’s offerings are somewhat in flux. Restaurants are making changes while waiting for Las Vegas convention traffic to pick up, and seminal nightclub Light only recently announced its reopening next month.
But a new nightlife venue emerged on New Year’s Eve and stands ready to fill any perceived void with an intimate and luxurious lounge experience.
SBE, the hospitality giant that operates Mandalay Bay restaurants Citizens and Kumi, along with the connected Delano hotel and nearby Hyde Lounge at T-Mobile Arena, has opened the first stand-alone location of its S Bar concept to the Strip, a cocktail-centric experience that falls under the company’s elevated dining brand Disruptive Restaurant Group. Other S Bars are located within Katsuya Japanese restaurants, but the Vegas version is a glamorous revamp of the former Red Square space just off the casino floor.
“The response has been good so far; we were almost completely full on New Year’s Eve,” general manager Tylor Kezar says. “We weren’t exactly sure how that opening day was going to go, but there was nothing but compliments and appreciation.”
Kezar, who has been with SBE long enough to help open SLS Las Vegas (now once again the Sahara) and its club and lounge venues Foxtail, Life Nightclub and the Sayers Club, says the S Bar experience is all about plush, intimate vibes, a VIP feel for every guest, terrific craft cocktails and a rising energy level throughout the night.
“I think it really complements the property, because we should be able to catch the early crowd before they go out to dinner or a night out, grab the clientele coming from conventions and cater to them with a great cocktail or even the opportunity to dine with us, and roll into that ultralounge nightlife element later on weekends,” he says. “Being a boutique venue, I think we’re going to fit in nicely.”
A striking, glowing-gold entrance captures the attention of passersby, and S Bar’s interiors are highlighted by red and blue jewel tones against natural colors and subdued design elements, plus plenty of ultra-cozy furniture.
The cocktail and curated bites menus at this brand-new spot started small and are expected to expand in coming weeks. But the flavors are there, with lobster mac and cheese ($28), tuna poke ($26), sticky char siu pork belly bao ($21) and prime steak tartare ($24) appealing to your cravings.
The beverage program is handled by Yael Vengroff, head of bars and mixology for all S Bars and Katsuyas, and it uniquely splits the difference between bottle service and bespoke mixology. “Tableside Sips” allow guests to choose a bottle of their favorite spirit with handcrafted mixers for a personalized experience, while the list of signature cocktails ($11-$24) allows Vengroff to show her creativity.
“It’s definitely a different program than what we see at S Bar in LA and New York. There’s an element of freedom, but it’s also restrained,” Vengroff says. “There are four or five cocktails on the menu that drink like a highball, like a Japanese whiskey and soda or a vodka tonic, but they’re just packed with flavor.”
That’s accomplished through an acidulated water solution that acts as the normal citrus or acid element, leading to clear drinks that “mess with your head completely, because they’re packed with pear or coffee or other flavors,” she says. “It’s definitely a made-you-look, double-take moment. I love things that play with whimsy and things with ethereal qualities, and that’s largely what this program is built on, things that are delicious and simple but visually deceiving.”
S BAR Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7707. Tuesday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-midnight; Friday & Saturday, 5 p.m.-2 a.m.
An award-winning writer who has been living and working in Las Vegas for more than 20 years, Brock Radke covers ...
