Beauty & Essex ©Warren Jagger Hot reservations New restaurants in Las Vegas’ sizzling dining scene Start your culinary adventure at Libertine Social , a next-generation gastropub in Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Within its hip environs, James Beard Award-winning Executive Chef Shawn McClain serves elevated New American bar food (think marinated tuna cones and roasted Petaluma chicken) paired with modern cocktails, along with throwbacks from the ‘60s through ‘80s and drinks on draft. Move on to Beauty & Essex , a posh restaurant and lounge hidden away inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Libertine Social ©MGM Resorts International MUST-TRY BREWERIES Enjoy a cold one at these local breweries. TRIPLE 7 MAIN STREET STATION Pair a gourmet burger with one of the award-winning beers at this lively microbrewery. CHICAGO BREWING COMPANY FOUR QUEENS HOTEL & CASINO As foodies know, there’s always something new popping up in Las Vegas’ dining scene. We’ve made a checklist of the most buzzed-about restaurants you need to try now. 24 /// VisitLasVegas.com Sip cocktails in the luxe Pearl Lounge before heading in to one of the ornate jewelry box-themed dining rooms. Chef Chris Santos (of Food Network’s Chopped ) has created memorable shareable plates with a global influence, including chile relleno empanadas and French onion soup dumplings. Pub 365 at Tuscany Suites & Casino is known for its rotating roster of 365 beers (both big names and small), with 40 on tap. Ask to see the Unicorn List, offering unique and hard-to-find craft brews for the CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 > Dig into deep-dish pizza and wash it down with the German-style Old Town Brown ale. SIN CITY BREWING CO. GRAND CANAL SHOPPES AT THE VENETIAN/THE PALAZZO This Las Vegas-based brewer crafts small batches of its signature beers, including the British-style Ale With a Tale IPA. ELLIS ISLAND BREWERY ELLIS ISLAND CASINO Take a free tour of this brewery voted No. 1 in Nevada, and sample everything from Bavarian-style Weiss to a malty Stout.