Casa Playa

"Make a reservation at Casa Playa when you want to sip margaritas at a group dinner that goes full glam. The whole place feels like a level from Tomb Raider, but with better graphics—the entrance is guarded by a massive Olmec head and tons of marigolds hang from the dining room ceiling. They even have a delicious mezcal cocktail called Temple of Doom, which you can get as a pitcher. Bring friends so you can share the massive pork belly al pastor served on a vertical rotisserie skewer that comes topped with pineapple. It looks simultaneously gorgeous and intimidating—just like the restaurant’s typical clientele of people hot enough to end up in the PR photos for a Las Vegas pool party." - emmy kasten

"A Las Vegas restaurant with Sarah Thompson as a James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalist in 2025." - Rebecca Roland

"Chef Sarah Thompson at Casa Playa serves food that’s meant to be shared family-style. Tear your attention away from a stunning yellow and orange dining room to order pork belly al pastor and whole snapper tempura. Start with an order of steamed mussels, squash tamal, or Hokkaido scallops for the table. And if margaritas aren’t your thing, get a specialty cocktail." - Janna Karel

"For a refined taste of Mexico, why not enjoy seasonal cuisine and fresh-pressed tortillas under cascading marigolds? You can find this on Christmas Day at Casa Playa, where guests can lounge over a three-course prix-fixe menu that includes duck tamal, crispy skin carnitas, pan de elote, branzino zarandeado, and bunelos for dessert. For maximum celebration mode, don’t miss the extensive tequila and mezcal collection." - Emmy Kasten

"This coastal-inspired Mexican restaurant gives you a very specific type of feeling: vacation romance. Step into the tranquil atmosphere with marigolds draped at the entrance leading to an open and airy dining room that takes any romantic date night to the next level. Go for the shareable items like the seafood platter with oysters, crab legs and lobster tail followed by the whole snapper tempura to go with the seaside vibes." - Emmy Kasten