I’m going to get to the good part right away and tell you to get the salted mini pretzels. Order whatever drink you like, try all the wonderful small plates, but do not leave PRESS at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas without trying the salted mini pretzels.
PRESS
PRESS is new a little bar / lounge / restaurant / grill / coffee shop in the lobby of the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, which is part of, yet quite separate from the beautiful Mandalay Bay Resort. The space is called PRESS because in the morning they press fresh organic juices, in the afternoon they press delicious paninis and at night they serve wine from pressed grapes.
The atmosphere
This is the Four Seasons and the decor is elegant, yet not too formal for Las Vegas. You will feel at home here whether you’re in shirts and shorts or a suit. The space includes an outdoor area with couches overlooking the hotel’s lush private pool. There’s a nice lounge feel, with many couches and small areas for groups to gather, which is perfect for Las Vegas. I think PRESS is a great upscale spot to meet friends for a drink and a bite to eat before heading out to The Light, the amazing nightclub inside Mandalay Bay.
The food
Sure the space is nice and luxurious, the servers are excellent (like our awesome server Maggie), but its all about the food to me and PRESS delivers. I spent a week in Vegas sampling an array of exotic dishes at some of the city’s top restaurants, but as far as comfort food, food that I personally like and order, PRESS was the best.
Small plates, from $8-$20 and available after 4 p.m., are all amazing, one of my favorites being the Stout-glazed lollipop chicken wings ($15). These are perfectly cut, mini chicken lollipops, with a BBQ beer glaze that was so delicious. And then there were the pretzels. Oh, those pretzels. Salted mini, warm pretzel bites ($9); little soft pretzels, with a butter finish and large grains of salt on the top. I’m from Philly and know a thing or two about soft pretzels and these were some of the greatest little bits of heaven I’ve ever eaten. They are served with a warm Bravo Farms cheddar cheese sauce, for dipping purposes. We also shared some Kalua pork tacos ($18) with horseradish cream that were also a great combination of flavors. Other items I noticed and will try next time include the Korean beef satay ($17) with kim chee soy ginger marinade and the wood fired flatbreads ($16).
The selection of “Nightcap Desserts” deserves a special mention as well. All $12, and available after 6 p.m., it’s a amazing list and just writing about it makes me hungry. There are warm house-made doughnuts, with an orange chocolate sauce, a bacon and beer toffee sundae with a Stout beer toffee sauce, baked Alaska, even State Fair cotton candy, with a different flavor each day. We had the Cookie Jar, with amazing chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies and milk, and fought hard not to also order the chocolate and salted caramel fondue, served with marshmallows, graham crackers, strawberries and banana bread for dipping.
The drinks
Wonderfully handcrafted cocktails are served, all with seasonal fruit, house-made mixers and freshly squeezed juices. We enjoyed two delicious examples: my friend had a Sunset Sangria ($15) with Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao, Absolut Tune, rhubarb and strawberry shrub. I went for a refreshing London Cooler ($15) with Oxley gin, fresh lemon, Mr. Q Cumber and fresh cucumber.
There’s a “Social Hour” from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. every day featuring draft beer and half-price martinis. There’s also a “Night Cap Hour” from 10:00 p.m. to midnight with half-price coffee cocktails. PRESS also features Lavazza espressos with some serious baristas behind the counter and organic, fresh-squeezed juices. The wine list is deep and they are currently featuring wines from women winemakers.
The Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas
There’s something special as you walk down the grand staircase from the Mandalay Bay and into the long hallway leading to the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas. The decor changes from Vegas buzz to Four Seasons calm. With no casino, I love having any reason to visit the Four Seasons in Vegas as it just seems to have a quieter pace than the rest of the city. The legendary Four Seasons service means everything is done to ensure the guest is happy, whether you are staying here or just stopping in for a drink.
This article originally appeared on Yahoo! HERE.
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