Italy is well represented in Las Vegas with its themed hotels.  You have Caesar’s Palace from Rome, the Bellagio from The Lakes Region and the Venetian from none other than the beautiful city of Venice.  It’s only obvious that Venice would come to Vegas with its history of hosting the first casino.  And you can’t forget about Venice’s past reputation for secrets and scandals.

We could not believe the view from our suite with a full size view of the glittering Trump Tower.  The gorgeous staterooms decorated in leather and cherry were comfortable and expansive and I would have been happy to have stayed in and ordered their decadent room service.

The Venetian Hotel replaced the Sands which was made famous by the Rat Pack and the filming of the movie “Ocean’s Eleven”. After it was imploded in the mid-1990’s, the area was ready for a new hotel in town!  In came the Venetian and a bit of Venice was brought to Vegas!   With a stroll over the Rialto, a view of the Campanile (Bell Tower) from the Doge’s Palace and of course, the canals that provide gondola rides.  As you stroll through the Palazzo, you will continue to catch glimpses of other Venetian attractions such as the clock tower that have a strong resemblance to Italy’s Venice.

But it’s the Palazzo that is the main attraction as the canals meander through the shopping area.  Bridges cross over throughout the galleria and provide a network for the gondolas to pass under as lover’s kiss in hopes of good luck in their relationship.  Such a romantic tradition!  So as you watch the gondolas or decide to float along the canals for yourself, the setting will help you feel like you are truly in the city of Venice.

So what about all of the celebrity sighting you hear about in Las Vegas?  If you came here looking for stars, search no further than the Venetian as this venue hosts the famous London-based wax museum, Madame Tussaud’s.   Whether it’s sports, television or music, you can see today’s superstars such as Miley Cyrus, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Tiger Woods and George Clooney all waxed up and looking real.  It will feel like going to an A-list party!

You may need to take a break from all of that celebrity action and re-energize at one of the restaurants at the Venetian.  Make your way over to the Taqueria Canonita and enjoy a taste of Mexican Soul Food.  And if you happen on Happy Hour (3PM to 6PM and later starting at 9PM to close), you may want to order a $5 margarita.  There is plenty of seating, but if you want to relax along the canal and watch the gondoliers cautiously paddle their passengers through the waterways, the restaurant recommends that you book a table in advance.

SUSHISAMBA is a colorful restaurant that provides a unique dining experience, with an eclectic assortment of dishes and a generous happy hour of $6 caipirinhas which starts at 4PM to 7PM from Sunday to Friday.  Choose from exotic sushi rolls, sushi or other exclusive fish made with a Peruvian, Brazilian flare.  My favorite dishes are the Yellowtail Sashimi Ceviche and the Miso-Marinated Chilean Sea Bass, Roasted Organic Vegetables and Oshinko!  And of course I cannot break myself away from ordering the Classic Mojito!

There is a wide, diverse selection of restaurants that are located near or within the Venetian.  On Restaurant Row, one can find Aquaknox (Seafood), B&B Ristorante (Italian), Cafe Presse (Coffee and Pastries), db Brasserie (French), Delmonico Steakhouse (Steak) and Public House (Gastropub).

Restaurants are also located at the Grand Canal Shoppes for a scenic view of the gondolas.  These eateries include Buddy V’s for American-Italian cuisine, Canaletto for Italian, Carlo’s Bakery, Casanova for Mediterranean, Grimaldi’s for NY-style pizza, i (heart) burgers, Mercato della Pescheria for Italian Seafood, French restaurant Paris Baguette, Table 10 (New American), Tintoretto Restaurant & Bakery, Trattoria Reggiano and Zeffrino for Italian Seafood.

After spending the afternoon at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, check out Canyon Ranch Cafe or Canyon Ranch Grill.  Or if you are having a difficult time breaking away from the casino, there are several options available here as well, such as CUT (Modern American), Hong Kong Cafe (Asian), and JuiceFarm (Organic)

The Food Court is another option for fast, quick culinary offerings or B&B Burger and Beer, Lagasse’s Stadium (American), Noodles Asia, OTTO Enoteca Pizzeria, and Rockhouse (American) while more upscale dining locations include Carnevino (Steak), Grand Lux Cafe (Global Cuisine) with two locations in the Venetian and the Palazzo, LAVO (Italian), Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro. TAO Asian Bistro and Yardbird Southern Table & Bar. The Venezia Tower includes French Restaurant Bouchon on the 10th floor.

Poolside one can order from two of Wolfgang Puck’s  restaurant’s such as Riva at the Venetian Pool Deck and Solaro at the Palazzo Pool.

There is an exorbitant number of night clubs, bars and lounges in Las Vegas, so should one choose to stay within the properties of the Venetian, there are certainly a great number of options, some which are open 24 hours such as Bellini Bar and Fusion Latin Mixology Bar.  Double Helix Wine Bar, Laguna Champagne Bar, LAVO Restaurant Lounge, Rockhouse, and The Lounge at SUSHISAMBA have set hours of operation as well as the TAO NightClub and LAVO Casino Club.

With Venice, all the world is a stage as you cross the Rialto or glimpse through the architecture of the Doge’s Palace, you never know where it may take you.  So keep your eyes wide open and you may even catch a glimpse of your Cassanova.

What  has been your experience visiting The Venetian in Venice?  I would love to hear about your trip to Las Vegas if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section.  List your favorite restaurants, hotels, casinos and more!  Many thanks for reading about my visit to The Venetian and wishing you many Happy Travels!