Celebs Turn Wynn’s XS Nightclub Weekend into Hollywood Who’s Who
Wynn Las Vegas is inarguably one of the premier destinations in the desert city. The stars clearly agree, as several
Ivy Griffith
Wynn Las Vegas is inarguably one of the premier destinations in the desert city. The stars clearly agree, as several were spotted letting their hair down at XS Nightclub this weekend. But wooing superstars isn’t all Wynn has been up to lately. The top-tier Vegas resort has just opened a brand new restaurant, Casa Playa. And all of their hard work and growth has not gone unnoticed; Wynn was just named the best hotel in Vegas.
Stargazing at XS Nightclub
The stars were out this weekend in Vegas, and Wynn had its fair share of sparkle. On Saturday, September 18th, Wynn became its own impromptu Hollywood gathering. Actress, singer, and media superstar Bella Thorne was spotted partying it up at XS with six friends, including her fiancé Benjamin Mascolo. Thorne and Italian singer Mascolo announced their engagement in March with a sweet and simple, “She said yes!” Instagram post. Thorne hit the dance floor, sipping vodka cranberry cocktails in a dedicated VIP section. The group watched the Grammy-winning duo The Chainsmokers before calling it a night – or morning – around 4:30AM.
Bachelor Nation alum and Bachelorette co-star Tayshia Adams was also spotted over the weekend, heading to Wynn’s Casa Playa with a friend after a red carpet debut with fiancé Zac Clark at iHeartRadio Music Festival. After a delightful dinner, Adams hit up XS, posing for a photo and taking Jaja Tequila shots with The Chainsmokers.
XS also welcomed a number of the music world’s greats, including Wynn resident headliner Alesso, world famous DJ Martin Garrix, and singer/songwriter Lewis Capaldi.
Next door at Encore Beach Club, world sensation J Balvin stopped by and gave guests a surprise pop-up performance with fellow artist Jhay Cortez.
Casa Playa Opens at Wynn
There’s a reason stars are flocking to Wynn’s XS. The Wynn team has their finger on the pulse of what makes Las Vegas tick, and they’re constantly updating and meeting the needs of guests. After debuting the wildly popular Delilah Supper Club earlier this year, in true hospitality titan fashion, Wynn is doing it again. With the addition of their newest restaurant; Encore is debuting Casa Playa. Last month, Wynn announced plans to open Casa Playa adjacent to Encore Beach Club in September, a coastal Mexican cuisine concept with authentic dishes and a fun lounge.
Casa Playa is designed to be a playful, upscale twist on an authentic Mexican restaurant, with executive chef Sarah Thompson at the helm. Wynn brought in their resort mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini to set up a unique and perfectly curated menu, along with agave expert Noah Arenstein.
The brainchild of Wynn Design and Development, Casa Playa transports guests directly to the warm summery breezes of the Mexican coastline, with authentic bones and modern, playful touches. Describes as a, “feet-in-the-sand resort style dining experience,” Casa Playa is the perfect complement to XS Nightclub’s electric atmosphere and Encore Beach Club’s youthful, energetic vibes. You can get your blood pumping at XS, then kick back and enjoy the feel of relaxation at Casa Playa.
A press release for the opening shares details of the menu, which is sure to be spectacular with Thompson behind the wheel:
“Drawing inspiration from the hidden playacitas found along the shores of Mexico that serve up fresh grilled seafood, Chef Thompson puts her own twist on authentic Mexican flavors with a menu of playful dishes as well as classics including a squash blossom quesadilla, baja fried fish tacos and queso fundido with house made chorizo. Guests can curate a multi-course experience by selecting an array of offerings, enjoy sumptuous shareable plates, or opt for a large-format feast. Menu highlights include:
- Crudo – Mexican Blue Shrimp Ceviche with young coconut, tomatillo, and cucumber; Yellowfin Tuna Tartare served with pasilla chile and avocado; and towering Seafood Platters piled high with Kusshi oysters, Hokkaido scallops, king crab legs, lobster tail, and shrimp cocktail.
- Appetizers – With options extending beyond exceptional seafood, diners can also expect elegant and bold flavors like the Black Truffle Tostada with Cabot clothbound cheddar and corn cream; Duck Confit Tamal with mole de la casa and ricotta; and Octopus served with coloradito mole and potato in escabeche.
- Mains – A selection of shareable mains includes dishes such as Whole Cauliflower Al Pastor featuring pineapple butter and cashew salsa macha; Branzino a la Talla topped with guajillo adobo, herbs and salsa cruda; and Yucatan Chicken Pibil made with orange annatto adobo and potato.
- Para La Mesa – Casa Playa also features options served family style with house-made tortillas and salsas including Whole Roasted Carnitas with crispy skin, smoked agave syrup, chipotle slaw, chile toreado, and charred cucumber salsa; and the Casa Playa Surf and Turf featuring wagyu carne asada, lobster and chorizo, short rib suadero, green chorizo, and serrano.”
And if you’re looking to wet your lips with something special at dinner, or just stop by for a drink, you’re in luck. Casa Playa has a truly special list for guests to pick from: “Mercer Boarini’s thoughtfully crafted and cutting-edge lineup of cocktails includes margaritas like the Temple of Doom made with Mal Bien Espadin Mezcal, grilled pineapple, chipotle, and lime; while the Forbidden Fruit is a frozen margarita featuring El Tesoro Blanco, mango, lime, chamoy caramel, and mango trinity salt. For something a little different, guests can opt for offerings like the City of Dawn comprised of Grey Goose Essence Watermelon Basil Vodkaand cucumber mint agua fresca; as well as the Ojo De Tigre with Uncle Nearest Bourbon,Patrón Roca Añejo Tequila, salted peanut marzipan, and plantain.
Casa Playa also delivers a mezcal and tequila selection that is truly unmatched. Curated by AGM and agave expert Noah Arenstein, the list features a rotating collection of the best and most exclusive agave spirits from regions spanning Oaxaca in the south of Mexico to the borders of the United States in the north. The program features a number of sought-after barrel picks, some from rare batches of 200 bottles or less, allowing guests a wholly unique sip, curated flight, or fully paired tasting. Highlights of the selection include Neta Mezcal Tepextate, Cascahuin Extra Añejo Tequila, Fuenteseca 18 Yr. Tequila, and Vago Mezcal Tobala de Aquilino, which, with a limited 125 bottle batch, is only available at Casa Playa.”
Casa Playa is the perfect blend between authenticity and creativity, and another notch in Wynn’s impressive belt of hospitality wonders.
Wynn LV: Best Hotel in Las Vegas
Guests and return visitors to Wynn aren’t the only ones to take note of the resort’s all-inclusive wonders and top-of-the-industry amenities. Wynn has been awarded more Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Awards than any other independent hotel company in the world, and this year was again honored as FORTUNEMagazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies list for the thirteenth time.
And they’ve again received another remarkable honor: number 1 hotel in Las Vegas for the second consecutive year on the Travel + Leisure 2021 World’s Best Awards list. The World’s Best List is created with hundreds of thousands of votes from Travel + Leisure readers. In a press release, the Wynn team shared their joy and pride, “‘We always look to the future at Wynn Las Vegas, continuing to innovate and elevate our resort in order to create unforgettable experiences for our guests,’ said Brian Gullbrants, President of Wynn Las Vegas. ‘We are honored that our efforts have not gone unnoticed and are grateful to the readers of Travel + Leisure who consider Wynn to the best hotel in Las Vegas.’
New to Wynn Las Vegas this year was the debut of the instantly iconic supper club, Delilah at Wynn Las Vegas, offering a new option in Wynn’s nightlife portfolio set within a lavish cinematic design; Overlook Lounge, an opulent elevated cocktail venue in the heart of Wynn’s landmark floral-filled atrium; the resort’s newest restaurant, Casa Playa, offering bold and authentic flavors that transport guests to the Mexican seaside; and an upcoming nautical themed lounge that will be unveiled later this year.”
To celebrate, Wynn is offering guests an exclusive vacation package that includes a two-night stay, $150 dining credit, $50 beverage credit, and a leisurely late checkout. To plan your stay, visit the Wynn website for booking information.