Best upscale place to get small plates/apps and drinks?

It could be the bar area of an upscale restaurant, or maybe a nice lounge that serves apps or small plates.

Basically the nicest place to get drinks and small plates of food?

 

Julian Serrano at Aria is my favorite

 

Fire Fly which used to be in Plaza downtown and is no longer but they do have another brick and mortar building somewhere downtown. They had really good small plates, loved it, wish they would have stayed at Plaza.

 

Ditto that

 

Mandarin Bar for everything you asked for. Jaleo or Julian Serrano are good options as well.

 

This would be my answer as well if OP was looking for a casual restaurant to get food poisoning at.

 

The "nicest" place--probably Mandarin Bar or L'atelier Joel Robuchon.

Best food, and biggest selection in this genre, probably Julian Serrano.

Best Value, probably American Fish, especially during happy hour.

 

Early evening at Hyde (before it morphs into club) is pretty sweet. Amazing views of the Bellagio fountains and nice small plate menu.

Agree that Mandarin Bar is nicest if you want view of the strip.

 

Try Estiatorio Milos in the Cosmo or Verandah in the Four Seasons. I'm sure anywhere in the Cosmo social hour would be great.

 

C'mon now... Firefly doesn't deserve the "death penalty" IMHO, I know many disagree. Their new location is fantastic and their food is the standard by which tapas is judged in Las Vegas. I've been there twice since the move and been very pleased.

 

Double ditto, and if you hit it at Happy Hour it's a great value!

 

Small plates option...

La Cave Wine and Food with small plates Hideaway at the Wynn. Just got this tip from a GM and Bartender at La Comida Downtown. They both highly recommend it and that is exactly how they described it. You would want wine too though because that is what they are also known for...

 

If this was a one time thing i might agree with you about given them a second chance after they showed some improvement. But after being sick on my last visit including my girl who got really ill i said no more. Then i read up on that massive food poisoning were they manage to get over 200 people sick im definitely not going to give them another try.

There is just no reason to when you have way better tapas joints in Jaleo or Julian Serrano. Sure it will cost you a few more bucks but you get great food instead of average tapas without having to worry about feeling ill afterwards. Needles to say i have not been to the new location but im happy for you that you have enjoyed it, ill hope it last.

On a side note Firefly have never been or will never be an upscale bar/restaurant as OP was looking for.

 

FYI ... La Cave, La Comida and Crush at the MGM Grand are all owned by Michael and Jenna Morton. Their "tip" might be a bit biased.

 

I really enjoyed the American Fish happy hour at Aria. Great drinks, genuinely nice waitress with no snotty attitude (because we were there during happy hour), and very good small plates of food.

I also enjoyed the bar at Jean Georges, Aria. Nice and dark, great bartender, seemed like a hidden gem but it was early when I was there. I don't know if they serve food, but probably.

I loooove the cocktails at Sensi/Bellagio but I don't like how bright the bar is and how it is somewhat exposed to the rest of the resort. I like my bars more cave-like.