Las Vegas: 'I visited Sin City once again - but this time I noticed a change'

The whooping and hollering over the NFL commentary gave way to the DJ’s house music as the six of us sipped on our vodka and mixers in one of Tailgate Beach Club’s cabanas.

We were two days into our biennial trip to Las Vegas, and over the past few years, we have noticed a change in what is attracting people to the desert oasis.

The Raiders and Golden Knights have settled into life in Vegas, a new $2billion baseball park will be the new home of the Athletics MLB franchise from 2028, and the Grand Prix is now one of the most eagerly anticipated races on the F1 calendar.

As well priding itself on being the best place on the planet to watch live sport, Sin City is also home to an array of exciting sports-themed experiences.

We teed off our trip by heading down to Atomic Golf, a new four-storey venue next to the Stratosphere, where we were treated to two hours of unlimited food and drink in a private bay as part of their great-value Reverse Happy Hour.

Keeping the golf theme going, we enjoyed a street-food lunch before a round of crazy golf and old-school carnival games at Swingers at Mandalay Bay.

We also batted pickleballs around on The Courts at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, before I took the lift a few floors down for some rehab in the form of an Athlete’s Massage at Sahra Spa.

Although Las Vegas is now promoting itself the Sports Capital of the World, it is still an adult playground, tailor-made for those seeking fun in the desert.

I checked into a glitzy disco era-themed Emerald Suite at MGM Grand, which featured a huge entertaining area with a shuffleboard table.

Then, for the second half of the trip, my accommodation was even more opulent. The two-bedroom Chelsea Penthouse on The Cosmopolitan’s 61st floor has crystal-encrusted wall textures, world-class art, advanced technology, and a loft-inspired living area with wet bar.

But the pièce de résistance is the penthouse’s wrap-around balcony, with staggering views of the Bellagio Fountains to the north, and Harry Reid International Airport on the south side.

The six of us dined at a glut of memorable restaurants during the week. We had a decadent Italian al fresco lunch washed down by citrus spritzes at Lago at Bellagio, and sat down for a seafood dinner at the nearby Carbone Riviera.

Meanwhile, the swanky Morimoto Las Vegas at MGM Grand is celebrating 10 years serving up the best Japanese fare in the city.

For something more typically American, we headed to Flights Restaurant inside Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, where staff dressed as cabin crew served us shareable steak, chicken and shrimp entrées, washed down with margarita cocktail flights.

Not only does The Cosmopolitan have iconic cocktail haven Chandelier Bar, it is also home to the best burger joint in Vegas. Naughty Patty’s stacked smash burgers are unlike anything else on the Strip.

However, we all agreed the culinary highlight of the week was Gymkhana at ARIA Resort & Casino. After opening in December 2025, the restaurant is delighting diners with its charred tandoori masala lamb chops and venison biryani steamed under a flaky pastry crust.

When in Vegas, we usually incorporate an evening in the Downtown district. Following an excellent steak dinner at Andiamo, we strolled through the Fremont Street Experience to Circa Resort & Casino, taking the lift to The Legacy Club for cocktails and panoramic views of the valley.

During the daytime, there is plenty to see and do in Vegas. The Friends Experience or ‘The One in Vegas’ at MGM Grand is a nostalgic must-see attraction for die-hard fans.

And if you’re in the mood to celebrate (in our case, it was for Roy’s 50th birthday), the city hosts the world’s most iconic pool parties.

We settled down on a daybed at the all-new 46,000-square-foot OMNIA Day Club at Caesars Palace, as superstar DJ Steve Aoki took to the decks.

Meanwhile, back up at MGM Grand, the Palm Tree Beach Club has a more relaxed, tropical vibe in midweek, but things still got lively in our cabana.

Then, once the sun had set, we checked out Mandalay Bay’s new venue Vinyl Room, as well as the intimate 1920s-style Easy’s Cocktail Lounge at ARIA.

The most energetic choice during Monday evenings on the Strip is Marquee Nightclub at The Cosmopolitan, where drinks flow and world-famous DJs play banger after banger.

And finally, there is 24K Magic in the air at 1970s retro jazz bar The Pinky Ring by Bruno Mars. Another highlight of my week was a hard-hat tour around the construction site on the shore of the Bellagio lake, where the Fountain Club’s grandstands and hospitality suites were taking shape, ready for renowned celebrity chefs, mixologists and DJs to rev up racegoers during this year’s Grand Prix weekend from 19-21 November.

In hideaway lounge The Vault, I was given a sneak preview of two limited-edition items that have become synonymous with F1 in Vegas – ‘The Shoey’ and ‘The Helmet’ punch bowl.

There isn’t a destination on the planet more suited to staging sporting events, and for fans to drink them in, than Las Vegas.

As always, the Entertainment Capital of the World is leaving its rivals in its slipstream.

Seven nights in Las Vegas from £2,086 per person with Virgin Atlantic Holidays, including scheduled Virgin Atlantic Economy flights direct from Manchester and room-only accommodation at the five-star The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Price is based on two adults sharing a City Room and departing on November 20, 2026. virginatlantic.com

Manchester Airport offers car parking options to suit every budget. manchesterairport.co.uk