Tall, slim and sleek, Encore stands side-by-side with Wynn Las Vegas at the north end of the Las Vegas Strip. Both signature properties from Wynn Resorts Chairman and CEO Steve Wynn offer superior service from a dedicated staff and top-notch amenities ranging from splendid rooms to high-end gaming, dining, nightlife and spa experiences.
Elegant and refined, yet not stuffy, Encore is the younger, hipper, edgier, more modern sister of Wynn Las Vegas. High-energy music plays overhead. A more intimate casino and selection of restaurant gives the resort a boutique-style ambiance. Being connected to Wynn Las Vegas, means all of its amenities -- 15 restaurants, extensive gaming options and an 18-hole championship golf course -- are also just steps away. It's the best of both worlds.
Exquisite style flows through Encore's public and private areas with custom pieces such as carpet, furniture and fine artwork hand-chosen by a top-notch design team. There are 130 stunning ruby red chandeliers hanging throughout the casino floor. Worth more than $150,000 each, the glass was hand-blown in Murano, Italy. These pieces intermingle with spectacular horticulture and images of butterflies, a symbol of good luck, making Encore a living piece of art. Natural light permeates the 40,000-square-foot atrium at the hotel's Strip entrance, where more than one chirping bird has been spotted flying between the live trees.
Entertainment abounds here. Guests can see superstar Garth Brooks, one of country music's most pivotal artists, onstage at Encore Theater. He appears with no band, just an acoustic guitar in the ultimate unplugged concert appearance. Or they can check out the eye-popping aqua production "Le Rêve - The Dream" in the Wynn Theater, which boasts a dramatic theater-in-the-round setting. The feats of athleticism performed in this show are beyond belief.
While Wynn Las Vegas already provides a gastronomical experience with its buffet and some of its other larger restaurants, the restaurants at Encore are scaled down for more intimate dining. Indulge in a relaxed and romantic Italian meal at Chef Theo Schoenegger's Sinatra, the only restaurant approved by the Sinatra family to bear the legendary entertainer's name. The Pan-Asian café creations at Wazuzu are as unforgettable as the 27-foot-long Swarovski crystal dragon that dominates the restaurant's back wall.
Guests at Encore can also savor steaks and chops among voluptuous sculptures by Fernando Botero at star chef Mark LoRusso's Botero Steak. In Chef René Lenger's distinctive steakhouse Switch Steak, the walls come to life mid-meal and your surroundings appear to change before your eyes.
Later in the evening, XS nightclub lives up to its name, spreading a decadent nightlife vibe out into Encore's pool area. This is one of the most expensive clubs ever built. Adorned in gold accents, especially behind the bar, XS offers a pulsating indoor/outdoor atmosphere. Along with a 10-foot rotating chandelier on the dance floor, guests can enjoy the over-the-top atmosphere by ordering the signature Ono cocktail. Priced at $10,000, it comes with elegant XS-logo cufflinks and a black pearl pendant.
Encore Beach Club and Surrender provide another marvelous day/night party experience for trendsetters. This lush oasis is separated from the Strip by cabanas outfitted with every luxury imaginable. During the day, guests can take a dip in the elegant pool surrounded by lily pads for lounging on. At night, it is transformed into Surrender, a chic nightclub with plush VIP tables, go-go dancers and live DJs.
Between its opulent design and relaxing body treatments, the full-service Encore Spa brings new meaning to tranquility and comfort, while the salon offers a full menu of services and even has pedicure chairs overlooking the Las Vegas Strip. Designer boutiques and other stores fill the Esplanade at Encore. And business travelers will appreciate the facilities at the Business Services Center, which include private internet suites, copy and fax machines, courier services, office supplies and a notary public.
Decorated with art and custom furniture, the suites at Encore are larger than those at Wynn Las Vegas by at about 100 square feet. Boasting floor-to-ceiling windows, the atmosphere is also one of indulgence. Inside the suite, guests will find first-rate amenities such as a pillowtop bed, premium linens, an L-shaped sofa and a secondary flat-screen television in the bathroom mirror. Lights throughout are easily controlled from the front door, and can be dimmed or brightened depending on the mood. Likewise, guests can control their window shades remotely without ever getting out of bed.
The casino itself has a private, luxurious feel, tucked between walkways and surrounded by columned pavilions, canopies and draperies. For high rollers, Encore is also home to high limit gaming and baccarat, as well as a unique Sky Casino for those placing a $300,000-minimum bet.
All of these charms combined with its impeccable service and attentive staff have Vegas visitors cheering "Encore."
-- Staff Report