Two years ago, Shannon Higa, a cocktail server at Vista Cocktail Lounge, had one goal in mind. “Stop making plans and let life happen,” she said. “It was time to redo my life.” She left her hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii, and headed to Las Vegas. Many Hawaiians move to the city, so Higa found the transition an easy one.
While she holds a degree in business management, she had her sights set on the nightlife industry, and as luck would have it, just a few months after arriving in town she landed a job cocktail serving. When May rolled around this year, Higa caught wind that a new lounge with an innovative concept was opening at Caesars Palace. She nailed her interview and was part of the team that helped open Vista.
“I really like our concept,” she said. You can sip, savor and soak in the city.” Higa is talking about the LED screens surrounding the interior of the lounge; programmed skylines of cities like New York and Shanghai. The visual spectacle takes guests around the world while they sip handcrafted cocktails. “Lights turn off and on, you can see people walking around. It looks like you’re getting a real-time view of each city.”
The Bannister
While guests are entertained, she takes care of their needs, be it drinks, recommendations, friendly conversation—she provides all of it.
“Anyone can serve someone a drink, but what people really come here for is the experience, and it’s up to me to provide a memorable one,” Higa said.
The Bannister
Eight handcrafted signature cocktails appear on the robust menu at Vista Cocktail Lounge, and one of the most popular picks is The Bannister. The smooth, not-too-sweet libation, perfect for the fall season, mixes Bombay Sapphire gin, dry vermouth, apricot brandy, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, bitters and egg whites. Vista also offers classic cocktails. For larger parties, try the punch bowls. Serving about 8-10 people, punch bowl options include piña colada mojito, dragonberry spritz and sangria.
