When describing what makes Las Vegas great, one inevitably has to talk about a bit of everything: Shows, attractions, restaurants, nightclubs, individual properties … the list just goes on and on. It’s in that spirit that we present Las Vegas Magazine’s 2025 Hall of Fame class.
On the following pages, you’ll get the pleasure of discovering some of what makes Las Vegas (and its surrounding areas) great, exclusively chosen by our growing list of past Hall of Fame honorees, including Jabbawockeez, Carrot Top, Wayne Newton, Blue Man Group, The Las Vegas Aces and Penn & Teller.
The goal of our Hall of Fame is simple: We want to provide you with a list you can check off here and now (or make reservations for on your return trip); after all, we are the premier tourist publication in the Las Vegas Valley—our goal is to help you make the most out of your stay.
Here’s to the class of 2025!
Shows/Productions: Atomic Saloon Show
Photo by: Courtesy of Spiegelworld
There’s a little place at the top of an escalator on the second level of The Venetian’s Grand Canal Shoppes, not far from the Palazzo Tower, where “Wild West” takes on a whole new meaning. Visitors to Atomic Saloon Show enter a realm far removed from the glitz and glam of The Strip, where cowboys and cowgirls who think they’ve seen it all are subjected to a series of acts curated by proprietor Boozy Skunkton that balance the fine line between risqué and raunchy.
Headliners: An Intimate Evening With Santana: Greatest Hits Live
Photo by: Roberto Finizio
There are three aspects of Carlos Santana that are most recognizable to the public at large: his classic hits, his distinctive guitar playing, and his hats. It was a no-brainer for him to introduce the Santana Hat Collection after forays into designing ladies shoes, and the move makes it possible for fans to pay tribute to the legendary musician in a sartorial sense.
Attractions: Maverick Helicopters
Photo by: Bryan Kroten
Before Maverick Helicopters was established three decades ago the idea of including the Grand Canyon in a trip to Las Vegas was unfathomable. It really needed to be one or the other, but now Maverick Helicopters offers tours to the canyon that take less than half a day. It’s a 40-minute picturesque ride to a landing zone right above the Colorado River, highlighted by a champagne toast.
Restaurants: The Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge
Photo by: Las Vegas Sun file photo
As long as the Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge keeps serving casual dining fare from its neon-lit location where mid-Strip meets north Strip, classic Las Vegas will live on. Stepping inside leaves the modern world behind in favor of a ’70s-style atmosphere, with a firepit lounge that is the ultimate meet-up point for any occasion. Can’t decide where to get the gang together? Take a ride share to Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge any time of day and nosh on nuts until everyone arrives.
Bar & Nightlife: On The Record
Photo by: Jeff Green Photography
Las Vegas nightlife can be a little overwhelming for first-time visitors due to the plethora of choices and general inexperience in the ways of velvet ropes and bottle service. Some people just want to have fun and dance without having to hire a VIP host for the evening, which is a good reason to keep On The Record at Park MGM in mind. It’s part speakeasy, part nightclub, all fun.
Pool Clubs: Drai's Beachclub
Photo by: Michael Kirschbaum
The Drai name used to be synonymous with after-hours in Las Vegas. Entrepreneur Victor Drai established the club at his restaurant an elevator ride down from the casino floor of the Barbary Coast, which became The Cromwell a decade ago. Now Drai’s Management Group, under the auspices of Drai’s son Dustin, runs Drai’s Beachclub on the rooftop adjacent to Drai’s Nightclub, making the boutique hotel a landmark for party people as well as a go-to destination for people who want a chill daytime lounge scene.
Sports: Las Vegas Aviators
Photo by: Courtesy
The Las Vegas Aviators open this year’s Pacific Coast League season with a three-game series against the Reno Aces, which would be a great time for the Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics to begin a winning streak while it’s still the only kid on the baseball block selling tickets. Victories are good any time of year, but it would be nice if the Aviators’ finest had their profiles amplified soon, as the Athletics are expected to move to Las Vegas in the next few years, to a brand-new south Strip stadium.
Festivals: Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival
Photo by: Fred Morledge/photofm.com
For some the Renaissance was an important era in history, the period between the Dark Ages and Age of Enlightenment, in which profound advancements in arts and culture were made. To others it’s a way of life, whether they follow fêtes year-round or spend months in advance preparing for the Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival, which returns to Sunset Park for its 31st annual event.
Off the Strip: Neon Museum
Photo by: Deidra Wilson Photography
The face of Las Vegas may be constantly changing, but thanks to the efforts of some its most conscientious citizens the city’s heritage of electric signs is well preserved at Neon Museum. The 2.25-acre site on Las Vegas Boulevard just north of downtown is easy to find due to the lobby of dearly departed La Concha Motel serving as a visitors’ center.
The Great Outdoors: Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Photo by: Courtesy
What’s your favorite hike? The short but strenuous scurry of scenic Calico Tanks? Shady and cool waterfall wonder Icebox Canyon? The Petroglyph Wall? There are more than 30 trailheads accessible from Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area’s scenic drive, ranging from easy to strenuous, at a destination that’s merely a 30-minute drive from downtown Las Vegas. Hikers, rock climbers and bikers flock here like blackjack players do to casinos.
Lifetime Achievement: Barry Manilow
Photo by: Courtesy
The word “lifetime” feels entirely appropriate when referring to Barry Manilow’s historic career. He’s spent a lifetime bringing joy to millions of fans who just can’t get enough of his long list of enduring songs. In his lifetime, he’s achieved nearly every major milestone a performer can achieve (including 29 platinum-certified albums, a Grammy, a Primetime Emmy and an Oscar nomination), culminating in him breaking Elvis Presley’s long-standing record of 636 performances at Westgate Las Vegas’s iconic International Theater. And just recently, Westgate Las Vegas announced that it was extending Manilow a lifetime residency.
Hall of Fame honorees from 2020
Hall of Fame honorees from 2021
Hall of Fame honorees from 2022
Hall of Fame honorees from 2023
Hall of Fame honorees from 2024
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