When Mauro Villalobos was invited to join Spiegelworld’s first Las Vegas restaurant, show and bar concept—Superfrico, OPM and Ski Lodge at The Cosmopolitan—in 2021, he says, “The selling point for me was when they said, ‘The whole concept is going to be pizza and psychedelics.’ And I was like, ‘Two of my favorite things! Fun, high-quality products, but not too serious.”
Being psychedelic and creative is part of Villalobos’ personality, he says, and he puts that to work when he’s creating cocktails for all three hot spots as the beverage director. He brings a decade of experience in mixology to the job, working in top cocktail spots on the Strip and downtown, with a special nod to his time spent at NoMad Bar at NoMad Hotel. “I was like a well-made piece of steel, and they sharpened me up,” Villalobos says.
Now, he’s using his talents to train the next generation of bartenders at Superfrico, OPM and the Ski Lodge, where we sat down for the interview and photo shoot. “My favorite part of the job is mentoring the young staff,” he says. “I get a lot of satisfaction from mentoring and growing the team.”
Together, Villalobos and his team are whipping up some trippy specialty drinks that add to the experience of Spiegelworld’s playground. “It’s kind of a like a smorgasbord of your senses—visual, taste, sound, weird random acts happening throughout dinner,” he says. “It’s like Alice in Wonderland—the deeper you go the more you find. Make sure to try all three, that’s the ultimate experience. We’re like the ultimate psychedelic house party.”
Libation: The Sun King
The Sun King cocktail is a top seller at Superfrico—one sip and you’ll understand why. “It’s like if a margarita and a michelada had a baby,” Villalobos says. It’s mixed with jalapeño-infused tequila, prickly pear syrup, lime, basil, cucumber, spiced Aperol and “tomato fluff,” a special blend of spices and tomato juice.
Benefit: Ask about the secret reliquary room inside of Superfrico.
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