Stellar cocktails in a swank and welcoming space is what you’ll find at the newly opened Sala 118 at The Venetian.
“Really if I ask, ‘What is Sala 118?’ It’s a place that feels like home. A beautiful, gorgeous home,” said Andrew Pollard, director of mixology for The Venetian. “The mood, the environment, it’s to provide a sense of comfort. The environment that we want to create is to amplify the DNA of this property and the character. It’s an elevated experience that is indicative of our DNA; that mid-century Italian setting in a modern Venetian landscape.”
Bitter Mary
The vibe and design have an understated elegance, with gorgeous flourishes throughout like the lighting, seating and bar area. The real star of Sala 118 is the cocktail menu, created over a two-month period by Pollard, a longtime and well-respected Las Vegas mixologist whose cocktail creations reside on menus up and down the Strip. His goal for Sala 118 was to take classic, familiar cocktails and present them in a unique and innovative way by using Italian ingredients. “I’ve always had a passion for Italian cocktails, and I’ve always looked for a home to have the opportunity to do this,” Pollard said. “I want our guests to explore, take a journey through Italy, and they’re guided through our menu and guided by our knowing bar staff as well.”
And no other cocktail is more indicative of the Italian culture than the Negroni. Sala 118 offers six different riffs off the classic recipe, using different spirits and ingredients that allow drinkers to experience the Negroni in a whole new way. “The Paradise Negroni, which is almost like if a piña colada and a Negroni made a baby, is a very fun, exciting and unique cocktail,” Pollard said. The recipe calls for Porter’s Tropical Old Tom gin, Heirloom pineapple amaro, Luxardo bitter bianco, coconut, Lustau Manzanilla Papirusa sherry and lime bitters.
Not often would one find the margarita on the menu of Italian bars, but sticking with the Sala 118 philosophy, they’ve taken a classic that is familiar to everyone and given it a unique twist. And this writer has to say: Out of all the margaritas sampled across the city, this is one of the best versions I’ve ever tasted! The Sala 118 Margherita blends Gajàrdo Arancia Radicale liqueur, Alpe Genepy Herbetet, prickly pear, lime and fresh oregano, and the spirit is the property’s very own select barrel of tequila, The Venetian Select Paladar reposado tequila. “We designed (the tequila) inside and out,” Pollard said. “This is not like any margarita you’ve tasted, yet it’s familiar.”
Paradise Negroni
Another exclusive spirit from The Venetian is its own barrel-aged Svöl Aquavit. “We have the only barrel in the country that exists,” Pollard said. “The exclusive, three-year-aged, finished barrel of Swedish-style Aquavit has fresh dill, mint, and is bright, complex and fresh—it adds a lot of layer and dimension to the cocktail.” And the perfect cocktail to experience it in is Sala 118’s version of the Bloody Mary: the Bitter Mary. The Aquavit is mixed with St. George Green Chile vodka, Martini Riserva Speciale Bitter and a signature Bloody Mary mix. “This is unlike any Bloody Mary you’ve ever tasted,” Pollard said.
Besides the impressive specialty cocktails, Sala 118 offers a nice selection of Italian wines and Italian liqueurs and beers. “It’s the environment, it’s the feel, it’s the look, it’s the tastes,” Pollard said. “And that authenticity all translates to the overall message of Sala 188 which is ‘it feels like home.’”
Tips/Insider Knowledge
• The word “sala” in Italian means “room” or “Italian living room,” and the number 118 represents all the islands around Venice that are linked by bridges and canals.
• A must-try is the limoncello, says Pollard. “Our limoncello is the greatest you’re ever gonna try,” he says. “It’s sourced from a small boutique vendor. It’s life-changing limoncello!”
• Look for the lion head with a spigot behind the bar. The secret: It dispenses a signature Negroni with signature vermouth and signature bitters.
The Venetian, 702.414.1000. venetianlasvegas.com
Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine, your guide to everything to do, hear, see and experience in Southern Nevada. In addition to the latest edition emailed to every week, you’ll find plenty of great, money-saving offers from some of the most exciting attractions, restaurants, properties and more! And Las Vegas Magazine is full of informative content such as restaurants to visit, cocktails to sip and attractions to enjoy.
