"Love lift us up where we belong. Where the eagles cry . . ."
Sorry for the 80s moment there, but standing in front of the floor to ceiling windows at the top of the Mandarin Oriental, it's easy to get caught up in thoughts of flying.
And the love bit? Well, I love a well mixed martini. And it's not just the incredible views of Las Vegas Blvd. below that make a Mandarin Bar martini excellent. The drink menu was expertly crafted. Classic drinks blend with contemporary infused vodkas and cucumber-seasoned gin.
The Mandarin Bar might be the peak of elegant Vegas cocktail culture. Hell, the bar is situated high enough. Beyond the alcohol's geographic heights, the drinks are also crisp and imaginative.
It's brilliant. It's chic. It's over-priced. It is without a doubt a highlight of Vegas and yet so overpriced ($20 martini anyone?) that it's not worth visiting more than once every six months. Argggghhh. So close and yet so insanely expensive.