Posted on: April 14, 2026, 06:41h.
Last updated on: April 14, 2026, 06:41h.
Le Cirque, one of Las Vegas’ most acclaimed fine‑dining institutions and the final U.S. location of the storied family brand, will permanently close after dinner on August 23, MGM Resorts announced Tuesday. The closure will end nearly 28 years of service for the French restaurant, which debuted along with the Bellagio in October 1998.
Known for its intimate 40‑seat dining room, tented circus‑striped ceiling, and views of the famous fountains, Le Cirque earned some of the industry’s highest honors during its Las Vegas run. They included a Michelin one‑star rating, a Forbes Five‑Star rating, and a AAA Five Diamond award.
The Bellagio location became the flagship of the brand after the original New York Le Cirque — opened by hospitality legend Sirio Maccioni in 1974 — closed its final Manhattan home in 2017. For decades, the New York restaurant was considered one of America’s most influential temples of French cuisine, attracting royalty, celebrities, and powerbrokers.
MGM Resorts said the space will be transformed into a new culinary concept scheduled to open in mid‑2027, though no details have been released.
Durango to Host Super Taco Bowl
Chef Victor Villa handed Bad Bunny a piragua during the singer’s 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, and now his restaurant, Villa’s Tacos, is opening its first location outside California this summer at Durango Casino’s Eat Your Heart Out food hall.
Villa launched the brand in 2018 by grilling tacos in his grandmother’s yard in L.A.’s Highland Park before shifting to pandemic pickup orders. He earned a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide in 2022. That’s not quite a Michelin star, but quite an accomplishment for a brand that didn’t even have a storefront until a year later!
“From the beginning, Villa’s Tacos has been rooted in family and tradition, with a deep respect for the ingredients and flavors that define our food,” Villa said in an announcement. “We’re proud to bring that same approach to Durango and share what makes Villa’s Tacos special with a new community.”
Villa’s — famous for blue corn tortillas and signature crispy Monterrey Jack cheese skirts —
will replace chef Marc Vetri’s Fiorella Pasta Bar, which shuttered in March.
Dining Ins & Outs
Grotto Ristorante at the Golden Nugget has closed and is currently being used for events, according to Vital Vegas.
Qargo Coffee, a popular Florida brand now found in seven other states, has opened at 3900 Paradise Road – the same mini-mall housing the new Braseria by EDO.
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