Frank Sinatra loomed large over Las Vegas for more than four decades, from his first show, Sept. 4, 1951, at the Desert Inn to his last, May 29, 1994, at the MGM Grand. While many of the venues in which he performed have been torn down, several Sinatra-related spots remain.
1. Piero’s Italian Cuisine
355 Convention Center Drive
Sinatra paused a 1982 concert at Caesars Palace so he could burp. He’d eaten dinner at Villa D’Este, the Italian restaurant run by Joe Pignatello, his personal Las Vegas chef. Sinatra apologized, said he’d just had some of the city’s best food and credited the restaurant. The phone started ringing off the hook, and it was standing room only for the next week, David Alenik, who became Sinatra’s personal chef, told the Review-Journal. Villa D’Este transitioned to Piero’s later that year, and Sinatra kept coming. His favorite dish, linguine and clams, is still on the menu.
2. Golden Steer Steakhouse
308 W. Sahara Ave.
Sinatra was a regular here, too. So much so that his favorite booth, No. 22, has been named in his honor.
3. Italian American Club
2333 E. Sahara Ave.
Sinatra’s practically the patron saint of the throwback restaurant, music venue and social club. Photos of him line the walls. He even donated a new Cadillac that was raffled off to help purchase the property.
4. Sinatra
Encore Las Vegas
Theo Schoenegger, executive chef at Sinatra, often cooked for its namesake at New York’s San Domenico. The menu includes touches such as Ossobuco “My Way” — braised veal ossobuco, saffron risotto Milanese and gremolata — alongside portraits of the singer and a display of memorabilia curated by Tina Sinatra and Charlie Pignone, president of Frank Sinatra Enterprises.
5. Wynn Golf Club
3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South
According to legend — a legend Wynn Las Vegas doesn’t dispute — the beverage cart was born on this course in the 1960s. It’s said that frequent golfers Sinatra and Dean Martin wouldn’t play a round at what was then known as the Desert Inn Golf Club without a drink in hand, leading to the creation of the mobile bar.
6. Bar Prohibition
Golden Gate
There’s a plaque at the corner of the bar noting that “Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin drank here.” Grab a Rat Pack Manhattan — made with Bulleit Bourbon, Grand Marnier, sweet vermouth and bitters — and check out the photos of Sinatra and pals that line the walls of the historic casino.
7. Rat Pack Marker
Outside The Venetian
It’s one of the defining photos of Las Vegas: Sinatra, Martin, Davis, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop, standing left to right in order of their billing, in front of the Sands marquee that bore their names. A historical marker, complete with that image, shows the approximate location where they stood for that photo. (The footprints in the concrete are merely symbolic.) Look for it just south of The Venetian’s main driveway off Las Vegas Boulevard.
8. ‘The Rat Pack Is Back!’
Tuscany
The tribute show that’s been running for more than a quarter-century offers something of a time capsule, transporting fans back to the Sands era as “Sinatra,” “Martin” and “Davis” take the stage.
9. ‘Sinatra Live’
Alexis Park
Michael Sinatra, the son of Frank Sinatra Jr., performs this tribute to his grandfather six nights a week.
10. The Showroom
Golden Nugget
Originally known as The Theatre Ballroom, the 488-seat venue was built for Sinatra, who called it home from 1984 to ’87. The showroom remains largely as it was during those years.
11. Ka Theatre
MGM Grand
Sinatra christened the 1,700-seat Grand Theatre on Dec. 31, 2003, while Barbra Streisand was opening the MGM Grand Garden Arena. He returned for three nights the next year, May 27 through 29, in what would prove to be his final Las Vegas concerts. The venue was reconfigured ahead of the Cirque du Soleil show’s arrival in 2004.
Contact Christopher Lawrence at [email protected] or 702-380-4567.