Casa Playa
Sarah Thompson puts coconut oil in the masa of her squash tamal so it stays light.
Why go
Thompson cooks coastal Mexican food at the Wynn, and she cooks it technically: serrano chile and Thai basil mole over that tamal, tilefish crisped in hot oil to lift its scales and finished with wood sorrel and cilantro flowers, wagyu short rib suadero cooked sous vide and then seared.1 Janna Karel describes what arrives when a group orders properly: a carnitas platter with handmade tortillas, poised for topping with roasted meat and flavorful crispy skin, smoked agave syrup, chipotle slaw, chile toreado, and charred cucumber salsa.
2 Mitsuharu Tsumura of Maido in Lima and Janaína Torres of São Paulo both named the room in 2025.5
Order this / avoid
- Order: the squash tamal, for the masa.1
- Order: the pork belly al pastor. Emmy Kasten:
the massive pork belly al pastor served on a vertical rotisserie skewer that comes topped with pineapple.
3 - Order: the carnitas for the table if there are three or four of you.2
- Order: the octopus, grilled on a hot plate and plated with Coloradito mole and pickled escabeche potatoes.2
- Avoid: booking it for a quiet two. The room and the menu are built for a group.
What locals & experts say
- Johnathan L. Wright, Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Chef Sarah Thompson won the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest for her coastal Mexican food that is bold and lusty, nuanced and layered, combining respect for tradition with modern ingredients and flavors.
1 - Janna Karel, Eater Vegas, on the room:
Amber-colored marigolds frame the entryway, an effect that is at once soothing, exciting, and inviting as a backdrop for selfies.
2 - Emmy Kasten, The Infatuation Las Vegas:
Make a reservation at Casa Playa when you want to sip margaritas at a group dinner that goes full glam.
3 - Mitsuharu Tsumura of Maido, Lima, the World's 50 Best No. 1 in 2025:
I loved the lamb birria and the pork belly al pastor at Casa Playa.
5
Good to know
- Sarah Thompson holds the Beard award, so it travels with her. She won Best Chef: Southwest in 2026 after a semifinalist year in 2025.4
- There is a mezcal cocktail called Temple of Doom and you can order it as a pitcher.3
Verdict
should-visit — Sarah Thompson won Best Chef: Southwest in 2026, and Johnathan L. Wright describes how she works: coconut oil in the masa of a squash tamal so it stays light, serrano and Thai basil mole over it, tilefish crisped in hot oil to lift the scales. Mitsuharu Tsumura of Maido and Janaína Torres both ate here and named the room. Bring people, because the carnitas platter and the al pastor skewer are built for a table.