The First Las Vegas Restaurant Closings of 2025
Julian Serrano Tapas. | MGM Resorts International January’s restaurant closings include on-Strip powerhouses with celebrity names and 24-hour neighborhood haunts The dining landscape in Las Vegas is ever-changing. Only a couple weeks into the new year, Las Vegas has already bid goodbye to Strip restaurants with celebrity names and neighborhood haunts with 24-hour dining. Some restaurants closed at the end of 2024, while others are in their final weeks of service. This round-up covers the restaurant closings you may have missed. Julian Serrano Tapas In early January, MGM Resorts International announced that renowned chef Julian Serrano would close Julian Serrano Tapas at Aria Resort and Casino. Last year, the chef announced his upcoming retirement, closing Picasso and stepping away from Lago. On February 1, 2025, Serrano will close his last Vegas restaurant, which has been dishing out comforting bowls of paella and tangy scallop ceviche since 2009. International Smoke The celebrity-owned barbecue restaurant, International Smoke, will close on Sunday, January 19 after five years of grilling steak and seafood at the MGM Grand. The Vegas location of the San Francisco restaurant was a collaboration between chef Michael Mina and television producer Ayesha Curry. Rather than specializing in any one form of barbecue, International Smoke took a worldly approach with smoked peri peri chicken, Korean gochujang-slathered St. Louis cut pork ribs, and bone-in cowboy ribeye. Montana Meat Company For 20 years, the Montana Meat Company steakhouse in Centennial Hills served round-the-clock food and drink in the restaurant and across the gaming machines at the bar. On January 1, the 24-hour restaurant posted a sign on the door stating that the location had closed. The Montana Meat Company on Durango Drive near Blue Diamond Highway remains open. Safta 1964 One of Las Vegas’s best pop-up restaurants closed on December 31, following a short residency at the Wynn Las Vegas. Chef Alon Shaya’s 1960s-themed spin-off of his Denver restaurant, Safta, churned out super smooth hummus, fluffy pitas, and an elaborate spin on Jell-O desserts during its nine-month pop-up in the Jardin restaurant space. Villa Azur After two years of trying to bridge the gap between fancy restaurant and late-night club, this South Beach Florida import closed in late December. Located in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian Resort, the sprawling restaurant used bold purple lighting, roving entertainers, and ear-splitting music to imbue the restaurant’s vibes with those of a wedding — complete with overhead napkin-twirling. The saxophonists, bottle service, and $155 bowls of fettuccini called it quits in late December 2024.
Tomas Kauer - Las Vegas Syndicated News 
January’s restaurant closings include on-Strip powerhouses with celebrity names and 24-hour neighborhood haunts
The dining landscape in Las Vegas is ever-changing. Only a couple weeks into the new year, Las Vegas has already bid goodbye to Strip restaurants with celebrity names and neighborhood haunts with 24-hour dining. Some restaurants closed at the end of 2024, while others are in their final weeks of service.
This round-up covers the restaurant closings you may have missed.
Julian Serrano Tapas
In early January, MGM Resorts International announced that renowned chef Julian Serrano would close Julian Serrano Tapas at Aria Resort and Casino. Last year, the chef announced his upcoming retirement, closing Picasso and stepping away from Lago. On February 1, 2025, Serrano will close his last Vegas restaurant, which has been dishing out comforting bowls of paella and tangy scallop ceviche since 2009.
International Smoke
The celebrity-owned barbecue restaurant, International Smoke, will close on Sunday, January 19 after five years of grilling steak and seafood at the MGM Grand. The Vegas location of the San Francisco restaurant was a collaboration between chef Michael Mina and television producer Ayesha Curry. Rather than specializing in any one form of barbecue, International Smoke took a worldly approach with smoked peri peri chicken, Korean gochujang-slathered St. Louis cut pork ribs, and bone-in cowboy ribeye.
Montana Meat Company
For 20 years, the Montana Meat Company steakhouse in Centennial Hills served round-the-clock food and drink in the restaurant and across the gaming machines at the bar. On January 1, the 24-hour restaurant posted a sign on the door stating that the location had closed. The Montana Meat Company on Durango Drive near Blue Diamond Highway remains open.
Safta 1964
One of Las Vegas’s best pop-up restaurants closed on December 31, following a short residency at the Wynn Las Vegas. Chef Alon Shaya’s 1960s-themed spin-off of his Denver restaurant, Safta, churned out super smooth hummus, fluffy pitas, and an elaborate spin on Jell-O desserts during its nine-month pop-up in the Jardin restaurant space.
Villa Azur
After two years of trying to bridge the gap between fancy restaurant and late-night club, this South Beach Florida import closed in late December. Located in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian Resort, the sprawling restaurant used bold purple lighting, roving entertainers, and ear-splitting music to imbue the restaurant’s vibes with those of a wedding — complete with overhead napkin-twirling. The saxophonists, bottle service, and $155 bowls of fettuccini called it quits in late December 2024.
