Vista Vegas Views & Craft Cocktails at 16 - A Handcrafted Experience at The M Resort Spa Casino

A few weeks ago, Edible Skinny was lucky enough to attend an opening night celebration for the new restaurant 16 - A Handcrafted Experience. Perched on the 16th floor of The M Resort Spa Casino, this bar and restaurant's intimate space offers stunning, floor-to-ceiling windows and an outdoor patio. The result: vista views of the Las Vegas skyline paired with a intricate menu of handcrafted cocktails and interactive shared plates.

We started out the evening with a round of mid-century modern cocktails made from scratch with fresh juices and herbal-infused elements. My perfect Prohibition starter drink was their Thyme Drop made of Absolut Citron, Limoncello, Amaretto Disaronno, Fresh Sweet & Sour and sprigs of Thyme. My dining companion, Matt, opted for The 16, the ultimate handcrafted experience, a libation combining a variety of 16 different flavors to create a not-to-be-missed signature cocktail.

Mies van der Rohe stated, "God in the details," a truth you can see in the smaller elements of 16. From the etched Coupe glasses that the Thyme Drop were served in to the Moscow Mule in an intricately detailed copper cup this is where 16 shines. (Sidenote: many bars don't even carry copper Mule cups anymore because of the high thievery rate... and with coolness of these cups I feel that rate might double...)

Along with a choice of signature, classic, and mid-century cocktails, 16's guests have the opportunity to sample a variety of fine wines and liquors via The M Resort's popular "Wine ATM." Those who want to try a bit of everything can choose one, three, or five-ounce pours from a rotating selection of 40 options available nightly.

After sampling some vino selections it was onto the food! We began with some Brazilian Bread, my first time trying such. This gluten free cheesy bread was donned with sea salt, making it the perfect palate satisfier till we got to the the meatier dishes. Our inner carnivore was embraced with their Grilled Wagyu Tableside with a hot lava stone mini grill, tongs, grilling salt and pepper and side dishes of peppers and mushrooms. Many of 16's food experiences are interactive activations, thus making them the ultimate shareable plate, perfect for date night or an evening out with friends!

The M Resort Spa Casino is a Forbes Four-Star resort located on more than 90 acres on the southeast corner of St. Rose Parkway and Las Vegas Boulevard. This shelter for Vegas Locals and those not interested in the craziness of the Strip, it is known as an Emerald Oasis! Situated higher in elevation than other resort-casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, The M Resort provides optimal views of the world-famous Las Vegas skyline from its guest rooms, suites, conference center, and restaurants. The resort offers 390 guest rooms and suites, over 92,000 square feet of gaming, seven restaurants, multiple bars, the Forbes Four-Star Spa Mio, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a 100,000 square foot events piazza.

But more of the food and drink because as one of my dining companions stated: "we're getting classy as Frack!" (with a BattleStar Galactica reference subbed in...). For our next round of giggle water, I opted for The Paper Plane, a drink as stiff as a Raymond Chandler novel, composed of Bulletin Bourbon, Aperol, Fresh Lemon Juice, and Amaro Nonino. Matt went Jimmy Buffet tropical shirt fun with the Desert Sunset composed of Cruzan Light rum, fresh sweet and sour, Cartron Grenade Pomegranate Liqueur. It was like a Bob Ross painting in a glass (which is totally a compliment!).

Opting for Chef's Choice, bestowed upon us next was the Tuna Sashimi on a block of ice with a kaleidoscope wheel of Bluefin, Bigeye, and Yellowtail. This was complemented by yet more seafood of the classic mixed Fry Basket variety. Crispy calamari with capers (those little buggers make this dish!), popcorn shrimp, fresh mozzarella, served with spicy sun dried tomato aioli. It made us feel like New England was right around the corner. And of course we had to try our server's favorite dish: the Braised "Smokin" Wagyu Short Rib. Tender, smokey, and donned with edible flowers this dish was Mos Def everyone's favorite at the table!

There was consistently a playful element to 16's food presentation! For dessert the Bananas Foster style dish was reinvented as Banana-Chocolate Twigs aka sweet banana flavored egg rolls (once again, totally a compliment!). And the classic Lava Cake was transformed into an upside chocolate cake that was crowned onto a fishbowl filled with ice cream; once lanced gravity drizzled the chocolate sauce onto the creamy vanilla goodness housed below!

So if you're looking for that perfect late night tale to tell with stunning views and drinks that would be fit to sip after you've discovered the Maltese Falcon, look no further than 16 - A Handcrafted Experience at The M Resort Spa Casino.

Kat Thomas is the Editor in Chief of Edible Skinny, a site dedicated to making your life postcard worthy. She is also the CEO of the creative media company This Way Adventures. You can find more about both brands at http://www.thiswayadventures.com