Las Vegas offers more than shows and gambling. Resorts across the city offer hands-on classes where guests do the work themselves, guided by the chefs and mixologists who usually serve them. Others mix cocktails in a speakeasy, and you can even do yoga next to sharks in an aquarium, if food isn’t your thing.
Immersive classes aren’t new, but in Las Vegas they offer another form of entertainment. Participants can take a break from the busy casino floors and the desert heat and get their hands messy.
“When you enjoy a dish in a restaurant, you experience the finished product,” said chef Mark Wermiel, director of culinary operations at Paris Las Vegas. “In a class, you discover what goes into it and the techniques, the ingredients and the small details that make a difference. Being alongside the chef means you can ask questions and get feedback as you go. It gives guests a personal connection to the food and the people preparing it.”
Culinary classes at Paris and Wynn
At Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Las Vegas, participants assemble and garnish their own beef Wellington under the guidance of the restaurant’s executive chef. Elsewhere in the resort, you can take a class on making Big Martha’s Pierogies at The Bedford by Martha Stewart, held in a restaurant designed to look like Martha Stewart’s home.
Guests receive a complimentary embroidered apron and all the ingredients, and the chef walks them through the recipe, with pre-made dough to save time. The class limits enrollment to eight participants. That allows personalized instruction and plenty of time to learn. After the pierogies finish cooking, guests taste what they made while sipping Champagne.
Nobu at Paris Las Vegas adds a one-hour Sushi Master Class at the sushi bar, where expert chefs guide guests through crafting nigiri and a signature roll. Afterward, guests enjoy the handmade sushi in the dining room, and each guest takes home a Nobu apron.
Wermiel said the aim is for guests to “leave with the confidence to make something they might never have attempted before.” If guests can go home, recreate a dish and share it with family or friends, “that’s a great outcome,” he said. His favorite moment is watching someone realize, “I can actually do this.”
“Whether they’re making their first pierogi or taking on beef Wellington, you can see their confidence grow,” Wermiel said. “As chefs, we spend so much time focused on what we serve. These classes let us share how we get there, and that’s incredibly rewarding,” he added.
Wynn’s Connoisseur series adds two more sessions in October. Naples-born chef Enzo Febbraro leads an interactive pizza-making experience at Allegro on Friday, Oct. 23, and a casual pizza lunch follows. Six days later, on Thursday, Oct. 29, executive chef Michael Rubinstein hosts an afternoon of culinary inspiration at Sartiano’s Italian Steakhouse inside Wynn.
Sushi and pastry classes at Fontainebleau
At Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Komodo’s executive chefs lead The Art of Sushi on Nov. 17. The class teaches essential sushi-making techniques, and guests make a few rolls of their own.
Fontainebleau’s Pastry Shop hosts Holiday Sweets on Dec. 12. Seasonal sweets come paired with coffee and cocktails as the Pastry Team guides a demonstration of holiday treats. The class concludes with a take-home gift. Joseph Leibowitz, senior vice president of culinary operations at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, said the hope is that guests leave with “real skills and a deeper appreciation for the craft behind what they love.”
“Whether it’s dim sum, pasta, or latte art, they’ll learn from the industry’s best here at Fontainebleau Las Vegas and be able to recreate it at home,” Leibowitz said. He further added: “There is a distinct value in learning from the people and experts who create these experiences. Our chefs love sharing their craft. For them, the most rewarding moment is when a guest masters a technique they came in not knowing, and that’s what makes this series so meaningful.”
Cocktail and wine classes and tastings
Horseshoe Las Vegas runs cocktail classes at The Cabinet of Curiosities and The Lock Speakeasy. An expert mixologist crafts two cocktails and unveils the art behind them. Guests learn about the history, techniques and flavors, then experiment with different spirits, mixers and garnishes at the interactive workstation to create their own signature cocktail.
A mixologist guides guests through each step. Classes are held most Thursdays through Sunday evenings, and themes include The Art of the Agave, Prohibition Cocktails and Escape to Paradise with tiki cocktails.
At Delilah at Wynn, lead sommelier Cristie Norman teaches blind tasting on Thursday, Nov. 12, as part of the Connoisseur series. Norman is a James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist, and the class focuses on the elements that differentiate wines and on assessing quality and varietal typicity.
Wally’s Wine & Spirits at Resorts World hosts a wine tasting every Saturday at 2 p.m. for $35 per person, featuring wines and spirits from around the globe, with bites paired to the pours. You can book private charcuterie classes at Wally’s for gatherings, celebrations or leisurely escapes, with wines paired to the board and expert instruction. Sunset Sips returns this season at Allē Lounge on 66, pairing sommelier-led wine tastings with chef-crafted bites.
From Nov. 19 to 21, Allē Lounge on 66 hosts a multi-day takeover by Double Chicken Please. Regularly ranked among the World’s 50 Best Bars, the New York bar is acclaimed for its inventive, narrative-driven cocktail program.
Italian classes at Eataly
Eataly at Park MGM is another popular spot for hands-on learning, and regularly offers classes. On Dec. 4, Hands On: Tiramisù covers the dessert’s traditions and culture, and guests watch Eataly’s Scuola Chef teach the group how to make it, then enjoy Venchi chocolates, a wine pairing and their own finished tiramisu.
A Year Uncorked: 12 Months, 12 Wines follows on Jan. 8, 2027, as a resident beverage expert walks guests through Italian wines, producers and regions. The class includes a tasting, traditional Italian aperitivo small bites and take-home tasting notes.
2 classes involve no food
At UnCommons, Sip and Script teaches modern calligraphy on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in The Quad, an outdoor setting. Each participant receives a beginner’s kit with two nibs, a black ink pot, two letter guides, tracing paper and a straight pen holder.
At Mandalay Bay, Shark Reef Aquarium debuts a morning wellness series of 60-minute guided yoga and breathwork sessions among more than 2,000 marine animals, including sharks and giant rays. The sessions run Nov. 14 and Dec. 12 at 9:30 a.m. and are open to all skill levels, with same-day aquarium admission included and advance registration required.
First-timers are welcome
Fontainebleau’s Leibowitz said guests “have nothing to be nervous about.” He said the team “guides each person every step of the way and really can provide that meaningful connection with our guests.” Wermiel offered the same reassurance: “Come ready to have fun. You’ll be surprised by what you can accomplish with a little guidance.”
Jennifer Allen is a retired chef turned traveler, cookbook author and nationally syndicated journalist; she’s also a co-founder of Food Drink Life, where she shares expert travel tips, cruise insights and luxury destination guides. A recognized cruise expert with a deep passion for high-end experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations, Jennifer explores the world with curiosity, depth and a storyteller’s perspective. Her articles are regularly featured on the Associated Press Wire, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN and more.