It’s the end of an era. Chef Julian Serrano is closing the last of his restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip. The legendary chef, who recently announced his retirement, revealed that his Julian Serrano Tapas restaurant at ARIA will permanently close February 1.
The news comes six months after Serrano closed Picasso and stepped away from his waterfront Lago restaurant, both at Bellagio. Picasso had been open for 25 years prior to closing. Lago, which still bears his name, remains open as a tribute to the 74-year-old chef.
As sad as the news is that the tapas favorite (which opened with the resort in 2009) is closing, there is still time to make it over to ARIA for a final meal. Julian Serrano Tapas closes February 1 giving guests about a month to head over and try one of his signature paellas, a tuna cone or the white fish tiradito—all paired, of course, with a pitcher of sangria.
A native of Madrid, Serrano was instrumental in elevating the dining scene in Las Vegas. He’s a two-time James Beard Award-winner (Best Chef Pacific 1998 and Best Chef Southwest 2002) and his two-star Michelin restaurant Picasso was one of the top dining experiences in Las Vegas for over two decades.