The Palms, Las Vegas

Handcrafted, diamond-shaped chandeliers descend from the high ceilings of NOVE Italiano, casting their warm glow on an elegant but colorful dining room on the 51st floor of the Palms Casino Resort, with 270-degree views of the Strip and the city. Senses other than vision are piqued when tables fill with contemporary Italian dishes, such as salmon with a truffle pan sauce. The food alone has earned the attention of Zagat, where NOVE is ranked the best Italian restaurant in Las Vegas.

Smooth jazz or classic crooning fills the air in the early evening before transitioning into livelier tunes, such as upbeat soul and South American house music. Pours of red or white wine—NOVE Italiano's selection is comprised mostly of Italian and Californian vintages—balance the menu's dulcet Mediterranean flair better than Frank Sinatra singing back-up