Casa Playa
Casa Playa is a coastal Mexican restaurant at Encore Las Vegas in Las Vegas, led by executive chef Sarah Thompson.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Casa Playa is a coastal Mexican restaurant located at Encore Las Vegas, part of the Wynn resort complex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The restaurant opened in 2021 in the space formerly occupied by Elio and has operated under executive chef Sarah Thompson since its launch. Its identity is built around an elevated interpretation of Mexican cuisine, with a particular emphasis on coastal flavors, fresh ingredients, traditional corn preparation, and a dining room intended to evoke Mexican architectural and cultural references in a contemporary setting. Thompson's approach combines technically refined restaurant cooking with ingredients and methods associated with Mexico's regional cuisines. Before joining Wynn, she worked at the Michelin-starred Marea and served as executive sous chef at Cosme, an upscale Mexican restaurant. She had also been chef de cuisine at Elio before taking responsibility for Casa Playa. Thompson has described her objective as taking the strongest elements of Mexican cuisine and elevating them, a philosophy reflected in the restaurant's menu and presentation. In 2025, she was named a finalist for a James Beard Award, adding national culinary recognition to the restaurant's profile. A central feature of Casa Playa is its in-house masa program. The restaurant uses nine varieties of corn, sourced primarily from small farmers in Oaxaca. It mills and treats approximately 50 to 75 kilograms of corn per day for hand-pressed tortillas and other preparations. This program gives the restaurant a distinctive production process and connects its Las Vegas dining experience to Mexican agricultural traditions and regional corn diversity. The menu has been described as focused on high-quality, very fresh ingredients and directed toward experienced diners seeking a more specialized interpretation of Mexican food. Highlighted dishes include a squash tamal with mole verde and Thai basil, charred octopus served with coloradito mole, and an American Wagyu short rib suadero. These dishes illustrate the restaurant's combination of Mexican techniques, regional sauces, premium ingredients, and contemporary plating. Casa Playa's physical setting is positioned near Encore Beach Club. Its architecture has been characterized as a contemporary interpretation of preclassical Mexican aesthetics, while the atmosphere is designed to be energetic and socially active rather than formal or restrained. The restaurant has received favorable local and media attention. Las Vegas Weekly described it at opening as one of the most refined Mexican restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip, and CBS News praised the cuisine as spectacular. In 2025, Casa Playa was included among the top restaurants in Las Vegas, recognized as one of the city's notable Mexican restaurants, and cited as a distinctive dining option on the Strip. Available reference material does not establish a separate corporate entity, ownership structure, financial performance, or an independent international operating footprint beyond its Las Vegas location.
History
Casa Playa opened in 2021 at Encore Las Vegas, occupying the space previously used by Elio. The restaurant was introduced as a coastal Mexican concept within the resort's dining portfolio and placed near Encore Beach Club. Sarah Thompson became executive chef at opening and has led the kitchen since then. Before joining Wynn, Thompson worked at the Michelin-starred Marea and was executive sous chef at Cosme, while her immediate prior role was chef de cuisine at Elio. Her background positioned Casa Playa as a chef-driven Mexican restaurant rather than a conventional resort dining outlet. The restaurant's culinary program is based on an elevated interpretation of Mexican food. Thompson has explained her approach as taking the best elements of Mexico's cuisine and refining them through contemporary restaurant technique. The menu emphasizes fresh ingredients and combines regional sauces, masa-based preparations, seafood, grilled items, and premium meats. Representative dishes include a squash tamal with mole verde and Thai basil, charred octopus with coloradito mole, and an American Wagyu short rib suadero. One of Casa Playa's defining developments is its in-house masa program. The restaurant works with nine types of corn, most of which are grown by small farmers in Oaxaca. It mills and treats roughly 50 to 75 kilograms of corn each day, using the resulting masa for hand-pressed tortillas and additional dishes. The program provides a visible connection between the restaurant's Las Vegas operation and Mexican agricultural traditions, while also distinguishing its food production from restaurants that rely on commercially prepared tortillas. Casa Playa's design has been described as a contemporary treatment of preclassical Mexican aesthetics. The atmosphere is active and social, consistent with its resort setting and proximity to the beach club. Early critical response was strong: Las Vegas Weekly characterized the restaurant as one of the most refined Mexican restaurants to have opened on the Strip, while CBS News described its cuisine as spectacular. The restaurant continued to receive attention in 2025, when it was listed among the top 100 restaurants in Las Vegas and recognized in categories covering the city's best Mexican restaurants and distinctive dining experiences. Thompson's professional profile also advanced in 2025 when she was named a James Beard finalist. This recognition reinforced Casa Playa's identity as a serious culinary destination within Las Vegas. The available reference material does not provide evidence of additional locations, a standalone ownership company, financial results, major controversies, or expansion beyond the Encore Las Vegas site.
- 2025
Sarah Thompson becomes a James Beard finalist
[1]Executive chef Sarah Thompson is named a James Beard finalist.
- 2025
Recognition among leading Las Vegas restaurants
[1]Casa Playa is included among the top 100 restaurants in Las Vegas and receives recognition as a notable Mexican restaurant and distinctive Strip dining option.
- 2021
Casa Playa opens at Encore Las Vegas
[1]Casa Playa opens in the former Elio space at Encore Las Vegas, with Sarah Thompson as executive chef.
- 2021
In-house masa program established
[1]The restaurant develops a masa program using nine types of corn, primarily sourced from small farmers in Oaxaca, for tortillas and other dishes.
Products and positioning
An upscale, chef-led Mexican restaurant presenting regional and coastal Mexican flavors through refined technique, premium ingredients, and a distinctive in-house masa program.
Restaurant cuisine · 2021
Coastal Mexican menu
Casa Playa's core offering is an elevated coastal Mexican menu built around fresh ingredients, regional Mexican sauces, masa-based preparations, seafood, grilled dishes, and premium meats. The menu reflects Sarah Thompson's stated aim of refining and elevating Mexican culinary traditions while retaining recognizable regional references.
Masa-based food preparation · 2021
In-house masa and tortilla program
The restaurant mills and treats approximately 50 to 75 kilograms of corn per day. It uses nine corn varieties, sourced mostly from small farmers in Oaxaca, to make hand-pressed tortillas and other masa-based dishes. The program is a signature operational and culinary feature of Casa Playa.
Prepared dishes · 2021
Signature dishes
Highlighted dishes include a slightly sweet squash tamal with mole verde and Thai basil, charred octopus a la plancha with coloradito mole, and an American Wagyu short rib suadero. These offerings represent the restaurant's combination of Mexican techniques, regional flavors, and contemporary upscale ingredients.
Recent events
- 2025
Sarah Thompson named a James Beard finalist[1]
Other
Casa Playa executive chef Sarah Thompson was named a finalist for a James Beard Award, increasing recognition of the restaurant's culinary program.
- 2025
Casa Playa receives 2025 Las Vegas dining recognition[1]
Other
Casa Playa was included among the top 100 restaurants in Las Vegas and recognized in listings of notable Mexican restaurants and distinctive dining experiences on the Strip.
- 2021
Casa Playa opens at Encore Las Vegas[1]
Product launch
Casa Playa opened in the former Elio space at Encore Las Vegas, with Sarah Thompson serving as executive chef from opening.
Sources1 sources
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