Spago
Spago is Wolfgang Puck's flagship restaurant brand, associated with contemporary California cuisine and an international fine-dining presence.
Last updated November 1, 2026
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Overview
Spago is the flagship restaurant brand created by chef Wolfgang Puck and his partners. Its first restaurant opened in 1982 on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California, marking Puck's first restaurant venture. The brand became associated with a modern interpretation of California cuisine, combining seasonal ingredients, polished fine-dining service, and Italian influences reflected in its name and menu tradition. The word “spago” is Italian for “string” or “twine,” while its relationship to the beginning of “spaghetti” evokes the restaurant's pasta offering. The original West Hollywood restaurant helped establish Puck as a prominent figure in American dining. Mark Peel served as chef de cuisine at the opening location. Spago subsequently developed as a destination restaurant concept rather than a mass-market chain, with locations selected for high-profile hospitality, entertainment, and resort settings. A second restaurant opened at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip in 1992. That operation later moved to Bellagio Las Vegas in spring 2018, extending the brand's presence within Las Vegas's luxury resort environment. A Beverly Hills location opened on Canon Drive in 1997 and became the continuing flagship associated with the brand. The original Hollywood restaurant remained open until 2001, when Puck and his partners allowed its lease to expire after determining that renovating the 1920s-era building would be too costly. Spago also operated in Palo Alto, California, from 1998 until its closure in 2007, and at the Four Seasons Resort Maui beginning in 2001. A restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch in Avon, Colorado, opened in 2007 and closed in 2016. Spago has also pursued international expansion selectively. Its first location outside the United States opened in Mexico City in the mid-1990s and closed several years later. Later international sites included a restaurant at The St. Regis Istanbul, which opened in 2015, and a Singapore location within the rooftop complex of Marina Bay Sands. These locations extended the brand's association with luxury hotels and destination hospitality while retaining the Spago name and fine-dining positioning. The brand's public profile has been reinforced by critical and industry recognition. Spago received two Michelin stars in both 2008 and 2009, and it has received the Wine Spectator Grand Award since 2010. In 2013, Zagat named Spago the most iconic restaurant in Los Angeles. Spago remains positioned as a premium, chef-led restaurant brand centered on California cuisine, seasonal cooking, pasta, luxury hospitality, and the Wolfgang Puck culinary identity.
History
Spago began in 1982 when Wolfgang Puck opened his first restaurant venture on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. The opening established the brand as a chef-driven destination and introduced the name that would become closely linked with Puck's culinary identity. “Spago” is an Italian word meaning “string” or “twine,” and the name also suggests pasta through its resemblance to the beginning of “spaghetti.” Mark Peel served as chef de cuisine at the original restaurant. The restaurant's identity developed around contemporary California cuisine, with Italian references and a focus on polished, seasonal fine dining. Rather than expanding as a standardized casual restaurant chain, Spago grew through carefully selected locations connected with luxury retail, resorts, hotels, and major destination markets. Its second location opened in 1992 at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. In 1997, Puck opened a third location on Canon Drive in Beverly Hills, which became the principal continuing flagship of the brand. The original Hollywood site operated until 2001. Puck and his partners concluded that renovating the 1920s-era house would be too expensive, and they allowed the lease to expire. The brand nevertheless continued to broaden its footprint. A Palo Alto restaurant opened in 1998 and closed in 2007. In 2001, Spago opened at the Four Seasons Resort Maui in Hawaii, adding a resort setting to its portfolio. In 2007, another location opened at the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch in Avon, Colorado; that restaurant closed in 2016. Spago's international development has been selective and tied to prominent hospitality properties. Its first non-U.S. restaurant opened in Mexico City in the mid-1990s but closed after several years. The brand later established a location at The St. Regis Istanbul in 2015 and another in Singapore within the rooftop complex of Marina Bay Sands. These international sites extended the restaurant's profile beyond the United States while preserving its association with luxury hotels, destination dining, and Wolfgang Puck's culinary leadership. The Las Vegas operation also changed locations over time. After beginning at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, it relocated to Bellagio Las Vegas in spring 2018. The move placed the restaurant within another major luxury-resort setting and represented a significant location decision in the brand's later history. Spago has received substantial critical and industry recognition. It was awarded two Michelin stars in 2008 and 2009. Since 2010, it has received the Wine Spectator Grand Award, reflecting the importance of wine service to its fine-dining proposition. In 2013, Zagat named it the most iconic restaurant in Los Angeles. Through its Beverly Hills flagship and selected international and resort locations, Spago continues to represent Wolfgang Puck's premium California-oriented restaurant concept.
- 2018
Las Vegas location relocates to Bellagio
[1]The Las Vegas restaurant moved from The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace to Bellagio Las Vegas.
- 2015
Istanbul location opens
[1]Spago opened at The St. Regis Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey.
- 2010
Wine Spectator Grand Award period begins
[1]Spago began its recorded run of Wine Spectator Grand Award recognition.
- 2008
Michelin recognition
[1]Spago received two Michelin stars.
- 2007
Colorado resort location opens
[1]Spago opened at the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch in Avon, Colorado.
- 2001
Original Hollywood location closes
[1]The original restaurant closed after the lease expired and renovation costs for the 1920s-era building were judged too high.
- 1997
Beverly Hills flagship opens
[1]A Spago location opened on Canon Drive in Beverly Hills.
- 1992
Second location opens in Las Vegas
[1]Spago opened at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip.
- 1982
First Spago opens in West Hollywood
[1]Wolfgang Puck opened the first Spago on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. Mark Peel served as chef de cuisine.
Products and positioning
A premium, chef-led fine-dining restaurant brand built around contemporary California cuisine, seasonal ingredients, Italian culinary references, and luxury destination hospitality.
Fine-dining restaurant · 1997
Spago Beverly Hills
The Canon Drive restaurant opened in 1997 and is the principal continuing flagship associated with Spago. It represents the brand's contemporary California cuisine, chef-led service, seasonal cooking, pasta tradition, and premium wine program.
Resort restaurant · 1992
Spago Bellagio Las Vegas
The Las Vegas branch originated at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace in 1992 and relocated to Bellagio Las Vegas in spring 2018. It extends Spago's fine-dining model into a major luxury-resort environment.
Hotel restaurant · 2015
Spago Istanbul
Opened at The St. Regis Istanbul in 2015, this location represents Spago's later international expansion through a luxury hotel partnership.
Destination restaurant
Spago Singapore
The Singapore location operates within the rooftop complex of Marina Bay Sands and represents the brand's presence in Southeast Asia. It carries Spago's premium restaurant positioning into a prominent international hospitality destination.
Controversies
2021
Former Spago cook files lawsuit alleging discrimination
A former line cook at Spago filed a lawsuit against his former employer. The lawsuit alleges wrongful termination, retaliation, a hostile work environment, and failure to pay overtime. The report describes these as claims made in the lawsuit rather than as established findings. No further details about the parties, the specific allegations, or the outcome of the case are provided in the source.
Brand decisions
2018
Relocation of the Las Vegas restaurantStrategyBackground
The Las Vegas Spago had operated at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace since 1992.
Action taken
The restaurant relocated to Bellagio Las Vegas in spring 2018.
Aftermath
The move maintained Spago's Las Vegas presence within a luxury-resort setting.
2001
Allowing the original Hollywood lease to expireStrategyBackground
The original Spago operated in a 1920s-era house on the Sunset Strip, and Wolfgang Puck and his partners determined that renovating the property would be too costly.
Action taken
The partners allowed the lease to expire rather than undertake the renovation, ending the original location's operation.
Aftermath
Spago continued through its Beverly Hills flagship and other domestic and international locations.
Recent events
- 2018
Spago relocates its Las Vegas restaurant to Bellagio[1]
Other
The Las Vegas Spago operation moved from The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace to Bellagio Las Vegas.
- 2013
Zagat names Spago Los Angeles's most iconic restaurant[1]
Other
Zagat named Spago the most iconic restaurant in Los Angeles.
- 2010
Spago receives Wine Spectator Grand Award[1]
Other
Spago has received the Wine Spectator Grand Award since 2010.
- 2008
Spago receives two Michelin stars[1]
Other
Spago received a two-star Michelin distinction; the reference material also records the same recognition in 2009.
- 1997
Spago opens on Canon Drive in Beverly Hills[1]
Other
A Beverly Hills location opened on Canon Drive and became the continuing flagship associated with the brand.
- 1992
Spago expands to the Las Vegas Strip[1]
Other
A second Spago restaurant opened at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.
- 1982
Spago opens its first restaurant on the Sunset Strip[1]
Other
Wolfgang Puck's first Spago location opened in West Hollywood, California, with Mark Peel serving as chef de cuisine.
Sources2 sources
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