LAS VEGAS -  Eataly Las Vegas will open December 27 at 5 p.m. in the city's newest resort, Park MGM. The 40,000-square-foot culinary destination, located directly on the famed Las Vegas Strip, will serve as Park MGM's main entrance and feature a vibrant space full of unique food counters, bars, cafés and dining experiences offering traditional, authentic Italian food, all helmed by Executive Chef Nicole Brisson.

While all Eataly locations implement the "Eat. Shop. Learn." philosophy, which encourages guests to: Eat sustainably sourced fare with quality ingredients; Shop the best Italian and local products available; and feel empowered to Learn about Italian culture and cuisines; each store maintains a unique identity.

Eataly Las Vegas will introduce several new experiences, most notably Cucina del Mercato, or "Kitchen of the Market," an open, counter-to-table space that will shatter the barrier between restaurants and the store – a first for an Eataly in the United States. The venue will consist of six different fresh counters where guests can eat what they shop, and shop what they eat. Experiences will include:

• La Macelleria: Butcher & Kitchen: La Macelleria will allow guests to choose any cut of sustainably sourced meat from the case and watch the chefs prepare it right before their eyes, or they may bring the protein home to cook. Guests will have the option to order from the chef's selection of small plates and grilled specialties, or house-made sausages and traditional dry-aged beef. A small selection of Italian wines and beers will be available to pair with each cut.
• La Salumeria: Cheesemonger & Kitchen: It wouldn't be an Eataly without salumi and formaggi, which is sourced from Italy and the United States. Guests can enjoy a selection of meat and cheese boards curated by Eataly's cheesemongers, or create their own from a variety of options.
• La Pizzeria: Roman Handcrafted Pizza alla Pala: Here, guests can pick up pizza alla pala, a favorite street food from Rome. This type of pizza is made with a dense, long-rising dough, stretched on a wooden paddle and then topped with seasonal ingredients.
• La Pescheria: Fishmonger & Kitchen: La Pescheria will feature a seasonal selection of fish from fishermen and distributors who adhere to sustainable fishing methods. In addition to the fishmonger's selection of small plates and seafood pasta, the venue will provide guests the option to select daily catches and watch chefs cook the specialty item just steps away in an open kitchen, or allow them to bring the delicacy home to prepare. La Pescheria also will carry a daily selection of seasonal oysters, as well as pesce crudo - Italian ceviche – served with extra virgin olive oil and sea salt.
• Italian Street Food: Il Fritto, La Rosticceria, and Mozzarella Bar: Serving up typical street food specialties from Italy, the Italian Street Food counter will be divided into three distinct areas: Il Fritto, offering lightly fried bites like arancini and fried seafood; La Rosticceria, serving rotisserie roast chickens, seasonal vegetables, and panini; and Mozzarella Bar, offering house-made mozzarella favorites.
• La Pasta Fresca: Market & Kitchen: At this fresh pasta counter, guests can watch the pastai (pasta makers) knead, roll, cut, and form intricate shapes by hand. Each pasta type is inspired by the traditions of a different Italian region, and will be paired with traditional sauces made from fresh, seasonal ingredients. Seasonally, guests can order fresh black and white truffles by the gram.

Eataly Las Vegas also will feature a robust bar program, with three new venues that showcase iconic Italian cocktails and spirits, as well as one of the largest selections of Italian wines in the U.S.:

• Gran Caffè Milano â€“ Gran Caffè Milano will be an upscale, full-service Italian bar inspired by the elegant cafes of Milano. This high-end, yet approachable bar will offer breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between. Gran Caffè Milano is an ode to the Italian appreciation of fine art, with its beautiful, yet functional Italian design, including a replica of the famous bull mosaic in Milano. Casino-goers take note: this iconic symbol brings good luck to those who place one foot on the mosaic and spin three times.
• L'Aperitivo â€“ Located at the main entrance of the store, L'Aperitivo is the recommended first stop at Eataly Las Vegas. The bar will offer a quintessential Italian cocktail experience, featuring a selection of Italy's most iconic concoctions. From the ever-popular Venetian Aperol Spritz to the classic Negroni and all its variations, each cocktail will be carefully crafted with Italy's finest spirits and ingredients.
• L'Enoteca â€“ L'Enoteca is Eataly's premier bar and will feature a wide selection of regional Italian wines by the glass or bottle, craft cocktails, and Amari (Italian bitters). Inspired by Italy's many enoteche (wine bar), this bar will showcase a library of more than 80 Italian regional wines by the bottle, all located between Park MGM's casino entrance and the Cucina del Mercato concept.

Guests also can enjoy two tried and true classic restaurants from Eataly in Las Vegas: Manzo, which will open Jan. 23, and La Pizza e La Pasta; or select take-away options from Pizza Alla Pala By the Slice and La Pasticceria (pastry shop), enjoy a coffee from Caffé Lavazza, or try sweet temptations from Il Gelato, I Cannoli, Nutella for Eataly, or Il Cioccolato Venchi. Eataly Las Vegas also will offer a marketplace and gift shop, where locals and visitors can take home pastas, grains, sauces and more imported from Italy, and giftable items such as Eataly-branded apparel, housewares, and keepsakes.

Education, another key pillar in Eataly's philosophy across all locations, will remain a crucial element of the Las Vegas store. Guests will be able to watch experts in various departments make fresh pasta, bread, gelato, mozzarella and more. The location also will feature an interactive experience with Chef's Table, which welcomes guests of all ages and encourages people to explore their senses and the world of high-quality food through live culinary demonstrations. Guests seated at the table will learn a variety of authentic cooking traditions ranging from how to shape gnocchi to understanding the difference between Toscana and Sicilia extra virgin olive oil.

Guests may deepen their knowledge of Italian wine at Eataly Las Vegas's wine shop and tasting table. The wine department will carry more than 400 Italian wine labels, hailing from all 20 regions in Italy, and will host complimentary tastings daily. Inside the wine shop, guests can stop at a sampling table called La Bottega del Vino, where they can enjoy wine-by-the-glass selections poured through an enomatic wine preservation system.

"We created Eataly Las Vegas with possibility in mind because anything can happen in Las Vegas," said Nicola Farinetti, CEO of Eataly USA. "With this store, we have evolved our ideas for how to deliver authentic Italian cuisine, and we are excited to join the destination with so many new venues and concepts."

Eataly Las Vegas will join Park MGM and Nomad Las Vegas' spectacular culinary program, which includes: Roy Choi's Best Friend, Hogsalt Hospitality's Bavette's Steakhouse and NoMad Restaurant by renowned Chef Daniel Humm and restaurateur Will Guidara, among others. For more information, visit Eataly or Park MGM online.