Chef Gabriela Cámara introduces a cantina-inspired menu with new dishes and beloved classics.

 

Heading to Las Vegas soon? There's a brand-new restaurant you need to try. Though you may want to snag a reservation ASAP, as odds are, you're not the only one interested in a table here.

 

On March 28, Cantina Contramar will officially welcome its first guests inside the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, bringing together the talents of three of Mexico's most influential creative voices: chef Gabriela Cámara, founder of Mexico City's iconic Contramar; architect Frida Escobedo, who recently designed a new wing at The Met; and Bertha González Nieves, co-founder and CEO of Casa Dragones and the first-ever Maestra Tequilera.

 

"I find Vegas exciting and inspiring because of its high-level hospitality, especially because of the way people in the service industry are actually able to make a good living," Cámara told Travel + Leisure about why she chose now as the perfect moment to open her first restaurant in Sin City. "I love the idea of having an extraordinary team that is passionate about service, food, and hospitality. As for Fontainebleau specifically, they were very receptive to our ideas and our needs from day one. For example, I wanted Frida Escobedo to design the space, and they agreed to it, of course. We're all excited to have Frida be the architect of this project."

 

You may have also noticed that the team behind Cantina Contramar is entirely women, which wasn't incidental to Cámara. "I've always loved a team of women," she said, "and more so if they are women whom I admire and love as much as Frida and Bertha. They represent their fields at their best."

 

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New dishes crafted exclusively for Las Vegas include an Aguachile Negro de Res, a Wagyu twist on the traditional seafood preparation with salsa negra; and Sopes Playeros, fried masa rounds topped with refried black beans and queso fresco. There are also a few splurge-worthy dishes like the Sope Elegante, which comes topped with crème fraîche and Imperial Caviar.

 

And, naturally, you'll need to pair it with something, which is where Nieves comes in. Nieves and Cámara collaborated to build a drinks program anchored by dozens of tequila selections and 15 mezcals, plus a wine list spanning the U.S., Europe, Mexico, and South America. Casa Dragones cocktails, pairings, and a flight of the brand's signature expressions are all on offer, though Cámara's personal pick for first-timers is the Casa Dragones Margarita.

 

"It has always been an honor to serve Casa Dragones tequilas in all of my restaurants since the company started," Cámara said. "I'm really proud to have them on board, and to allow our diners to experience a very contemporary, very refined aspect of Mexican culture."

 

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