The Nautical Fantasy-Themed Las Vegas Restaurant That Serves 16 Courses Of Rum

The Las Vegas strip is a truly fantastical place, with all of its dazzling casinos, luxurious hotels, and eclectic visitors. Even so, off of the strip itself, fantastic attractions can readily be found all around Sin City. This includes the surreal Area 15, which is conveniently located just minutes from the strip itself.

Area 15 is, of course, an homage to Nevada's Area 51. In case you've somehow not heard of Area 51, it is — as Travel Nevada explains — simply part of a military base, where top secret aircraft tests have often been mistaken for alien spacecraft visitations (or so the government claims). Since it's still an active base, you sadly cannot visit it, but you can visit similarly themed tourist destinations like Area 15!

As far as we're aware, there are no aliens or UFOs in Area 15, but there is still plenty to do there. Attractions include souvenir shops, musical performances, and art shows, as well as arcade games, immersive cinema, and virtual reality. Best of all, though, there are plenty of restaurants and bars to visit there, including one fantastically nautical Vegas restaurant serving multiple courses of rum!

Those looking for something only a bit more down-to-earth than extraterrestrials will be pleased with Lost Spirits. Most of the establishment is really a labyrinthian circus, where acrobatic performers put on shows for wandering guests. Yet, it's also a distillery, one which truly produces 19th-century-style English rum, thus turning this attraction into a cocktail party. One can wander the maze with a drink in hand, try out the distillery tasting menu (with cherry, navy style, and pineapple rum), and even day-drink with magicians!

True foodies will likely be drawn, however, to the fine dining establishment in this theatrical distillery. Those same foodies will also need to be ready to spend some serious money, though, since dinner reservations cost nearly $300 per person. Even so, if you're heading to Vegas prepared to spend big, this multi-course meal may be worth it. The 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea dining room is creatively inspired by the identically named work of art.

What exactly is "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea?" Aside from being one of the best Disney park attractions of all time, it's also a popular science-fantasy novel from 19th-century France (via Encyclopedia Britannica). Its narrative focuses on the underwater adventures of Captain Nemo and those taken prisoner on his submarine, the Nautilus. The book's setting is mesmerizing, its technological ideas are fascinating, and its characters are compelling. So, what does a menu based on such a tale look like?

No need to read the book (or menu), we'll give you a summary. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea features a 16-course tasting menu with different parts being inspired by different chapters of its namesake novel. Each night, a dozen diners are treated by the chef to a culinary experience infused with rum. Many courses have rum cocktails paired with them, and those that don't instead have rum gelled into the food itself. This is definitely not a sober meal.

The specific dishes and beverages served may vary, but one sample menu details what they tend to look like. Part One, "An Underwater Forest," features courses like a macaroon cocktail, gold caviar with quail eggs, a tuna tart, and a liver dish. Part Two, "The Devilfish," has courses like octopus, sea urchin, escargot, scallop, shrimp head, and whale (if legally attainable). Part Three, "Some Days Ashore," has fried jungle bird, quail, pig head, and Mai Tai fruit. Finally, Part Four, "The Coral Realm," ends things with a French liqueur, crème brûlée, and a bite-sized dessert known as a mingnardise.

Sabina Graves, on behalf of Gizmodo, had the chance to document such a meal. Graves raved about the experience, noting that the dining room resembles a submarine and that "whale" is actually A5 Kobe wagyu, since whale is never legally attainable. It's too bad that what's served in Vegas stays in Vegas, because this rummy, underwater restaurant sounds out of this world.