Up to Date: an After-Dark Guide to The Strip, Las Vegas

Who can afford to whisk a date away to Paris for a weekend? Not many. But dinner in Las Vegas’ take on the City of Light’s iconic tower comes close enough. While half the size of the original, the replica still affords great views along the Strip and overlooks the dancing Fountains of Bellagio. Naturally, the menu is inspired by traditional French cooking, albeit with a contemporary Vegas update. Oenophiles can also enjoy a dizzyingly extensive wine list of over 1,400 labels, all from France and the US.

Unless your date is scared of heights, ascending the tower at the Strat is a surefire winner. It’s also best not done straight after dinner, as the journey involves some of the world’s fastest elevators. At 1,149ft (350m), it’s the tallest freestanding observation tower in the US, so the 360-degree panoramas over Vegas’ sea of lights and beyond is truly spectacular. Book a table for cocktails at the slowly rotating 107 SkyLounge, best scheduled at sunset for added magic.

What’s more romantic than flowers? How about tens of thousands of them, immaculately arranged in extravagant themed displays inside a soaring 50ft (15m) glass-roof atrium. It takes an army of 120 gardeners and engineers to pull off the most impressive indoor gardens in Vegas, which also change at least every season. It only closes when they’re changing the display, making it a lovely spot for an after-dinner stroll that won’t cost a bean.

Psychologists say that people are more likely to fall in love if they share a perilous experience – so take note that High Roller is the biggest ferris wheel in the world. It takes around half an hour for a full rotation, reaching 550ft (168m) at its highest point, and is open until midnight, so you’ll have plenty of time to take a ride while Vegas is in full sparkle. To zhuzh things up, add a wine-and-chocolate tasting experience while you ride.

Let’s face it, you’re spoiled for dining options with views in Vegas, but few reach the lofty heights of Rivea. Located on the 20th floor of the shimmering gold Delano hotel, this is date-friendly dining at its finest. The menu combines the cuisine of two of the most romantic destinations – France and Italy – with multi-Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse at the helm. Be sure to ask for a window-side or terrace table to make the most of the stunning vistas.

While the Strip is hardly known for restraint, the Vanderpump Cocktail Garden takes sumptuous decor and Vegas pizzazz to the next level. A menu of cheekily named cocktails sits at the heart of this this flora-filled bar, with low lighting and plush seating helping to set the mood. It’s also part of the Caesar’s Palace complex, so you’re just steps from its legendary casino.

Why travel all the way to Italy for a romantic gondola ride, when you can just book a stay at the Venetian? Glide under replica bridges hand-in-hand, passing Venice street scenes and landmarks in an uncanny rendition of the Italian city. Stay in one of around 4,000 suites, and you’ll be treated to plush Renaissance-style decor and marble bathrooms with Romanesque tubs, perfect for soaking with your amore.

One of Las Vegas’ newer kids on the block, the Cromwell has a buzzier and hipper vibe than the landmark hotels which dominate the Strip. The sumptuous and youthful design mixes the burlesque with the tropical; its sensual, plum-accented rooms sure to appeal to loved-up couples. Soft-topped beds and pillow menus ensure there’s comfort where it counts, and when you’re ready to party you needn’t go far – the hotel has its own daytime beach club and glitzy late-night disco.