Drink Review: Sugar Factory at Paris Hotel and Casino

The specialty drink menu

Hubba Bubba martini

Blow Pop martini

A sugary creation in the Chocolate Lounge

There are three Sugar Factory locations in Las Vegas, but this particular review is for the new, larger location at the Paris Hotel and Casino.  Sorry my photos are so blurry - I was apparently unable to hold a camera still and keep the flash off at the same time.   


This location was opened in late 2010 and includes a bar, a restaurant and a club attached to the Sugar Factory store at the front of the Paris casino.  A second, smaller location is at The Mirage, just inside the Strip entrance, on the right-hand side, and it offers sweets and souvenirs to the public from its storefront.  The third location is in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, and is easily accessible from the right-side entrance to the shops, about halfway up on the right.  It is also a smaller, storefront location with limited products and souvenirs.


After breakfast with a group of friends in March, my friend Claire and I were off to visit the new location Strip-side at Paris Hotel and Casino, where Claire gave me the 50-cent tour of the main floor.  She’s a great tour guide, and we took photos as we walked around and checked out the restaurant, the Chocolate Lounge and the shop on the first floor.


The Sugar Factory is the "new and hip" place to be seen.  Advertised by everyone from Kim Kardashian to Britney Spears,  there's no shortage of beautiful people in the place, whether they are visitors or photos of the stars staring back at you while you dine and shop. 


The Chocolate Bar is located at the back of the store, away from the Strip, and it is a darker area with plenty of cushy chairs and smaller seating areas, which would be great for meeting friends.  Their bar top has fondue warmers embedded in the counter top, which is a really neat touch.  They offer a wide selection of fruits, nuts and salty snacks to use with their fondue.  There's something I'd love to try on another trip!


The restaurant area is pretty and airy; two rooms, open to the natural light and containing lots of small 2-top and 4-top tables, are decorated in black and white.  While we were there, construction workers were completing a patio area that overlooks the Strip.  Another great place to sit and people-watch while enjoying a drink, a snack or a meal in Vegas!


We did not visit the upstairs club because it was closed, but Claire told me it's a pretty spot, too.  It can be accessed by an elevator from inside the restaurant or from a staircase located just inside the Paris casino.  Several security guards were on hand throughout the entire store, restaurant, bar and club because of the prices on some of the "bling". 


We had a seat at the bar and ordered two candy-flavored martinis from their specialty drink menu.  I had the Hubba Bubba martini: a bright pink concoction with a huge piece of Hubba Bubba gum for the garnish.  Claire had the Blow Pop martini: green and sticky sweet, with a Blow Pop as its garnish/swizzle stick.  


Pop rocks and small pieces of gum were used on the rims instead of sugar, and the drinks were delicious, too!  I definitely felt my drink was stronger at the bottom of the glass, but it could be that I'm just a lightweight drinker.  At least I had some Hubba Bubba gum to chew on after I was finished!  It made a cute garnish, though.


At $16 apiece, those drinks were definitely pricey, but there were many other options on the menu, including larger drinks for sharing...or pretending you're sharing.  Claire really wanted me to try one of the specialty drinks, though, and I'm glad I did.  I probably would not have set foot in the place if it hadn't been for her suggestion, because I was dead-set against Paris taking out the beautiful fountain that stood in that location previously.  But it's such a cute place I'd love to go back to have a light lunch someday, and there are a couple of other drinks on the specialty drink menu I'd like to try, like the Root Beer Float (which looks BETTER than a regular root beer float).


A visit to the shop after our drinks were finished gave Claire the opportunity to replace a gift for one of her boys, while I just marveled at the sparkles on most of the merchandise.  I will not, however, be buying a $25 lollipop holder, no matter how cute and glittery it is.  Unless, of course, my daughter decides she has to have one...   


Thank you again, Claire, for taking me to the Sugar Factory, and buying me a martini to boot!


To check out the store and view the menu or see their merchandise, visit them at http://www.sugarfactory.com/