Rio Hotel & Casino Announces New Restaurant Concept from Acclaimed Chef James Trees: High Steaks Vegas
Partnership with Las Vegas’ most awarded local chef to replace legendary penthouse restaurant VooDoo Steak
LAS VEGAS (June 4, 2025) — Rio Las Vegas is preparing to reimagine its iconic rooftop dining experience with the transformation of VooDoo Steak, to be replaced by a new steakhouse concept from award-winning Las Vegas Chef/Restaurateur James Trees.
Since 1997, VooDoo Steak has occupied the 50th floor of the Masquerade Tower offering incomparable 180-degree indoor and outdoor views of the Las Vegas Strip and valley beyond. The new concept, named High Steaks Vegas, will emphasize these views along with a captivating approach to the steakhouse, emphasizing unique beef ranch partnerships, game meats, market-driven fish and vegetables, and crisp classic cocktails.
VooDoo Steak will serve its final guests on July 5, 2025, before closing for a full renovation.
With five acclaimed restaurants across the Las Vegas Valley, Chef James Trees is widely regarded as the city’s most celebrated native chef. A James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef Southwest and recipient of the Key to the City of Las Vegas, Trees is best known for Esther’s Kitchen – his flagship Italian restaurant in the Arts District that’s earned both local devotion and international praise. His portfolio also includes Al Solito Posto and Ada’s Food & Wine in Tivoli Village, as well as Bar Boheme and Petite Boheme. Trees brings decades of experience, having worked under culinary legends including Eric Ripert, Gordon Ramsay, Michael Mina and more.
“We are thrilled to have this incredible opportunity,” said Trees. “High Steaks Vegas will revive the classic steakhouse experience while modernizing it for the 21st century. Our goal is to create a destination restaurant that both locals and visitors can genuinely enjoy. We aim to bring back the Vegas that everyone was promised.”
“Partnering with Chef James Trees to reimagine our iconic rooftop restaurant is a thrilling next chapter for Rio Las Vegas,” said Patrick Miller, President & CEO of Rio Las Vegas. “High Steaks Vegas will not only honor the legacy of VooDoo Steak but elevate it with bold culinary vision and unmatched Strip views. This evolution is part of our broader commitment to bringing fresh, world-class experiences to our guests.”
High Steaks Vegas is set to open in Fall 2025, marking another significant milestone in Rio’s ongoing transformation.
About Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas
Rio Hotel & Casino, part of the Destination by Hyatt brand, is located just one block off the Las Vegas Strip on Flamingo Road. It boasts more than 2,500 suite-sized guestrooms, including 1,500 newly remodeled suites in the Ipanema Tower. The property features 220,000 square feet of convention and meeting space, a new 3-acre pool paradise and a revitalized casino floor with 40 table games and 800 slot machines. Recent additions include Canteen Food Hall, Lapa Lounge and Luckley Tavern & Grill. For more information, visit riolasvegas.com and follow Rio on Facebook, Instagram and X.
About Chef James Trees
A native of Las Vegas, Chef James Trees has cooked around the world under greats including Eric Ripert, Heston Blumenthal, Michael Mina and Gordon Ramsay before returning to bring acclaim to his hometown local scene with his first restaurant, Esther’s Kitchen. Chef Trees’ restaurants have been featured in media including The New York Times, TIME, Washington Post, Travel & Leisure, Robb Report, National Geographic, CNN, The Times of London, Thrillist, and Eater. Esther’s has also received a growing number of local accolades including Best Italian nods from multiple local media outlets and #15 on Trip Advisors Best Hidden Gems in the US. Among Trees’ many personal accolades, he has been a James Beard Finalist and received the Key to the City of Las Vegas.
Media Contacts:
Alden Tseng | Sandra Esparza
Rio Las Vegas | Kirvin Doak Communications
RioLasVegasPR@KirvinDoak.com
Eric Gladstone
Chef James Trees | The Feast of Friends
Eric@thefeastoffriends.com