USA | Newly opened, Cantina Contramar has introduced a vibrant example of Mexican dining to the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip.
Cantina Contramar, the new restaurant from acclaimed Mexican Chef Gabriela Cámara, is now open on the Las Vegas Strip at MICHELIN One-Key recipient Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Building on Chef Cámara's 27-year legacy of vibrant Mexican dining, Cantina Contramar celebrates her signature seafood preparations, where simplicity is key, alongside new creations that offer a contemporary twist on Mexican cantina classics.
"I've always believed Mexican hospitality is about generosity and gathering around a delicious meal," said Chef Cámara.
"With Cantina Contramar at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, we are bringing fresh Mexican ingredients to the kitchen and that same sensibility to the table."
Cantina Contramar's design, conceived by world-renowned architect and AD100 honoree Frida Escobedo, draws on the cantina's role as one of Mexico's most welcoming spaces–defined by generosity, openness, and a shared sense of time. Conceived as both an invitation and a subtle counterpoint to the spectacle of Fontainebleau Las Vegas, the design unfolds as a carefully choreographed sequence: guests enter through a corridor lined with volcanic stone tiles that offers a moment of pause before opening into a bright, open dining room with high ceilings. The single-level setting reinforces the cantina's egalitarian spirit: inviting guests to share the same space, to see and be seen.
"Las Vegas is a city built on spectacle, and we wanted Cantina Contramar to feel like a quiet counterpoint to that," said Frida Escobedo.
"It's a place where you arrive, slow down, and are genuinely received. That spirit of generosity and welcome is at the heart of Mexican culture, and it was our north star throughout. Together with Chef Gabriela Cámara, we created a space that honours that tradition while feeling completely alive in its new home."
Within, Escobedo foregrounds the dual pillars she identifies as central to Mexican culture: material craft and genuine hospitality. Handmade tiles from San José de Gracia, hammered copper from Santa Clara del Cobre, volcanic stone surfaces, and chairs by Mexican designer Oscar Hagerman reflect a living tradition, where the intelligence of materials and techniques is passed from hand to hand across generations. Amber-toned onyx panels filter light to create a soft, atmospheric glow, bringing a sense of ease and timelessness.
The design draws on a subtle Mexican architectural language rooted in light, texture, and memory, allowing the space to reflect a rich, contemporary Mexican spirit. This sensibility extends to the open kitchen and central bar, where Cámara's signature dishes come to life in full view. Just as Gabriela Cámara's cuisine is defined by intentional simplicity, Frida Escobedo's design embraces the same principles, using restraint, tradition, and mastery as her foundation.
"I have long admired the work of Frida and Gabriela, and it has been an incredible honour to help bring their shared vision to life," said Brett Mufson, President and Partner of Fontainebleau Development.
"Together, they have created a space that feels both deeply personal and entirely transportive. I cannot wait for our guests to finally experience it."
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