Finally,  Las Vegas has a James Beard Award after many years of being passed over.  It was indeed a Historic Night for Casa Playa  and Executive  Chef Sarah Thompson who won the 2026 James Beard Award for Best Chef  Southwest  at the 2026 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago,

The honor marks Thompson’s first win after a second consecutive nomination and represents a milestone for Las Vegas dining: she is the first female chef on the Las Vegas Strip to receive this distinction, and the first Las Vegas–based chef to be recognized in this category since 2011.

“It is a huge honor to receive this award from the James Beard Foundation, and a testament to the hard work, passion, and hospitality of my entire team,” said Thompson. “Every day, we work together to make Casa Playa a place that celebrates the vibrant flavors, fresh ingredients, and soulful traditions of Mexico – many of the reasons why I fell in love with Mexican cuisine. It’s an incredible privilege to work with such talented people who help bring this vision to life at Wynn Las Vegas.”

Casa Playa’s rise has been built on that collective vision. Under Thompson’s leadership, the restaurant has become known for its coastal Mexican perspective—food that honors Mexico’s regional traditions while channeling the coastal sun and sea into shimmering flavors and bright, layered plates.

More than a single style of cooking, we have found that  Casa Playa is a collaborative expression: a dining room shaped by the careful hands of a team who prize hospitality as highly as technique. This award is about more than one person or one kitchen; it’s a recognition of a growing, sophisticated culinary identity for Las Vegas. In the past,  the Strip has been a destination for spectacular dining, and Thompson’s win signals a deepening national recognition of the region’s chefs and restaurants. It’s also an important moment for representation in the industry — Thompson’s distinction as the first female chef on the Strip to receive this honor spotlights the ongoing and overdue elevation of women leaders in professional kitchens.

Having dined at this brilliant venue,  the experience is as much about atmosphere and hospitality as it is about flavors. Thompson’s approach emphasizes seasonal produce, balanced compositions, and a sense of place that translates familiar Mexican elements into refined, contemporary plates.

The award confirms the restaurant’s role as a destination for guests seeking cuisine that is at once rooted and inventive. For Chef Thompson and her team, this award is a celebration of persistence, creativity, and teamwork.

The James Beard judges confirmed what diners and critics alike have seen: a team committed to excellence in every shift, room, and recipe. As Thompson herself noted, this recognition belongs to the whole staff whose daily work turns a restaurant into a destination.

Join us in congratulating Sarah Thompson and the entire Casa Playa family on this incredible achievement!