Chef Gabriela Camara Opened Cantina Contramar
The renowned chef brought her Mexico City concept to the Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Mexican Food
Live Poll
Would you visit a famous international restaurant when it opens a new location in your area?
Chef Gabriela Camara has debuted Cantina Contramar inside the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. This new space adapts the concept of her original 1998 Mexico City restaurant for the local market.
Why it matters
Fontainebleau Development president Brett Mufson sought to bring an authentic Mexico City dining experience to the property. The collaboration aims to translate the legacy of the original restaurant for a new audience in Las Vegas.
The new restaurant interior features architectural elements including volcanic stone, hammered copper, and onyx panels. The menu at this location highlights specialized steak and taco options.
The players
Gabriela Camara
She is a renowned chef who established the original Contramar restaurant in Mexico City.
Frida Escobedo
She is the architect responsible for the interior design of the new Las Vegas location.
Bertha Gonzalez Nieves
She collaborated on the beverage menu and assisted in the partnership formation.
Brett Mufson
He serves as the president of Fontainebleau Development.
The details
Designed by architect Frida Escobedo, the restaurant reflects the aesthetic standards of the original establishment. Beverage menu development included a collaboration with Bertha Gonzalez Nieves, who also helped facilitate the partnership with the resort.
Timeline
Gabriela Camara opened the original restaurant in Mexico City in 1998.
Netflix released the documentary A Tale of Two Kitchens in 2019.
This news appears in the October 2026 issue of ELLE.
Culture Shift
This opening represents a broader trend of high-profile international chefs bringing established legacy brands to major Las Vegas resort properties. The expansion follows the heightened brand recognition of the original Mexico City concept since the 2019 release of the documentary A Tale of Two Kitchens.
Residents and visitors can now experience the Mexico City-inspired menu and design within the resort environment. Guests should prepare for the specific high-end dining atmosphere established by the designer and chef.
The takeaway
The arrival of this restaurant offers locals a direct way to experience a globally recognized culinary concept in a luxury setting. Readers interested in the history of the restaurant can look to its long-standing roots in Mexico City for context on the brand.
Further reading
For more on the local culinary scene, see Mexican Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ELLE.
Live Poll
Would you visit a famous international restaurant when it opens a new location in your area?
