Kwame Onwuachi’s Maroon heads to Vegas
James Beard winner Kwame Onwuachi’s new concept, Maroon, is slated to debut in Las Vegas this spring and is being billed as one of the city’s most anticipated 2026 openings. (neon.reviewjournal.com) The launch is drawing major buzz from food media and luxury travel outlets ahead of its opening. (hollywoodreporter.com)
Maroon is scheduled to open on April 24 inside SAHARA Las Vegas, the property announced in its restaurant listings and in local coverage. (saharalasvegas.com; neon.reviewjournal.com) (saharalasvegas.com) The new restaurant will occupy the former Bazaar Meat space that José Andrés closed last year, a swap the resort said clears the way for Onwuachi’s Caribbean-steakhouse fit-out. (neon.reviewjournal.com; neon.reviewjournal.com) (neon.reviewjournal.com) Onwuachi frames Maroon as a Caribbean steakhouse that reinterprets classic American steakhouse service with Afro-Caribbean technique, centering live‑fire cooking, dry‑aged cuts and jerk rubs on the menu. (vegas.eater.com; neon.reviewjournal.com) (vegas.eater.com) A one‑of‑a‑kind, custom-built jerk pit — reportedly designed with Grillworks — will be a visible centerpiece for whole‑fish preparations, jerk‑spiced chicken and smoked proteins. (alhi.com) (alhi.com) Several outlets note Maroon marks Onwuachi’s first West Coast venue and has been described as one of the first Black chef–led restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip. (neon.reviewjournal.com; news3lv.com) (neon.reviewjournal.com) Onwuachi arrives in Las Vegas after leading Tatiana to national acclaim — including a No. 1 nod in New York coverage — and serving as culinary lead for the 2025 Met Gala; he was also named to TIME’s 2025 TIME100 list. (finedininglovers.com; eater.com; time.com) (finedininglovers.com)
