By Kate Silver

It’s so sweltering hot outside that the white sands of The Beach at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino are inducing hallucinations. Even this 11-acre, blissfully tropical spread can get hot when the temperature’s in the triple digits. The gently rolling waters of the wave pool bring temporary relief, but one word keeps running through my mind: refuge. I wasn’t cut out for this kind of heat.

Gazing around, my eyes settle on a sleek, three-story building. I can see from my poolside vantage point that I’ve discovered some kind of paradise. People are walking around inside, shoeless and shirtless, smiling and laughing, their hair blowing in the breeze. And there are no sweat beads in sight. I blink my eyes, thinking it’s just too good to be true. Still unsure, I move in to investigate.

The relief of the shade takes my breath away as I walk into the first floor of the beachside building. I’m immediately relieved to find this vision is not a result of heatstroke. This is the Beach Bar & Grill, a part of the new Beachside Casino at Mandalay Bay, and it’s as satisfying as a cold mojito on a hot summer day. Which is next on my list, now that I’ve discovered this shady, open-air treasure.

I belly up to the bar, wiping the sweat from my brow and down a bottle of water, trying to restore some of the liquids I’ve lost before adding rum to my system. I glance at the menu, which is more extensive and creative than the customary pool snack bar, but the vibe is just as casual. Staying true to the beach theme, no shirt or shoes are required here, or anywhere in the area.

The same holds true for the casino upstairs — wait, make that the air-conditioned casino upstairs. Walking upstairs, I visualize the cool air slipping from the vents and transforming into long, vaporous fingers, posed in come-hither fashion, beckoning me to the casino…Hey, I’m still a bit lightheaded, all right?

This is where the original Nevada-style entertainment takes place, at the craps, blackjack and roulette tables. If video poker is your game, you can play at the bar. Where else can you hit, stay or double down while gazing outside as the crystal-clear waves crash on white sand? The windows even slide open, so you can breathe the fresh air and smell the wafting coconut oil. It’s as close as you can get to beachside gaming without breaking a sweat.

“This is climate controlled, but the floor-to-ceiling windows provide for a view of the beach,” says Bill Hornbuckle, President and Chief Operating Officer, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

The gorgeous, sun-kissed dealers and servers carry out the island theme: their uniforms consist of bikinis and beachwear and they are as happy as the guests. It must be because they’ve found one of the hottest spots in town to cool off . When it’s a sunny day in Vegas (and it’s usually a sunny day in Vegas), Mandalay Bay is the place to be, and has been for years. Now, there are even more reasons to go.