Julian Serrano

Not to be confused with Julián Serrano.

Julian Serrano is a Spanish chef who lives and works in the United States.^[1] He first gained attention in San Francisco and was later active in Las Vegas until his 2025 retirement.^[2]

Julian Serrano
Born	Madrid, Spain
Education	Escuela Gastronomie P.P.O., Marbella, Spain
Culinary career
Cooking style	Mediterranean, French, Spanish, Molecular gastronomy
Previous restaurant Picasso (Bellagio, Las Vegas; 1998-2024) Julian Serrano Tapas (ARIA, Las Vegas; 2010-2025) LAGO (Bellagio, Las Vegas; 2015-2024) LAGO (Bellagio, Shanghai; 2018-2024)

Biography

A native of Madrid, Serrano is a graduate of the Escuela Gastronomie P.P.O. hotel management school in Marbella, Spain.^{[3][better source needed]} He has spent time at Lucas-Carlton in Paris, Hotel de France in Auch, France, Chez Max in Zurich and L’Aubergine in Munich.^{[citation needed]} He worked in several restaurants, Caribbean cruise liners, Nashville and San Francisco.^[1]

Following brief positions in Miami and Nashville, Serrano moved to San Francisco, where in 1983 he helped open Masa's under the guidance of Masataka Kobayashi.^[1]

In 1998, Serrano brought his Mediterranean-French cooking to Bellagio in Las Vegas as Executive Chef of Picasso.^[4] Serrano also has a restaurant at Aria named after him serving tapas and other Spanish food, as well as molecular gastronomy.^[5]

In April 2015, he opened LAGO at the Bellagio.^[6]

In May 2024, Serrano announced his upcoming retirement and that Picasso will be closing in August 2024.^[7]

Restaurants

• Picasso, Las Vegas, Nevada. 1998 - closed 2024.^[8][9]
• Julian Serrano Tapas, Las Vegas, Nevada. 2010 - closed 2025.^[10]
• LAGO, Las Vegas, Nevada. 2015 - No longer affiliated with Serrano as of 2024^[update].^[11][2]
• LAGO, Shanghai, China. 2018 - No longer affiliated with Serrano as of 2024^[update].^[12][2]

Awards

• Two-time winner of the James Beard Foundation Award (Best Chef Pacific 1998 & Best Chef Southwest 2002).^{[citation needed]}
• Julian Serrano Tapas was noted as one of Esquire Magazine's "20 Best New Restaurants in 2010".^[13]
• Julian Serrano Tapas received the Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine in 2011.^{[citation needed]}
• Picasso, the Michelin two-star restaurant (2008-2009)^[14][15]