Soapstone Elevates Dining Experience at COTE Vegas

Lavishly designed in soapstone, COTE Vegas is the fourth location of the Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse concept.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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COTE Vegas, the fourth location of the Michelin-starred COTE Korean Steakhouse, has opened at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas. Designed by the Rockwell Group, the 7,000-square-foot ground floor and 2,900-square-foot mezzanine dining space features extensive use of soapstone throughout, from the custom dining tables and bar tops to the vanities and handwash stations in the restrooms. The design team worked closely with soapstone supplier and fabricator M. Teixeira Soapstone to achieve the desired aesthetic and functionality.

Why it matters

The use of soapstone in COTE Vegas' interior design helps create a cohesive and familiar experience for guests who have visited the restaurant's other locations, while also reflecting the local Las Vegas context. Soapstone's unique properties, such as its durability, softness for carving, and ability to develop a rich patina over time, make it an ideal material for the high-traffic, theatrical dining environment.

The details

The Rockwell Group designed COTE Vegas to have a 'runway-like experience' that gradually reveals the dining room, with clusters of tiered banquettes under a glowing flower ceiling installation. Soapstone was used extensively throughout, including custom-engineered dining tables with inverted demi-bullnose edges to integrate with the restaurant's Shinpo Smokeless Grills, honed Rainforest Green soapstone vanities and handwash stations in the restrooms, and soapstone push plates on the main doors featuring the restaurant's logo.

  • COTE Vegas opened its doors in The Venetian Resort in October 2025.
  • The project was recently recognized in the Stone Design category of the Coverings Installation & Design Awards, presented at Coverings 2026 in Orlando, FL.

The players

Simon Kim

The Seoul-born restaurateur and founder of Gracious Hospitality Management, which operates the COTE Korean Steakhouse concept.

Rockwell Group

The New York-based design firm that worked with Kim on the interior design of COTE Vegas.

M. Teixeira Soapstone

The soapstone supplier and fabricator that worked closely with the Rockwell Group to provide custom soapstone elements for the restaurant.

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What they’re saying

“We love the fact that the soapstone is aged and oiled, giving it a robust, lived-in feel -- warm and grounded, not overly pristine or precious.”

— Brad Zuger, Partner, Rockwell Group (stoneworld.com)

“Durability, texture and the color palettes were very important for each different application.”

— Roger Teixeira, Importer and Fabricator, M. Teixeira Soapstone (stoneworld.com)

What’s next

The COTE Korean Steakhouse concept plans to continue expanding, with a sixth location set to open at 550 Madison Ave in New York City.

The takeaway

The extensive use of soapstone in COTE Vegas' interior design showcases how the material's unique properties can be leveraged to create a cohesive, high-end dining experience that reflects the brand's identity while also adapting to the local context.