Pool dining on the Las Vegas Strip can be trickier than you might think, especially at a property like Bellagio, which has a 25-year history of showcasing its signature dream of Italian opulence: part papal palazzo, part Palladian villa, with stops by the Lake District and the d’Este gardens.

But at the pool, opulence perforce meets bathing suits, a relaxed mood and, very often, the desire for chicken fingers. How to strike the right balance between elegance and ease? That question was top of mind about 18 months ago when the property began the renewal of its pool expanse.