The selected restaurants have been divided into five categories: Gourmet, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. The restaurants are listed alphabetically within these different categories, which serve as guidelines rather than absolute definitions of the establishments.
There is a 7.25% restaurant tax in Las Vegas for both eat-in and takeaway purchases. The tax is normally added to the bill at the time of payment, although some buffets and fast-food chains may incorporate the tax in their prices. Service charges are unusual in Las Vegas (except for parties of eight to 10
or more); it is more usual to leave a 10 to 20% tip.
The restaurants below have been grouped in four different price categories:
$$$$ (over US$100)
$$$ (US$50 to US$100)
$$ (US$20 to US$50)
$ (under US$20)
These prices are for a three-course meal for one with half a bottle of wine or equivalent.
GourmetEiffel Tower Restaurant The Paris Las Vegas’ unique tribute to the French Eiffel Tower is a slightly smaller rendition, but includes a luxury restaurant on the 11th floor, with one of Las Vegas’ best scenic views. Featuring gastronomic feats such as lobster thermidor ‘Eiffel Tower’ and roast rack of lamb Provençale with tarragon jus, the restaurant endeavours to capture the ambience of Europe’s most romantic city. Reservations recommended. No lunch.
11th Floor, Eiffel Tower, Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 948 6937.
Website:
www.parislasvegas.com Price: $$$$
Le Cirque It has stood for 30 years as a temple to gastronomy and epicenter for the New York City power-dining scene, though its sister location inside the Bellagio has garnered an equally vaulted reputation. Restaurateur Sirio Maccioni brings a touch of the ringmaster to this whimsical jewel that sits comfortably along the lake overlooking the famous Fountains of Bellagio. The set-menu is three courses, wchih are served underneath a silk tented ceiling that perfected accents the polished wood interior. Reservations required. No lunch.
Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: 1 877 234 6358.
Website:
www.bellagio.com Price: $$$$
The Steakhouse Overlooking Treasure Island’s famous pirate show,
Sirens of TI, The Steakhouse promises a unique atmosphere as well as gourmet food. The cuisine is American and features mains such as generous portions of prime rib or shrimp scampi sauté. Guests also get a bird’s-eye view of Treasure Island’s ship battle below in Sirens Cove, although the Old World stately charm of the restaurant is atmosphere enough. Reservations recommended. No lunch.
Treasure Island , 3300 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: 1 866 286 3809.
Website:
www.treasureisland.com Price: $$$
Trattoria Del Lupo Wolfgang Puck’s Trattoria Del Lupo at the Mandalay Bay Resort features a blend of traditional Italian and American cuisine, such as Wolfgang’s inspired version of lasagne with braised beef and herb ricotta, as well as his unique portobello mushrooms, caramelized onion and goat’s cheese pizza. Serving sizes are ample, in accordance with the upper-scale prices. No lunch. Reservations recommended.
Mandalay Bay Resort, 3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 740 5522.
Website:
www.wolfgangpuck.com Price: $$$
Wing Lei
Unlike any other Chinese restaurant you’ll find in Vegas, Wing Lei at the Wynn Las Vegas offers unique Asian fusion cuisine that effortlessly merges traditional French cooking styles with Shanghainese ingredients and flavors. As innovative as it is dramatic, it serves up truly gourmet offerings amidst elegant surroundings employing a broad nexus of design elements that defy mere classification. No lunch. Reservations required.
3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Tel: (702) 248 3463
or 1 888 352 3463.
Website:
www.wynnlasvegas.com Price: $$$$
BusinessCharlie Palmer Steak Charlie Palmer is more than a steakhouse, as evidenced by its prestigious location in the Four Seasons Hotel. The cuisine may be North American but the ambience suggests a European touch, with high Spanish-style archways and rich tones lending themselves to intimate dining. Classic dishes include the European-style filet mignon and basil crusted Pacific salmon with balsamic brown butter. Reservations recommended. No lunch.
Four Seasons Hotel, 3960 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 632 5120.
Website:
www.charliepalmersteaklv.com Price: $$$$
TrendyGonzalez y Gonzalez With its ‘fiesta’ atmosphere of candy-filled
piñata toys and brightly lit courtyard dining, Gonzalez in the New York-New York is probably just as popular for its selection of traditional Mexican drinks as for its food. Typical dishes include the more stereotypical Mexican dishes of burritos, enchiladas and tacos (corn or flour tortillas filled with a choice of meat, vegetables and a spicy sauce).
New York-New York Hotel and Casino, 3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 740 6455.
Website:
www.nynyhotelcasino.com Price: $$
JJ’s Boulangerie This small, open French-style bakery with terrace seating serves both pastries and freshly made sandwiches. Set on the edge of a Parisian-style promenade, the bakery is a great place to people watch while sipping a cappuccino. There is also an ice cream and confectionery counter featuring various light desserts at the back of the store.
Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 946 7000.
Website:
www.parislasvegas.com Price: $
Little Buddha Little Buddha, which captures the eclectic atmosphere of the famous Buddha Bar in Paris, France, serves up Asian-fusion cuisine in an intimate setting while DJs spin their world-famous mixes and an over-sized golden benevolent Buddha looks on from on high. The bar at Little Buddha is a special feature with a stream of water running through it, so ladies are warned to watch where they put their handbags or else risk a soaking. Reservations strongly suggested. No lunch.
Palms Casino Resort, 4321 West Flamingo Road
Tel: (702) 942 7778.
Website:
www.littlebuddhalasvegas.com Price: $$$
Mr Lucky’s Where else would you find a classic hamburger and fries restaurant if not in a hotel-casino that immortalises Rock’n’Roll? Surrounded by memorabilia from the 1950s and 60s, Mr Lucky’s serves up the best of American casual favorites: hamburgers, fries, pasta and fountain drinks. Surprisingly, the homemade veggie burger has received even more raves than the ‘real’ thing.
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, 4455 Paradise Road
Tel: (702) 693 5000.
Website:
www.hardrockhotel.com Price: $
Valentino
The much exalted creation of celebrity restaurateur Piero Selvaggio, this lavish Italian restaurant wets the palette with over 24,000 bottles of wine from every imaginable corner of the globe. Of course, the extravagance doesn’t stop there, especially since the menu changes seasonally in order to emphasise the freshest produce, choicest cuts of meat and handmade pastas, which are all imported daily direct from Italy. Reservations necessary. No lunch.
3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 414 3000.
Website:
www.venetian.com Price: $$$$
BudgetCalifornia Pizza Kitchen Located in the Sports and Race Book section of the Mirage hotel, the Vegas location of this nationwide chain of restaurants takes the concept of pizza to the extreme. Its most popular creation is the barbecued chicken pizza - combining two of Southern California’s best dishes. Other unusual, but equally popular, versions are the Peking duck and garlic shrimp pizzas.
Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 791 7357
or 1 866 339 4566.
Website:
www.mirage.com Price: $
Courtyard Grill & Buffet The Courtyard Grill and Buffet is located in the heart of Downtown, about 10 minutes north of the Strip, in Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel. The casino’s image and colors are proudly Irish, though the buffet features American-style bacon and egg breakfasts and evening prime-rib dinners. There is an interesting mix of world cuisine at lunchtime.
Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel, 301 Fremont Street, Downtown
Tel: (702) 388 2400.
Website:
www.fitzgeralds.com Price: $
French Market Buffet Las Vegas buffets that feature a range of international dishes have a tendency to hit and miss, but the French Market Buffet is considered one of the better all-you-can-eat restaurants of its kind. The buffet is designed in the form of an American food court, with separate serving stations surrounding a large dining area. Dishes range from Mexican spicy enchiladas and tacos, to Italian spaghetti and pizza or traditional American barbecued ribs.
The Orleans Hotel and Casino, 4500 West Tropicana Avenue
Tel: (702) 365 7111
or 1 800 675 3267.
Website:
www.orleanscasino.com Price: $
Fresh Harvest Cafe The Fresh Harvest Cafe, which is situated in Sam’s Town, to the west of the Strip, serves typical American favorites, from the standard American breakfast of bacon and eggs to steaks and hamburgers for lunch and dinner. The décor is typically American too - bright, airy, and reminiscent of the small-town Western-style diners that put many of its favorite menu items on the map. Open 24 hours.
Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, 5111 Boulder Highway
Tel: (702) 456 7777
or 1 800 897 8696.
Website:
www.samstownlv.com Price: $
Personal RecommendationsDrai’s Opened in 1977 and still owned and operated by former film producer Victor Drai, Drai’s provides an opulent living room environment with plush sofas in the lounge, table and booth seating, intimate candle-lit corners and polished dark wood floors throughout. The menu offers up steaks and seafood with Continental flair as well as an extensive wine list. A particular favorite with high rollers and celebrities. Reservations are strongly recommended. No lunch.
Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall and Saloon, 3595 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 737 0555.
Website:
www.billslasvegas.com Price: $$$
Noodles
This swish noodle joint refuses to compromise style for authenticity. Although it’s located inside the Bellagio, and decked from floor to ceiling with dramatic modernist touches, the Hong Kong-style soup bowls on offer at Noodles are all in fact traditional Cantonese recipes. To really get the full experience, stop by during the day for Dim Sum, when you can join other restaurant goers in picking delicious plates of dumplings off passing carts.
3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: 1 888 987 6667.
Website:
www.bellagio.com/restaurants/noodles.aspx Price: $$
Paymon’s Mediterranean Café and Lounge A true departure from the Strip, and situated in a small neighborhood shopping mall, Paymon’s Mediterranean Café and Lounge serves up tasty Lebanese and Greek specialties. Shish kebab and taouk, creamy tzatziki, hummus, vine leaves, the freshest tabouleh in Las Vegas, among many other Middle Eastern dishes can be ordered à la carte or in generous combination platters and are guaranteed to satisfy. Be sure to indulge in a traditional waterpipe filled with any of the 20 premium Egyptian tobaccos on offer.
4147 South Maryland Parkway
Tel: (702) 731 6030.
Website:
www.paymons.com Price: $$
PF Chang’s PF Chang’s is a national chain of Asian Cuisine restaurants with several locations in and around Las Vegas that rarely disappoints. Suitable for couples and families alike, PF Chang’s offers delicious oriental fare and excellent value for the dollar in a trendy contemporary yet casual atmosphere. Service is fast and friendly and many menu items can be amended to accommodate food allergies, dietary restrictions and intensity of spice. Reservations recommended on weekends.
4165 South Paradise Road
or in the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino, 3667 Las Vegas Boulevard
Tel: (702) 792 2207
or 836 0955 (Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino).
Website:
www.pfchangs.com Price: $$
The Verandah As the name suggests, The Verandah restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel offers both indoor and terrace seating for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Its semi-casual atmosphere is complemented by a surprisingly wide variety of ethnic dishes. Breakfast selections include a cholesterol-free omelette with fresh-baked goods, and a Japanese breakfast with miso soup, grilled salmon, pickled vegetables, rice and green tea. Lunch and dinners are more formal but just as wide-ranging in terms of cuisine.
Four Seasons Hotel, 3960 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Tel: (702) 632 5000.
Website:
www.fourseasons.com/lasvegas/index.html Price: $$$
Nightlife:Nightlife is Las Vegas’ best-known pastime. The casinos and hotels may be open by day but only under the cover of night does the city’s burst of lights set the atmosphere buzzing. Casinos, restaurants and bars are packed with tourists from all over the world, most in a friendly and genial spirit. Casino hotels tend to house not only the best-known stage shows but also all the late-night bars, nightclubs and live music.
Once again, the city is split between the Strip and Downtown, both of which offer an overwhelming assortment of evening activities. Downtown offers smaller, sometimes more charismatic, venues, while the enormous hotel complexes of the Strip offer a wide variety of entertainment options at each individual complex.
Las Vegas is a 24-hour city. Alcohol can be bought at any time of day or night, in restaurants, bars and shops. The legal drinking age is 21 years. Dress at most casinos is casual, but more and more lounges do impose a dress code; for example most clubs deny entry to individuals wearing running shoes (trainers) or flip-flops (thongs). Unsurprisingly maybe, the rules are applied more strictly to men than to women. Some clubs waive admission charges for female patrons.
Listing of virtually every kind of entertainment that Las Vegas has to offer can be found online (website:
http://lvindex.com/rolodex.htm). Another good website (
www.vegas.com/nightclubs) has a selection of the more popular nightclubs in the city, along with a listing of upcoming events. Also try the
2AM Club Guide from Nevada’s largest alternative newsweekly,
Las Vegas Mercury, available online (website:
www.lasvegasmercury.com/2am/index.html)
Bars: All night-time entertainment happens within the hotel-casino complexes. Most bars in Las Vegas feature such extravagant entertainment that they rival the largest nightclubs of other cities. Nevertheless, in Las Vegas, they are simply bars when compared to the lavish shows put on in the theaters and clubs there. The Bellagio’s
Baccarat Bar, 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South, serves luxurious cocktails against a backdrop of live piano music. Serving over 100 varieties of vodka, Mandalay Bay’s
Red Square, 3950 Las Vegas Boulevard, creates an opulent mix of pre-/post-revolutionary Russia with its giant decapitated statue of Lenin and blood red velvet curtains, an 8m- (25ft-) long ice bar and vodka tastings in their walk-in freezer.
The
Bar at Times Square, New York-New York Hotel and Casino, 3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South, aims to recreate the feel of an old New York city pub with polished wood floors and nightly entertainment. The
Mix Lounge is proving to be one of Las Vegas’ hottest watering holes. Settled high atop THEHotel at Mandalay Bay, expectant tourists and locals alike queue up in their street-chic attire for a chance to ’be seen’ in what is being touted as the ’highest and hottest nightlife destination’ in the city.
Casinos: To gamble, visitors must be at least 21 years old and have proof of age and identity in the form of a driving license, passport or other photo identification. Most casinos in Las Vegas do not impose a dress code, although shoes and shirts are required. Some casinos worth visiting (not mentioned in the
Key Attractions section) include the new
Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, 3667 Las Vegas Boulevard South, and
Palms Casino Resort, 4321 West Flamingo Road, a popular playground for the young and moneyed party crowd.
The slightly dingy but intimate
Gold Spike, 400 Ogden Avenue East, offers low table limit and penny slots, giving a taste of what the city was like in the 1970s. The
Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont Street East, has been a fixture of Downtown since 1946, and features the largest gold nugget in the world, weighing in at 23kg (61lb).
New York-New York, 3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South, is a recreation of New York, while
Paris Las Vegas, 3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South, aims to import a touch of European class and sophistication.
Clubs: A number of state-of-the-art clubs are offered by the major hotel-casinos. The minimum age for entry is usually 21 years and a dress code is also often in place. One of the best-known clubs is yet another Las Vegas recreation of somewhere else -
Studio 54, MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South (website:
www.mgmgrand.com). Modelled on the legendary New York nightclub of the 1970s, Studio 54 features live dancers, dance music and a collection of photographs taken at the original club.
Pure (website:
www.purethenightclub.com), inside Caesars Palace, 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South, is one of the most popular clubs on The Strip. The 3,400-sq-m (36,000-sq-ft) venue offers clubbers the choice of three environments, themes and sounds, with all rooms interconnected by intimate passageways and an elevated glass-enclosed VIP room at the heart of the action. It also tends to have long queues, so visitors are encouraged to arrive early.
The Palms Casino Resort houses another of Vegas’ popular nightclubs,
Rain, 4321 West Flamingo Road (website:
http://rain-las-vegas.n9negroup.com). This 2,600-sq-m (28,000-sq-ft) adult-only playground features an elevated dance floor lit by a 4m (14ft) fireball and dancing fountains of water throb in time with the DJ. Rain is also infamous as the place where Britney Spears partied hard before, during and after her first very short-lived marriage. Reservations are required (tel: (702) 942 6832).
Live Music: Live music is another one of Las Vegas’ legendary forms of entertainment - the city is the former home to superstars like Sammy Davis Junior, Frank Sinatra and Liberace. The
Theater for the Performing Arts, Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, 3667 Las Vegas Boulevard South (website:
www.planethollywoodresort.com), headlines major touring rock and popular acts. The
Orleans Arena, The Orleans Hotel and Casino, 4500 West Tropicana Avenue (website:
www.orleansarena.com), has hosted touring pop acts such as Willie Nelson, Neil Sedaka and Jerry Lewis.
The Mandalay Bay Events Center, 3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South (website:
www.mandalaybay.com), is a 12,000-seat sport and entertainment complex, the setting for superstar concerts, major sporting events and television specials. It has featured everyone from Steely Dan to Stevie Wonder to Paul McCartney and Wings.
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Related Las Vegas Content
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Related Nevada Content
The Columbus World Travel Guide has been published for 26 years and is sold in over 90 countries worldwide.
Word Travels is a comprehensive travel guide covering hundreds of cities and holiday resorts in more than 125 countries.
Nevada Airport Guides:
|
Nevada City Guides:
|
| Nevada Attraction Guides: |
|
|
|
|
