Nearly every visitor to Nevada stays in Las Vegas, Reno or Lake Tahoe. These three hubs run the gamut of dining options, especially Sin City. From celebrity chefs to humble diners, there is not shortage of eating 24 hours a day. Outside of the big cities you will find mostly American diner food that is often tasty but rarely revolutionary. Nevada’s entertainment scene is much the same, Las Vegas is one of America’s hottest spots to party, but outside of Vegas and Reno you’ll have to settle for a cold beer in a quiet local bar.
Bars and Pubbing in Nevada
One of the highlights of drinking in Nevada is that it has some of America’s most lax alcohol laws. You certainly can’t drink and drive, but establishments can serve and stay open 24 hours a day (and many do). In fact, some bars have been open every minute for the past 40 years, and most have some kind of video gambling machine as an added diversion. Outside of Las Vegas and Reno the bars are typical western watering holes where the drinks are cheap.
Las Vegas is easily the party capital of Nevada, if not the planet. The Strip is home to the best clubs, typically located within the major casino resorts. Some A-list venues like Surrender (Encore), XS (Encore), Tao (Venetian), and The Bank (Bellagio) may not let you in without a hefty cover and being dressed to the nines, but there are plenty of places for regular folks to hangout that are just as much fun and half the price. Try Rogue (in MGM Grand) for a good clubbing compromise, or the Double Down Saloon (4640 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas) for a more local experience off the Strip.
Vegas clubs don't get going until after 11 pm, and typically don’t fill up until 2 am. You’ll have an easier time getting in if you arrive early and are with females. If you want to avoid the high costs and pretentious atmosphere, head to the bars in the historic Downtown district.
Reno also has plenty of casino bars, although the hot spots are found downtown. Check out 210North (210 N. Sierra Street, Reno) for clubbing and the Alturas Bar & Nightclub (1044 E. 4th Street, Reno) for live music, pool tables and a more bar-style scene.
Dining and Cuisine in Nevada
In Las Vegas you have take your pick of the litter with top-notch cuisine. From world-class sushi at Raku Grill (5030 W. Spring Mountain Road, Las Vegas) to celebrity dining with Joel Robuchon at the Mansion (inside MGM Grand) you can spend as much as you want and indulge in some of the finest cuisine on the planet. All of the big casino resorts have a dozen or more restaurants, cafés and the predictably infamous Las Vegas buffet. There is always a full range of ethnic restaurants to choose from and plenty are open 24 hours for late night cravings.
You don’t need to spend big to eat on the Strip, but few places fall into the budget category. Capriotti’s (322 W. Sahara Ave, Las Vegas) is a superb and affordable sandwich shop, while the Todd English P.U.B. (inside Crystals at CityCenter) has awesome and creative pub fare. For breakfast there’s no better spot than Hash House a Go Go (inside Imperial Palace) which has chicken and waffles bigger than your head. And of course, a trip to In-N-Out Burger (4888 Dean Martin Drive, Las Vegas) is usually a must.