Vegas as a Dining City
Vegas spent 20 years becoming one of the best dining cities in the country. Every major celebrity chef — Robuchon, Ramsay, Savoy, José Andrés, Mario Carbone, Nobu Matsuhisa, Wolfgang Puck, Bazaar Meat, Picasso — has a flagship or a residency here. And off the Strip, Chinatown runs one of the best independent dining scenes in the American Southwest.
This is the short list — the restaurants worth a trip, plus a few affordable staples you'll want to keep in your back pocket. New to Vegas? Pair this with the First-Timer's Guide and the Las Vegas Nightlife Guide.
Fine Dining — The Heavy Hitters
Joel Robuchon
Three Michelin stars at MGM Grand. The most formal meal in the city. The tasting menu reaches 16 courses; the bread cart alone is worth a paragraph.
Restaurant Guy Savoy
Two Michelin stars at Caesars Palace. French precision overlooking the Strip. Artichoke-and-black-truffle soup is the order.
Picasso
Two Michelin stars at Bellagio. Actual Picasso paintings on the wall, actual-fountain views through the window. The best fine-dining room with a view in the city.
é by José Andrés
The eight-seat counter inside José Andrés's Bazaar at Cosmopolitan. Tasting menu, Michelin-starred. Book months in advance.
Steakhouses
Vegas is a steakhouse town. A few that stand out:
Bazaar Meat
José Andrés at Sahara. The theatrical steakhouse — whole-animal preparations, caviar cones, a tomato tartare that stops the table. Our first pick for a special-occasion steak.
Cut by Wolfgang Puck
Venetian. Puck's modern steakhouse. Dry-aged Wagyu, still one of the cleanest kitchens on the Strip.
Prime Steakhouse
The classic at Bellagio. Jean-Georges. Overlooks the Fountains of Bellagio. Old-school elegance.
Golden Steer Steakhouse
Off-Strip, 1958. The Sinatra booth is real. Tableside Caesar, old-school tuxedoed servers, exactly the Vegas steak dinner you picture when you close your eyes.
Italian & Modern Classics
Carbone
Aria. Lobster ravioli, veal parm, caesar salad built tableside. Hardest table in the city — book 30 days out the minute the calendar opens.
Nobu at Caesars Palace
The flagship Nobu inside a Nobu Hotel. Yellowtail jalapeño, black cod miso, the expected greatest hits done well.
Battista's Hole in the Wall
Strip-adjacent. Red-sauce classic with an accordion player and unlimited wine with every entrée. Chaotic, affordable, and honestly one of the most fun meals in town.
Chinatown & Off-Strip Essentials
Chinatown runs along Spring Mountain Rd, a 10-minute ride from the Strip. This is where locals eat.
Lotus of Siam
Arguably the best Thai restaurant in the U.S. Order off the Northern Thai section of the menu. Nam prik ong, khao soi, any special with a hand-written card.
Raku
Robata grill, Japanese small plates, open until 3am. Dinner at 11pm here after a show is one of the great Vegas moves.
Esther's Kitchen
Arts District. Seasonal Italian from James Trees. Best pasta outside the Strip flagships. Locals' anchor.
Buffets That Are Actually Worth It
Buffets are a Vegas rite. Two are worth the price:
Bacchanal Buffet
Caesars Palace. The biggest, most varied spread in the city. Weekend brunch is the move.
Buffet at Wynn
Wynn. Smaller but higher quality — better seafood, better pastry program, a fraction of the line at Bacchanal.
24-Hour Staples
Peppermill
Classic retro diner on the Strip, open 24 hours, the famous Fireside Lounge inside. Omelets, giant fruit platters, and a $16 Scorpion bowl big enough for four.
Hash House a Go Go
"Twisted farm food" — biscuits and gravy the size of a small dog. Three Strip locations.
Where to Eat by Vibe
Special Occasion
Joel Robuchon, Picasso, Bazaar Meat, é by José Andrés
Iconic Vegas Dinner
Golden Steer Steakhouse, Carbone, Battista's Hole in the Wall
Best-In-City on a Normal Budget
Esther's Kitchen, Lotus of Siam, Raku
Pre-Show or Pre-Club
Nobu at Caesars Palace before Absinthe; Prime Steakhouse before O; Cut before Atomic Saloon Show.
Late-Night
Peppermill, Raku, Hash House a Go Go.
