The best restaurants in Las Vegas
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Believe the hype: Vegas is a culinary capital. That's partly because Sin City has the power to draw in celebrity chefs and the talented teams that work for them. But it's also because there's a hungry (and thirsty) local community with great taste in seasonal produce and gourmet comfort food. And then there are the countless Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese restaurants offering traditional cuisines in Vegas' low-key but underrated Chinatown. Come with an appetite.
The Strip
é by José Andrés
Inside Chef José Andrés' popular tapas restaurant Jaleo, located inside The Cosmopolitan, there's a nine-seat chef's table that’s one of the most talked-about dining venues in town. It’s not inside the kitchen, but in a private room off the main restaurant floor. And unlike the colourful and casual décor of Jaleo, the look at é by José Andrés is dramatic: think red velvet curtains, sumptuous glass walls, and a steel-topped bar. There are just two seatings per evening. Each two-hour dinner includes a dazzling series of more than 20 Spanish-influenced courses paired with fine wines and whimsical cocktails, such as the Cava Sangria, made with white Cava, gin, and fresh fruit.
Contact: 00 1 702 698 7950; ebyjoseandres.com
Opening times: Tues-Sat, seatings at 5.30pm and 8.30pm
Reservations: Essential, and hard to get; can be made up to three months in advance
Prices: ￡￡￡
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Bouchon
Thomas Keller knows his way around a kitchen: the esteemed chef has won stars from Michelin and awards from the James Beard Foundation. Bouchon, his elegant French bistro at The Venetian, was inspired in part by his much talked-about Bouchon Bistro in Beverly Hills. The long silver-topped bar and spacious dining room seem straight out of Paris, though, as does Keller's modern French cuisine. Come for Sunday brunch, when the menu features gourmet waffles with toasted walnuts and roasted bananas. Later in the day, opt for oysters and wine, or aromatic mussels served with wedges of Keller's homemade baguettes.
Contact: 00 1 866 659 9643; thomaskeller.com
Opening times: Mon-Thur, 7am-1pm, 5pm-10pm; Fri-Sun, 7am-2pm, 5pm-10pm; oyster bar daily from 3pm-10pm
Reservations: Recommended
Prices: ￡￡
Lakeside
You can't beat the dinnertime views at Lakeside, the gorgeous seafood restaurant facing the Wynn's otherworldly Lake of Dreams. The Chef, David Walzog, specialises in 'ocean-to-table' cuisine and the menu features a range of sustainably caught fresh fish flown in from Hawaii. Seated in such an idyllic outdoor setting, indulging in roasted crab and lobster ravioli, you'll feel miles away from the busy Strip. If you're in the mood for meat, Lakeside also has an excellent list of 'charred steaks,' including a decadent chili-rubbed ribeye and king crab option that's meant for sharing.
Contact: 00 1 702 770 3310; wynnlasvegas.com
Opening times: Daily, 5.30pm-10pm
Reservations: Recommended
Prices: ￡￡￡
CUT by Wolfgang Puck
Austrian-born celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck has long been a major player on Vegas' fine-dining scene. CUT, his upscale steakhouse at The Palazzo, is his most talked-about venue at the moment. The aesthetic is sleek and seductive, with mirrored ceilings, glowing glass light fixtures, polished wood tables, and cosy leather booths. For a high-end take on a classic Vegas appetiser, start with the Alaskan king crab and Carolina shrimp 'Louis' cocktail, an Instagram-worthy dish served with spicy tomato horseradish. Then choose from an impressive list of steaks, from grass-fed Australian beef to aged bone-in Tomahawk rib chops – a steak so big there's no chance you'll finish it yourself.
Contact: 00 1 702 607 6300; wolfgangpuck.com
Opening times: Daily, 5.30pm-11pm
Reservations: Recommended
Prices: ￡￡
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Picasso
It's hard to know what to look at when you're dining at Picasso, Julian Serran's glamorous modern French restaurant at the Bellagio. On one side, there's a magnificent view of the resort's famous fountains. On the other, there are actual Picasso originals on the walls. And that's not even to mention the decorative French décor, or the impressive platters that white-gloved chefs are gracefully carrying out from the kitchen. Go for the prix-fixe menu, featuring starters like poached oysters and warm quail salad followed by Chilean sea bass, veal chops, or roasted pigeon, and finished with whatever fantastical dessert the pastry chef has dreamt up that day.
Contact: 00 1 702 693 8865; bellagio.com
Opening times: Wed-Mon, 5.30pm-9.30pm
Reservations: Recommended
Prices: ￡￡￡
Best Table: Ask for a table by the windows, with a view of the fountains
Sage
The talent behind Sage, a modern farm-to-table restaurant at Aria, is Chef Shawn McClain, recipient of several James Beard awards and nominations. Here, in a sophisticated space with glowing chandeliers and minimalist décor, McClain's focus is on fresh and seasonal ingredients, including sustainable seafood, meat from specialty farms, and locally sourced produce. Popular starters run the range from a slow-poached farm egg with black truffles to Wagyu beef tartare with crushed caper aioli. For a main course, try the Maine day boat scallops in a salted caramel reduction, or the Wagyu flat-iron steak with shiitake mushrooms.
Contact: 00 1 702 590 8690; aria.com
Opening times: Mon-Thu, 6pm-10.30pm; Fri-Sat, 6pm-11pm
Reservations: Recommended
Prices: ￡￡
Lotus of Siam
Sin City's famed Thai food temple, a cult favorite for almost two decades, fell on hardship recently when a flood caused the restaurant to temporarily close its doors. Luckily, they have opened a second location, so visitors can still enjoy this modern take on northern Thai cuisine while the flagship is getting back on its feet. The house special is Khao Soi, crispy duck with curry and noodles served with lime, red onion and pickled vegetables. Another excellent dish to try is Nua Nam Tok, charbroiled beef mixed with green and red onions, hot chilis, corriander and lime juice.
Contact: 00 1 702 735 3033; lotusofsiamlv.com
Opening times: Mon-Fri, 11am-2.30pm, 5.30pm-10pm; Sat-Sun, 5.30pm-10pm
Reservations: Recommended
Prices: ￡
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Downtown
Pizza Rock
This isn't just any old pizza place. Co-founder Tony Gemignani is a 12-time World Pizza Champion, and his bustling industrial-style pizzeria in downtown Las Vegas boasts four styles of pizza ovens. The menu features a range of gourmet pies, homemade pastas, calzones, strombolis, and salads, plus craft cocktails and 23 drafts on tap. Pizza purists should go for the burratina di margherita, a Sicilian-style pizza with burrata cheese, cherry tomatoes, basil, and balsamic reduction – this particular pie won Gemignani a pizza prize in Italy. Or try something more complex, like the Cal Italia, with asiago, prosciutto, mozzarella, gorgonzola, fig preserve, and balsamic reduction.
Contact: 00 1 702 385 0838; pizzarocklasvegas.com
Opening times: 11am-midnight Sun-Thu; 11am-2am Fri-Sat
Reservations: Recommended; walk-ins are fine
Prices: ￡
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Carson Kitchen
Carson Kitchen – firmly established as a downtown dining institution – is a favourite among local foodies and in-the-know travellers. Industrial-chic is the look at this buzzing gastropub, from the raw wood-beamed ceilings to the corrugated metal walls. And the menu is built around the concept of modern comfort food and the social experience of dining out: many plates are meant for sharing. Try the crispy chicken skins or 'BBQ burnt ends' to start, then have the veal meatballs or a short rib grilled cheese on sourdough.
Contact: 00 1 702 473 9523; carsonkitchen.com
Opening times: Thu-Sat, 11.30am-11pm; Sun-Wed, 11.30am-10pm
Reservations: Walk-ins only for parties of five or less; reservations recommended for larger groups
Prices: ￡
Chinatown
Ramen Hashi
To try some of the best food in Vegas, you have to go off the Strip. Sin City's Chinatown isn't scenic – a short drive west of the casino resorts, it looks like a never-ending strip mall. There are 140 family-run Asian restaurants here, and even if you can't understand the menu, you're guaranteed to dine well and abundantly. One popular venue is Ramen Hashi, where the flavourful chicken-based broths with homemade noodles and chashu (tender, slow-cooked pork) practically melt in your mouth. True, the place won't win major points for style – the long wooden bar is stylish enough, and the restaurant is spotless – but you're still in a strip mall.
Contact: 00 1 702 202 1238
Opening times: Mon-Sat, 11.30am-10pm; Sun, 12pm-10pm
Reservations: Walk-ins only
Prices: ￡