Come with me to Las Vegas, NV!
I feel like Las Vegas gets a bad rap. Sure there’s lots of drinking, lots of gambling and some questionable areas, but Vegas, when done right, can be a lot of fun. I have a soft spot for Las Vegas because we go every year for my husband’s birthday. But also, it happens to be coincidentally the birth place of my son. Here is a list of some of my favorites in the area that I always go to whenever I visit!
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!
Where to Stay:
The Venetian Hotel
My all-time favorite resort to stay at in Vegas. I love that all the rooms are suites so they’re spacious. Plus side is that they’re renovating the resort so all the rooms are new. Also they just opened a new Food Hall! The Turkey and the Wolf is a must!
Park MGM
I love that this is one of the only smoke-free hotels on the strip. The rooms are nice and there are some great restaurants here. Eataly is a must and so is Best Friend. Also a great place to stay if you’re going to T-Mobile arena.
Resorts World
Resorts World gets a bad rap for being away from the strip and for being “dead” but honestly I really like this resort. It’s always clean, has some great slots and an amazing food hall. The brisket fried rice from Blood Bros is top tier!
Fontainebleau
The newest resort to open. The rooms are new, the gambling floor is huge and there are so many great restaurants here like Mother Wolf and Contramar. Also their food hall has some amazing pizza at Miami Slice!
The Palazzo
Located next to The Venetian (they’re sister properties) and so all rooms are suites here as well. If you like The Venetian then you’ll like The Palazzo. The eateries here are somewhat joined with The Venetian. Yard Bird is delicious for chicken!
Wynn
If you’re looking to splurge, then I think this is one of the best higher end resorts. The buffet here is supposed to be one of the best, with long lines. I’ve played here often and it’s a nice casino. Even nice just to walk around.
Where to Eat:
Golden Steer
Oldest (continuously operated) restaurant in Las Vegas. This has to be my all-time favorite place to visit when in town. It’s a classic steakhouse with old Hollywood vibes. The table-side caesar salad and shrimp cocktail are not to be missed!
Esther’s Kitchen
One of my favorite off-strip restaurants to visit. They moved to a larger location and it’s always filled with locals. The housemade sourdough bread with spreads are so good! The wood grilled branzino is one of my favorites!
Best Friend
The best restaurant at the Park MGM. It’s a Korean-Mexican fusion restaurant by Los Angeles Chef, Roy Choi. The vibes are immaculate. The Chego Pork Belly bowl is insane and Korean bbq ribeye is incredible!
Le Thai
I have a soft spot for this off-strip restaurant. When we were staking out at a hotel waiting for our son to be born, we ordered from here and it was amazing. The spicy Thai basil pork is something I still dream about.
Mother Wolf
Located in the new Fontainebleau hotel. I love the LA location so much and was so excited to see it open in Vegas. The mortadella “pizza” is to die for! The cocktails are delicious but also the ambiance is unmatched.
Peppermill
A Las Vegas classic! The diner has a funky cool decor and the food is typical diner fare but slightly elevated. You can’t go wrong with breakfast for dinner and it stays open 24 hours. Try to get a drink at the Fireside Lounge. It’s fun!
Where to Drink:
The Golden Tiki
One of my all-time favorite Tiki Bars I’ve ever been to. Live music on some nights which is always fun. The drinks are lethal (in the best way possible). The atmosphere couldn’t be better. Get any drink flamed!
Fireside Lounge
Located in The Peppermill restaurant. They filmed Casino here, if you’re into that sort of thing. Lounge seating with fire pits and the drinks are great! It’s just such an old Vegas vibe that you can’t not enjoy it. Definitely at it to your next trip!
The NoMad Library
Located in the NoMad hotel (in the Park MGM). Serves food as well but really it’s all about the cocktails. Dimly lit, live music, and such a vibe. I love coming here before dinner for an aperitif, especially if I’m staying at the Park MGM.
Stray Pirate
A classic tiki bar with a pirate theme. Classic tiki drinks. Off the strip but close enough and worth the drive, right in the arts distract, close to Esther’s Kitchen, so if you go there for dinner, perhaps a night cap? It’s a fun place to enjoy!
Carousel Bar
A one of a kind carousel bar at the Plaza hotel down in Fremont. It’s classic old Vegas and a must-visit at least once in your life. Great place to grab a drink, sit and people watch. It rotates once every 15 minutes but it’s still an experience.
Ghost Donkey
A mezcal and tequila lounge located at The Cosmopolitan Hotel. The Chandelier Bar there is also an honorable mention. But back to the Ghost Donkey, the drinks are awesome and the experience is actually a lot of fun!
What to Do:
The Mob Museum
Look at me telling you to go to a museum in Las Vegas. I was hesitant to go at first but honestly it’s one of the coolest and most interesting museums I’ve ever been to. The speakeasy at the bottom floor of course helped!
Bingo at the Plaza Hotel
One of the few places that still offers bingo in Las Vegas. It’s such a fun way to spend an afternoon. You can sit back and let the machine do all the work for you or play the old fashioned way with paper and daubers. It’s so much fun!
The Neon Museum
Another museum on the list but this one is so cool. There’s a bunch of retro old Vegas neon signs up on display that have been kept up and fixed. If you want to see a bit of Vegas history this is the place to go to. You can’t go wrong here!
Bellagio Conservatory
If you love looking at plants and flowers and seeing crazy displays of nature, then this one is for you. They switch out the installations every season with a special installation for Chinese New Year. On top of that it’s free!
Omega Mart
Omega Mart is an interactive art installation. It’s hard to describe but it’s the type of thing that makes you really ask the question, “what is going on here?” It’s like a supermarket but on acid. It’s such a trip but fun to experience!
The Spa at Encore
For all of you spa goers and enjoyers out there, I think this is one of Vegas’ best spas. It’s clean, high end and very relaxing. They offer a wide range of services and while it’s on the pricier side, you’re in Vegas so splurge!
