You won’t always be enjoying your favorite riders and ropers, so we’ve compiled a resource to help you make the most of your downtime—restaurant and bar listings and much more.
Nine Larger-Than-Life Steaks
In the city that does everything over the top, classic cuts of beef are still king. Make one of these your only-in-Vegas experience:
Gordon Ramsay
. 32-ounce royal long-bone chop (Gordon Ramsay Steak, Paris) Gordon Ramsay’s first restaurant in Las Vegas was much trumpeted upon its arrival in 2012, and with good reason. Its beef, sourced from Pat LaFrieda and dry-aged for 28 days in LaFrieda’s Himalayan salt room, quickly won over critics and fans alike, especially his royal long-bone chop, a cut worthy of Her Majesty.
2. The Cowboy (BLT Steak, Bally’s) Steakhouses don’t come more authentic than BLT Steak, and fewer meals are more appropriate for NFR than the Cowboy, a 22-ounce bone-in ribeye. Make sure to pair it with Hen of the Woods mushrooms and some grilled asparagus—and the BLT cocktail, featuring bourbon, lillet blanc, ginger syrup, lemon juice, orange bitters and elderflower tonic, is an absolute must.
3. 8-ounce center-cut filet (Foundation Room, Mandalay Bay) The only thing better than the view from this restaurant at the top floor of Mandalay Bay is the amazing steak selection. Red meat here makes for memorable, melt-in-your-mouth enjoyment. The center-cut filet gets seared with a rub of pink Hawaiian salt, letting nature do the rest. Dip a forkful into a dab of béarnaise sauce for the perfect complement.
4. Tomahawk feast (MB Steak, Hard Rock Hotel) Grab a group of 10-12 friends or family members (or fellow Wrangler National Finals Rodeo fans) and get ready to enjoy one of the most over-the-top culinary experiences in all of Las Vegas. This mammoth feast—a dry-aged, 16-pound tomahawk steak carved tableside and accompanied by six sides—requires so much work to prepare that you must request it 72 hours in advance. Trust us, you won’t regret it. Just make sure to have your phone ready.
5. Creekstone Farms Angus chateaubriand (Delmonico Steakhouse, The Venetian) Arkansas City, Kan., beef purveyor Creekstone Farms is responsible for Delmonico Steakhouse’s tender chateaubriand, essentially a long filet for two carved tableside. (Creekstone Farms also supplies beef to another Emeril Lagasse restaurant, his flagship Emeril’s in New Orleans.) The naturally raised Angus cut arrives not a la carte but with sides of asparagus and garlic smashed potatoes.
VooDoo Steak
6. Wagyu ribeye (VooDoo Steakhouse, Rio) The views from 50 floors up aren’t the only things that stun the eyes here. Steaks include 21-day wet-aged choice, prime, grass fed, and certified Angus beef, but start with this juicy 12-ounce cut, courtesy of the Australian Agricultural Company in Australia’s Queensland. Pair it with options like the mac and cheese with truffle cream sauce.
7. Dry-aged bone-in ribeye (Bavette’s Steakhouse & Bar, Park MGM) The Vegas outpost of this Chicago favorite excels in every way, especially its steaks. And this 22-ounce bone-in ribeye is a cut of unmatched richness. Make sure to pair it with one of the ideal side dishes like a bacon and sour cream-loaded baked potato or creamed spinach with blue cheese and carmelized onions.
8. 32-ounce Andiamo tomahawk (Andiamo Italian Steakhouse, The D) It was The D owner Derek Stevens who brought Joe Vicari’s Andiamo Italian Steakhouse to downtown Vegas, and Vicari who tapped butchers Pat LaFrieda and Stockyard Premium to provide the beef. The Andiamo tomahawk is a steal at $79, dry-aged for 30 days and “charred to perfection,” as the menu states.
9. Filet mignon (The Steak House at Circus Circus) You really can’t go wrong here, but you would be remiss in passing up the filet mignon, as juicy and flavorful as it is tender. If you’re looking for something different in the way of sides, try the black bean soup, served with a small side of sherry and chopped onions, to add flavor as desired.
Bars
Coyote Ugly
Planet Hollywood
PBR Rock Bar Order a PBR Bloody Mary to cure that hangover. Recommended drink: Order the Afternoon Delight with Stoli Crushed Pineapple vodka, white rum, pineapple juice, piña colada mix and a float of Malibu rum.
New York-New York
Coyote Ugly Dance on the bar and let the sexy Coyote bartenders make you feel like a superstar for a night. Stop in from 6-9 p.m. daily for $6 beers and $4 Jell-O shots. Recommended drink: Body shots.
The Venetian
Rockhouse From 2-7 p.m. Monday through Friday grab $10 domestic pitchers and vodka Redbull cocktails. Recommended drink: The Groupie with Pinnacle peach vodka, fresh peaches and white wine.
Harrah's
Carnaval Court It’s always a wild time at this outdoor spot that has some of the best flair bartenders in the city. Recommended drink: Any beer.
Flamingo
Margaritaville Hey, it’s five o’clock somewhere. Recommended drink: Margaritaville Silver Rum and Paradise Passion Fruit Tequila mixed with Bacardi 151, orange and pineapple juices.
Treasure Island
Gilley’s Get to steppin’ with free line dancing lessons, Monday through Friday, and check out the bikini bull riding competition on Sunday. Recommended drink: Kentucky Highball with Jim Beam, cinnamon, allspice and ginger beer.
MGM Grand
Losers Bar This bar is an outpost of the Nashville classic and brings a genuine honky-tonk with live music, draft beers and surprise shows. Recommended drink: The house wine is Jägermeister.
Downtown
Hogs & Heifers Saloon This ultra-rowdy eatery features motorcycles lined up out front and scantily clad bartenders. Recommended drink: Best bets include shots with the bartender and beer.
Happy Hours
PBR Rock Bar (Miracle Mile Shops) From 2-6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, get your fill of half-price drafts and 2-for-1 cocktails.
Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que (Red Rock Resort) From 3-7 p.m. and 9 p.m.-close daily, enjoy $5 well cocktails and fried dill pickles and barbecue rib tips for less than $8.
Cabo Wabo Cantina (Miracle Mile Shops) From 3-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, take advantage of half-off apps, draft beers, margaritas and Cabo shots.
Public House (Luxor) From 4-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, get your fill of $7 drafts and well drinks and $22 draft beer pitchers.
Freedom Beat (Downtown Grand) Not one but two happy hours: 2-5 p.m. and 2-5 a.m. Half-off appetizers and half-off draft beer and cocktails.
Beerhaus (The Park) From 2-4 p.m. daily enjoy $5 bites like the City Dog, loaded tater tots or fries and beer cheese.
