We know you won’t always be checking out the racing action, so we’ve compiled a resource to help you make the most of your downtime–restaurant, bars and more.
Ma La Fish
Dining
Aria
Blossom Choose your own adventure from the nearly 100 dishes at this Chinese eatery, everything from kung pao chicken to pan-fried peppers. Recommended dish: Peking duck
Bally’s
BLT Steak Indulge in all the trappings of the traditional steakhouse: dry-aged beef, seafood platters, wedge salads and five preparations of potatoes. Recommended dish: Peanut butter chocolate mousse
Bellagio
Harvest by Roy Ellamar Sustainable, seasonal, regional ingredients are the stars. Don’t miss the roving snack wagon serving tasty nibbles of whatever’s fresh. Recommended dish: Sea bass crudo
Caesars Palace
Restaurant Guy Savoy For French fine dining, it hardly gets better. Try a tasting and let the kitchen prepare you the meal of a lifetime. Recommended dish: Artichoke and black truffle soup
Circus Circus
The Steak House Serving dry-aged steaks for more than 30 years. If you long for vintage Vegas, you’ll find it alive and well here. Recommended dish: Porterhouse
Center Cut Steakhouse @ Flamingo
Flamingo
Center Cut Steakhouse Want meat? Flamingo’s steakhouse is happy to oblige, with a menu of classic cuts like filet rounded out by such items like jumbo lump crab cake and loaded baked potatoes. Recommended dish: Slow-roasted prime rib
Four Seasons Hotel
Veranda Enjoy homemade pastas and Italian specialties on the poolside patio at this eatery known for its decadent weekend brunch spreads with a diet-demolishing buffet. Recommended dish: Pineapple French toast
Gold Coast
Cornerstone A steakhouse meal that won’t blow your budget. Don’t miss the whiskey library’s impressive lineup, including the restaurant’s own blend of Crown Royal. Recommended dish: Cedar-planked salmon
Harrah’s
Ruth’s Chris Steak House Steak comes with sizzle at this American favorite, which serves its cuts on 500-degree plates. Start with blue crab cakes or lobster bisque before getting down to beefy business and decadent side dishes. Recommended dish: Filet
Luxor
Tender Steak & Seafood A twist on the traditional steakhouse, everything from bison ribeye to wild line-caught salmon. Recommended dish: Colorado lamb racks
Mandalay Bay
Aureole Charlie Palmer’s gem exemplifies modern American cooking, with thoughtful presentations that pull from an array of international influences. Recommended dish: Jidori chicken breast
MGM Grand
Joël Robuchon Dinner here is one to remember, thanks to the impressive wine list, the decadent dishes and truly epic bread cart. Recommended dish: Truffled langoustine ravioli in a foie gras sauce with simmered green cabbage
The Mirage
Tom Colicchio’s Heritage Steak An immaculate, relaxing dark-wood decor perfectly complements a menu chock-full of great cuts. Recommended dessert: The Ice Cream Social
New York-New York
Gallagher’s Steakhouse White tablecloths and red meat, that’s the vibe at this outpost of this N.Y. institution, which specializes in prime beef dry-aged on the premises. Recommended dish: Dry-aged New York strip
The Palazzo
Lavo Come for the pasta, stay for the party at this Stripside restaurant and lounge, where the menu hews toward Italian classics. Recommended dish: “The Meatball,” served with whipped ricotta
Palms
Shark Bobby Flay’s latest foray into Las Vegas is a celebration of seafood and sushi, but meat and chicken lovers will find plenty to enjoy as well. Recommended dish: Cured salmon and egg tostada
Paris
Eiffel Tower Restaurant Some of the Strip’s best views are from this 11th-floor dining room, featuring fine dining fare like foie gras torchon, beef Wellington and Rossini-style filet mignon. Recommended dish: Rhubarb strawberry soufflé
Park MGM
Bavette’s Steakhouse & Bar This dark, swanky steakhouse welcomes diners with leather booths, excellent cocktails and delicious cuts of beef. Recommended dish: Seafood tower
Plaza
Oscar’s Former Mayor Oscar Goodman is a link to Las Vegas’ old-school past, as is his restaurant. Start with a Consigliere (bourbon, cheery Heering and sweet vermouth), then dig into entrees like Nicky’s Roasted Chicken. Recommended dish: Moe’s Corn and Crab Bisque
SLS Las Vegas
Bazaar Meat by José Andrés Choosing is the hard part at this “meaterie,” where carnivores are beckoned by a bevy of earthly delights. Recommended dish: Jamón Ibérico de Bellota
Stratosphere
Top of the World Dinner tastes better at 800 feet. Come for the view, but stay for the excellent continental cooking, like Scottish salmon or Maryland crab-stuffed chicken. Recommended dish: Lobster bisque
Tropicana
Robert Irvine’s Public House Comfort food gets a glorious spin at the celebrity chef’s decked-out restaurant. From appetizers to main courses, get ready for a flavorful adventure. Recommended dish: The F&K Burger, meant to be eaten with—what else?—a fork and knife
The Venetian
Yardbird Southern Table & Bar Consider it Southern cooking with soul and an edge. That means bread-and-butter fried okra and deviled eggs with smoked trout roe—creative comfort food. Recommended dish: Chicken ’n’ watermelon ’n’ waffles
Westgate Las Vegas
Edge Steakhouse It’s worth venturing off-Strip for this under-the-radar restaurant where serious steaks are offered alongside more exciting fare and the wine list has earned awards. Recommended dish: Beef Wellington
Vista Cocktail Lounge
Bars & Lounges
Vista Cocktail Lounge at Caesars Palace This lounge’s technological wonders—LED views of everything from Manhattan’s cityscape to nighttime over the city of Shanghai—are almost as good as its handcrafted cocktails.
Carnaval Court at Harrah’s It’s always a wild time at this outdoor spot that has some of the best flair bartenders in the city. Blackjack tables and live bands add to the excitement.
Minus5 Ice Bar at Mandalay Bay Can’t stand the heat? Step inside this bar made completely of ice. Sip cocktails in ice glasses while donning a parka or faux-fur coat while kicking back in freezing temps.
Level Up at MGM Grand Drinking and gaming collide at this adults-only interactive playground. Try out the world’s largest Pac-Man or Zero Latency, a virtual-reality arena, or try your hand at beer pong, life-size Jenga, foosball and more.
The Dorsey
The Dorsey at The Venetian Swank, sexy and superb cocktails make up one of the Strip’s newest lounges. The cocktail menu here features some of the best recipes in the city and the low lighting, plush seating and old-school hip-hop sounds make this spot a must-try.
Gilley’s at Treasure Island There’s bull-riding, beautiful Gilley’s Girls complete with chaps and cowboy hats, line dancing and barbecue. The Stripside country bar is a slice of wild, down-home fun.
Downtown Cocktail Room After you are inside this almost hidden venue, you’ll experience some of the best cocktail creations in the entire city, and the downtempo beats by live DJs help set the mood for this longtime favorite downtown bar where the hip locals flock.
Atomic Liquors Combine a bit of nostalgia and Vegas history with some of the latest trends in cocktail mixology at one of the city’s first-ever freestanding bars in the culturally revived downtown area.
107 SkyLounge at The STRAT Daily happy hour: 4-7 p.m. enjoy half-off select beers, cocktails and wines. Also enjoy social plate specials like wagyu skirt steak tacos, shrimp cocktail and vegan beet hummus.
Cadillac Bar at Golden Nugget Happy hour from 4-7 p.m. Mon.-Fri. with domestic ($3) and import ($4) draft beers, wines by the glass ($5), mixed cocktails ($4) and margaritas—on the rocks, frozen and fruit-flavored—for $4.
Coyote Ugly at New York-New York Join the daily happy hour from 6-9 p.m. with $6 beers and house spirits and $4 Jell-O shots. There are also free line-dancing lessons from 7-8 p.m. daily.
Freedom Beat at Downtown Grand Two happy hours: 2-5 p.m. and 2-5 a.m. Half-off appetizers and half-off draft beer and cocktails.
Blondie’s at Miracle Mile Shops All-you-can-drink well cocktails and domestic drafts for $20, 3-6 p.m. and 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Mon.-Fri.
