Best Things to Do in Las Vegas

Carnivores, you’re up. This is José Andrés’ innovative steakhouse that features several Wagyu options and a “Meat Bar” where you can choose your type and cut of meat.

Gault Millau named Joël Robuchon the “chef of the century” in 1989. L’Atelier serves up his classic French dishes at a long bar, and it’s more budget-friendly than his other Vegas ventures. If you want his tippy-top fine-dining experience (and you’re willing to pay for it) try to get a reservation at his self-named, three-Michelin-star restaurant in the MGM Grand.

Michael Mina’s cafe inside the ARIA Resort & Casino looks like it was pulled straight off a 1920s Paris street. And it delivers on upscale French fare and fresh cocktail twists.

You may know him as a mainstay on Iron Chef, but Masaharu Morimoto is a brilliant restaurateur too. His Las Vegas spot has modern Japanese fare with a gorgeous presentation. 

Before he was creating Ugly Delicious for Netflix, David Chang was garnering national awards for his Momofuku Noodle Bar in NYC. Here, you can try his creative Asian dishes inside The Cosmopolitan. 

If you couldn’t guess by the name, they serve chicken, really good chicken. With an Asian twist. You have to try the Hainanese chicken rice. 

The Hobak family drew inspiration for their restaurant from ’80s, old-style Korean street food. Their charcoal and gas cooking experiences are perfect for groups.

La Strega’s constantly changing menu covers every region in Italy, offering a wide variety of Italian dishes and flavors.

The place to go if you want to try a dish you’ve never had. This new American eatery is constantly testing out new culinary combinations.

FYI, the Strip isn’t downtown. But downtown Vegas is just as worthy of your attention, and Fremont East is its heartbeat. Parts of the neon-clad Fremont Street are super touristy, but Fremont East is more like a hip residential neighborhood, lined with cool bars and eateries. 

Subtract the lights and sky-high hotels and add eclectic storefronts, cool bars, art galleries and collectives. While you’re there, stop at Doña María Tamales Restaurant and Vesta Coffee Roasters. 

Facing your fear of heights, stick with the inside observation deck. Daredevils, head to the outdoor observation decks, which features thrill rides that hoist you over the tower’s edge.

The oldest freestanding bar in Las Vegas is also one of its coolest. This place has seen famous actors, members of the Rat Pack and midcentury gangsters. Maybe because their cocktail list is top-notch.

It’s totally kitsch and flat-out fun. They go all out on the island decor — we’re talking bamboo, lowbrow art and a menu full of creative rum drinks. 

Whiskey is the name of the game at this Container Park bar. They specialize in barrel-aged cocktails and mules. 

A whimsical local favorite that blends a cozy atmosphere, Victorian style and inventive cocktail menu into a charming experience.

These are real human bodies, preserved so that you can observe their intricate musculature, skeletons, nerves, blood vessels, etc. Unless you’re a coroner, you won’t see this anywhere else. 

Vegas is no stranger to neon. Also called the “Neon Boneyard,” this is a collection of retired signs, each with insight into the city’s history. 

Double Down’s website calls it “the anti-Vegas” and “a clubhouse for the lunatic fringe.” They’ve got murals all over the walls, free rock shows several nights a week and a vodka concoction called “Ass Juice.”

An artsy and eclectic venue featuring three different rooms to lounge and listen to local bands and DJs. 

A Western-themed bar in Downtown Las Vegas that hosts national and local acts.