35 Best Restaurants in Las Vegas, Nevada

When chefs name their idol, more than a few will cite French Laundry chef Thomas Keller, the star behind this stunning, capacious French bistro in the Venezia Tower. Soaring Palladian windows, antique lighting fixtures, a pewter-topped bar, and colorful tile lend a sophisticated take on French country design, a fitting setting in which to dine on savory, rich cuisine. Menu options include classics such as escargots de Bourgogne, steak frites, mussels with white wine, and an extensive seafood bar, and selections of cheese and caviar. Finish with profiteroles or crème caramel. A charming garden outside is perfect for an alfresco dinner or postmeal stroll. Return for brunch from 8 am to 1 pm Thursdays or 8 am to 2 pm Fridays through Sundays, when you might try roasted chicken with a bacon-chive waffle, Croque Madame, or seared foie gras. There's a freestanding Bouchon Bakery near the Venetian Theatre, offering breads, pastries, and confections.

Grandiose, spectacular, and heart-stopping are three words to describe NoMad Library, the restaurant at NoMad Las Vegas. Inspired by the celebrated library of NoMad New York, the restaurant has 40-foot ceilings and is ringed with shelves of books—a backdrop that creates an intimate and sophisticated vibe. The food is worthy of this setting. Most dishes are communal, meaning they're designed to share. A signature dish is an American Wagyu prime rib (rubbed with porcini and black garlic) for two. Towers of seafood from the raw bar are nice starters, and tuna tartare is prepared tableside. Next door, in the NoMad Bar, a more casual menu is available for dinner and late-night bites. On weekends, there's jazz brunch, too.

Caesars Palace completely revamped its buffet experience with the Bacchanal Buffet. It's a culinary extravaganza of more than 250 menu items daily, plus nine chef-attended action stations and the support of 10 kitchens, with an emphasis on seasonality. Made-to-order sushi, baked-to-order soufflés, pizza made in a wood-burning oven, and individual portions of dishes that are served in steam tables elsewhere are consumed in three distinct dining areas with glass, wood, and steel decor themes.

Michael Mina’s stunning Belle Époque dark-wood-and-glass wonder on the mezzanine level of ARIA has, as you might expect, a decidedly French accent, and old-world glory shines in dishes such as oeufs mimosa (caviar deviled eggs), duck à l'orange salad (with duck confit and sauce remoulade), and black cod bouillabaisse. At brunch, which runs from 9 am to 2 pm, Friday through Sunday, you can indulge in brioche French toast with vanilla bean mascarpone and almond brittle, or the pastry selection that includes canelé de Bordeaux and kouign-amann. Happy hour is from 5 to 7 pm daily, accompanied by cocktails like French 75 and Le Peche Mode.

What warms the blood more swiftly at this down-home hang: the fresh-from-the-oven biscuits or the 80-plus varieties of bourbon? Find out at this unique addition to the ongoing refurbishment of the Water Street District in downtown Henderson, where you will find drinks served in Mason jars and a menu of smoked meats, from pulled pork to apple-brined chicken, in big portions. The biscuits are served à la carte with your choice of flavored butters, honeys, and jams. (You can't go wrong with the classic buttermilk biscuits topped with apple cider caramel butter, clover honey, and mango habanero jam.) The room is small, with a rustic-yet-modern, wood-grained decor. (Those with truly formidable stomach capacities can take on the "All In," which pairs three-quarters-of-a-pound servings of three meats with an equal number of large sides.) Brunchers would do well to indulge in the fried chicken waffle, as good a reason for getting up early on the weekends as any.

Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger are the popular, green-minded chefs who created this cheery, sophisticated outpost of their now-closed Santa Monica restaurant. Service is snappy, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a tastier margarita in town—particularly the blood orange and chili-citrus versions. Starters include green-corn tamales, three citrusy ceviches, and house-made guacamole, and grilled sustainable fish and hormone-free meats, such as skirt steak and short ribs, make healthful, flavorful fillings for tacos and tortillas. For dinner, opt for dishes such as jamon Serrano pollo relleno, seafood molcajete, or portabello mushroom mulitas with black beans and roasted peppers. The all-you-can-eat weekend brunch, served from 10 to 3, features creative small plates, such as horchata French toast, diablo chicken with a churro waffle, and cajeta churros with cinnamon and raspberry sauce.

Fans of the bygone Pink Taco will smile in recognition when they see its replacement's layout is much the same, including the convivial center bar. New operators still offer a Mexican menu and Día de Los Muertos decor, and the place is arguably even more fun now, thanks to greatly expanded outdoor patio seating against the backdrop of the pool area that keeps the 3–5 pm happy-hour crowd buzzing with hibiscus margaritas and sangria (special prices are in the bar area only). You have to comb the corners of the menu to find anything more adventurous than tacos and burritos, but they come in every form, from the standard chicken and carne asada to grilled fish and cauliflower. A Sunday brunch offers day-drinkers the tantalizing combination of mariachi bands and a $45 "bottomless" mimosa.

The first (and so far only) fully plant-based fine-dining restaurant on the Strip, from ground-breaker Tal Ronnen, is a haven for vegans and vegetarians as well as those who want to eat well, as well as healthfully. The "foie gras" served here is made from chestnuts and accompanied by cabernet demi, grapes, and grilled sourdough, while ravioli is stuffed with porcini and cauliflower. In addition to the à la carte menu, there’s a seven-course tasting menu (hmm . . . truffles are vegan) as well as a five-course version. At brunch, from 10 to 2 on weekends, you’ll find a bagel tower, stuffed French toast, and "chicken" and waffles.

Eat may serve only breakfast and lunch, but chef Natalie Young's food is so hearty (and so uniquely appealing), you may not feel the need for dinner. Among the specialties are cinnamon biscuits with warm strawberry compote, shrimp and grits with bacon, and the "DWBLTA" (thick, toasted sourdough bracketing thick-sliced bacon, tomato, lettuce, and avocado). The "Killer Grilled Cheese with Kick Ass Tomato Soup" lives up to its name on both counts. Then, of course, there are the deviled eggs, for which the whites on the bottom are fried. Need we say more? 

This Paris Las Vegas restaurant is a room with a view. It's about a third of the way up the hotel's half-scale Eiffel Tower replica, with vistas from all four glassed-in sides. (Request a Strip view when booking for the biggest wow factor—it overlooks the fountains at Bellagio across the street; but expect to pay extra). Patrons are often pleasantly surprised that the food here measures up to the setting: the French-accented menu usually includes appetizers of cold foie gras torchon with duck prosciutto. On the entrée list, you might find individual Eiffel Tower beef Wellingtons, venison loin with huckleberry jus, and vegetarian dishes such as crispy roasted quinoa roulade with honeynut squash. The restaurant also offers a variety of caviar priced by the ounce, and brunch is served from 10 am to 2 pm weekends.

Every day is Día de los Muertos at this chic, skull-festooned cantina in Tivoli Village, where a pair of brightly colored calacas guard the entryway. Once inside, prepare to encounter a different kind of spirit: namely, a vast selection of tequila, with over 100 varieties available in this eye-popping, high-end Mexican eatery. The menu is as inviting as the rose-covered walls, ranging from gourmet filet mignon tacos to lobster fajitas to signatures like their cedar chipotle salmon. Brunch is served all day, and there are family packages to feed the whole brood. The focus here is on using organic and non-GMO ingredients made fresh daily, meaning there's not a microwave in the house.

Inside Downtown's bohemian temple, the Emergency Arts Building, this restaurant features what they call a "scratch kitchen concept." It may sound rather pot-lucky, but this isn't the standard chain-food menu (despite being part of a California-based chain). How does this sound: skirt steak with broccolini, red chimichurri, chili flakes, Parmesan, and lemon zest; a cowboy burger nearly tipping over with shoestring onions, bacon, cheddar cheese, and a beer barbecue sauce; and a bourbon barrel cake. That's just for starters. For imbibing purposes, sample the local craft beers, small-batch whiskeys, and classic cocktails. And don't miss the daily "Hoppy Hour."

The first restaurant from TV personality and classically trained chef Giada De Laurentiis sits on a prime piece of real estate at the intersection of the Strip and Flamingo Road. The wide expanse of floor-to-ceiling windows provides commanding views, and the food's pretty impressive, too. Try the caprese frittata or a selection of pastries for brunch. At dinner, start with the ricotta crostini or orzo meatballs and move on to penne rigati with wild mushroom and vegetable Bolognese, or veal chop saltimbocca.  A four-course tasting menu also is available. The chef has a much more casual spot, Pronto, at Caesars Palace.

Hearty appetites will be richly rewarded at this quirky purveyor of so-called twisted farm food. Heaps of savory comfort food are cooked to order in this spacious restaurant done up in industrial, urban-farmhouse decor. Breakfast skillets runneth over with tender, house-cured hashes, fresh eggs, house-made biscuits and jam, and sage-fried chicken Benedict with smoked bacon, griddled mozzarella, spinach, tomato, and chipotle cream. Non-breakfast platters include sage-fired chicken and waffles; stuffed meat loaf, burgers, pork tenderloin and barbecued ribs. This expanding mini-chain has additional locations are in The LINQ Resort & Casino, the Plaza Hotel and Casino (breakfast and lunch only Sunday–Friday); in Henderson ( 555 N. Stephanie St.); and Summerlin ( 10810 W. Charleston Blvd.).

Frequented by local professionals and ladies-who-lunch, this spacious suburban spot serves farm-to-table–inspired dishes. Expect to see a lot of free-range poultry, whole grains, and seasonal produce on your plate. Chic, rustic decor—soft hues, reclaimed wood, and antique mirrors—lends a casual airiness to the dining room and conveys sophistication, despite its gingham-clad waitstaff. Appetizers, sides, and salads are stars here: "My Wife's Favorite Salad" combines locally sourced greens with duck confit, pine nuts, and pomegranate, crowned with a sunny-side-up egg, if you wish. In addition to caramelized sea scallops, charred filet mignon, and Nana's Chicken Curry, there are several offerings for the lighter appetite (and budget). Indulge in the Brown Bag Baked Apple Pie for dessert. A happy hour menu available from 3 to 6 pm bridges the gap between lunch and dinner.

The vibe is spelled out in the name of this sprawling indoor-outdoor casual Italian space from Los Angeles restaurateur Nick Mathers. It's a 300-seater with three bars; the atmosphere changes from the bar-centric lounge near the front entry to "beachside" near the Virgin Las Vegas pool area. The versatile menu follows the cues of the day, from brunch with sparkling wines to late-evening light bites. While a DJ spins beneath a disco ball, you can try the deceptively complex pizzas and salads or delve into more ambitious fare like lobster pasta or branzino.

This intimate, casual restaurant focuses on wine and Mediterranean-inspired small plates such as sweet and salty bacon-wrapped dates with blue-cheese fondue, and beef carpaccio with mushrooms and truffle aioli. The  wine list reflects global selections, with an emphasis on Europe. The menu groups the offerings by provenance and preparation: From the Sea, Farm, Oven, Garden, Grill, Butcher, and so forth. A fiery chorizo, andouille, and pepperoncini flatbread is ideal for sharing, and vegetable dishes, including a beet and burrata salad with arugula, satisfy those with dietary restrictions. There also are charcuterie and cheese selections, and a number of vegan dishes. During the butler-style, all-you-can-eat brunch from 10 to 2 on weekends, expect the likes of a snickers pancake, veal short rib hash, and filet mignon eggs Benedict. Vegan selections are available. 

Renowned chef Julian Serrano, who has long had the award-winning Picasso at Bellagio (and an eponymous tapas spot at ARIA), has added more frontage on the resort's lake with his first Italian restaurant. The emphasis is on seafood, with starter choices such as oysters with Champagne mignonette, hamachi or salmon crudo, and shrimp with Calabrese peppers and white wine. Pizzettas include one with black truffle shavings, pata negra Iberico ham, and truffle cheese. Pasta dishes range from good ol' spaghetti and meatballs to lemon tagliolini, and entrées include a mixed seafood grill, osso buco, steaks, and chicken. Brunch from 10 am to 2:30 pm, Fridays through Sundays, is an especially good time to get a great view of the fountains.

The food at this Roman-styled see-and-be-seen restaurant/nightclub often is overshadowed by the roaring club scene, but it's worth a stop—especially if you go early to avoid the thump thump of the music upstairs. Many of the dishes are meant to be shared. You might see such substantial starters as tuna tartare, a one-pound meatball, and a spinach and artichoke brick-oven pizza. Entrées might feature brick oven salmon oreganato or cavatelli bolognese. For brunch from 10 am to 3 pm on weekends, try the seafood salad or eggs florentine.

Michael Symon, TV celebrity chef and the man who revived the Cleveland culinary scene, took his show on the road to Las Vegas with this meat-centric spot at the Palms. "Pig Parts" (crispy ears, tails and cracklin's) may seem like a novelty to some, but there's no doubting the seriousness of his pork, beef, poultry, and carefully conceived sides, as well as the long list of brews to go with them. Those looking for a daytime party will find it at the weekend brunch (but only during football season), when the airy, two-level space has either a DJ (Saturday) or live music (Sunday) and "bottomless" cocktails.

This French bistro-cum-wineshop is in a quiet master-planned neighborhood that winds around its own lake (!), a remnant of the era when Las Vegas cared even less about running out of water. The tranquil setting and view are rivaled by a wine list nearly 1,000 bottles deep, and tastings and wine dinners are held regularly. You can buy a bottle at retail prices in the store and then drink it on the premises ($10 corkage fee). Seating is in either the cozy dining room or on the expansive lakeside terraces, which have misters for summer use and fireplaces for winter. When you're ready to eat, start with a cheese or charcuterie tray and move on to seared foie gras with poached seasonal fruit or a roasted beet salad. Entrées might include a classic steak frites or blackened sea bass. Hear live music on select nights. Marché Bacchus also has specialty cocktails and a 4–6 pm happy hour.

A sister to The Factory Kitchen in Los Angeles, Matteo's has a relaxed, casual atmosphere, but there’s a serious emphasis on the northern Italian cuisine. Starters of a plancha-grilled cuttlefish salad with Calabrian crema, or a duo of seared and rolled foie gras, might be followed by handkerchief pasta with almond-basil pesto, slow-roasted pork belly with vegetables, or sea scallops with creamed sunchokes. Brunch from 10 to 2 Friday through Sunday features such dishes as eggs Benedict with olive toast and mortadella, or ricotta pancakes with blueberries and mascarpone crema, and there are lunch and children’s menus, plus a pre-theater three-course prix-fixe.

The sunlit Primrose perfectly reflects the all-about-nature theme of Park MGM and is a great place to stop for a quick morning coffee or pressed juice, a bountiful breakfast, or sparkling rosé all day (or at least until 2 pm). Breakfast ranges from the traditional to the likes of deep-dish pancakes with almond whipped cream, with pastas, poultry, burgers, and salads for later on.

The soul in the belly here comes courtesy of James Beard–nominated chef Bruce Kalman, who might be recognizable on sight to viewers of foodie faves Top Chef, Chopped, and Beat Bobby Flay. Bringing the barbecue flavors of central Texas to Vegas, this atmospheric venue adds cocktails, local beers, and live entertainment to the mix to turn what might have been just a barbecue dinner into a barbecue experience and a night on the (Down)town.

Isolated from the busier parts of Wynn, this bright, airy breakfast-and-brunch restaurant overlooks a serene pool and well-manicured garden off the gleaming Tower Suites lobby. For something lighter try the steel-cut Irish oatmeal with golden raisins and almond milk, or sliced fruit with Greek yogurt. Or indulge in the short rib Benedict, French toast with stewed apples and brown-sugar crumble, or a lobster burger with Gruyere.

Step into the regal dining room, tricked out with opulent chandeliers and elegant artwork, and any doubt that a buffet could meet Bellagio's standards vanishes. Even the most discerning foodie should find something to like among urbane cuisine like venison chops, apple-smoked sturgeon, and (especially) elaborate pastries. Some say the Buffet is overrated and overcrowded, but don't be put off by the naysayers—if you skip items that you could easily get at any Vegas buffet (such as pizzas from the wood-fired oven), you'll do well here. The staff does a first-rate job tending to everybody's needs. If you want to try to avoid the lines, show up right when dinner starts (5 pm). Beverage packages—offering two hours of mimosas, beer, margaritas and more—are available.