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This June, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants annual awards will return to the US for the second time with Las Vegas playing host. Check out our local expert’s guide to the best insider spots across the entertainment capital of the world – from off-Strip speakeasies to avant-garde food-art installations
Within the confines of a 4.4 mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard there’s a seemingly endless variety of choice, day or night, to entertain every type of visitor – be they a connoisseur, gambler or an escapist. But the Vegas Valley extends far beyond the Strip and features one of the country’s best Chinatowns, a neon-lit downtown that harkens back to a forgotten era, and unique neighborhoods filled with excellent eateries and craft bars. Whether you’re looking for an outstanding jambalaya at 3am, an immersive theatre show or a blowout gastronomic extravaganza, here are 24 of the city’s best things to see, eat and sip.
1. Warm up with a performance sauna
rwlasvegas.com/spa
Samadhi is the highest level of Buddhist enlightenment. And while Awana Spa, in Resorts World, doesn’t claim you’ll attain this, there is no denying this space exudes Zen right down to its floor plan, which is in the shape of a recumbent Buddha. The spa boasts a sizable co-ed thermal experience equipped with a ‘performance sauna’. Here sauna meisters use towel flicks to envelop guests in warmth during a choreographed dance. Naturally there is also an ample selection of bodywork and tech-forward skincare services on offer.
2. Bolster the Vegas culinary revolution
wynnlasvegas.com/casa-playa 
At Casa Playa, chef Sarah Thompson’s approach to coastal Mexican fare is leading the Vegas culinary revolution. The vibes and service are immaculate, but it’s her tortillas made from scratch with heirloom masa, vibrant ceviche and crudos, colossal grilled U3 prawns, suckling pig that delivers on the crackling and ethereal moles that have guests lining up. While the bar programme is naturally agave-forward, there’s also a blood orange sangria balanced with merlot and a cinnamon-spiced black fig liqueur to sample.
3. Escape downtown
laundryroomlv.com
Hidden inside a downtown Las Vegas neighbourhood bar called Commonwealth lies The Laundry Room, a 22-seat speakeasy. The aesthetic here is more akin to 1940s Chicago than the adjacent neon of Fremont Street. Although there’s a menu, regulars let the bartender create based on their flavour whims and spirit preference. It is strongly recommended to book online when reservations open two weeks out – and bear in mind that they are very strict about no phones or photos.
4. Indulge in the seductively profane
voltairelv.com 
Voltaire is a Parisian-inspired theatre at The Venetian that is reminiscent of Studio 54’s iconic basement and plays host to its production, Belle De Nuit, from Wednesday to Sunday each week. Expect a series of acts ranging from acrobatic to seductively profane and, on select evenings, an added set by resident headliners such as Kylie Minogue, Christina Aguilera and Jason Derulo. While standing room tickets are available, table reservations afford the best experience as well as access to bottle and caviar service.
5. Step inside Sphere
thespherevegas.com
Since its debut in 2023, the Sphere’s Exosphere displays have become an integral part of the city’s skyline. While many visitors now request Sphere view rooms, a ticket inside is worth the splurge. Should no resident artist be performing during your stay, fear not, director Darren Aronofsky's docu-film Postcard from Earth will give you a sense of what the mega-high-resolution (16k) venue complete with 4D effects can do.
6. Experience the city’s finest, lightest pizza
doublezeropie.com
Within a Chinatown strip mall lies one of the country’s best pizzerias: the esoterically titled 00 Pie & Pub. The pies here are Neapolitan in style, but Double Zero (as it’s known) has developed techniques to maximise hydration of its (00) flour, yielding an ethereally light and crisp dough. Around a dozen pizzas are on offer ranging from a Tempesta Market pepperoni-topped, vodka-sauced example to a short rib all’arancia-crowned orange chimichurri creation. Additionally, its wagyu carpaccio, naturally fermented pickles and caramel budino should not be missed.
7. Sip Japanese cocktails in a secret den
rwlasvegas.com/dining
Tucked behind a wall of waving fortune cats at the back of Ms. Meow’s Mamak Stall, an Asian themed convenience store inside Resorts World’s Famous Foods hawker market-styled food court, you’ll find the Here Kitty Kitty Vice Den. The ambience is akin to Tokyo’s Golden Gai district, known for its narrow alleys and craft cocktails. It’s also one of the few bars in town that is balancing Japanese spirits with ingredients like rice milk, banana juice and ume plum liqueur.
8. Enjoy the show, eat lobster
wynnsocial.com/wfc
Whether you’re catching a concert or settling in for a Raiders’ home game, Wynn Field Club at Allegiant Stadium quite literally places you in the midst of the action. This full-on nightclub in the north end zone features field level banquettes, bottle service and elevated bar bites courtesy of Wynn Las Vegas – think caviar-topped lobster skins, nigiri and the like. Following the main event, the party continues as Wynn Nightlife resident DJs such as Diplo and Marshmellow preside.
9. Lie on the beach in the desert
fontainebleaulasvegas.com/pools/liv-beach 
Restaurateur David Grutman’s Miami hospitality empire has finally made its way to Vegas, with outposts of his white-hot pan-Asian eatery Komodo, vibey Papi Steak and LIV Nightclub. Unique to Vegas, however, is the world’s first LIV Beach featuring two levels of daybeds, cabanas, and bungalows (the latter come complete with private pools). And with a stable of DJs like Tiesto and Calvin Harris, this promises to be one of the summer’s hottest bacchanals.
10. Book a flight, book a duck
mott32.com/las-vegas 
Known for its 42-day applewood roasted Peking duck, barbecue Iberico pork, and hot and sour xiaolongbao, Mott 32 at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas is regarded as one of the city’s best Cantonese eateries – albeit with some Beijing and Sichuan influence. This summer, it will launch a weekend cocktail, champagne and dim sum brunch prepped by dumpling masters with a minimum of 5 to 10 years’ experience. Just be sure to order your duck when you book your flight as quantities are limited.
11. Behold Bellagio’s botanical garden
bellagio.mgmresorts.com/conservatory-botanical-garden 
Throughout the year an army of horticulturalists and engineers continuously transforms Bellagio’s 14,000 square foot Conservatory into a seasonally inspired botanical garden. It is a wonder to behold and entrance is free of charge. For the ultimate viewing experience, however, you can book its singular garden table, which offers thematically curated tasting menus from Sadelle’s for brunch and Michael Mina’s eponymously named seafood-forward eatery for dinner.
12. Tap into Catalan tapas
edotapas.com 
Chef Oscar Amador Edo may have staged at El Bulli and El Racó de Can Fabes, but the Catalonian-inspired cuisine he is producing at Edo Gastro Tapas & Wine in Chinatown is both ambitious and very much his own. Build your own smorgasbord of light or heavier bites or let the chef send out an eight-course degustation for $89 per person. Don’t miss the caviar and eggs topped with a bottarga espuma and a blackberry, elderflower or clove-infused G&T from the cocktail cart.
13. Shop smart at Crystals
simon.com/mall/the-shops-at-crystals
Crystals is more haute indoor promenade than a typical mall. Visitors can meander past an art installation by James Turrell as they peruse an edited collection of the best flagship design storefronts in the country. Though multi-storey Hermès, Prada and Louis Vuitton emporiums may catch your eye, don’t overlook Crystals’ smaller boutiques. Standouts include one of only three Kilian fragrance bars in the world and an experiential Sisley Paris boutique with a secret spa cabin offering the city’s best facial.
14. Roll into Robuchon
mgmgrand.mgmresorts.com/joel-robuchon-french
Photo by Cashman Photography
Nothing screams blowout gastronomic affair quite like a 16-course tasting menu at Restaurant Joel Robuchon and its many traditional carts; its bread trolley features 18 selects while other wheeled showcases include butter, cheese, potted teas and mignardises. The focus here is an homage to the late French chef’s most iconic dishes such as Le Caviar Imperial, composed of 12 grams of osetra caviar atop king crab in a cucumber gelee dotted with cauliflower puree. Naturally this is all presented in a Pierre-Yves Rochon designed space evocative of an Art Deco Parisian townhouse.
15. Enter the fairy garden…
spiegelworld.com/shows/absinthe
Over a decade in, Absinthe remains one of Vegas' most popular spectacles. Evenings begin with guests passing through an outdoor ‘Green Fairy Garden’ located in front of Caesars Palace and into an intimate performance tent. The experience is everything you’d expect a Vegas production to be: comedic, acrobatic and adult. Naturally there’s cocktail service and an extensive champagne list. Opt for the front row and you’ll find yourself truly immersed in the action.
16. Grab a (legendary) bagel
siegelsbagelmania.com
Just off the Strip and steps from the convention centre, Bagelmania has been Las Vegas’ preeminent deli for over 35 years. Old school New York-style boiled bagels and bialys are de rigueur, East Coast lox, nova and white fish are shipped in daily, and sandwiches are served with heaps of select beef (be it corned, roasted or brisket). The menu is beyond extensive and everything from matzah ball soup to knishes are beautifully executed. Just be sure to save room for dessert.
17. Drink tequila at Todo Bien
todobientiki.com
Photos by LJ De La Roca
There has been a steady rise in cocktail culture in LV’s environs and this tequilaria in the city’s southwest is a prime example. Expect riffs on island-inspired classics that are not overly sweet. The presentation of the bar’s Todo Bien, a spiced tea that’s essentially the chilled tequila inverse of a hot toddy in a teapot, is particularly playful. Non-agave selects include La Dama Tapada, an excellent blood orange and cilantro charged mule served in an oversized mug.
18. Let the poodles do the talking
fontainebleaulasvegas.com/restaurants/ito
The members-only Poodle Room at the recently opened Fontainebleau Las Vegas has already played host to everyone from Jay Z to Leonardo DiCaprio. For mere mortals, a booking at Ito – the exceptional, 12-seat modern omakase counter from chefs Masa Ito and Kevin Kim – affords access to this exquisite space before or after their dining experience. Expect a series of decadently designed rooms and cocktails curated by acclaimed bartender Juyoung Kang served in Baccarat crystal. The bathrooms feature a faux taxidermy poodle piping in recordings of adult books on tape, no less.
19. Hit up The Oyster Bar in the early hours
palacestation.com/eat-and-drink/the-oyster-bar
So many people make the pilgrimage to this 18-seat seafood counter in Palace Station that wait times are often several hours, day or night, for piping hot bowls of creole pan roast, bouillabaisse and gumbo. It’s spicy, addictively delicious and soul satisfying. Pro tips: start with a cup of the off-menu dirty chowder (half New England and half Manhattan), and you can substitute rice for noodles for an ultimate pasta pescatore. Open 24/7, no reservations.
20. Join the ultimate supper club
wynnlasvegas.com/dining/fine-dining/delilah
A table at Delilah, Wynn Las Vegas’ 1950s-inspired supper club, is one of the city’s most coveted reservations. Yes, the LA original is a Hollywood ‘it’ spot, but the Las Vegas follow-up is a masterclass in what a generous budget, exceptional taste and culinary talent can do. While Chef Joshua Smith’s Wellington and carrot souffle are exquisite, you’d be remiss to forego an early evening cocktail or late-night digestif in the room’s bubble bar, where Wynn’s master mixologist, Mariana Mercer Boarini, executes some of her very best work. There is live music nightly and you never know when the likes of Justin Bieber or The Weeknd will hop on stage.
21. Witness close-up magic
themagiciansstudy.com
Photo by Alex S
The Magician’s Study is shrouded in mystery and, with only a few dozen seats, demand is high. Tickets are sold by invitation only; but for those interested in experiencing some of the world’s best close-up magic firsthand, it’s worth applying for the booking password online. Confirmed guests are provided with the showroom’s on-Strip location after agreeing to keep the well-known magician’s identity a secret. Note that booking a VIP seat will likely put you in the act itself.
22. Lock yourself in The Vault
bellagio.mgmresorts.com/nightlife/the-vault
Beyond the fact that this 52-seat jewel box is hidden behind a nondescript door adjacent to Bellagio’s casino cage, all you need to know is The Vault is the purview of Craig Schoettler. While he made a splash as the original executive ‘chef’ (aka drinks don) of revered Chicago bars Aviary and The Office, The Vault is surely his finest work. An evening here is a journey through liquid history. It may start with a daiquiri made from 1950s rum (previously made in copper kettles with lower ABV than what’s produced today) and progress to a modern margarita crafted from the world’s only single barrel blanco tequila created exclusively for The Vault. The programme, service and experience is exceptional.
23. Head to Japan, by way of Chinatown
kaisekiyuzu.com
Having previously cooked for the Emperor of Japan, Chef Kaoru Azeuchi now presents a hyper-seasonal, traditional kaiseki to 20 lucky guests a night at Kaiseki Yuzu in Chinatown. The menu evolves monthly and may include uni-topped grilled nodoguro (black-throated sea perch) in the winter or a sunomono (vinegared) course of shrimp and striped jack wrapped with green onion in the spring. Should you be looking for a more sushi-centric experience, it also offers a separate Osaka-style omakase next door.
24. Immerse yourself in the avant-garde
meowwolf.com/visit/las-vegas
Area 15 is a collection of freestanding avant-garde art, food and beverage installations. The most provocative of these is Omega Mart. Once inside, visitors will find themselves immersed in a dystopian grocery store and ultimately pulled into the strange world of Omega Mart’s parent company, Dramcorp. You can easily spend several hours exploring this 52,000 square foot space. The exhibits are interactive, trippy and more than worth of a visit.
The list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, will be announced on Wednesday 5 June from Las Vegas. To stay up to date with the latest news, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube, and sign up to our newsletter.
