FAQs for dining at Las Vegas’s best restaurants
How far in advance should I make reservations?
For most popular Las Vegas restaurants, booking one to four weeks in advance is a good rule of thumb, with the longest lead times for very in-demand spots, weekends, and holidays. All the rules go out the window when there’s a major event in town, like the opening of a major music residency, a massive sports event, or one of the big conventions. This being Vegas, there’s usually room to maneuver if you’re a major player, are coming in with some VIP firepower, or know someone who knows someone. As in many circumstances in Las Vegas, you’ll get more love if you talk to a human rather than rely on a booking platform.
What is the dress code in Las Vegas restaurants?
Many restaurants will say “resort casual” or “smart casual” dress is expected, and what that means is generally avoiding shorts, beachwear, and flip flops. For fine dining, pop on a collared shirt (at least). Most restaurants don’t mandate jackets anymore, and we don’t know of any jacket closets left in the city—but there are some pants closets. That’s right: Wear shorts and you may be asked to pick from their selection. The “smart casual” in Vegas may be different from the casual in your city: Vegas likes to dress up, especially on the weekends. So this is your time to shine in the outfit that is just a little flashier than what you might wear at home.
What are the best restaurants for a group?
Most restaurants in Las Vegas are nimble enough to accommodate groups with the right notice. The best ones are often those that morph into nightclubs or social clubs as the night wears on. Nearly every restaurant worth its salt in Las Vegas has at least one private dining room—and many have multiple. If you’re feeding a bigger group, this is usually the best way to go, especially because acoustics in PDRs are better for groups, and you can control ordering with a set menu.
How can I book my group into a private dining room?
Many restaurants either set a minimum total spend for the room or a fixed per-person menu price plus tax and tip. On the Strip, larger or high-end rooms for groups can require several thousand dollars in minimum spend. It’s common to pay a deposit—per person or a flat amount—with stricter policies on cancellations close to the date. Again, these rules may bend if you have some juice in Vegas.
Is it appropriate to bring kids?
When kids are restricted, it is usually at nightlife-style restaurants, speakeasies, or supper club spots that turn into an adult environment as the evening wears on. For instance, at Delilah in Wynn, kids under 12 aren’t allowed, and above that, anyone under 21 must vamoose before 7 p.m. Standard casino and off-Strip restaurants typically welcome children—the main legal limit is that minors can’t sit or linger in gaming areas or bars. (Keep in mind that if your kid needs to get to a restroom that’s outside a casino restaurant, you’ll need to accompany them.) If you’re worried about bringing your child to a fine dining experience, consider calling ahead and booking a PDR.
What times of year are the most crowded for Las Vegas restaurants?
Major holidays and event weekends are busiest: The usual suspects (New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, etc.) book up quickly, as do big fight or concert weekends. Even though summer (June-August) is considered a lower season—and plenty of locals flee the scene for cooler climes—pool parties and nightlife are big draws, so Strip restaurants can be packed on Friday and Saturday. Always check to see if there’s a major convention in town, because even in a slower season, a large trade show can fill up the city’s best restaurants. The Consumer Electronics Show in January, SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association, an automotive aftermarket show) in the late fall, and fashion trade show MAGIC all draw well over 100,000 attendees. Check the destination’s convention calendar to see if your trip overlaps.
How much time should I count on between dinner and a show?
The Last Vegas Strip is only about four miles long, packed with around 165,000 hotel rooms. And many of the hotels look deceptively right next door to each other. Don’t be fooled: Walking from one casino to the next can easily take over a half hour (for instance, MGM Grand spans over one million square feet in façade area; Caesars Palace sits on 85 acres). Most regulars suggest dining in the same hotel as your show or planning dinner for as many as three hours before showtime if you must move between properties. I recently spent 45 minutes in a rideshare traveling from a property on the north end to another on the south end during a busy weekend night.
Can I bring in my own wine or cake for a celebration at restaurants in Las Vegas?
Some higher-end restaurants and local spots allow outside wine for a corkage fee, typically $15-20 per 750 ml bottle. But if a restaurant does allow it, there’s often a limit on how many bottles you can bring in and/or a requirement that your bottle isn’t already on their own list. Some Strip restaurants forbid outside wine entirely. Celebrating a birthday or anniversary? Many Strip and hotel restaurants don’t allow outside food for health code and liability reasons, but many will offer to arrange a cake through the hotel bakery or their pastry team if you order in advance. In the case of either outside wine or cake, ask explicitly when you book about what they allow, what the fees are, and if there are storage rules. Then arrive a bit early so staff can prepare, and you can avoid an awkward situation at the host stand.
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