Helloooo and viva Las Vegas to you!
Today, I present you with a guide to Las Vegas in all seriousness - despite it being a very silly place. I’m probably going to lose a little street cred with this one. Half of my recs are very touristy, but curated and I’ve cut out a lot of the crap you can skip! I personally love Vegas, and see it as a place where adults come to play and be a little ridiculous. And I think that’s very fun every once in a while!!
I’ve visited many times over the past 15+ years for birthdays, fraternity formals, music festivals, seeing friends/family, and work events + shoots - so I’ve seen the city through quite a few different lenses. My one major note coming out of all these experiences is - you really only need 48 hours for antics here.
I’ve divided the guide into two sections - ON THE STRIP and OFF THE STRIP. There’s many ways to “do” Vegas, whether you are looking to party, live lavishly, or simply kill a few hours between work commitments. Let’s get into it!
SOME GENERAL NOTES/TRAVEL TIPS
Stay - My go-to is Park MGM. Prices tend to be pretty reasonable, it’s non-smoking so your clothes won’t reek of cigarettes when you get home, and the restaurants/bars are great. More of what the hotel has to offer in the Drinks & Eats sections.
Also recommend looking at ARIA & Cosmo. Caesars, Bellagio and Wynn are wonderful but tend to be more $$
Pay attention to whether or not your hotel is non-smoking
Rewards - Yes, it’s another spam email you’re getting for years to come, but I do recommend signing up for the hotel’s rewards program for deals, points, perks - even if it’s just a one weekend visit. MGM Rewards is great and their app rocks. I was able to check us in through the app and use a digital key, skipping the long check in lines IRL + avoiding waste of a couple pieces of plastic!
Transport - Vegas is walkable, with some caveats. Pls note that even if a hotel is right next to where you are staying, it can take you 20-30 minutes to get there! The trade is that most hotels are connected and you can walk through versus going outside and braving the chaotic boulevard. But here are some other modes of transport for when you don’t want to walk -
Ubers & cabs are your friend here. I prefer cabs because they tend to be quicker to grab and the hotel valets will help you out. Uber pick ups can be hard to navigate - they won’t pick you up at the front of the hotels anymore. NO need for a rental car, it’ll just cause you lots of aggravation :)
ARIA has an “Express Tram” that connects Bellagio, Vdara, Park MGM, The Shops at Crystals and ARIA. And it’s free!
The Las Vegas Monorail runs nearly the entire length of the Strip and can help you get closer to your destination!
The airport is only a 15 min ride from the Strip!
ON THE STRIP
EATS
Food is ridiculously expensive on the Strip and not always worth the $$, unfortunately. There are tons and tons of fancy restaurants, some you LA folk may even recognize. But in my experience, very few live up to the hype and sometimes - it makes the most sense to go with what you know in Vegas when it comes to food. Don’t be deceived by celebrity chef names attached to a place. Below you’ll find a mix of grab & go/casual, dinner, and late night spots!
Best Friend - Roy Choi’s greatest hits + more Asian-fusion eats. LOVE it here, it’s a vibe
Eataly - Nothing new but this location is open and airy, a nice respite from the dark and smoky casino floors. A great place to grab a morning coffee + pastry, but also a spritz and some charcuterie for happy hour. Also, affogatos for an afternoon treat / pick me up!
The Chef Truck - Roy Choi strikes again with a cute Cubano truck, inspired by the movie “Chef”. The medianoche is a most excellent hangover cure!
Caffe Al Teatro at Wynn - good coffee and pastries
Bellagio Patisserie - World’s largest chocolate fountain!
Javier’s - A good dinner + pre-game combo with their strong margs
Jaleo - Spanish tapas by José Andres, great for groups + sharing!
Kassi Beach - Elephante’s sister restaurant in LV
Peppermill - A Vegas staple featured in many movies
FUN Restaurants - I won’t sit here and tell you the below food establishments are AMAZING, but they are FUN and serve a specific purpose in Vegas!
Taco Bell Cantina - Yes, the cantina is a chain but this one holds a special place in my heart!! Great for late night eats + they have alcoholic Baja Blasts. Don’t miss the chapel on the second floor, great for a photo opp :)))
Guy Fieri's Vegas Kitchen & Bar - trash can nachos!!
In N Out - I just like that they have a super sized location on the Strip complete with a massive neon sign, another great hungover sodium-forward option!
BARS/CLUBS
Fat Tuesdays - these are all over the Strip, but especially if it’s your first time in Vegas - you have to get a big sugary slushy cocktail and walk around with it. Open container fun!
The NoMad Bar - sexy red velvet cocktail lounge. Great for a drink to get your night started
The Chandelier - Cosmo hosts the most epic, 3-floor bar surrounded by crystals! Drinks are overpriced and very fine but it’s worth visiting for the spectacle and a quick pic :)
On the Record - The “club” for people that don’t like the club. You’ll get a Vegas club experience lite - it’s smaller, the music/DJs tend to be more low-key, and there’s a speakeasy in the middle that serves as a quieter cocktail lounge.
Clubs - Research who is playing before you visit and let that dictate your plans - there are GOOD people playing every weekend. OMNIA, Hakkasan and Tao are my faves if you wanna do it up. Track down a promoter and finagle a deal before you pay any type of money for a table etc!! DM me for more tips here
Day clubs - same goes! Find a promoter friend and DO NOT PAY
THINGS TO DO
Shows - Similar to my note on clubs, do some research on who is playing when you plan to visit! There are a ton of amazing acts & residencies coming to Vegas always. We planned our most recent visit entirely around seeing The Killers for the 20th anniversary of Hot Fuss and it ROCKED!
For non-music shows, any Cirque show tends to be an absolutely insane experience! Also recommend looking into magic shows if that’s your thing - i.e. David Copperfield or Criss Angel. OR Magic Mike if you’re planning a bachelorette/ladies weekend ;) Again, we are going for RIDICULOUS here, people!
Bellagio Fountain Show - iconic!! It’s such a pretty show, I love it every time. Check the schedule at the link - but it usually runs every 15 or 30 mins.
Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens - stunning displays, worth walking through!
Wynn’s Lake of Dreams - a fun (free) show to watch - also recommend walking through Wynn to see their art & garden displays!
The Sphere - Because they know most people cannot afford $600+ tickets to see Dead & Company or The Eagles, the Sphere offers daily tours + a 45 minute film experience. It’s still $100/pp which is a little steep, but if you’re super curious about Sphere and want a look inside, I’d recommend! Book ahead online
Topgolf - Topgolf is great for a low maintenance group activity that also involves food & drink. Booking a bay is relatively easy and it’s a fun hang spot! Not as overstimulating as other parts of the Strip
The Shops at Crystals - there are tons and tons of luxury retailers covering the Strip - the Crystal Shops is a newer development and it’s great for wandering around aimlessly and enjoying some A/C.
James Turrell has a Skyspace installation here currently - check it out!!
OFF THE STRIP
Some of my favorite places in Vegas are off the strip!! There’s a lot of old history in the areas surrounding the main boulevard - I highly recommend a visit just to see the old casinos + retro neon signs!
EATS
Soulbelly BBQ - very good BBQ!!
Mothership Coffee - a very good coffee shop + great for working
PublicUs - maybe the only healthy food I’ve ever eaten in Vegas? This is a great spot for breakfast/brunch, and also solid for working on your laptop
BARS
ReBar - the BEST dive! $3 mystery beers in paper bags, lots of fun photos and signs scattered along the walls, and vintage band tees for sale in the back.
The Golden Tiki - the BEST Tiki bar. All of the drinks are tasty, every corner is kitschy decorated. Don’t miss the bathrooms :)
THINGS TO DO
Ferguson’s Downtown - mentioned Mothership & PublicUs above, but Ferguson’s serves as the main hub for Vegas’s take on an Arts District. Check their website or IG for events, there’s a monthly artisan market, live music, and so much more! Super cute and always enjoy spending time over here.
11th Street Records - a lovely lil’ record store! The $10 mystery vinyl bags are fun!
Circa Sportsbook, Stadium Swim, and Vegas Vickie - Circa holds the title for largest sports betting experience in the world, and it’s pretty insane - but the Stadium Swim on the hotel’s roof is even crazier to me. MASSIVE TV screens surround the pool, something straight out of Final Destination IMHO. Also, say hi to Vegas Vickie, the massive neon lady in the Circa lobby!
Fremont Street - I would never ever recommend the Fremont Street Experience (huge tourist trap), but would definitely recommend walking into some of the older, more historic casinos around here! According to Wikipedia, Fremont St is home to many famous casinos such as Binion's Horseshoe, Eldorado Club, Fremont Hotel and Casino, Golden Gate Hotel and Casino, Golden Nugget, Four Queens, The Mint, and the Pioneer Club. The retro neon signs are soooo rad - say hi to Vegas Vic while you’re there!
Museums/Art Installations
Neon Museum*** - Omg is this my favorite place in Vegas? It’s a huge outdoor space covered in retro neon signs - highly recommend visiting at dusk or night time when they’re all lit up!
Meow Wolf - massive art installations
This ended up being a massive guide, I guess I had a lot to share after 15 years of visiting Sin City! Drop a comment on Substack or reply directly to this email with any questions, comments, etc - and I’ll see you next week! Until then, making silly little TikToks per usual.