Vegas may be one of my favorite places to visit. Not only is it an adult playground (I mean, free drinks, gambling & a city that never sleeps? COUNT ME IN!), but it holds some of the best restaurants and cocktail bars I’ve ever been to. While my husband and I are huge fans of gambling, we also love exploring finding the best eats and drinks Vegas has to offer.
Where To Stay
If you’ve never been to Vegas, it can be overwhelming trying to narrow down which hotel to stay at. I’ve stayed at the best of the best and I’ve stayed at the, well, not so best. There are pros and cons depending on your budget, but I would say the most important thing when selecting a hotel is location, location, location. In Vegas, the city is alive 24/7. With that, you are hardly ever in your hotel room unless it’s to shower or sleep – and sometimes, I don’t even do that.
The center of the Vegas Strip is the prime place to stay because while these hotels look to be “just one hotel down!”, they can actually end up being 30-45 minute walks. Below find a few of the hotels I’ve stayed at along with the pros and cons:
- The Cosmopolitan – Quite possibly my favorite hotel I’ve ever stayed at. Absolutely beautiful rooms, gorgeous hotel, and a three story chandelier bar. When we checked in we upgraded to one of their terrace suites and it did not disappoint. We had stunning views of the Bellagio fountains and a balcony to take in the Vegas views from day to night. Honestly, I have no cons for this hotel other than it’s usually pricier than the other hotels in the area.
- Caesars Palace – A beautiful hotel in a great location. And honestly, always a fun place to stay – ever seen The Hangover? Caesars Palace is located in a great location and their club Omnia was one of the best nights I’ve had seeing Calvin Harris who used to have a residency there. While their rooms are large, they’re slightly dated and I think you can get a better bang for your buck at some of the other hotels in the area.
- Park MGM – Probably a lesser known hotel tucked away behind Aria – one of my favorite casinos to gamble at! Great location, close to Aria & The Cosmo and very reasonably priced. Plus, it has an amazing steakhouse and cocktail bar just downstairs and the table minimums tend to be less than the other larger casinos.
- Paris – One of my favorite places to stay when coming to Vegas. Be sure to request to stay in one of their renovated rooms as it makes a world of difference. I love the staff at Paris, the location, and I always seem to win when gambling here. Very reasonably priced for a great hotel.
- The Flamingo – A Vegas classic with some old Vegas charm. The last time I stayed there I stayed in one of their recently renovated rooms and it was a great price for a great room. However, it is one of the older hotels/casinos, but the location can’t be beat!
Where To Eat
Vegas has some of the best restaurants in the world. With that said, I’m a creature of habit and tend to stick to my favorites. You know what they say! If it ain’t broke…
Below I’ve shared a few of my absolute favorite spots in Vegas that we visit every time in town. I hope you have the chance to visit and try them as well!
- Carbone – Located in the Aria hotel, Carbone exhudes 1920’s prohibition style dining. From the speakeasy entrance to a secret dining room, to the privacy booths around the walls – this restaurant is my favorite dining experience. Must try on the menu: the spicy vodka rigatoni. It is absolutely to die for. I am not a big “spicy” person so I requested no spice, but I’ve tried it both ways and it is absolutely delicious.
- Scarpetta – My favorite *restaurant* in Vegas. Full disclosure: I’ve only ever ordered the spaghetti as my entree and there is no way I’ll ever order anything else. I enjoyed it so much I have yet to snap a photo of it. Honorable mention: The Burrata Salad.
- Hexx – This is our favorite spot outside of Paris to have brunch with a view. With the Bellagio fountains just across the street, it’s a great place to grab great view and bottomless mimosas. Plus, an order of sticky buns doesn’t hurt.
Where To Drink
- Vanderpump Cocktail Garden – Not only am I a fan of Vanderpump Rules, but I am a fan of all of Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurants/bars. I’ve hit the Hollywood trifecta of Pump, Sur and TomTom, and when I heard she was opening a cocktail bar in Vegas I knew I had to check it out. To say it was stunning is an understatement. Easily one of the most beautiful bars I’ve ever visited and the cocktails were fantastic. Do yourself a favor and order the smoked old fashioned, you won’t regret it!
- The Cosmopolitan Chandelier Bar – Located in the center of the Cosmopolitan hotel, it’s impossible to miss. A three story chandelier bar which makes all of my fancy champagne dreams come true. It’s the perfect spot to grab a pre-dinner cocktail and people watch.
- Catch – While I’ve never had the chance to eat here yet, Catch drew me in to their bar with a floor to ceiling flower filled aisle. I highly recommend grabbing dinner or a drink here and taking advantage of the Instagram worthy flower walls. Enjoy!
Tell me in the comments, where are your favorite Vegas spots?
Eat Drink Orlando 