Sin City, the entertainment capital of the world. It’s where dreams are made, fortunes won and just as many tipped down the drain. While there’s no denying that some lucky few have come to Vegas, made it big and got out, this game is rigged from the start so when it boils down to it, the house always wins. And what does the house do with all those winnings? Well, they build restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs, of course. Because if the house can’t beat you at the tables, they’ll get you with a lavish tasting menu on your way out.
Founded as a city in 1905, the fortunes of Vegas changed in 1931 when the state of Nevada legalized casino gambling. By 1935, the Hoover Dam had been constructed, with the influx of construction workers and their families only helping things grow. Quickly, Vegas became internationally renowned for its large lavish hotels, dazzling lights and casinos.
The dining scene in Vegas has changed a lot in the last 20 years. While the colossal, uber-cheap world food buffets that this city was known for still exist, the introduction of the Michelin guide, albeit for only a couple of years in 2008 and 2009, helped to cement Vegas as a fine dining destination. Several restaurants that gained stars while the guide ran, remain open, some of them make this list of the best restaurants in Las Vegas.
Although the last Vegas Michelin guide was published over 15 years ago, its effect on highlighting Las Vegas as a global fine dining destination can still be felt today. So, without any further ado, here are the best restaurants in Las Vegas.
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Joël Robuchon
The undisputed king of Las Vegas’s brief Michelin era, back in the 2009 guide, Joël Robuchon was the only restaurant in Vegas to achieve the coveted three Michelin stars distinction. While technically the restaurant no longer holds these stars, it also never officially lost them either. Stars aside, Joël Robuchon, located inside the colossal MGM Grand Hotel, is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in the city.
Despite his passing back in 2018, chef Robuchon’s legacy is continued in this small fine dining establishment, which serves French fare. Designed to resemble an Art Deco townhouse, the interiors are glamorous to say the least, with gold detailing paired with purple accents.
This is high-class fine dining: expect lengthy tasting menus comprised of dishes that look as good as they taste and priced to match.
Le Cirque
Shooting up the Strip and heading over to the Bellagio hotel — famed for its fountains — diners will discover Le Cirque, the Vegas iteration of a fabled Manhattan French eatery of the same name that closed down in 2018. However, the Vegas version remains open and just as competent as when it won a single star back in 2009.
While Joël Robuchon keeps things formal, Le Cirque lets things get a touch more whimsical — just look at the décor — but it’s not all bells, whistles and eye-catching interiors, the food is up to scratch as well.
Guests pick from a variety of set menus, from smaller three-course pre-theater selections to the more expansive eight-course menu dégustation, priced at a cool $385 per person. While you’re at it why not go for the premium wine pairing, at just an additional $395 per person.
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Wing Lei
When crafting a list of the best restaurants in Las Vegas, someone could stick to only those serving classic French cuisine, and who could blame them? However, the bright lights of Las Vegas have so much more to offer, such as Wing Lei at the Wynn, the first Chinese restaurant in North America to earn a Michelin star.
Serving a combination of Cantonese, Shanghai and Szechuan flavors, while Wing Lei technically no longer has a Michelin star, it’s still regarded as undisputedly the best Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas. Picture tableside carved Imperial Peking duck or wok-fried Maine lobster, all served up in a dining room that could easily be mistaken for the Forbidden City. Supposedly the interiors were inspired by Chinese jewelry boxes; the resemblance is uncanny.
Chef Ming offers a signature tasting menu, ideal for guiding those unsure of what to select through an evening. Or dive straight into the à le carte, which is extensive.
é by José Andrés
Spanish American chef José Andrés is sometimes credited with introducing and popularizing the concept of small-plate dining in America. é by José Andrés is regarded as one of the best restaurants in Las Vegas, and for good reason. Located inside another Andrés restaurant, Jaleo at The Cosmopolitan, é is essentially a small chef’s table that can seat around nine diners at a time.
Following in much the same vein as Andrés’ popular Michelin-starred minibar restaurant, a group of chefs serve diners a fixed-price menu of around 25 small courses. Think omakase style, but with Spanish food. This is avant-garde dining at its finest; expect your palate to be tested and taken in new directions.
There are two settings of nine guests per night, at 5.30 and 8.30 with reservations available three months in advance. Given the small amount of spots available, getting a seat at this table can be a struggle, but surely worth it. Of course, having friends in high places often helps the grease the wheel.
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Carbone
Following the success of New York’s Carbone, which has developed a reputation for being practically unbookable, a second iteration of the established Italian eatery opened in Las Vegas in 2015. Located at the luxurious Aria Resort and Casino, this Carbone follows in much the same vein as its Manhatten-based elder sibling, modeling itself on the iconic Italian restaurants that graced mid-century New York.
This haunt is as much about the vibe and the ambiance as it is about the food. Thankfully both are excellent: expect a dose of over-the-top glamour and plenty of tableside service. The restaurant’s spicy rigatoni vodka has received more than enough coverage and features on the menu alongside a whole host of crowd-pleasing Italian classics.
Don’t expect to visit Carbone and taste something completely new – that’s not really the point. Here it’s all about capturing the essence of a certain time in history, where good dining was effectively guaranteed.
Sushi Kame
It’s not a ‘best restaurants in’ list without an omakase option, and when it comes to Las Vegas, there’s only one choice. Sushi Kame, is widely regarded as the finest omakase experience in Vegas and, unlike the vast majority of restaurants on this list, it’s not found in one of this city’s vast hotels.
Here, traditional sushi is crafted utilizing the finest ingredients available that day. Everything is exceptionally fresh and made using seasonal ingredients of the highest quality. Owner-chef Eric Kim takes the lead in curating and cooking a menu that celebrates both flavor and creativity.
Expect a mixture of authentic sushi and sashimi served to diners in a calming space with plenty of wood and neutral tones. This restaurant lets the food do all the talking.
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Bouchon
Wherever esteemed chef Thomas Keller heads, things usually turn out well. In 2004 he set up shop in Vegas, bringing his famed bistro-style cuisine to the city. Twenty years later Bouchon is still going strong as a staple restaurant situated in the south tower of The Venetian.
While it’s Yountville’s three-Michelin-starred The French Laundry that Thomas Keller is most known for, his Bouchon Bistro establishments, of which there are three (Yountville, Las Vegas, Miami), offer a slightly more casual affair.
Sticking to the classics with boeuf bourguignon, pâté de campagne and boudin noir, in addition to crowd pleasers like steak frites and poulet rôti, ensures everyone’s going home happy.
Michael Mina
Another bastion of the Strip, Michael Mina at the Bellagio is where diners head for the finest fish in the city, which is exactly why it has earned a spot on our best restaurants in Las Vegas list. Michael Mina earned itself a single Michelin star back in 2009, and that reputation continues to linger.
The state of Nevada isn’t exactly known for its fresh seafood. To combat this, Michael Mini flies fish in daily, ensuring impressive variety and quality. The freshness is unmatched and the service is just as high quality, with tableside preparation and a wine list that’s extensive to say the least.
Like many of the other spots on this list, there is a seasonal tasting menu or select from the á la carte. Fish haters will be pleased to find steak on the menu, but Vegas is full of great steak restaurants so there will certainly be a better option if you’re looking for a big cut of meat.
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Hell’s Kitchen
Having recently been renewed for both its 23rd and 24th season, Gordon Ramsay’s beloved Hell’s Kitchen TV show has almost been running for 20 years. Now most dining experiences linked to film and TV are usually a washout, but with Ramsay at the helm, standards remain high.
As the first of many Hell’s Kitchen-inspired restaurants to have opened, the Caesars Palace iteration is somewhat of a flagship. Featuring two chef’s tables, floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the strip, and a red and blue design that evokes the hit TV show, the menu is also laced with Ramsay classics. Of course, the beef Wellington takes center stage here, but there is also steak tartare, pan-seared scallops and Jidori chicken scallopini.
Hell’s Kitchen certainly won’t be winning any awards for innovation, Ramsey bagged all those 20 years ago, but for those looking for good classic food in an ideal location, Hell’s Kitchen is hard to beat.
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon
Not content with having what many describe as the best restaurant in Las Vegas, the late Joel Robuchon also has L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon in the MGM Grand, offering exemplary dishes in a slightly more casual setting.
It’s clear that the chef of the century didn’t do things by halves, embracing the open kitchen concept long before it became almost commonplace. Dinners can sit up at the counter and get a good view of the action, or take a step back and keep things a little more classic.
As a Joel Robuchon restaurant, expect a strong collection of French classics to grace the menu. Yet, unlike restaurant Joël Robuchon which looks to push diners’ palates in new directions, L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon keeps things fresh and simple.
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