Where to Eat in Las Vegas: Restaurants I've Tried & Loved

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Gambling isn’t my thing, so I go to Las Vegas to eat (and see shows). And boy, does Vegas deliver on the food front!

I’ve visited Las Vegas several times, and while I’ve eaten at plenty of restaurants over the years, these are the places that really stood out. From casual breakfast spots to splurge-worthy dinners, here are five places I’d happily recommend.

My Favorite Places to Eat in Las Vegas at a Glance

Restaurant	Location	Best For	My Favorite
Esther’s Kitchen	Arts District	Italian dinner	Truffle Ricotta Gnudi
Freed’s Dessert Shop	Multiple Locations	Sweet treats	Assorted cookies
Morning News	Off-Strip	Casual breakfast	Bananas Foster Pancakes
18bin	Arts District	Vibe-y brunch	Cinnamon Toasties
The Buffet at Wynn	The Strip	Splurge-worthy buffet	Seafood and carving stations

Esther’s Kitchen – Italian Food in the Arts District

Located in the Las Vegas Arts District, Esther’s Kitchen was truly a highlight of our trip and tops my list of favorite places to eat in Las Vegas!

We had a Wednesday night reservation, and despite arriving almost 15 minutes early, we were seated quickly. I can imagine this popular spot gets pretty crowded on weekends, so I’d definitely recommend booking in advance.

We started our meal with Esther’s housemade sourdough bread, served with basil ricotta spread (I’m a sucker for anything ricotta!) and homemade butter. We instantly wished we’d ordered the Chef’s Spread with additional toppings because everything was so flavorful and delicious that we wanted to try all the options!

While my friends both chose pizzas for their entrees, which they thoroughly enjoyed, I ordered the Truffle Ricotta Gnudi, and it definitely stole the show!

I’m a big fan of gnocchi but had never tried gnudi before, and holy cow, was I missing out! The roasted mushroom fonduta and button mushrooms paired perfectly with the pillowy gnudi. I ate every last bite and even used some of the sourdough to mop up the extra sauce!

The only bad thing about Esther’s? We were too full for dessert!

That being said, I’ll absolutely be returning on my next visit to Las Vegas!

Freed’s Dessert Shop – A Sweet Stop in Las Vegas

After dinner at Esther’s, we all got $10 tattoos at Koolsville Tattoo Las Vegas, and by the time we were done, we were feeling a little snacky.

As we wandered around the Arts District, we passed Freed’s Dessert Shop and knew that passing on dessert at Esther’s was meant to be because it left room for cookies!

We shared a half-pound of cookies for $10.* The sign said we’d get approximately 12–16 cookies, but we felt like we got far more than that!

We all had our favorites (mine was chocolate chip), and while we liked some better than others, we agreed they were the perfect late-night snack.

And we may or may not have eaten the leftovers for breakfast the next morning.

Hey, no judgment. What happens in Vegas…

Cost reflects what I paid in 2024 and may not reflect current pricing.

Morning News – Breakfast Worth Getting Up For

Breakfast the next morning was at Morning News, and we were enamored from the moment we pulled up! The exterior is decorated with adorable caricatures of pancakes, eggs, and waffles, and the fun, laid-back vibe continues inside.

We were greeted warmly and seated almost immediately. The restaurant was busy for a Thursday morning, though, so I can only imagine you might find yourself waiting for a table on weekends.

I ordered the Bananas Foster Pancakes, and they were amazing! I love bananas foster, although the ice cream was a bit much for me since dairy isn’t always my friend. But I enjoyed every bite nonetheless!

This was by far the most affordable meal we had in Las Vegas, and the generous portion kept me full until dinner.

18bin – A Lively Brunch in the Arts District

If you’re an oldie (but a goodie) like me, 18bin is a spot best enjoyed earlier in the day.

Even during our Friday morning brunch, the music was pumping, and the DJ was setting up for what was sure to be an epic afternoon of tunes. The vibes were fun, but we were definitely glad we weren’t there later in the day when things got even more energetic!

To start our meal, we shared the Cinnamon Toasties and the housemade chips and salsa. The chips were thicker than I prefer but had a good crunch, and the salsa was more like hot sauce than traditional salsa (which came in clutch later with my entree).

But the Cinnamon Toasties were the star of the show!

The donuts were light and fluffy, the cream cheese frosting was the perfect consistency, and the Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal was still crispy! I was honestly a little sad we’d shared this appetizer because I could have eaten all three myself.

For my entree, I ordered the Breakfast Burrito, which was solid, filling, and even better with some of that salsa from our appetizer.

I feel like it would be the perfect meal to help someone recover from a Las Vegas-style hangover!

The Buffet at Wynn – A Las Vegas Splurge

The Buffet at Wynn was definitely our splurge meal, and it was worth every penny to me! We spent $80 per person for the Seafood Gourmet Dinner Buffet, but they also offer a lower-priced Daily Gourmet Brunch Buffet if you’re looking to save a little cash for the slots.

The massive buffet has everything from street tacos and sushi to gelato and decadent desserts, and just about everything in between. And honestly? It was a little overwhelming. In the very best way.

To combat the overwhelm, I deployed my tried-and-true buffet rules:

Rule #1: Take a lap around the buffet sans plate. A little window shopping, if you will. I use this time to strategize and prioritize what I truly want.

Rule #2: Don’t fill up on bread, noodles, and other “filler” carbs. There are too many delicious things to waste precious stomach space!

Rule #3: Start with the good stuff. My first (and second) plates were piled high with seafood and sushi.

Rule #4: Save room for dessert (if it looks worth it). You scoped it out during your window shopping, right? If none of the desserts appeal, well, that’s all the more seafood for me!

We all left stuffed and happy. Mission buffet was a success!

Planning to visit? Check The Buffet at Wynn’s current pricing and reservations

Tips for Eating Well in Las Vegas Without Spending a Fortune

Whether I’m traveling in Las Vegas or elsewhere, I have two tried-and-true strategies for eating well without spending a fortune.

First, I avoid alcohol. I’m not a big drinker anyway, so this one’s easy for me. But alcoholic drinks can add up quickly, especially in tourist destinations like Las Vegas. So I skip ’em!

My other big food strategy is to have a hearty breakfast (or brunch, if you will), skip lunch, and then splurge on an indulgent dinner.

Let’s be honest, I only have so much stomach space, and I’d rather spend my time seeing and doing things than spending endless hours in restaurants.

Having two bigger, nicer meals instead of three average ones is the perfect way for me to indulge my foodie side while still leaving plenty of time (and money!) for other activities.

Curious what a weekend of eating, sightseeing, and entertainment actually costs? Check out my 48 Hours in Las Vegas itinerary and spending breakdown to see exactly how much I spent on my trip.

Final Thoughts: Where Would I Eat Again in Las Vegas?

If I were looking for a memorable, intimate dinner, you’d find me at Esther’s Kitchen. But if I wanted a fun, special-occasion meal with a seemingly endless selection of food, I’d head straight to The Buffet at Wynn.

Whether you’re looking for a low-key breakfast at Morning News or party vibes with a side of brunch at 18bin, Las Vegas has something for just about every taste and budget.

And when it comes to food, Vegas is truly your oyster!

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Where to Eat in Las Vegas: Restaurants I’ve Tried & Loved