A Non-Gambler’s Guide to Vegas

Food

In my opinion, Vegas has some of the greatest food on the planet. There are Vegas locals — Peppermill, Battista’s Hole In the Wall and Secret Pizza. Vegas also has outposts of In-N-Out Burger, Nacho Daddy and Eataly, as well as fine dining experiences like Cipriani, Bugsy & Meyer’s Steakhouse and Catch.

Drink

There are multiple bars on every corner, and the vibe and pricing can vary drastically. Definitely check out the Chandelier Bar at the Cosmopolitan (yes, it’s the one all the influencers post about); The Carousel Bar at the Plaza was recently refurbished and is a great spot to have a drink and people-watch. Atomic Liquors is not on the strip, but has been serving delicious cocktails since 1952 and has quite the storied history.

Shopping

The shopping scene in Vegas will not disappoint. It doesn’t matter where you like to shop or how much you want to spend, Vegas has you covered. On the strip you can find everything from Ross and Target to Gucci and Van Cleef & Arpels.

Views

As a self-proclaimed revolving restaurant connoisseur, the Top of the World revolving restaurant at the Strat is quite the experience. It’s the tallest revolving restaurant in the US. One thing to note: the Strat has wild rides on the top of the building, some of which are people bungee jumping off the side of the building as you eat. I mention this because it was quite jarring the first time I saw it.

Beer Park is at the base of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris casino. It’s an outdoor rooftop bar with good food and a fun atmosphere. We spent a 4th of July here once and it was a perfect spot to catch all the fireworks.

The LINQ High Roller is an enclosed Ferris wheel at the end of the Paradise Promenade. The views are spectacular and there’s even an open-bar ticket option.

Fremont Street Experience

Fremont is often called “Old Vegas,” as it was the original strip. With historic casinos like Binion’s, 4 Queens, the Plaza and Golden Nugget to keep your gambling friends busy, pedestrian-only Fremont has free concerts in the summers and light shows nightly. The Mob Museum is also a short walk from Fremont.

Pools

If you visit Vegas between March and October, you should plan to have at least one pool day. Even in the winter months, some casinos keep their pools heated and open. Some of my favorites include Stadium Swim at Circa, Flamingo Pool and Aria Pool.

Sports

Vegas used to be a sports-betting town, but now it’s a bonafide sports town. In the past decade, professional sports teams have made Vegas home: the Aces of the WNBA, the NFL’s Raiders and the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights; The NBA holds its annual Summer League in Vegas and in December 2023 Vegas will host the NBA’s inaugural In-Season tournament. No matter what time of year you visit, there’s sure to be some thrilling sporting events happening.

Shows

More and more shows are added to the Vegas calendar almost daily. From famous magicians and burlesque shows to singers with residencies and comedians, Vegas is the place to go for all types of entertainment.

Nightlife

Vegas has some of the best after-hours clubs featuring DJ sets and live performances. Hakkasan, Drai’s, Marquee, Tao and JEWEL are but a few of the endless nightlife options Vegas has to offer.

Peppermill - Billed “as Vegas as Vegas gets” this diner is a must.

Battista’s Hole in the Wall - Old school Italian spot right off the strip.

In-N-Out Burger - If you’ve never been to In-n-Out, go now. If you have been, you get why it’s on this list.

Top of the World - Revolving restaurant with exquisite views at the top of the Strat.

Cipriani - Serving incredible Italian dishes at the Wynn.

Bugsy & Meyer’s Steakhouse - Great menu, located in the Flamingo.

Nacho Daddy - this is a chain restaurant, but we don’t have them in Memphis, so anytime I’m in Vegas I stop in for a spicy margarita and some nachos.

Catch - Upscale seafood restaurant in the Aria (it’s also the spot for the Britney Spears/Victor Wembanyama drama earlier this summer.)