Marc's Guide to Las Vegas

pools and a good location. Of the 4, I like the feel/on strip location of the Cosmopolitan best.
4. Mandalay Bay
Rooms are very nice (great bathrooms!) and the Pool/Beach areas are fantastic. It has lots of good food and nightlife but perhaps one of the worst locations on the strip.
5. Caesars Palace
The original Vegas super resort. It’s a great location, an outstanding spa, a great pool, some rooms a little worn but still a great hotel. Wynn/Encore
Great Rooms, good location, very expensive.
7. Paris
Good location, great restaurants and nice rooms. The pool isn’t fancy, but gets plenty of sun and you can always find a lounge chair.
8. Planet Hollywood
Similar to Paris, Throw in a huge shopping area and you have Planet Hollywood
9. Mirage*
Classy, great location, very nice basic rooms. Pool area one of the best in Vegas but way too crowded.
10. LVH*
Very good Hilton type rooms (with a very good chance of being upgraded) a nice pool, it’s just an all-around solid property. Location is not great but the monorail helps.
11/12(tie). Palm/Hard Rock
Both off the strip, both have very nice rooms, good restaurants and pools. If you want to see or be seen, stay in one of these places.
13. MGM Grand*
Rooms are very nice (except for the Emerald tower) but the place is way too big for its own good. Location is just OK and the pool area is very nice and big but crowded at times.
14. RIO
The rooms are in need of a remodel but there is a good buffet, and a nice pool area. Not a great location (off Strip), but a pretty nice place all around

Moderate Strip
1. Bally's*
Everything here is better than average, but besides location, nothing is outstanding. North Tower rooms are recently remodeled.
2. Flamingo*
Perfect location, a great pool and Hilton style rooms. Some rooms a little run down; if you want a remodeled room, ask for a “Go” room.
3. Treasure Island*
Call it “Mirage lite” with a pirate theme. Rooms and pool are nice and it’s in a very good location. The pool does get very crowded. (Moderate Strip cont.)
4. Luxor*
Decent rooms, especially in the tower. Nice pool area, some fun activities, decent food but a not so great location.
5. Excalibur*
Rooms are fine and the pool area was recently remodeled. The casino is now a fun place to play.
6. Tropicana*
Old school Vegas with a great pool and nice rooms. The entire hotel was remodeled in 2010.
7. Monte Carlo
Very similar to the Flamingo, but add a great brewpub and lose a little in the location and pool departments. New City Center property may limit the sun at the pool.
8. New York New York
Nice but small rooms, great arcade and roller coaster and a cool casino. Pool area is very weak.
9. Harrah’s
Fairly recent remodel improved the casino and the rooms, very similar to the Flamingo Hilton except it
lacks in the pool department.
10. Riviera
Old and worn but a decent location and an OK pool. Inexpensive Strip
1. Bill’s Gaming Hall*
Nice rooms, great location and good food. A fun Casino but no pool (you can use the Flamingo Pool next door or Caesars across the street). (Closed for remodel, back in late 2014)
2. The Quad (formerly Imperial Palace)*
Decent rooms, great location and price. Food is OK, the pool is average at best, but the casino can be a good time.
3. Gold Coast
Off Strip (next to the Rio) but they have a shuttle to the strip. Nice rooms, good food and an OK pool.
4. Casino Royale*
A fairly recent remodel has improved these rooms a lot. The pool is weak but the hotel is in a great location. Best Casino for Craps on the Strip.
5. Ho***rs*
Decent rooms, an OK pool and a decent low roller casino. The location isn’t great and the place is full of do******gs.
6. Circus Circus*
Bad Buffet, but a decent location and the Tower rooms are OK. Lots of stuff for the kids to do makes it a decent, inexpensive family option. Downtown Hotels
1. Golden Nugget* (Moderate)
Great rooms, good food and a very nice pool (Open year round) gives you a strip like hotel downtown.
2. Plaza* (Inexpensive)
Rooms remodeled in late 2011, great location and an OK pool makes this place a great option.
3. Main Street Station* (Moderate)
Nice rooms and great food (especially the 777 brewpub). Good buffet but is a bit out of the way by downtown standards and no pool.
4. Downtown Grand (Moderate) The old Lady Luck has been reborn, a fun casino, decent rooms, and the second best pool (behind the Golden Nugget) make this a good downtown option.
5. Golden Gate* (Inexpensive)
Nice, recently remodeled (very) small rooms, a fun casino and great shrimp cocktails.
6. The D (Formerly Fitzgeralds) (Moderate)
Decent Holiday Inn type rooms, but everything here is just OK at best. Hotel remodeled as of late 2012, this may upgrade the rating. New ownership (Golden Gate owners) is a positive as well. (Downtown hotels cont.)
7. Las Vegas Club* (Inexpensive)
Decent, large rooms (especially the North tower), no pool, but you can use the Plaza Pool.
8. Four Queens (Moderate)
Decent rooms and a nice casino, but no pool.
9. El Cortez (Inexpensive)
Used to be a dump, but the owners have really worked to improve one of the oldest hotels in Vegas. Not a good downtown location, and no pool, but a good low roller casino.
10. California (Inexpensive)
OK rooms, a tiny pool and a little out of the way, but very good food options.
11. Fremont (Inexpensive)
OK rooms, good location, but the Buffet has gone from very good to OK at best. Restaurants
Listed by Name, meal type, location and expense (excluding drinks). All listed restaurants are recommended (in bold = highly recommended. *denotes personal experience) and prices are per person defined as follows: (I) = Inexpensive, $0-10, (M) = Moderate, $10-20, (E) = Expensive, $20-40, (VE) =Very Expensive, $40-70, (VVE) = Very Very Expensive, more than $70. South Strip
Breakfast
Krispy Kreme Donuts, Excalibur (I)*
New York New York Food Court, Variety (1)*
Planet Hollywood Miracle Mile Shops La Salsa Cantina (I) ($3.99 Big Breakfast Special)
Lunch/Dinner
Burger Bar, American, Mandalay Bay (M-E)
Border Grill, Mexican, Mandalay Bay (M-E)*
China Grill, Chinese, Mandalay Bay (E-VE)
Stripsteak, Steakhouse, Mandalay Bay (VE)
Excalibur Castle Walk Food Court (I-M)
New York New York Food Court, Variety, NYNY (1)*
Chin Chin, Chinese, NYNY (M-E)
Gonzalez & Gonzalez, Mexican, NYNY (M-E)
Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, American at MGM (M-E)
Fiamma-Italian, MGM (M-E)
Diego’s-Mexican, MGM (M-E)
Nobhill Tavern, MGM, American (M-E)
Craftsteak, Steakhouse, MGM (VE)*
Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse (Next to MGM) (VE)
Pinks, Hot Dogs, Planet Hollywood (I)
La Salsa Cantina, Planet Hollywood (I-M)*
Earl of Sandwich, Planet Hollywood (I)*
Yolos, Mexican, Planet Hollywood (M)
Market City Café, Monte Carlo, Italian (M-E)
Brand, Monte Carlo, Steakhouse (VE)

South Strip Food Specials
Ho***rs Mad Onion/ Pete & Shorty's midnight - 6am .25 Buffalo wings

Buffets
Planet Hollywood (M-E) (#3 Unofficial Guide LV)

Bars, Nightclubs, Brewpubs
House of Blues, Mandalay Bay (music/dance club)
Coyote Ugly, New York New York (from the movie)
Monte Carlo Brewpub* (Good beer and food)
South Strip Happy Hours
Mandalay Bay-House of Blues- Daily 4p -6p- $1 bottle beers, $3.00 wine/drinks, 1/2 apps
Mandalay Bay-StripSteak- 4-7pm -$3 bottled beer/ $6 well drinks/ and 1/2 off lounge menu items. Ho***rs-Pete & Shorty's Daily 2p-6p- $1.00 drink specials, $2.00 draft beer
MGM Wolfgang Puck- 2-5pm drinks $5-10 appetizer specials
Planet Hollywood-Miracle Mile Shops Pampas Brazilian Grill- Daily 4p-7p $1 well drinks 1/2 beer
Planet Hollywood-Miracle Mile Shops Blondies - Daily 3p-6p $20 All You Can Drink Well & Beer
Planet Hollywood- PF Chang’s- Daily 3p -6p- $3 draft beer, $3-6 wine & food
Monte Carlo The Pub- Daily 4p-7p, 9p-11p 2 for 1 Well Drinks and Draft Beer
Monte Carlo D. Vino -Daily- 5pm - 7 pm- $3 Apps Menu, $5 Well drinks, $3 Draft Beers, $5 Wine

Middle Strip
Breakfast
Hash House a Go Go, Huge breakfasts, Quad (M)*
Margaritaville, Flamingo (M)*

Lunch/Dinner
Mon Ami Gabi, Paris, French (E-VE)
Tod English Pub, British, Aria City Center ( I-M)
Julian Serrano, Spanish, Aria (M-E)
Sage, American, Aria (E-VE)
Twist, French, Mandarin Oriental (VVE)
“Secret” Pizza Joint, NY Style Pizza, Cosmopolitan (I-M)
Holstein's, Burgers, Cosmopolitan (M-E)
Jean-Philippe Patisserie, Dessert, Bellagio (I-M)
Cafe Bellagio, American, Bellagio (M-E)
Aqua, Seafood, Bellagio (VE)
Circo, Italian, Bellagio (M-VE)
Ellis Island, American, Super 8 (behind Bally’s) ($7.95 Steak meal, best meal deal in town) (I)*
Yard House, Linq (near High Roller wheel), Sportsbar (M)
Food Court, Flamingo (I-M)
Margaritaville, American (Volcano Nachos), Flamingo (M)*
Batista's Hole in the wall, Italian (behind Flamingo) (E)*
Gold Coast Coffee Shop, Gold Coast (16 oz T-bone steak $11) (M)
Ping Pang Pong, Chinese, Gold Coast (M)
Earl of Sandwich, Palms (I)*
Antonio's, Italian, Rio (E-VE)
Mesa Grill, Mexican, Caesars Palace (E-VE)
Cheesecake Factory, Caesars Forum Shops, American (M)
Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab, Caesars Forum Shops, American (E-VE)
California Pizza Kitchen, Mirage (M)*
BLT-Burgers, Mirage (M)*
Fin, Chinese, Mirage (E)
Stack, American, Mirage (E-VE)
Samba Grill, Steakhouse/Brazilian, Mirage (E-VE)*
Kahunaville, American, Treasure Island (M-E)
Buccaneer Bay Club, Treasure Island, Continental (VE)
KGB Burgers, Harrah’s (M-E)*
The Range Steakhouse, Harrah's (VE)*
Grand Lux, American, Venetian (M)*






Middle Strip Food Specials
Ellis Island $8.99 -24/7 Steak, potato, veggies, starter salad, beer* (Must ask server, not on menu)
Ellis Island Steak/Shrimp Special $11.99 (Must ask server, not on menu)
Ellis Island $5.99 Steak and Eggs special (11p-11a)

Buffets
Bellagio (M-VE)* (#2 Unofficial Guide LV) Tip: Avoid the huge line, sit at the bar
Cosmopolitan “Wicked Spoon” (E)
Paris (E) (#7 Unofficial Guide LV)
Gold Coast (I-M)
Palms (M) (Sunday Pool Brunch {VE})
RIO (M-E)* (#6 Unofficial Guide LV)
Bally’s (M-E) (Sunday Brunch {VVE})
Flamingo (M-E)*
Harrah's (M-E)
Treasure Island (E) (#5 Unofficial Guide LV)
Mirage (E) (#4 Unofficial Guide LV)

Bars, Nightclubs, Brewpubs
Tod English Pub, Aria City Center ( I-M)
Harrah's Race & Sportsbook Bar (Sports Bar)
Shadow Nightclub, Caesars (“Quiet Bar”)
Voodoo Lounge, RIO (Dance Club)
Range Steakhouse Bar, Harrah’s* (Quiet/Cigar bar)
Margaritaville, Flamingo* (Party Bar)
Yard house (Sports bar)
Lagasse Stadium Palazzo (Sports Bar/Sports Book “Pocket Casino” real-time betting)

Middle Strip Happy Hours
Aria American Fish- Sunday-Friday (closed Mon) 5-7p-$5 food / $7 drinks / $4 beers / $7 wine
Bally’s Tequila Bar- daily, noon to 6am- $1 Margaritas, $2 Tequila Shots, $2 Draft, $2 Tacos
Caesars Palace/Forum Shops The Palm Mon-Fri 4:30p- 6:30p & 9:30p - close 5.50 food specials
Caesars Palace/Forum Shops Planet Hollywood- Daily 3 pm - 6pm & 9pm – Close- App/Drink Specials
Caesars Palace/Forum Shops Boa Steakhouse- Sun-Thur 4-7pm $5 appetizers, drinks
Caesars Palace/Forum Shops Trevi- Sun-Friday 2-6pm-Appetizers $6 and 1/2 priced drinks (bar only)
Venetian Lagasse Stadium-Tues-Fri 3p -7p - $3 Beers, $15 Buckets, $5 apps
Mirage Stack- 5p-7p $3.00 cocktails, ½ price apps
Treasure Island Isla-4p-7p daily- $5 Margaritas, $6 Appetizers

North Strip
Breakfast
Peppermill (M)*
Promenade Cafe, Circus Circus (I-M)
Lunch/Dinner
El Segundo Sol, Mexican, Fashion Show Mall (I-M)
Stripburger, American, Fashion Show Mall (M)*
Maggiano's, Italian, Fashion Show Mall (M)
Red-8, Chinese, Wynn (M-E)
Peppermill, American (next to Rivera) (M)
Kady's Cafe, Rivera, American (I-M)
Circus Circus Steakhouse (VE)




(North Strip Lunch/Dinner Cont.) Roxy’s Diner, American, Stratosphere (M)
Felini’s, Italian, Stratosphere (E)
Florida Cafe, Cuban, Howard Johnson (M)

Buffets
LV Hilton* (Free Beer/Wine) (M)
Wynn (E-VE) (#1 Unofficial Guide LV)

Bars, Nightclubs, Brewpubs
Peppermill Fireside Lounge (Quiet “Old Vegas” bar)*
Nightclub at the Las Vegas Hilton (Dance, 80’s)

North Strip Happy Hours
Fashion Show Mall-El Segundo Sol daily 4p-7p, 11p- close $5 margaritas, $3 shots/beer, App specials
Fashion Show Mall Maggianos- Mon-Fri 4p-6:30p 1.95 apps, $5 martinis, $3 drinks
Fashion Show Mall Stripburger- daily 4p- 7p, 11p-close- $2 beer, margaritas, mini burgers, fries, etc

Downtown
Breakfast
Dupar’s, Golden Gate (I-M)*
Hash House A Go Go, Plaza (M)*
Eat (M)
Lunch/Dinner
Aloha Specialties Restaurant, Hawaiian, California (I-M)
Market Street Café-Coffee Shop, California (I-M)
Pasta Pirate, Italian, Seafood, California* (M-E)
Redwood Bar & Grill, Steak & Seafood, California (E)*
777 Brewpub, Main Street Station (I-M)*
California Pizza Kitchen, Golden Nugget (M)*
Second Street Grill, Polynesian, Fremont (M-E)
Flame Steakhouse, El Cortez (E)
Binion’s Ranch Steakhouse, Binion’s (E-VE)*
Chicago Brewing Company American/Pizza, Four Queens (I-M)
Hugo's Cellar, American, Four Queens (VE)
Oscar’s Steakhouse, Plaza (VE)*
Nacho Daddy, Mexican (M)
Triple George Grill, Downtown Grand, American (M-E)
Stewart & Ogden, Coffee Shop, Downtown Grand (M)
The Spread Deli, Downtown Grand (I-M)
Mamacitas (across from the El Cortez), Mexican (M-E)
Le Thai (M)

Downtown Food Specials
Fremont Hotel Tony Roma’s $8.99 Prime Rib Special (4:30p -6:30p Daily)
Fremont Hotel Tony Roma’s $11.99 Steak & Lobster (9:00p - 11:00p Daily)
California Pasta Pirate Steak & Lobster special $16.00
California Redwood Bar & Grill- Porterhouse Steak Dinner Special $20.00
4 Queens Magnolia’s Coffee Shop $7.95 Prime Rib Special
El Cortez Café Cortez Porterhouse $15.25
El Cortez, Café Cortez New York Strip $13.95
El Cortez, Café Cortez Steak & Shrimp $13.25


Buffets
Main Street Station (M)*

Bars, Nightclubs, Brewpubs
777 Brewpub, Main Street Station *
Insert Coins*

Downtown Happy Hours
Main Street Station 777 Pub- Mon-Fri 3p-6p- 4.99 apps, 2.00 drinks
El Cortez 5p-7p Daily- 2 for 1 Martinis (3.50 per martini)
Not attached to a Hotel Hennessey's Tavern- Mon - Fri • 4pm - 7pm-Food/Drink Specials
Not attached to a Hotel Mickie Finnz Fish House & Bar- Mon - Fri • 4pm - 7pm-Drink Specials

Off Strip
Breakfast
Jamm’s Restaurant-Coffee Shop (I-M)
Hash House a Go Go Coffee Shop (M)
Blueberry Hill (East of Strip on Flamingo) (M)
Black Bear Diner (M)

Lunch/Dinner
In & Out Burger (I)*
Capricotti’s Sandwich Shop (I)*
Sammy’s LA Pastrami & Burger (I)
Stazo Italian at Orleans (M)
Black Bear Diner (M)
Bootlegger Bistro, Italian (E-VE)
Casa de Amore, Italian (Free Limo Ride to and from restaurant) (E-VE)*
Ventano, Italian (M-VE)
Lindo Michoacan, Mexican (M)
Viva Mercados, Mexican (M)
Z Tejas Grill, Tex Mex (M-E)*
Gardunios, Mexican, Fiesta Hotel (M-E)*
Archi’s Thai Bistro (M)
Lotus of Siam, Thai (M-E)
Raku, Japanese (M-E)
Mayflower Cuisinier Chinese/French (M-E)
Sam Woo BBQ, Chinese (M)
China Spice, Asian, Green Valley Ranch (M-E)
Sapporo, Asian (E)
Hard Rock Coffee Shop, Hard Rock Hotel* (M)
Mr. Lucky’s, American, Hard Rock Hotel (M)
Wild Sage Café, American (M-E)
Billy Bob’s Steakhouse, Sam’s Town (E)
Canal Street Steakhouse, Orleans (E)

Off Strip Food Specials
Hard Rock Hotel Coffee Shop $7.77 Steak and Shrimp Special (Must ask Server, not on Menu)
Hard Rock Hotel Mr. Lucky’s $9.99 All you can eat Prime Rib Special
Gold Coast TGI Fridays$13.99 Steak & Lobster (3-6 daily) $9.99
Gold Coast TGI Fridays all you can eat Fish and Chips -all day Friday
Gold Coast TGI Fridays $4.99 2 eggs, bacon/sausage, potatoes, toast
Gold Coast Noodle Exchange$6.99 Lunch Specials Coffee Shop $11-16 oz T-bone steak


Buffets
Fiesta (I-M)
Palace Station (I-M)*
Red Rock Feast (M)
Orleans (M) (#10 Unofficial LV Guide)
Green Valley Ranch Feast (M)
Texas Station Feast (M)
M Buffet (M-E)
Bars, Nightclubs, Brewpubs
Gordon Bierch Brewpub
Tommy Rockers Nightclub
Frankie’s Tiki Room
Yard house (Sports bar)

Off Strip Happy Hours
Gordon Biersch- Daily 3pm - 7pm & 10pm– Close- Drink & Appetizer Specials
Hard Rock Hotel Pink Taco- Mon-Fri 4pm - 7pm- 2 for 1 Beers & Margaritas 1/2 off Select Appetizers
Gold Coast TGI Fridays - 24/7- 1/2 apps, 2.50 beer pints, 1.50 Burger sliders

Favorite “Low Roller” Casinos
Strip (in order of preference)
Casino Royale*
Ho***rs*
Excalibur*
Slots 'O' Fun*
Circus Circus*

Downtown (In order of preference)
Golden Gate*
Plaza*
Las Vegas Club*
Downtown Grand
El Cortez*
Main Street Station*
Four Queens*



Non Gambling Entertainment
Shows (Be sure to use ½ price ticket booths located all over town)
Carrot Top, Luxor (Comic)*
Jubilee, Bally’s (Big Vegas Production Show)*
V Variety Show, Planet Hollywood*
Terry Fator, Mirage (Comedy/Ventriloquist)
Nathan Burton, Flamingo (comedy/Magic)
Larry G. Jones (Comic Singing Impressionist)
Mac King, Harrah’s (Afternoon Comedy/Magic Show)*





Rides, Arcades, Stuff to see, Family Fun, Etc
Luxor Arcade*
NYNY Arcade
NYNY Roller coaster*
Eiffel Tower Experience, Paris
Circus Circus Grand Slam Canyon Theme park
Stratosphere Tower Rides*
Caesars Motion Simulator
Mirage Volcano*
Bellagio Fountains (Every 15 minutes starting at 2pm)*
Bellagio Conservatory*
Fremont Street Experience* (Downtown Lights)
White Tigers, Dolphin Experience at Mirage*
Circus Circus acts and midway*
RIO Masquerade Show
Tropical Birds at Tropicana*
Sirens of TI, Treasure Island
Flamingo Wildlife Habitat*
Southern Nevada Zoological-Botanical Park
Orleans/Gold Coast Kids activity centers
Kids quest, Texas/Sunset Station and Stratosphere
Golf: Eagle Crest Executive Course*
Exotics Racing
Insert Coins Old School Video game joint/Bar 512 Fremont Street
Kiss Mini Golf*
MGM Lions (At Lion Habitat Ranch)

Out of town activities
Stateline Roller coaster*
Hoover Dam*
Laughlin* (Jet Ski on the river)
Valley of Fire State Park*
Red Rock Canyon*
Mount Charleston
Lake Mead* (ski boat/Jet Ski rentals)
Flightlinz Zip line