More of 2023’s Best Bets in Las Vegas Hotels, Dining, Shows & More

The Las Vegas hospitality sector didn’t just survive the pandemic, it came roaring back in 2023 with new and upgraded products designed to lure ever more visitors to the city’s accommodations, food-and-beverage outlets, casinos, shows, and attractions.  And because there were so many outstanding products spawned by the continuous innovation that defined the Las Vegas tourism sector this past year, this story will run in two parts (read Part I here). 

Best New Attraction – Sphere
Just when we thought that we’d seen the biggest, baddest, coolest (fill in the blank) in Vegas, something new came along that’s bigger, badder, and yes, cooler.  That something is now evidently Sphere, the impossibly large, hard-to-miss orb taking up a massive amount of real estate just east of the Strip, and it may be a while before it’s dethroned as “the next big thing.”  Hyperbole always plays a major part in a new entertainment product’s introduction. Still, the world’s largest spherical building may be the rare example of an opening living up to its hype.  Sphere is a wonder to behold, from the outer “exosphere” display to the inside arena, especially when viewing “Postcard From Earth,” an immersive experience that can best be described as IMAX on steroids.

Best Grab ‘n Go Food – Miznon at The Venetian
When time is tight and you need a quality bite, fast-food options in Vegas don’t provide satisfaction, and service at traditional restaurants is too relaxed.  That in-between niche, however, with quality items available to-go or via quick counter service, is the domain of Miznon at the Venetian.  With a menu focused on easy-to-carry/easy-to-eat stuffed pita bread, Miznon is chef Eyal Shani’s tribute to Israeli street food.  Go for the juicy Lamb Kebab in a freshly baked, delicious pita, stuffed with grilled tomato, onion pickles, tahini, and spicy green peppers.  And what to do with a little extra pita?  Give it a dip into what I consider the best hummus west of Tel Aviv. 

Best Casino for Low Rollers – Downtown Grand
Let’s face it, casino gaming has always been a losing proposition for gamblers, but the fairly recent imposition of downgraded odds at Strip casinos – like a 6:5 payoff on a natural Blackjack (previously 3:2) and the addition of a triple zero on roulette wheels – was a veritable gut punch for players.  Thankfully, there is now an oasis in the desert at the Downtown Grand, where the property’s new “Downtown Deal” helps ease the pain while evening the odds. Low-rollers at the Fremont Street-adjacent property now enjoy $1 Blackjack, $5 craps with 10x odds, and what may be the best bargain in Vegas:  $2 for a Nathan’s hot dog and PBR draft beer, available in the casino from 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m, every day.

Best Lunch Value – Julian Serrano Tapas Prix-Fixe Lunch at ARIA Las Vegas
Lunch bargains, once ubiquitous on the Las Vegas Strip, are now exceedingly rare.  But inside luxe ARIA, the three-course prix-fixe lunch at Julian Serrano Tapas is a mid-day gourmet indulgence for the mere price of $39.  Diners start with a choice of 6 appetizers, including oysters on the half shell or chicken croquetas; mains follow, with highlights being shrimp in garlic sauce or the chef’s iconic paella Valencia.  And for dessert, nothing beats the homemade churros, served with spicy hot chocolate.  An equivalent dinner here would cost about three times the lunch price, making this prix-fixe deal an attractive – and delicious – value proposition, available only from 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Mon. through Wed.   

Best Room With a View – Top of the World at The STRAT
Conventional wisdom holds that restaurants with great views don’t need to serve great food. That is, diners will trade off an underperforming kitchen for incredible vistas.  But a rare example of a place that has the winning combination of great cuisine and dramatic views is Top of the World at The STRAT.  Chef Chad Castanino completely reworked the previous menu’s iteration, adding new starters like tuna poke with smashed yuzu avocado, wasabi cream, and crispy lotus root, and new mains like Dover sole with Marcona almonds in a preserved lemon and brown butter sauce.  And since Top of the World revolves constantly on the 106th level, the new “elevated” dishes are a perfect match.  Meanwhile, diners’ views of the Las Vegas Valley are enhanced by an only-in-Vegas spectacle: riders on the STRAT’s daredevil Sky Jump attraction hurtling past their window – from the 108th level.   

Best Sweet Treat – Dominique Ansel at Caesars Palace
When celebrity pastry chef Dominique Ansel brought his famous, native New York Cronut® west to Caesars Palace, the move exposed a much larger audience to the impossibly-rich croissant/donut hybrid.  But along with the Cronut® came a few other goodies that shouldn’t be missed at Ansel’s brightly-colored outlet inside Caesars’ casino.  While the warm-cookie-shot robot dispenses vanilla-flavored milk in a chocolate-chip cookie shot glass to delighted patrons, others revel in the gooey pleasure of frozen s’mores on a stick.  But the chef’s DKA is perhaps his most perfect creation yet.  Best described as a caramelized croissant, the DKA (Dominique’s Kouign Amann) is a flaky confection consisting of light, laminated layers of crispy pastry that’s just sweet enough to be incredibly satisfying.