2025’s Best Bets in Las Vegas Dining, Hotels, Shows and More

Notwithstanding this past summer’s concerning dip in tourism numbers, hospitality products in Las Vegas continued to outperform those in other resort destinations by exhibiting their now-typical innovation and creativity while applying an unmatched level of sheer talent. These were Vegas’ Best Bets in 2025. 

Best New Restaurant – Stubborn Seed (Resorts World Las Vegas) 

High-profile chefs – often awarded Michelin stars for their restaurants in other cities – have become ubiquitous on the Las Vegas Strip. And although chef Jeremy Ford earned a star in 2022 for Miami’s Stubborn Seed, he has elevated his dishes to another level at Resorts World Las Vegas. Featuring a creative combination of textures, tastes and temperatures, Ford’s innovative dishes ratchet the restaurant’s gourmet quotient up to new heights – even by Vegas’ lofty standards. The chef’s Citrus Pavlova, only offered at Resorts World, perfectly illustrates the intricate nature of Ford’s compositions. Assembled expertly with olive oil cake, yuzu pastry cream, Mandarin pate de fruit, summer cherries and caramelized pistachios, this gorgeous dessert easily turns heads while impressing even the most jaded palates.        

Best Value Proposition – The Caesars $300 (Caesars Entertainment) 

This past summer’s visitation drop in Las Vegas – largely blamed on excessive pricing on everything from bottled water to room service fees – certainly made the city’s hospitality operators sit up and take notice. The proof of that sentiment was a large-scale rollout of value props that arrived in a hurry. And aside from a host of affordable food-and-beverage specials that aimed to stimulate consumer interest, “The Caesars $300” stood out for sheer overall value in a hotel package. Covering a two-night stay at The Flamingo, Harrah’s, the LINQ, Planet Hollywood, Horseshoe or The Cromwell, the package (still bookable through April 2, 2026) also includes a $200 F&B credit good at over 100 outlets across Caesars Entertainment’s Las Vegas properties. And that $300 price is inclusive of all taxes and fees, which makes it that much sweeter.   

Best Poolside Cafe – La Côte (Fontainebleau Las Vegas) 

Located on a posh pool deck that could easily be situated at a resort somewhere on the French Riviera, the Fontainebleau’s airy, rich-looking La Côte is much more than a poolside cafe. In fact, with a restaurant-quality menu and a creatively-designed cocktail program, it qualifies as a destination unto itself.  Carrying on the resort’s attractive blue-and-white color theme and featuring an air-conditioned interior open to the neighboring Grand Pool, the vibe here is upscale, casual elegance – with a nod to the good life along the shores of the Mediterranean.   

Best Pizza on the Strip – Eataly (Park MGM) 

When Eataly’s vast Italian marketplace was refreshed last year, the new Pizza al Padellino station brought Turin’s rarely-seen-in-the-U.S. signature pan pizza to the venue. And while the introduction of that pizza style was a welcome addition, the station’s Margherita option combines the pillowy dough with imported Mutti tomato sauce, house-made mozzarella, fresh basil leaves and Olitalia EVOO to create an authentic taste of Italy that pays tribute to multiple Italian regions in a deliciously authentic way. The quality of the ingredients, their proportion on the pie and the chef’s baking skill all combine to make that specific Margherita the best pizza on the Strip.   

Best New Burger on the Strip – Naughty Patty’s (The Cosmopolitan) 

There’s no shortage of great burgers in Vegas, and the popularity and ubiquity of the smashburger seems to be eclipsing the standard ⅓ or ½-lb. variety up, down and off the Strip. Naughty Patty’s, the most recent entrant in the Cosmopolitan’s hip Block 16 Urban Food Hall, is a smashing (pun intended) success. The patty stays on the grill for about 2.5 minutes – just long enough to form the crispy, caramelized edges and complex flavors fundamental to the smashburger’s appeal. The addition of American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions (grilled on request) and Smash Sauce make it deliciously complete. And the all-beef House Dog is right up there, too, with a snappy bite on a buttered potato roll. Be sure to finish off with one of the thick, frozen Concretes – made with custard, of course.   

Best Casino Promotion – The Night Starts Here (Golden Gate Hotel & Casino) 

As one of the most novel casino promotions we’ve seen in years, the Golden Gate’s “The Night Starts Here” event would initially appear to have a “gotcha” clause attached. After all, the nightly event at the historic, downtown property starts with an open bar (free well cocktails, beer and wine) from 6:00-7:00 p.m., followed by up to $1,000 in free slot play. What’s the catch? Surprisingly, there is none. Attendees must be in possession of a Club One loyalty card (free to obtain) and register onsite for the event. Every registrant receives a wristband entitling them to free drinks during the open-bar hour, plus an envelope containing a ticket for free slot play, valued between $5 and $1,000. Why the giveaway, with no strings attached? Owner/CEO Derek Stevens told TMR that “my team and I wanted to come up with a promotion that’s not easy to copy.” And since “The Nights Starts Here” is focused heavily on the giveaway – while operating 7 nights a week – Stevens has a good shot at maintaining that exclusivity.     

Best Afternoon Show – Paranormal (Horseshoe Las Vegas) 

Magicians, illusionists and mentalists hone their act over years to focus on bits that not only resonate with their audience, but simultaneously amaze and confound them. Frederic da Silva’s intimate afternoon show of mind-reading magic at Horseshoe’s Imagine Showroom is the perfect example of that craft. While maintaining a continuous stream of engagement with his volunteers on stage, da Silva magically reveals their inner thoughts, dreams and desires to their – and our – disbelief. But it’s his “touch” bit, where he somehow taps a volunteer on the shoulder – while being out of reach – that’s the most astounding trick of all. As a bonus, da Silva conducts a gracious meet-and-greet with audience members after the show to sign autographs, pose for photos, and maybe even pull off one more piece of magic.