As a kid from extremely modest beginnings I never had opportunity to travel. By God’s Grace, and a lot of grit, after almost 15 years in the industry I have now had the opportunity to taste America like few could ever do. In my role as Chief Development Officer for Sky Equity, and my previous role with Appraisal Nation, I have spent most of those years doing 30-50 conferences a year.  Strong, meaningful relationships predominately made at these events have helped transform these organizations into industry leaders. At each event we share time with prospects, clients, and friends at dinners, outings, shows, entertainment venues, and networking parties all over the nation. Nowhere do we do it more than in Las Vegas.

Attending seven or eight conferences each year in Las Vegas, I easily have spent 30 to 40 days a year there for more than a decade now. All this has led me to know Vegas very well; almost a second home. With all that experience we wanted to share with you this expansive guide to making the most of Vegas when you are in town. Below I share many great restaurants, entertainment options, adventure spots, and hidden gems on and off the Strip, along with a few hidden insider/pro tips. Now you probably won’t be in a toga partying off the Eifel Tower (that was a long night), but you definitely should get out and explore – taste just a little of all that this city has to offer.

Restaurants

Only a few American cities have more places to eat than Vegas, so your options are expansive. You will have a ton of options: high-end choices for clients, a casual sandwich on a down day, or breakfast to start the day right. Here are a few of our favorites, in no order, unless noted.

On the Strip—Upscale Fine Dining

Buffets

Normally a list of food places in Vegas must include the famed buffets, so I feel obligated just to touch this briefly. Hands down the Wynn and Bellagio buffet are simply the best among them all. The buffet at Caesars and Aria may be just slightly behind but are still top notch. Usually you can walk up but sometimes the lines are be a bit long. They also make a good lunch spot. One other buffet to note is Paris for the breakfast if you like crepes and macaroons.

On the Strip – Upscale Fine Dining

Now, it is hard to go wrong at any of these locations, so figure out what kind of food you are in the mood for and where you plan on being that evening – and have a backup in case you cannot get in.

Let’s start from the center of the strip at Caesars. Mr Chow’s (Asian), Hell’s Kitchen (contemporary American), & Nobu (Sushi) are all great options. Slightly more casual at Caesars is the famed NYC family style venue, Carmines (Italian). If you are familiar with their Titanic sundaes for dessert, their secret menu has a smaller version (still huge) called the Tugboat.

Tip: Mr. Chow usually hosts a 5 p.m.-7 p.m. happy hour with half-off drinks—worth the access to their private elevator and outdoor patio overlooking the pool even if you cannot get in for dinner.

Right next door, south down the Strip at Bellagio, you can find the very posh Lago (Italian) with fountain views, Michael Mina’s (seafood), Jasmine (Asian), and the new Mayfield Supper Club, which is already a smash hit for the Big Band era vibe and entertainment. The Supper Club can be tough to reserve a seat (try early, or small groups may check for cancellations day-of).

One more door down and you hit The Cosmopolitan (Cosmo), where you will find an all-star selection on the third-floor restaurant row. STK (steakhouse) is a favorite with most of our groups because of the great food, hip vibe, and DJ. There you will also find Jaleo (Spanish) by Jose Andres, Blue Ribbon (traditional American), Scarpetta (Italian), Beauty & Essex (contemporary American). Zuma (Asian), with its authentic Japanese robata grill, is phenomenal. Beauty & Essex is an absolute fav of mine. Modeled after the original in New York City, the outside looks like a pawn shop until you go through the speakeasy-esque door. Once inside, it is extra dimly lit with a great cocktail bar in front that is worth visiting, whether you are dining or not in the main room further back. Their contemporary American style tapas food is very good.

Moving down one more door, at Aria you will find Maestros’ Ocean Club (seafood) at the Crystal shops in front of the resort. Inside the resort, be sure to visit Javier’s (contemporary Mexican), Carbone’s (Italian) or Catch (seafood). Beyond Aria Park MGM, where the new Eataly (great Italian food court) is located you will find NoMad (contemporary American) with a wonderful food and a great cocktail bar.

Heading north out of Caesars up the Strip is the Venetian (includes The Palazzo) and the Wynn (includes Encore), which are both loaded with some good options as well. Milos (Greek), Sushi Samba, (sushi), Lavo (Italian), TAO (Asian), and Cut (steakhouse) by Wolfgang Puck are at The Ventian/Palazzo. Mizumi (Asian), Allegro (Italian), Sinatra (Italian), Lakeside (Seafood), and the new Casa Playa (coastal Mexican) are at the Wynn. The star of the Wynn is Delilah’s, a roaring, twenties-style jazz supper club. Reservations can be tough as it is dotted with celebrities most nights, thus the strict no-camera policy. If you can’t get reservations you can walk into the bar to try to catch a seat.

Just passed the Wynn is Brezza (Italian) and Carversteaks (Steakhouse) at the new Resorts World. Further up to the end of the northern Strip is Top of the World (Steakhouse) at The Stratosphere where the food is ok but the views are to die for. At The Sahara (formerly SLS) is the incredible Bizarre Meats (Steakhouse) by Jose Andres.

Across the street from Caesars and Bellagio over at Paris is Mon Ami Gabi (French) for good food and great views. And at The Cromwell is Giada’s (Italian) I recommend the tasting menu, and the lemon fettucine is a particularly solid pick.

On the Strip—Casual Dining

Here are some less fancy spots that are good for lunch or dinner without the extra hefty bill. Every hotel has some of these, and the Strip itself is lined with them, so I will try to keep this section more limited.

At Caesars, you’ll find Noodle 9 and Gordon Ramsey’s Pub & Grill to be popular. Across the Street at the Linq Promenade (where the big Ferris wheel is) and a block or two up and down the Strip from there you will find, Margaritaville, Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen, Flour and Barley, Virgil’s BBQ, Tilted Kilt, and Yardhouse.

Head down a little further past Paris, and you will see Hexx Kitchen on the street. It is very good. If you continue down to Planet Hollywood and the Miracle Mile mall, you will see several popular options, including Cabo Wabo Cantina, Nacho Daddy, Ocean Grill, Hot & Juicy Crawfish, and Flights, a favorite of mine, where each dish and drink comes with three smaller unique versions of each.

At Cosmo, you will find Holsteins. Be sure to have your camera out if you try one of the adult milk shakes. You will also find the popular Momofuku and Hattie B’s Fried Chicken there. Eataly at Park MGM will have several good spots in the open Italian market concept. Just passed that at New York New York, Nine Fine Irish Men is a good spot for Irish food and live music on select nights. Across the street at MGM, you will find Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House.

Back up to the northern end at the Venetian, the Canal Shops provide many other goof options. Buddy V’s Italian (The Cake Boss), Brera Osteria, Canaletto, Yardbird Southern Table, and Sugarcane Rawbar are some of them. Next door at the Wynn, Jardins, Tableau, Red 8, and The Cave Wine & Food Hideaway are also great spots. Across the street from the Venetian at Treasure Island is Gilley’s, named for the Houston original and the location for the Urban Cowboy film. Bull riding is available in the evenings, and the food is pretty good.

Off the Strip Dining

Many of the best restaurants in Vegas are off the Strip. Here are some of our favorites.

ITALIAN. Battista’s Hole in the Wall (casual) is almost cheating since it is one block off the center of the Strip, behind the Flamingo. Piero’s (upscale) is a Vegas institution by the convention center. Piero’s is a classic Italian steakhouse that is dark and a little sleepy, but the garbage salad and veal osso buco are to die for. Capo’s is about a 15-to 20-minute drive up West Sahara. At this mob-themed speak-easy venue, you enter through a phonebooth, plus the entertainment and wood-grilled steaks are pretty good.

STEAKHOUSE. Barry’s Downtown Prime at the newly opened Circa Resorts on Freemont is a homerun—delicious. Oscars at the top of The Plaza on Freemont is a classic. It’s in a glass dome that looks out onto the street.

CHINATOWN. Many who never leave the Strip may miss one of the better Chinatown’s in the country, just off Spring Mountain Road on the west side of the Strip. There are tons of really great restaurants here, and not all are Asian. There’s Partage (French) and Sparrow & Wolf (contemporary American), for example. Robata En (Japanese) is spectacular, and the cookies and milk for dessert is a must (yes, I said cookies and milk). Raku and Izakaya Go are two other great Japanese spots. Izakaya Go has a group table for sitting shoeless, traditional style, on the floor, and has lights out shishito peppers. Pho Kim Long is an institution there. The casual spot is open 24 hours (good to know when you had a few too many on late nights) serving traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai dishes. Hobaks Korean BBQ is definitely one of the best as well.

PARADISE. Paradise Road runs parallel with the Strip, one mile back on the east side. There are many good restaurants there such as Del Frisco’s and Mortons Steakhouse. A few unique ones worth mentioning include. Marakech (a delicious Moroccan communal dining experience where you sit on pillows on the floor and enjoy the belly dancers) and Firefly’s (a very casual Spanish tapas place for good eats and drinks). Kaizen Fusion has great sushi, and Satay is a tasty Thai place. The Gordon Biersch Brewery is good for casual American food.The famed German Hofbrauhaus usually has live entertainment. For a good tip, the

Breakfast

I’m not sure if breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it’s definitely our favorite. The Peppermill is probably first on the list of iconic stops for many. Featured in several movies, it is a Vegas must, serving up huge portions—like 10-egg omelets! Mike swears by the French Toast Ambrosia, and I go for the Maserati omelet. It is just past the Wynn before Circus Circus.

My next fav is Hash House a Go Go. I prefer the original, which is up West Sahara about a 15-minute ride from the Strip, but you can get most of the famous dishes, like chicken and waffles, at the one on the Strip at The Linq and the one on Freemont at The Plaza. The BLT Bloody Marie will cure whatever the night before did to you. The original Omelet House on West Charleston Street, Egg and I also on West Sahara, Blueberry Hill on Flamingo near the Palms, and Rise and Shine further out on West Flamingo are all good off-the-Strip options as well.

If you are at Caesars, Café Americano is a solid hotel choice, but if want to feel a little fancier right on the Strip, then you’ll want to sit on the outside patio at Mon Ami Gabi at Paris having crepes and overlooking the Bellagio fountains. The Sunday brunch at the Four Seasons or on the veranda at Jardin’s at the Wynn will also make you feel like a celebrity. Egg Slut at Cosmo is good for great grab-and-go breakfast sandwiches, but it has become so famous the lines often make it not worth the wait; however, sit down at The Henry there for great beignets.

Pizza

Many a night between 2 a.m.-4 a.m. some of the crew, me included, would need a bottle of water and a slice to soak up a few extra drinks, so I felt “pizza” would be a good section to add.

Two spots in the center of the Strip work best: PinUp Pizza at Planet Hollywood and Secret Pizza at Cosmos for big New York-style slices. The secret at Cosmo is there is no sign and it’s down a quasi-hidden hallway up among all those fancy third-floor restaurants. At New York New York, The NY Pizzeria and Sirrico’s also work for this purpose.

If you are downtown at Freemont, Pizza Rock is good for this, and while not pizza, Coney Island Dogs work well too—no judgment here! If you want pizza at regular hours, Grimaldi’s Brooklyn-style at the Venetian, Giordano’s Chicago-style at the shops in front of Bally’s, and Evel Knievel Pizza on Freemont are good spots.

Entertainment and Activities

There is so much to do in Vegas. Assuming you understand the vast number of casinos, gentlemen’s clubs, burlesque shows, and weed dispensaries is why they call it Sin City, we will focus on the less sinful ways to enjoy the city, ranging from shows, nightlife, tourist sights, and outdoor adventure.

Tourist Sights

Do not be afraid to get that camera out and be a tourist if there are some basics you haven’t experienced.

First up is the world-famous Bellagio Fountains. Go over there and watch the show. They go off every half hour most of the day and every 15 minutes from 8 p.m. to midnight. Although it’s rather expensive, there is also an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour where you can pick a song for the fountains to play.

A couple doors down at the Mirage is a volcano fire show and the Siegfried and Roy Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. Several resorts are themed and worth seeing on their own. At the Venetian, you can ride the gondola through the resort. The Wynn features a lake with free light and sound shows on the water nightly. At New York New York, you can walk the Brooklyn Bridge, get up close to Lady Liberty, and ride a roller coaster of cabs outside and inside the resort.

Visit Mandalay Bay if you want to see the Shark Reef & Aquarium. See the Flamingo Garden with real flamingos. Or take it all in from the top of the Eifel Tower at Paris or the High Roller Ferris Wheel at the Linq. Just walking the Strip itself is worth taking in the views, but remember: Everyone trying to get you to take a picture with them—showgirls, Elmo, and BumbleBee—wants tips.

The famed Vegas sign is certainly another spot for pictures; it’s just before Mandalay Bay coming from the airport. It’s tricky to get in to the parking section and lines can be long, so be patient. Speaking of signs, the Neon Museum is super cool. It is a collection of all the old Vegas signs from iconic casinos of the past. If you’re going at night, be sure to check out the Brilliance Show, where they light them all up to a story and old Vegas music.

Close by is the Mob Museum—don’t miss the hidden speakeasy in the basement. Both of these are downtown near Freemont Street, which is a must. Here they took five blocks of old Vegas, closed it to cars, and covered it with a giant LED canopy that runs the whole length, producing fascinating shows. It’s definitely a little grittier that the Strip, but every block has street entertainers and outdoor bars. There are several stages where live music is played every weekend.

Sports is another great option in Vegas these days. The Vegas Motor Speedway brings NASCAR to the desert and is less than 20 minutes from the Strip. Basically, right on the Strip at the T-Mobile Arena are the Vegas Knights, who have been dominant the past few years since they entered the NHL. And the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders are now at their new state-of-the-art facility at Allegiant Stadium, just on the other side of the Strip.

Shows

Most of the major resorts on the Strip host a Cirque du Soleil show. If you have never seen one, it is a must. The mind-boggling shows are well worth it. O at the Bellagio is the classic, Ka at MGM, and Le Reve (technically not Cirque) at the Wynn are just wow. Both Michael Jackson’s The One at Mandalay Bay and The Beatles Love at The Mirage are crowd favs with contemporary soundtracks. The Beatles Love is my absolute favorite with an immersive theater-in-the-round interactive experience.

There are a variety of other popular shows around town, including the big raunchy smash hit Absinthe at Caesars and the equally raw Opium at Cosmo. Big name musicians have regular residency at a variety of venues, and rotating concerts are always in town. Additionally, a variety of tribute shows such as The Rat Pack, Prince, Four Seasons, The Legends, and more are fun for the memories.

Comedians, magicians, ventriloquists, and other shows can be found in nearly every other nook and cranny of this town where America’s Got Talent winners come to shine. In fact, AGT now has a permanent variety show of their own at The Luxor. Tickets are available almost nightly for top magicians like Shim Lin at The Mirage, Matt Franco at The Linq, Criss Angel’s Amystical at Planet Hollywood, Penn & Teller at Rio, and David Copperfield at MGM.

Most of these shows have discount night-of ticket options available at the Discount Tx Booths up and down the Strip.

Now, how about something a little different? One of my new favorite shows is Particle Ink. This small, intimate performance is in the emerging Art District of Vegas. Here a limited group of 50 or so venture into an old warehouse, following a group of incredible performers that interact with light through an immersive storyboard. It’s like nothing I have ever seen.

Nightclubs, Secret Speakeasies and Cool Bars

If you’re looking for a drink, you don’t have to look far.

CLUBS. The biggest night clubs and hottest DJs in America are in Vegas. These clubs can hold between 3,000-5,000 people and are often packed and have a waiting line.

If you want to hang out with Marshmallow under the lights, the Chainsmokers at a pool party, or just want to check out the scene, be sure to get on a guest list or consider going with a group and getting a table and bottle service because general lines can be very long. Many guest list are open for sign up on the clubs’ websites, and bottle service can get very expensive. Also, the hot night at each club typically rotates, so check schedules.

Omnia at Caesars and Hakkasan at MGM are two of the biggest and most popular. Marquee at Cosmo and XS at Wynn are two other hugely popular spots at night, but they also double as pool clubs during the day as well. If a pool party is your scene, then you want to hit Wet Republic at MGM.

COCKTAIL LOUNGES. Maybe a more traditional bar for cool cocktails is your interest. At Caesars you can find a good cigar bar like Montecristo or unique cocktails at The Vanderpump Cocktail Garden. Alibi at Aria, The Dorsey over at the Venetian, The Gatsby at the new Resorts World, and the Clique Bar at Cosmo are all popular. The Bananas Foster Old Fashioned at Alibi is a personal favorite.

If you are at Cosmo, The Chandelier Bar is the place to be. A three-story chandelier in the lobby has three floors of bars inside. If you are brave, ask for The Verbena (off-the-menu cocktail). The lemon verbena comes with a Sichuan flower that you eat first. After a few moments, your mouth goes numb for while you drink the cocktail.

If you are off the Strip and want some of the best cocktail lounges in town, The Velveteen Rabbit and Herb & Rye have great drinks in a speakeasy vibe, or hit Oak & Ivy and Commonwealth down in the Freemont area. Better yet, in Freemont visit The Legacy Club at the new Circa Resort. Here you will find the one of the best whiskey lists in the city, sit 450 feet up and enjoy sweeping views and outdoor fire-tables on the roof.

SPEAKEASIES. How about a little more fun with your cocktails with some hidden-door speakeasies? The Ghost Donkey on the second floor in Cosmo does great Mezcal drinks. Just look for the door with the donkey on it by the food court. Downstairs is my favorite Vegas speakeasy, The Barbershop. The real working barbershop has a restroom door to a large bar with a great whiskey selection and a stage with live music most nights. The Espresso Old Fashioned is a cool drink to try here.

If you head down to Mandalay Bay in the hall to the shops, you will find the 1923 Prohibition Bar. At the new Resorts World, in a gift shop in the food court, you will discover Here Kitty Kitty, which is a bit smaller but still cool. The Downtowner is a few feet off Freemont in a side alley, offering a cool vibe and great cocktails.

FUN VIBE. Maybe you want to do some singing at Napoleon’s Dueling Piano Bar at Paris, or head over to Beer Park while under the Eifel Tower for some Beer Pong and giant Jenga. Hit the Golden Spike downtown for beer pong as well and tons of corn hole and other yard games with a rotation of DJs or live music. Better yet be sure to hit one of my absolute favorites, The Golden Tiki in Chinatown. The many delicious flaming drinks are a plus. The collection of oddities—from shrunken heads of Hemmingway to Nicolas Cage along with talking skulls in the urinals, talking mermaid mummies, and random other craziness—is just the start of this gem, which is open 24 hours.

Adventure

Around Town

So, been in the mood to fire off an M19 machine gun? Or want to race a Baja truck in the desert? Well, you can do all that and more in Vegas. Visit Machine Guns Vegas and Battlefield Vegas, two popular options. They have a variety of packages for certain guns and amount of ammo.

Speed Vegas is a bit further south down the Strip. Here you can rent high-end luxury cars to race around a lap track or Baja Trucks to hit all the jumps on a closed course. Check out Sunbuggy to take ATVs and dune buggies wide open in the desert or Adrenaline Rush to rent Slingshots you can drive up and down the Strip. Head 20 minutes south and you can visit Dig This, a giant adult sandbox where you can drive bulldozers and excavators, or crush cars.

Looking for something a little more low key? Just south of the Vegas sign on the Strip, try the Pinball Museum where you can play hundreds of machines from the 1930s through today. Visit Area 15 for a psychedelic maze, a cool VR experience, indoor hang gliding, various art exhibits, ax throwing, and much more under one roof. Fly the SlotZilla ziplines across the entire Freemont Street canopy for more fun.

How about some golf? Wynn Golf Club is pricy but quite beautiful, and Cascada is a crowd favorite. The best kept secret in Vegas may be Paiute. It’s not only beautiful but challenging. This phenomenal course was rated best public course in Nevada, and it may be one of the best public courses in the country. It is about a half-hour from the Strip, and for $100 there are three options. Try Paiute Wolf or Paiute Snow your first time. Back at the Strip behind MGM is Top Golf, a unique driving range experience where you hit giant digital targets from your cabana-style bays while drinking cocktails.

Outside of Town

Las Vegas is uniquely positioned in the country between several national parks and locally around incredible scenic beauty. Don’t be afraid to get out and explore. You can reach most of the places noted via an Uber ride if you don’t have a rental.

The items below will require signing up for a tour or getting a rental. On one of my favorite trips, we left at 9 a.m. from the Strip for a three-hour scenic ride to Zion National Park in Utah. We spent five hours hiking one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and we were back in time for dinner at 8 p.m., enjoyed drinks after, and were on the convention floor the next morning.

In less than an hour, you can visit The Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Valley of Fire State Park, and Red Rock Canyon, or be a bit more adventurous and see the ghost town of Nelson. On many a trip, we had breakfast, took a friend to see the Hoover Dam, and were back for lunch. In two hours, you can reach the western observatory of the Grand Canyon or Death Valley National Park (one I still need to do). Most of these activities have guided bus tour trips, and many helicopter tours to the Grand Canyon leave from the Strip.

In Closing

A lot can happen in Vegas, but it typically just doesn’t happen in a star-studded way without a little planning. In many cases you should try to make reservations as early as possible, particularly if you are trying to stay on property to dine or dance during a busy conference weekend. For other things, do not be afraid to just show up; see if you can get in or become part of something a little random. Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.

Even if you are in town on your own…do something, ask someone at the conference to join you. Try something a little different, even if it costs you a few dollars or an extra day in town.  You can always make more money, but memories last a lifetime so seize the opportunities when new experiences come your way. As I am fond of saying, “no good story every started with so there I was back in my room in bed by 9 pm.” Explore, taste, live a little.

I have worked hard, and clearly played hard, and through it all we have been very blessed to build strong businesses, meaningful friendships across the industry and a lifetime of memories. When you get to Vegas – make a friend, make a memory.

By: John Tedesco, Sky Equity