Cigar Aficionado

Cigar Aficionado’s Big Smoke Las Vegas weekend starts this Friday. Long ago Sin City was infamous for cheap buffets and mediocre dining, but for years it’s been the domain of top-tier chefs serving wonderful meals. But to enjoy the best the city has to offer, it helps to know where to go, and the editors of Cigar Aficionado know the Vegas dining scene well. We travel there often for Big Smokes and trade shows, and a good meal is the traditional end to one of our long days. 

If you’re out in Vegas for the show, we put together a list of some of our favorite spots for you to enjoy. We’ve visited (and enjoyed) all of these personally, and a couple of them are even cigar friendly. 

CUT Las Vegas
Wolfgang Puck takes the steakhouse experience to a new level of luxury with CUT Las Vegas, located in the Palazzo Hotel. You can’t go wrong with the steaks (the restaurant has several types of Wagyu selections, Japanese, Australian and Snake River Farms American), but we’re particularly fond of the lamb chops, with a side of the Kung Pao cauliflower. The cocktail game here is also quite strong, and a deep dive at the well-stocked bar tends to unearth some rarities.

Jaleo
It’s hard to not be enthralled by the open fires and bubbling paella on display at the open kitchen of Jaleo in the Cosmopolitan. What makes this theater all the more appealing is the substance on which it is built, as this is the domain of star chef José Andrés. Get a true taste of Spain with his Pan de Cristal Con Tomate (bread with tomato), Gambas Al Ajillo (shrimp with garlic) or just let him guide you via the tasting menu. See more.

Delmonico Steakhouse
Steakhouses come and go in Vegas, but this one is a true survivor. Chef Emeril Lagasse opened this standout steakhouse in the Venetian Hotel in 1999, and we’ve dined there again and again on our trips to Vegas. It doesn’t disappoint. Open with Emeril’s BBQ Shrimp and then move to one of the superb steaks. The restaurant also has one of the best wine lists in the city, the reason it holds the Wine Spectator Grand Award, the magazine’s highest accolade. See more.

Wally’s
One of our new Vegas favorites is Wally’s, the Vegas outpost of the Beverly Hills original. One part wine store, one part restaurant, the wine selections are towering and vast. We’re fond of the pizzas (especially the truffle pie), as well as the dry-cured meats and fine cheeses, and the wine-pairing options seem infinite. By the way, the burger is ridiculous. See more.

Brezza
Chef Nicole Brisson, who once ran Carnevino, is now at Resorts World cooking her magic at Brezza. Translating to “breeze” in Italian, this large restaurant offers tasty meats and standout Italian-inspired dishes. The room itself is gorgeous, but we like to sit outside, where cigars are allowed. Too hot for you? Take your smoke at Eight, the cigar lounge located only a few steps away. See more.

Spago
We’ve dined at Spago in Vegas even before it moved to the Bellagio, with views of the hotel’s majestic water show. Wolfgang Puck’s pastas and pizzas make it hard to stick to a diet, and we’ve enjoyed just about everything on the extensive menu. See more.

Bouchon
You may not know this, but Thomas Keller, one of the country’s most celebrated chefs, has a restaurant in The Venetian. With its zinc bar and casual French fare, Bouchon is located on a separate floor in the Venezia Tower, away from the noise of the casino floor and the resort’s bustling restaurant row. Once you find it, every French bistro classic is not only at your disposal, but is done exceptionally well. Dishes like steak frites, roast chicken and French onion soup are served without fuss or pretense. We like to sneak away to Bouchon for breakfast. It’s a perfect way to fill your stomach before a day of smoking, but they only serve breakfast/brunch from Thursday to Sunday so reserve while you can. See more.

Picasso
How can a restaurant go over the top in a city already known for indulgence? How about hanging original Picassos on the wall? Picasso is the creation of Spanish chef Julian Serrano, and dining here is an experience. Make no mistake, Serrano is an expense-account eatery, but it offers several tasting menus, and his restaurant holds the Wine Spectator Grand Award. Just don’t touch any of the paintings. See more.

Estiatorio Milos
Milos is an upscale chain of restaurants that work magic with fish. Skip the lunch on the trade show floor and walk a few steps to the location right in the Venetian. The fish here is simple and amazingly fresh, and it makes for a lovely break from red meat. You can inspect the fish before you order, as the bounty of the sea is all displayed on ice right in the restaurant. And don’t dismiss the yogurt—it’s unlike anything you’ll find on a supermarket shelf. See more.

Carson Kitchen
It’s far from the strip, but the long cab ride is worth it to sup at Carson Kitchen. This is a laid back, flavor-forward place with dishes that inspire, from grilled oysters with bacon and leek butter; chicken thighs slathered in Alabama white BBQ sauce; and a serious cocktail list. See more.

Lotus Of Siam
Off the beaten path, this standout Thai restaurant is a Cigar Aficionado team favorite. Ideal for larger groups, the food here always seems to satisfy with its vibrant flavors that are perfect after a long day of cigar smoking. The restaurant has a decent wine list with a particularly good selection of Rieslings. We typically start with a soup, order a family style mix of dishes including the Khao Soi (crispy duck), a curry or two and a lobster, which is best reserved in advance. A word of caution: spice levels matter here, so don’t order above a five unless you truly enjoy your dishes hot. See more.

Carversteak
Can you ever have too much steak? We say no. Carversteak at Resorts World serves up traditional steakhouse fare along with some unexpected additions. The roasted bone marrow is appropriately unctuous and decadent, the steaks are tasty and the restaurant’s cocktails are particularly well done. See more.

Montecristo Cigar Bar
It’s only one (big) table, it fills up, and it offers only a limited menu from Bobby Flay’s Amalfi Restaurant. But it’s located right inside one of Vegas’ best cigar bars, Montecristo Cigar Bar in Caesars Palace. It’s likely booked for the trade show, but if you’re returning to Vegas for our Big Smoke you may have a shot at this über cigar-friendly dining experience. See more.

Brera Osteria
There are red-sauce joints and pasta palaces all over Vegas, but if you’re looking for something with a bit more regional elegance, go to Brera Osteria right in St. Mark’s square at The Venetian. It’s only one escalator ride up once you leave the convention center, and it offers a fresher take on Italian food that’s more Milan than it is Mulberry Street. This restaurant excels in seafood, risotto, pizza and of course, pasta. If you simply must have veal parmigiana, they do that too. See more.

Joël Robuchon
Looking to splurge like never before? Take a ride over to the MGM Grand and indulge in the country’s only Joël Robuchon restaurant. (While an Atelier Joël Robuchon exists in Miami, it isn’t the same concept as this lavish namesake location.) The signature potato puree is the most decadent dish of mashed potatoes on earth, let alone Las Vegas, given its impossibly high butter content. Beef dishes are braised to a fatty richness and foie gras is used on everything from Guinea hen to grilled leeks. It’s the closest you’ll come in this century to dining like French libertine aristocracy—even more liberating when someone else is paying the bill. See more.

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