Overview
While there’s nothing wrong with ordering room service once in awhile as a treat, it can be pretty isolating and lonely to eat in your room all the time on vacation just because you have no dining companion. Yet many people avoid dining alone because they find it very uncomfortable. Take heart: It’s actually pretty easy to dine alone in Vegas, believe it or not. Many people travel to Vegas alone for business, and people who are traveling with spouses or friends may have different eating schedules because one is gambling and the other is not. I have included a list below that is not comprehensive but provides a large selection of possible solo-friendly dining options.
Most restaurants (especially in casino hotels and on the Strip) have bars that serve full meals. You are not required to drink alcohol if you sit at the bar, and just because you’re seated at a bar doesn’t mean you will be surrounded by drunks or that you will get hit on (sorry guys!). I often eat at bars when I go out and am perfectly comfortable. However, if you would prefer to sit at a table, you have every right to do so; if the staff tries to steer you toward dining at the bar, be firm about wanting a table. Generally, a truly solo-friendly restaurant will ask you what your preference is, instead of making assumptions.
For casual dining, I recommend buffets, because a) there are TONS of them in Vegas, and b) there is no awkward wait time between ordering food and having it arrive. Below, I have mentioned a few buffets, but there are many, many more. There are also food courts and fast-food restaurants all over the place (Luxor, MGM Grand, Venetian, and just outside Harrahs, to name just a few), if you just want something quick. But I hate hearing about solos who eat only at fast food restaurants when they travel because they don’t think they would feel comfortable anywhere else. If that describes you, then my challenge to you is the next time you want to eat out alone in Vegas, try something other than fast food. Here are lots of suggestions for doing just that.
Bellagio Buffet: This is one of the higher-priced buffets on the Strip, as well as one of the best quality buffets. I’ve had dinner and breakfast here, and both were fantastic, but not cheap. I was pleased with the number of healthy options it offered, which is important to me. Breakfast was especially wonderful, with fresh berries, the best oatmeal I’ve ever had, choy sum (stir-fried) and some kind of white bean dish. (Don’t worry, they have the usual suspect breakfast items, too, like omelettes made to order, bacon, french toast, etc.) Customer service was excellent, and because it was a buffet, I was comfortable eating alone. Additional bonus: There is bar seating here as well.
Cafe Bellagio: 24-hour cafe. Nice counter seating as well as plenty of tables for two near windows for solo dining. Good food, good service. The atmosphere is lovely–large, bright and airy with gorgeous views of the Conservatory gardens on one side and the pool area on the other.
Michael Mina, Bellagio: Full menu served at the bar. Likely to meet other solos dining here.
Olives, Bellagio: This Todd English restaurant has a great menu and bar dining. It also has a view of Lake Bellagio.
Sensi, Bellagio: Watch the kitchen action from the bar here.
Fix, Bellagio: Full meals available at a lively bar.
Mon Ami Gabi, Paris: Bartop dining, inside and on terrace; terrace has view of Bellagio Fountain show across the street. Great food. Fine dining. Very popular.
Eiffel Tower, Paris: I wouldn’t go here alone on Valentine’s Day, but don’t assume only couples dine here. If you’re comfortable at a table for one, request a window table here, and you’ll have one of the best views in town (including the Bellagio Fountains). They have reasonable portion sizes and attentive service. They do serve wine by the glass.
Ah Sin, Paris: This restaurant has an open-air indoor/outdoor location on the Strip, making it a prime location for people-watching.
Le Cafe Ile St. Louis, Paris Hotel: Another upscale 24-hour cafe with wonderful food. Portion sizes are large and prices are a bit higher. I had very gracious and attentive waitpersons when I ate here and found the atmosphere excellent. There is, however, no counter seating here, so dining during off-hours might be a good idea. I had one of the best NY Strip steaks of my life here.
Tequila Bar, Bally’s: I had a delicious tostada salad and frozen mudslide at the bar here one day when the lines were especially long everywhere else. I was glad I did. They also have live Latin music here.
Spago, Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace: Famous Wolfgang Puck restaurant. Has bartop dining. A table at the patio cafe provides prime real estate for people-watching.
Bradley Ogden, Caesars Palace: Has both bar menu and full menu available at the bar, just not the tasting menu. Likely to meet other solos dining here.
Cheesecake Factory, Caesar’s Forum Shops: Yes, this is a chain. I don’t care. It has bar seating and fabulous food, and that’s what’s important to me when I’m dining alone. Strangely, I have yet to try their cheesecake.
Mesa Grill, Caesars Palace: A Bobby Flay restaurant with a Southwestern flair. Full menu served at the bar. Likely to meet other solos dining here. Read a recent review of this restaurant, including great photos, from David Matthews’ Gambling in Space Blog: Mesa Grill at Caesars.
Rao’s, Caesar’s Palace: Has many solo-friendly seating options, from a large counter where you can get the full menu to tables overlooking the pool area or the Palace casino. Also open for breakfast.
The Palm, Caesar’s Forum Shops: Sit at a table overlooking the mall for people-watching. They offer a great businessman’s lunch special.
Nero’s, Caesar’s Palace: Friendly bar seating available here.
Joe’s Prime Steak, Seafood and Crab, Caesar’s Forum Shops: Bartop dining available. If this one is anything like the one I visited in Chicago, the customer service as well as the food will be awesome.
Kahunaville, Treasure Island: I love this place. They have flair bartenders, so sitting at the bar for dinner is especially fun. They also have music, great food (I recommend the Pina Colada Chicken) and drinks (the South Beach rocks!), and an overall great atmosphere. Customer service is fantastic here. Personal story: During one trip, I got a knife with food still crusted on it. It wasn’t a big deal to me, I just flagged down the waiter and asked for another. He apologized profusely, the manager came over and apologized profusely, and the end result was a free dessert. I couldn’t believe it. I mean, it wasn’t like I found a cockroach in my salad or anything. I was very impressed.
California Pizza Kitchen, the Mirage: One of my favorite places to eat. They have a bar where you can watch the chefs fixing people’s meals, taking the pizzas out of the wood fired oven, etc. In addition to creative pizzas, they have delicious salads, and the price is reasonable. You can order a half-sized salad here (but even that was enormous!).
Cravings Buffet, the Mirage: The old Mirage buffet was terrible, and apparently, management knew it because they revamped it, complete with an all new contemporary look in chrome and red and now it’s a very good buffet. The price is a little high, but the food has more hits than misses. Some people aren’t crazy about the cafeteria-like seating, but I liked it.
Stack, The Mirage: Full meals are available at the bar. There is plenty of counter and bar seating here.
Emeril’s, MGM Grand: Counter dining with people-watching view of the walkway. Not to mention great food!
Craftsteak, MGM Grand: Bartop dining is available.
Fiamma, MGM Grand: Full service menu at the bar.
Wolfgang Puck, MGM Grand: Casual dining.
Rainforest Cafe, MGM Grand: Yes, I know it’s a chain. Humor me, I’m from Vermont, we don’t have any of these cafes here. Besides, it’s a solo-friendly restaurant because there is bar seating and plenty to keep you occupied while you wait for your food to arrive. Just look around (and listen!) to the exotic animatronic jungle animals. The food is average and overpriced, but if you’ve never been to one of these cafes before, you might find it amusing.
L’Atelier, MGM Grand: Plenty of seating for solo diners at the counter where you can watch your meal being prepared. Pricey.
Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare, Wynn: Full menu served at the bar. Likely to meet other solos dining here.
SW Steakhouse, Wynn: Full menu served at the bar. Likely to meet other solos dining here. Also has an outdoor patio overlooking the Lake of Dreams. Excellent service.
Daniel Boulud, Wynn: Has a lounge area for dining.
The Wynn Buffet: Here’s a great review from David Matthews’ blog on this buffet, complete with shiny pictures: Wynn Buffet Excels, but is Pricey.
Grand Lux Cafe, the Venetian: Bar dining is available, though I’ve also eaten alone at a table here and have been perfectly comfortable doing so.
Postrio, the Venetian: A Wolfgang Puck restaurant. There is a formal dining room and a more casual cafe that overlooks St. Mark’s Square (good people-watching).
Delmonico Steakhouse, the Venetian: Bartop dining. Fine dining. Wine served by the glass.
Bouchon, the Venetian: Has an oyster bar and serves an excellent breakfast.
PF Changs, Planet Hollywood: Bar menu is pretty good here.
The Burger Bar, Mandalay Bay: Lots of solos dine at the bar, reportedly. Also rumored to have the best burgers in Vegas. (Hmm…sounds like a challenge to me.)
Rumjungle, Mandalay Bay: Fabulous Caribbean menu. Bartop dining available.
Stripsteak, Mandalay Bay: Bartop dining with good food and good service.
Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, Fashion Show Mall: This tapas restaurant has a bar area for dining.
N9ne Steakhouse, the Palms (off-Strip): Has bar seating and good food.
Buzio’s Seafood Restaurant, the Rio (off-Strip): Buzio’s has single seating at an oyster bar overlooking an open kitchen. You can chat with the chefs while they work.
Quark’s, Las Vegas Hilton (off-Strip): This Star Trek-themed restaurant just off the SpaceQuest Casino serves full meals at the bar. The food is average, but the atmosphere is fun, if you’re into that sort of thing. Definitely lots to look at here, especially if actors in alien costumes are wandering through the restaurant. I don’t recommend ordering the Warp Core Breach if you’re alone, unless your alcohol tolerance is really high.
Captain Charlie’s Oyster Bar, The Gold Coast (off-Strip): Casual dining. Counter seating at a kitchen prep area allows you to chat with the chefs and waitstaff. Be aware, though, it is not open daily. Check website for days/hours.
Big Al’s Oyster Bar, The Orleans (off-Strip): Bar dining close to food prep. Plenty of other solos sitting there. Good food, decent prices.
French Market Buffet, the Orleans (off-Strip): Bargain buffet. The food here is way better than the price would suggest. It’s not a gourmet buffet, but it’s got lots of options, well-prepared. I found the waitstaff to be attentive. I was there on Mother’s Day one year, and even though I told them I wasn’t a mother, they gave me a long-stemmed red rose anyway. That really scored brownie points with me.
Triple 7 Brew Pub, Main Street Station: In addition to good food and microbrews, bar dining can be solo-friendly here.
Main Street Station’s Garden Court Buffet (Downtown): This is the most popular Downtown buffet and highly affordable. If you find yourself on Fremont Street some night, give it a try!
Lotus of Siam (off-Strip on East Sahara): There is a small bar area for solo dining. Best Thai food in Vegas. Lunch buffet for those who like to graze and don’t want to wait for their meal to arrive, but they have a great menu as well. They serve wine by the glass.
Rosemary’s Restaurant (off-Strip on West Sahara): Great neighborhood restaurant and bar that comes highly recommended by many. Well-known for being especially attentive to solo diners. Has plenty of bar seating as well as two top tables by the window.
Places to Avoid:
I consulted some Vegas message boards I frequent for feedback on solo dining experiences.
One person reported having trouble dining alone during peak dim sum hours at Chang’s on Decatur (limited tables for two and large crowds make for a long wait).
Another reported an uncomfortable dining experience at Ellis Island on Koval Lane. Staff made solos feel they had to sit at the bar rather than in the dining room, because otherwise they were taking up table space. That’s just not cool.
Multiple persons report that Red 8 at Wynn has a communal dining table, but that people who eat at it are generally not very communicative. I wouldn’t recommend putting yourself in a situation where you are seated at a table with strangers who won’t talk to you. Been there, done that, it wasn’t fun.
