From pools to golf courses, one of the biggest tourism appeals of Las Vegas is its great weather, but many visitors do not realize how many standout options there are for taking advantage of this when it comes to food and drink. Just about every major casino resort has multiple bars and restaurants with year round outdoor seating, often with misters in summer and heaters in winter. In addition, there are many independent eateries on and off the Strip with al fresco options, and these come in every category, from casual to fine dining, pizza to steakhouse. These are some of the best.
Steak Under The Stars: Las Vegas has one of the world’s best collections of high-end steakhouses, but very few offer outdoor seating. A notable exception is Carversteak at Resorts World, with multiple patios, garden seating, a winterized patio and the newest option, the open air Le Spritz bar, a nod to the Amalfi Coast and French Riviera. Carversteak is known for its renowned selection of Japanese, Australian, and domestic Wagyu and dry-aged American steaks along with the to-die-for signature lobster Wellington.
A Taste of the Champs-Elysees: A favorite outdoor dining pick for more than two decades, Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas serves French bistro favorites in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. You can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner in a casual atmosphere on a wonderful patio overlooking the Strip.
Retail Therapy: Affordable and fun outdoor dining options surround the fabulous shopping at the famed Fashion Show Mall. Top choices include family and group friendly Happy Camper Pizza with fire pits, cabanas and at night, mirrored disco balls. Mexican-specialist El Segundo Sol pairs its cooling misters with ice cold margaritas, and Maine’s beloved crustacean specialist Luke’s Lobster serves its acclaimed lobster rolls from an outdoor shack in front of the Neiman Marcus entrance.
Bottomless Brunch: Las Vegas is famous for its celebratory boozy brunches, but few rival LAVO at The Venetian, with its large, luxe patio overlooking the Strip. Equal parts Italian eatery and club with a very lively scene, every weekend LAVO offers unlimited drinks (Bloody Mary, Bloody Maria, Mimosa, Sangria or rose) plus unlimited menu items, including traditional farmers market breakfast dishes and omelets along with Italian standards such as fresh pastas, pizzas and desserts, all for just $65.
Family Friendly & Fun: Eat, Drink, Putt. That’s the motto at mini-golf specialist Popstroke in the Town Square retail and dining complex, where you can combine the two outdoor putting courses and corn hole with lots of shaded patio dining. They serve great burgers, tacos and fish and chips, plus signature all-you-can-eat rib or chicken tenders dinners and full bar. You can even order out on the fairways.
Your Private Island: Japanese fine dining specialist Mizumi in Wynn has one of the most special and romantic settings in the city, with outdoor tables on platforms set over a Koi pond at the base of a huge waterfall. Even the “indoor” horseshoe shaped teppanyaki grill tables are open air, with no wall between them and the pond, all surrounded by lush tropical gardens.
La Dolce Vita: For a taste of Old Italy with a modern spin, head to Wolfgang Puck’s Spago, the celebrity chef restaurant that started the Las Vegas culinary revolution more than three decades ago. Puck serves his signatures like smoked salmon pizza and spicy big eye tuna cones on a gorgeous waterfront patio on Bellagio’s Lake of Dreams with stunning views of the iconic Fountain Show.
Game Day, Every Day: In Vegas even sports bars are outside. Beer Park at Paris is on a second-floor terrace over the Strip and features more than 100 beer choices, and more than 60 outdoor HD screens for sports, sports and more sports. Very reasonable table reservation packages and a large, tasty menu make it one of the best places for weekend games or big events like March Madness.
Poolside Delights: The Las Vegas outpost of the acclaimed Santa Monica superstar, Border Grill is one of the city’s best kept dining secrets, with well-sourced ingredients and wonderful food at a great value from award winning celebrity chefs and TV’s “Two Hot Tamales,” Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger. But the other secret is that while it has a great patio overlooking the extensive Mandalay Bay pool complex and beach, you can also order their delicious fare right at your lounge chair, a big step up from typical poolside snack bars.
Downtown And Upstairs: Las Vegas has seen a wave of new independent, chef driven restaurants outside casino resorts gain popularity, and one of the most loved favorites is Carson Kitchen, which also happens to have one the few rooftop spots Downtown, with an outdoor patio on its second story. It also has outdoor dining in a hidden ground floor courtyard, with mouthwatering “creative comfort food” like crispy chicken skins and gyro tacos.
The Art of Smoke: Slow smoked BBQ has never been Las Vegas’ culinary strength, especially since Michael Symon’s standout Mabel’s closed. But there is still a great option for authentic ‘cue, and Soul Belly BBQ in the Arts District has a large outdoor space where you can eat within elbow distance of the main event—the smoker. Soul Belly has everything you need in a great BBQ joint: slow smoked meats in the Texas style, killer cocktails, craft beer, great wings and apps, make your own combo plates, and live music! Their meats (brisket, pork belly, pork belly burnt ends, pulled pork, chicken, ribs, turkey and sausage) are so good they are shipping nationwide. But it’s better in Vegas.
Off the Strip? Oui!: There’s on the Strip, off the Strip and way off the Strip, and Marché Bacchus is the latter, a local gem bringing a touch of France to the shores of Lake Jacqueline. It’s a spot few tourists see, but it’s worth the trip, as Marche Bacchus wins lots of reader polls for Best of Las Vegas, including French cuisine and for outdoor dining. Think classics, escargot, French Onion soup, steak frites and handmade pastas.
Don't forget to check out all the exciting things to do while you're here, like seeing a live show or headliner residency as they take the stage. It's all here, only in Las Vegas.