What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas. Except Threesomes.

Sundry Chitchat
#1

I’m heading to Las Vegas soon and had a few questions I thought the community here might be able to answer. If it’s useful this could just become a general LV catch-all thread?

  1. Looking for the best place to play some cash games. I’ve barely played in the last 5 years, but before that I would run at roughly break-even at $1/$2 in online games. I’m staying at Park MGM so ideally something not too far from there?

  2. Where are the best spots for buffet dinner? Is it safe to assume that the casinos with the most expensive accommodation probably also have better quality buffets, or does that not hold true?

  3. Any LV recs outside of the standard gambling/food places. What is something cool to do that probably doesn’t immediately come to mind for people traveling there?

Thanks for any recs!

#2

MGM will have plenty of 1/2. for bigger games you will want to hit up Wynn, Aria, Bellagio, or Venetian. For live access to what games are running and where download the bravo app. Most or all of the strip casinos use it.

Buffets are mostly overpriced. Even the Caesars high end one wasnt worth it. Bellagio and Mandalay bay are my favs because of price and alcohol inclusion. If you can go off the strip, the Silverton was great for lunch. 12.99 and good quality.

I will let others chime in on other stuff to do. Pool parties, weed, shows, and poker are pretty much all I do on my Vegas trips.

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#3

The pinball museum is worth a visit if you like to play them. It’s not far from the strip and they donate everything to charity.

http://www.pinballmuseum.org/

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#4

Also, if you have time take a Lyft to Shang Artisan noodle. It’s a few blocks west of the palms and has awesome hand pulled and shaven Chinese noodles.

Get the Shang beef noodle soup with shaven noodles and the beef pancakes. Then thank me later.

#5

Thanks for the recommendations! Bravo will definitely come in handy and I do love me a good noodle dish.

I assume the cash games are going to be best on Friday and Saturday nights when more casual players are at the tables so I’ll try and get my time in then.

#6

If you like Thai food, I highly recommend Lotus of Siam. Generally regarded as one of the best Thai restaurants in the US, with an expansive menu featuring northern Thai and even some Burmese dishes that you can’t get at a run of the mill Thai place. Also, their wine list is one of the largest in Vegas.

I second the Bravo app, a must have if you’re going to play live.

I love the Neon Museum and the Mafia museum, too.

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#7

Oh wow that Thai tip is HUGE! I some time in Thailand and Khao Soi was my favourite dish. I see its on the menu at Lotus. Definitely going to head there. Thanks!

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#8

it’s one of their best. Also, I HIGHLY recommend the nam kao tod (crispy rice) appetizer…it is fucking amazing.

Oh, one more note: make a reservation

#9

The Bravo app is key because I think the Westgate is the only Vegas poker room not on there.

I suspect most 1/2 games are more or less the same. It just takes one drunk guy to make a game good and you mostly can’t predict where those guys will sit down. If you want to play higher, there are fewer places that have such games and I think the pros tend to prefer the games with bigger buy-in caps.

Generally, buffets in the same rough price tier are comparable. For the higher end buffets, I have heard good things about the Wynn and Bacchanal at Caesars. Wicked Spoon at Cosmopolitan gets high remarks from people who like that sort of food. Studio B at M seems like the off-strip buffet that gets the highest ratings from locals. AYCE at Palms was good when I had it a couple of years ago, but I don’t know how their financial problems have affected the quality.

#10

+1 to Lotus. It’s my favorite restaurant in Vegas and I am not generally a huge fan of Asian cuisine. My recommendation is to try the garlic prawns. Unbelievably good.

Definitely make a reservation a few days out. You can probably in without one some nights but have to wait a few hours.

#11

I thought about making my first trip to Vegas this summer for my birthday. Hotel recommendations? From first glance it looks like Aria and Cosmo are top tier options.

#12

Are you going with a significant other or friends? When I’ve gone with my wife we stay at Cosmo because she likes the vibe/pools/food etc. If it’s a trip with friends then idk it doesn’t really matter as long as you’re in a decent location, don’t spend much time in the room in my experience on those trips.

#13

Purpose and plan for trip makes a big difference in deciding where to stay imo.

#14

Wife + another couple. The ladies will probably be at the pool most of the time. I’ll be gambling it up. Pool + food + gambooool is the agenda.

#15

Can’t go wrong with Cosmo then

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#16

Cosmo is fantastic. Upper lounge area next to the ice skating rink is the right place to watch UFC fights on the big screen plastered on the side of a nearby building wall. Fire pits, fantastic food, fantastic view.

Mandalay for me is the “wtf is this even real” place to stay. They have a fake exterior beach a few floors up, wave pool, lounge chairs. Close enough for me!! Better cash games there too.

Aria is a great place to stay. Excellent decor and furnishings, great service, located in the center of everything you’ll want to access.

I personally prefer Paris, but that’s just an aesthetic decision.

There’s a bunch of tunnels and hallways that connect a lot of the casinos. You may want to spend a little bit of time walking through them to experience all of the many casinos, including when you find yourself in the less prestigious ones like Excalibur. Not that they’re bad! Just not so fancy.

CBD and marijuana dispensaries are abundant on the strip. You can walk into one or omggggggg just pay a little more for delivery.

Good luck! It’s a great place to visit.

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#17

I booked a fountain view 1 bedroom terrace at Cosmo. Thanks for the write up Risky!

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#18

I havent been to Vegas since they legalized but am 100% making a trip once my buddies are vaccinated. Any recommendations for this type of entertainment?

#19

Do you mean product or dispensaries of choice? Or both!!

#20

I got infinite “comped” rooms offers (still gotta pay resort fee so not really comped). Booked bellagio, aria and venetian 3 nights each. Not sure if ill go