Las Vegas is a mecca for food lovers, offering endless opportunities to gorge oneself on virtually every type of cuisine, from cheap eats to gourmet meals. This itinerary presumes you are very hungry and want to at least sample as much of it as you can, throwing waistlines, cholesterol counts, and common sense to the wind. You’ll need a car to do this tour, although you may want to consider walking as much of it as you can . . . to give the illusion that you’re getting a little exercise in between binges.

Mornings

There are plenty of ways to overdo it from a food perspective first thing in the morning. You could go big with the super decadent and deliriously over-the-top selections at The Pantry at Mirage, or get an entire day’s worth of calories at an inexpensive buffet like the Main Street Garden Court in Downtown Las Vegas—but let’s be reasonable, shall we? After all, you don’t want to get too full before the day has really even started.


If you don't mind standing in line, go for something a little lighter but still packed with flavors, like the sumptuous soft scrambled egg sandwich or the namesake dish at Egg Slut.Both come in very satisfying portions, yet they’ll keep you from getting too loaded down.


If you decided to sleep in a bit (and really, who could blame you?), then you could go for brunch at Sadelle’s  at Bellagio, which offers the best of the New York favorite’s menu (including a tower of smoked fish and bagels made in-house) in a luxe, spacious setting.
Otherwise the rest of your morning could be spent exploring various sweet shops so you can stock up on quick hits of sugar to get you through the rest of the day. M&M World allows you to mix and match your own selection of candy, while local favorite Ethel M Chocolates serves a finer brand of confections. Or you could visit Carlo’s Bakery, which, in addition to being across from its  full-service restaurant Buddy V’s, has a window where you can watch the bakers in action as they create cookies, cannolis and other pastries for the shop.


Afternoons

For lunch, we’re going to suggest something a little more serious and substantial. Yardbird offers a Southern inspired menu, featuring some of the best fried chicken on the Strip, as well as down-home fried green tomato sandwiches.

Speaking of sandwiches, we’d be totally remiss if we didn’t mention Capriotti’s as a perfect place to have lunch. Their divine submarine sandwiches (we’re partial to the Bobby, which is like Thanksgiving on a bun) will make you consider getting the epic 20-inch size and calling it a day.


Pretty much everyone loves a good burger, and there are lots of options in Vegas including the fantastic offerings at Bobby’s Burger Palace, Gordon Ramsay Burger, Black Tap, and the nationally beloved Shake Shack.

As you are digesting, take a stroll over to Bellagio to visit its Patisserie and sample the finest chocolate available in Las Vegas.

If you’re lucky enough to be visiting on the first Friday of the month, be sure to go to the First Friday street festival in the Arts District, where you’ll find a parking lot’s worth of food trucks and vendors serving everything from pizza to sushi to barbecue and more. Don’t miss the state fair–style selections, including the genius deep-fried chocolate chip cookie dough. Missing this will haunt you—trust us.
 

Nights

Finally, it’s time to go whole hog, or cow as the case may be, so head to dinner at one of the city’s steakhouses. The Steakhouse at Circus Circus is a local favorite, offering full meals at the same prices that others charge for an a la carte selection. Strip House at Planet Hollywood puts a modern spin on things with a charming peek-a-boo bordello theme and fantastic cuts of meat. But for our money you can’t beat Old Homestead Steakhouse at Caesars Palace, a sister of the legendary New York City restaurant. The portions here are huge, which is appropriate since this is the restaurant that claims to have invented the doggie bag.

If a steak seems like too much of a commitment to you, you could try one of the growing number of restaurants that serves small bites instead of full meals. Chief among them would be L’Atelier at MGM Grand by master chef Joël Robuchon, where you can get various-size tasting menus or order small plates on your own, each of which will be better than the last. Also at MGM, Crush has fantastic gourmet small plates and a fun environment in which to eat them. Another great choice in this category would be EDO Gastro Tapas & Wine, featuring the best bites of Spanish fare along with killer gin and tonics. Just be warned that even though the portions are small, you’ll wind up ordering a lot of them, and it could end up costing you more than just a standard meal.

 

But wait, we’re not done. This is a 24-hour town, and lots of restaurants are open all night to satisfy those 2am cravings. The Peppermill Lounge is an institution for late night/early morning bites, with a massive menu and fun takes on classic diner food, or you could head back to The Pantry for the 24-hour restaurant’s night shift of food.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.