A Local’s Guide to Doing Las Vegas the Right Way—With No Tourist Traps in Sight

Las Vegas built its reputation on slot machines, showgirls, and buffets, but this casino town is growing beyond the Strip and Fremont Street. There's a new culture in the air, based on hometown pride and a relatable identity.

“The Vegas of my youth, when the entire stretch of the city could be traveled in 15 minutes, is a far cry from what we know now," says Christina Dylag, owner of the Velveteen Rabbit cocktail lounge. "The last ten years have been particularly defined by evolution, but also marked by culture and heart."

Yes, you can still play a round of poker and see a show, yet Las Vegas is a community that's reinventing itself from the ground up. It's more than a tourist destination. It's a place where people can buy homes near desert trails, eat food from homegrown chefs in Chinatown, and cheer on a new wave of professional sports teams–an idea once thought impossible in a city so connected to betting.

"Vegas is on fire, in the best possible way," according to Jolene Mannina, founder of the Picnic in the Alley culinary events. "It's embracing growth with open arms."

Part of that fire is the slew of world-class events that have found a home in Vegas in recent years. In addition to favorites such as the Electric Daisy Carnival and Lovers & Friends music festivals, Vegas has made a splash by hosting the Super Bowl and Formula 1 Grand Prix last year. This year, the return of F1 promises to be one of the coolest event to take over Vegas.

So forget everything you already know—or think you know—about Las Vegas. While a few things never get old—the Bellagio fountains, swim-up Blackjack tables, eating at a casino at 3 am in the morning—we understand that Vegas means different things to different people. Maybe you're here to party as hard as possible, maybe you want to get off the Strip, or maybe you want to experience our town's ever-shifting history. Touch on all of the above and you're on your way to getting Vegas right. So become familiar with a new side of this world-famous city; there's enough sizzle and spice to make any tourist stick around—perhaps for good.

See: Ultra-high definition, multi-dimensional worlds inside the Sphere (and some goofy visuals outside it).

Touch: Your winnings after cheering on a mechanical horse while playing the only remaining Sigma Derby game left in Vegas at The D casino.

Smell: The single-leaf pinyon pine trees on Mount Charleston.

Hear: A packed T-Mobile Arena yell "knight!" during the "proof through the night" part of the national anthem at a Vegas Golden Knights game.

Taste: The food at three different restaurants in one night with Lip Smacking Foodie Tours.

Las Vegas is famous for its quickie weddings, where all you need is a license-to-order and a drive-thru window to tie the knot. More time (and thought?) is devoted to the bachelor and bachelorette parties that drive tourism dollars to the city, taking full advantage of everything this wild town has to offer. Yes, you can drink openly on the Strip and a new wave of cocktail lounges are giving customers something more than a yard-long boozy slushie. Just be ready to stay up late. "Las Vegas has so many nightclub options, but I always recommend Omnia and XS," says YouTuber Norma Gelli. "Make sure to arrive early on weekends to avoid long lines and ladies, please wear comfortable shoes!"

11 am - Begin the day with brunch at Kassi Beach House.
Kassi Beach House is one of the few Vegas restaurants that serves brunch seven days a week. The restaurant has a social energy that works day or night with a patio overlooking the Virgin Hotels pool deck. A few of the tables are even modeled after cabanas. Most of the dishes have an Italian influence and you can get your day drinking started on the right foot with bottomless rosé.

2 pm - Hit the pool at Drai's.
Drai's is an iconic party spot that expanded its presence in Las Vegas by moving to the rooftop of the Cromwell hotel in 2014. The nightclub sits next to the pool deck, which transforms into Drai's Beach Club during the day. Second-level cabanas have a communal dipping pool and overlook a stage that welcomes DJs and chart-topping rap and R&B acts. You'll enjoy the entertainment, but it's hard to shift your eyes away from the spectacular Vegas views from 11 stories above the Strip.

7 pm - Have dinner at Cathédrale.
One of the newest restaurants at the Aria seizes on the vibe-dining trend that's taking over Las Vegas. Dark, seductive, and full of energy, Cathédrale has a menu based on Mediterranean flavors, but covers a lot of ground. The Mishima Reserve Wagyu Tomahawk has a must-see flambé tableside presentation, fueled by Woodford Reserve aged in XO cognac casks.

9:30 pm - Sip on cocktails at the Legacy Club.
The Circa resort towers above the Fremont Street Experience with views of both the Strip and downtown. Soak in the scenery from the Legacy Club on the 60th floor with wraparound windows and fire pits on an outdoor patio. The bar shifts into lounge mode after 9 pm on weekends, featuring a DJ and elaborate bottle-service presentations.

11 pm - Party at Omnia.
Choosing which nightclub to visit first is one of the most difficult decisions you'll make in Las Vegas. You can't go wrong with Omnia at Caesars Palace, which has a high-tech, levitating chandelier that hovers above the dance floor. It also doesn't hurt to have an outdoor patio by the Strip and headliners like Zedd, Tiesto, and Martin Garrix. Wrap up the weekend on a high note with Desero Latin Sundays.

2 am - Dance outdoors at the Wynn.
Let's be honest. You're not going to bed anytime soon. So feel free to crawl from one party to another. XS is known as the most indulgent nightclub at the Wynn, but Encore Beach Club is a great alternative for dancing under the stars. Both have outdoor poolside decks and Afrojack, Marshmello, and the Chainsmokers in a deep DJ lineup.

4 am - Sing, drink, and mingle with the locals at Dino's.
Don't want to go to bed? No problem. Dino's is one of the oldest dive bars in Vegas, open 24 hours for late-night karaoke and cheap drinks. Even though it's on Las Vegas Boulevard, close to where the Strip merges with Downtown, the bar is a popular locals joint with a loose, low-key atmosphere.

The neighborhood growth in Las Vegas is hard to miss, and attractions beckon from beyond the tourist corridor. Discover it all for yourself, whether visiting the high elevation of Mt. Charleston, the suburban sprawl of Henderson, or Red Rock Resort, Arizona Charlie's, and other casinos with local flavor. "The majority of Las Vegas locals rarely ever go to the Strip," says Jasmine Trias, an American Idol finalist who now lives in Summerlin. "When dining out at restaurants like Vintner Grill, Echo & Rig, Nittaya’s Secret Kitchen, and Al Solito Posto, it's hard to justify leaving suburbia."

9 am - Hike Lone Mountain.
Lone Mountain is just north of Summerlin, a sprawling master-planned community that dominates the West Valley of Las Vegas. Come by early in the morning and hike to the top for a panoramic view of the entire valley. The mountain is named after its isolated perch east of the 215 beltway, standing apart from the colorful sandstone of nearby Red Rock Canyon. You may see a few visitors on horseback, underscoring the neighborhood's rural identity and Old West spirit.

12 pm - Eat at an under-the-radar food hall.
Food halls are taking over Las Vegas and threatening to replace the iconic buffet. The Cheongdam Food Hall is the only one not connected to a casino, offering a variety of global cuisine in an old Dollar General building. Choose from Smile Shota (sushi), Curry-Ya (Japanese curry plates), Tacos by Carmen & Jose (Mexican street food), Teddy (tea and coffee), Neko Anko (hotteok, taiyaki, soft serve), and Market Green Table (grab-and-go ramen and bento boxes).

1:30 pm - Pick fruit at Gilcrease Orchard.
Vist the Gilcrease Orchard for your choice of fresh fruits and vegetables. Covering 60 acres, the orchard is best known as a fall tradition, when families pick sunflowers and carry out pumpkins on wheelbarrows, but it's worth a visit any time of year. The crop changes with the season. On weekends, you can also walk among animals at the nearby Las Vegas Farm.

3:30 pm - Walk the grounds of an old fort.
Get a feel for how Vegas quickly developed by visiting the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Park, a surprisingly well-preserved relic in the middle of gritty Downtown. Built in 1855 by Mormon missionaries, it was the first permanent, non-Native settlement in Las Vegas. You can still see and hear the trickling spring that drew explorers here in the first place.

6 pm - Sip your way through an Arts District bar crawl.
The Arts District is easily the hippest neighborhood in Las Vegas right now—a vibrant hub for independent businesses where art galleries stand alongside bars and restaurants without a casino in sight. So lubricate yourself with a bar crawl. Between the wine of Garagiste, Japanese whiskey of Bar Ginza, and cocktails at Velveteen Rabbit, you've got plenty of options. The Arts District is also known as Brewery Row for its crowded array of beer producers (like Able Baker, HUDL, and Nevada Brew Works) and a few charming tap rooms, including CraftHaus and the Silver Stamp.

8 pm - Have dinner at Esther's Kitchen.
Stick around the Arts District and enjoy dinner at Esther's Kitchen. It's not only one of the best restaurants in Vegas, but the place that put the neighborhood on the culinary map. James Trees' farm-fresh Italian restaurant is so successful, it recently moved into an expanded next door space and introduced new perks like a wood-fired hearth, hand-rolled pasta to order, and an upstairs lounge known as the Treehouse. As always, you can munch away on house-baked bread, dipped in delicious anchovy butter.

Las Vegas is loaded with history for being a relatively young city founded in 1905. Hoover Dam created Lake Mead, kicking off the boom, yet Downtown remains the heart of Las Vegas, where the community first developed and continues to thrive in fits and starts. "Like any urban core, it has ebbed and flowed," says Dayvid Figler, co-host of the City Cast Las Vegas podcast. "But always with worthy offerings, including the Huntridge Tavern, Arts Factory, and Fremont Street itself with its built-in parade of people watching."

9 am - Travel the Historic Railroad Tunnel trail.
Head out early on a morning hike or bike tour on the Historic Railroad Trail. The route follows the old railroad tracks that carried supplies to workers building the Hoover Dam, passing through tunnels and overlooking Lake Mead. The trail is wide and easy to navigate, ending at the dam itself—and endless opportunities for photos or a tour.

1 pm - Eat lunch at the Peppermill.
Tourist trap or classic American diner? The Peppermill is a little bit of both, but the distinctive indoor neon of the Fireside Lounge has made this restaurant a popular spot for countless movies and TV shows over the years. 

3 pm - Go on a Mob Tour.
The Vegas Mob Tour is an up-close look at old mobster hangouts and movie locations, including the house used for Casino next to the historic Las Vegas Country Club. The bus tours depart at 3 pm daily, zipping by notorious locations like a jewelry shop where an infamous burglary took place and a dive bar that was once a pizzeria used as a mob front.

6 pm - Have dinner at the Golden Steer.
The oldest steakhouse in Vegas is full of historic decor and great food. The booths at the Golden Steer are named in honor of Vegas celebrities who visited the restaurant over the years. If you get lucky, you can even sit at Frank Sinatra's favorite table. Fortunately, the food is better than ever, from tender, wet-aged steaks to a series of tableside presentations for salads and desserts. The Golden Steer is just west of the Strip, and dates back to 1958 when hitching posts were available to park your horse out front.

8 pm - Visit the Golden Gate.
Walk the Fremont Street Experience to see the sights and sounds of Old Vegas—and detour through the lobby of the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino. It's the oldest resort still operating in Vegas, first welcoming guests in 1905 when it was the Hotel Nevada. Over the years, it was the home of the first telephone in Las Vegas, had an early neon sign on Fremont Street, and popularized the inexpensive shrimp cocktail as a local staple.

9:30 pm - Sip on a custom cocktail at the Laundry Room.
Fremont East is a more locals-focused segment of Fremont Street, loaded with bars and lounges. The Laundry Room is the most secluded, tucked away in a secret room at Commonwealth. It was originally the laundry room for the historic El Cortez across the street, hence the name. Today, it's a stylish, timeless, speakeasy with vintage furniture and custom cocktails. Space is limited and reservations are highly encouraged.

Boulder Dam Hotel $$
This historic, boutique hotel dates back to 1933, built to coincide with the construction of the Hoover Dam. There are just 21 rooms (and no resort fee!) with everything in downtown Boulder City just steps away. No gambling here. But there's a charming lobby with a vintage feel, an in-house Boulder Dam Museum, and a speakeasy-esque cocktail lounge in the basement. The Boulder Dam Hotel is a great option if you want to avoid the core of Vegas and be closer to attractions and activities at Lake Mead and on the Colorado River.

Durango $$$
Get familiar with the fast-growing Southwest Valley with a stay at the Durango Casino & Resort, which just opened in 2023. The casino is a refreshing change of pace for Vegas with windows that allow in waves of natural light and a sports book next to The George, a sports bar with its own outdoor playground. The pace is easier than what you'll find on the Strip and the food hall actually has some bites that are worth your time.

The Cosmopolitan $$$
Centrally located, the Cosmopolitan is one of the few Strip hotels with open-air balconies (that happen to overlook the Bellagio fountains next door). The perks continue with an excellent restaurant lineup, two rooftop pool decks, convenient underground parking, and an unmistakable modern image.

Fontainebleau $$$$
Sometimes bigger is better—and worth the wait. The Fontainebleau is the tallest building in Nevada (if you don't count the Strat tower), but sat empty for years after its opening was delayed by the Great Recession. The property was revamped and finally opened in late 2023, built on a luxurious image, gorgeous pool deck, and great restaurants, including Ito, an intimate omakase restaurant on the top floor.

How to get around
Download a rideshare app. It's the best way to get around if you're not driving your own car. The Downtown Loop is a free (yes, free!) shuttle in the Downtown area that not nearly enough people utilize. The Deuce is an affordable bus that covers the Strip. The Las Vegas Monorail is actually quite underrated, despite not going to either the airport or downtown. A free private monorail travels between Mandalay Bay and the Excalibur on the south end of the Strip. Another one covers the Bellagio and CityCenter.

When to plan your visit
The best times to visit Vegas are the spring and fall. When the temperature is mild and you're likely to catch a cooling breeze. But no matter when you visit, check dates carefully. If a big trade show is in town, hotel rates will be up across the board.

Take a break from the holiday chaos, rev your engines, and don't forget to bring your appetite for the return of the F1 races in Vegas, which go down from November 21–23 this year. The Grand Prix itself is thrilling, plus there are a ton of race-related events, attractions, dinners, and other cool stuff going on around town.

Celebrating New Year's Eve on the Strip is one of those bucket list things, but it's colder than you think—even in the desert.

Your fun Las Vegas dinner party fact
There's no apostrophe in Caesars Palace (and using one is a dead giveaway that you're a tourist). That's because every guest is considered a "Caesar"—and yes, you can book "The Hangover Suite" at the resort, although the interior hotel room scenes filmed in the movie were actually shot on a soundstage.

Want more Thrillist? Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.