Everything You Need to Know About Las Vegas for 2018: Restaurants

Las Vegas is a foodie haven, with absolutely no shortage of great places to grab a bite to eat. It can become almost dizzying trying to keep up with all the openings; however, if you’re looking for the newest, hottest openings, Travel Agent has you covered. Keep your eyes peeled, and stomach's empty, for the following eateries in 2018.

While it's not necessarily a new opening, you should know Wolfgang Puck’s Spago will be leaving the Forum Shops and will reopen at the Bellagio, most likely during spring or summer. Spago has been a mainstay in Vegas since it opened in 1992; Puck plans to continue to serve “California cuisine” such as pizzas topped with salmon and caviar.

Gordon Ramsay at the Hell's Kitchen Caesars Palace
Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen

One of the hottest new openings—pun intended—is Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, located at Caesars Palace. The cooking reality show-themed restaurant has over 300 seats, two chef’s tables, a private dining room and more. The grand opening is planned for January 26 with over 12,000 people having made bookings already, according to a hotel representative. Another celebrity chef, Giada De Laurentiis, will be opening her second Vegas restaurant this February, Pronto by Giada. Also located at Caesars Palace, Pronto will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with coffee, house-made pastries and sandwiches, antipasti, gelato, wine on tap and more. Guests who want to take home a taste of Pronto will be able to next door at a retail outlet selling cookbooks, desserts and even clothing.

To be located in the brand-new NoMad Las Vegas (a hotel-within-a-hotel concept at the also-new Park MGM) will be the signature NoMad restaurant. It will be operated by chef Daniel Humm and restaurateur Will Guidara. The pair runs the original NoMad restaurant in New York City as well as the world’s No. 1 restaurant in 2017, Eleven Madison Park.

The popular Eataly marketplace will be debuting at Park MGM this year, becoming the sixth U.S. location. The two-story Italian-themed marketplace will have cafés, to-go counters, sit-down restaurants, food carts and more. Also to open at Park MGM will be Bavette’s Steakhouse & Bar, of Chicago fame. Be on the lookout towards the end of 2018 for Roy Choi's newest endeavor. He will be opening a yet-unnamed restaurant in the Park MGM/NoMad Las Vegas complex. He will be bringing the cuisine that made him famous in L.A.’s Koreatown.

Black Tap CrazyShake sweet and salty milkshake
Photo by Black Tap

Another New York eatery will be making its first appearance in Vegas: Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer, which opened at The Venetian on December 30. It gained Internet fame for its over-the-top shakes, the creation of Michelin-starred chef Joe Isidori and restaurateur/nightclub developer Chris Barish. Neither are new to Vegas with Isidori serving as executive chef of DJT while Barish is behind the likes of Light, Martini Park, Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill and Gordon Ramsay Steak.

China Tang will be opening at the MGM Grand this year, serving Cantonese cuisine, with influences from Sichuan, Shanghai and Beijing. Hong Kong-based Lai Sun, which owns multiple Michelin-starred restaurants in Hong Kong and beyond, is responsible for the launch. They're bringing in executive chef Albert Au Kwok Keung, the youngest Chinese chef ever to win three Michelin stars (at The Eight in Macau).

This summer two dining attractions will open at Wynn Plaza: the L.A.-based Urth Caffé and Cirpriani Las Vegas. The former will be a European-style coffee shop with casual breakfast and lunch menus, while the latter will likely be upscale Italian food, although no official menu has been released yet.  

At Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, Alexxa’s Bar opened just prior to New Year’s. It’s a modern, sangria-themed bar (there will be nine options, including sparkling sangria, cider sangria and seasonal sangrias). It’s located next to HEXX Kitchen & Bar. Tropicana Las Vegas will be introducing an Asian-inspired restaurant concept this year, Red Lotus Asian Kitchen. Opening early in 2018, it will have lunch and dinner options, with a menu that draws from Thailand, Korea, China and Vietnam.

Related Stories

Everything You Need to Know About Las Vegas for 2018: Entertainment

Everything You Need to Know About Las Vegas for 2018: Hotels

New Tips for a Las Vegas Shopping Trip

The Palazzo Las Vegas to Debut New Cocktail Bar This December