We gave this one to Las Vegas food critic Al Mancini. Here are his recommendations.
There are plenty of places with incredible views in this town. Seriously, a lot! Let's start with some of the ones that also made Huntington Press’ book Eating Las Vegas: The 50 Essential Restaurants, with a few others thrown in at the end for good measure.
The Fountains of Bellagio provide one of the most sought-after views in Las Vegas and when Steve Wynn opened the place, he was smart enough to locate most of the restaurants directly on the water. My favorite is probably Le Cirque, which is dead-center on the second floor. It also boasts a fairly small dining room; hence, quite a few of the tables have primo views – with the best being the ones located against the windows. But Picasso, Prime, and Osteria del Circo all have nice views of the fountains. Ironically, however, it's actually Paris across the street that offers the best aerial view of the fountains you’ll find in a restaurant. For that high-altitude perspective, nothing beats The Eiffel Tower Restaurant.
For great views of the city as a whole, check out Top of the World at The Stratosphere. The rotating restaurant has undergone a major upgrade in food over the past few years and is now serving cuisine that matches the breathtaking view. Plus, you can enjoy the from the lounge, too, which offers some incredible happy hour bargains. Just don’t let the thrill riders plunging past your window or dangling off the edge freak you out!
Nove Italiano atop The Palms' Fantasy Tower also has a great aerial view of the Strip, thanks to the resort’s unique position a few blocks to the west of Las Vegas Boulevard. Almost every seat here is amazing. But the ones against the east wall have the best panoramic vantage point – assuming you're facing the right way.
For an altogether different type of view, I'd recommend Aureole in Mandalay Bay. The main attraction here is the wine tower in the main dining room, in which their signature Wine Angels "fly" up and down to retrieve your bottle. But I’m partial to their outdoor Swan Court, where your table and private patio sit on a small lake.
And finally, out in the 'burbs, Marche Bacchus continues to offer amazing patio seating on the man-made Desert Shores lake. Feed the ducks and black swans while you eat, or just enjoy some rare waterfront dining in the desert!
OK, so those are my favorites from the book. But a few other places are worth mentioning. Mix at the top of THEhotel at Mandalay Bay has an amazing view, although prices are high and service can be spotty in the dining room. (The lounge has the same view and a much less expensive menu.) Mon Ami Gabi in Paris offers casual French bistro fare and if you sit on the patio you can people-watch on the Strip and check out the Bellagio fountains across the street. Last but not least, there are a few good restaurant-with-a-view options available from The Cosmopolitan, with my personal favorites being the patios at Comme Ça and Estiatorio Milos. The former looks out onto The Eiffel Tower and the north end of The Strip, while the latter has a great view of CityCenter, Planet Hollywood, and points south.
You can find details for all of these venues, including addresses, phone numbers, hours of operation, menus, and more, in the Restaurants section on this site.
As far as getting a good table's concerned, it's always best to request it when making a reservation. (Telling them it's a special occasion might help...) But in the end, there aren't any guarantees and I've found that trying to tip the manager usually doesn't work – but then maybe I just didn't offer a large enough tip?
