Stunning views, amazing weather, fun people watching and amazing food all contribute to a great patio dining experience. Here are our picks for the top patio dining spots in town.
Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro
Morels boasts one of the most spacious patios on the Strip. Located in the main lobby of Palazzo, the delicious carnivore’s dream prides itself not only on its wet- and dry-aged steaks, and charcuterie plates of premium meats, but on its cheese platters, too. Uniting both the steak lovers and vegetarians? Its impressive wine list that boasts more than 60 options by the glass. 3325 S Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 607-6333 morelslv.com
Mon Ami Gabi
Mon Ami Gabi at Paris provides a bustling French bistro atmosphere from 7 am to 11 pm (midnight on weekends), but arrive during daylight hours to make the most of its stunning terrace and outdoor area. First-come, first-serve, there’s even a tiny bar on the patio to make the wait fly by. Don’t pass up the baguette, pommes frites, or wine cart (Sancerre and champagne are favorites): This restaurant shines when showing off its French roots. 3655 S Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 944-4224 monamigabi.com
Mix
Leave it to Vegas to offer a top patio restaurant that happens to be rooftop – and 64 stories up. Mandalay Bay’s upscale dinner-only hot spot, by world-famous chef Alain Ducasse, is known for its stunning dining room that includes a private room for dining a deux at the top of a grand staircase (it screams “will you marry me”), and outdoor seating with stunning aerial views – plus yummy French dishes such as eggplant tartine and duck fois gras. 3950 Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 632-9500 delanolasvegas.com
Border Grill
Photo Credit: MGM Resorts International
Border Grill is famous for its sublime Mexican-inspired fare (chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, and empanadas, to start) and to-die-for weekend brunch. What’s lesser known is that the Mandalay Bay restaurant also has a lovely patio overlooking the hotel’s lazy river. Grab a table in this prime locale to eat and linger over those unlimited mimosas at brunch, or dine al fresco over entrees at dinner. An enormous fan keeps the area cool during summer, so take advantage of the desert sunlight, since not many restaurants in Vegas allow for it. 3950 S Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 632-7403 bordergrill.com
Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria & Cucino
Only in Vegas: Wolfgang Puck’s pizzeria offers the best in patio dining from the inside of the swankiest mall. So it’s not exactly outdoors, but the open-air seating and indulgent pastas and pizzas will win over any patio dining snobs. The Tuscan bean soup, octopus antipasto, and butter lettuce salad with gorgonzola and hazelnuts are best choices for a lighter lunch, or dig into its signature wild boar ragu. You’ll need to properly fuel up before power-shopping, as Crystals Shopping Center’s designer goods aren’t for the weak of pocketbook. Local business executives power lunch here, so you never know who the diner at the next table might be. 3720 S Las Vegas Blvd #240, (702) 238-1000 wolfgangpuck.com
SW Steakhouse
Photo Credit: Wynn Resorts
Celebrities like Tom Cruise and Posh Spice have enjoyed dinner on SW’s patio, which overlooks Wynn’s man-made Lake of Dreams. Vignettes such as a singing frog appear over the water throughout the evening, as if SW’s lengthy wine list, delicious steaks, and dreamy sides needed anything more. The steakhouse is named after Steve Wynn and is one of his signature hot spots, even though the powerful mogul now eats a red meat-free diet. Even if you’re digging into a steak for dinner, take a look at the vegan menu. Only Wynn could make sure that the dishes found there wow on their own, for both vegans and veggie-loving carnivores. 3131 S Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 770-3325 wynnlasvegas.com
Mizumi
Wynn’s Japanese wonderland features patio dining overlooking a waterfall and koi pond. (The ultra-exclusive chef’s table sits right in the water.) Even inside, tables near the windows offer stellar views. Sister restaurant to Wynn’s Macau locale, Mizumi boasts robatayaki, sushi, and teppanyaki menus that span everything from top-level toro tartare and wagyu short rib skewers, to every Japanese favorite under the sun. 3131 S Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 770-3320 wynnlasvegas.com
Otto
Venetian stands as one of the great themed hotels, and it just wouldn’t be complete without St Marks Square, indoors, under an artificial blue sky. Otto, Mario Batali’s answer to an Italian pizza joint, is a standout, with excellent pizza pies, anti-pasti, olives, and wines. More casual than his Carnevino masterpiece next door at Palazzo, Otto lures in Batali fans who aren’t in the mood for the super-high prices and foodie-beckoning dishes of Carnevino. 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 677-3390 ottopizzeria.com
Ra Sushi
At Ra sushi, grab a seat on the patio for the best of people-watching, in front of Fashion Show Mall directly across from Wynn. Known for its excellent happy hour and reverse (after 10 pm) happy hour specials, Ra offers a rare sushi fix that’s on the Strip but doesn’t break the budget. Happy hour items include their popular crispy rice tuna and pineapple cheese wantons, as well as classic nigiri and rolls like rainbow or “Viva Las Vegas.” 3200 Las Vegas Blvd South, (702) 696-0008 rasushi.com
El Segundo Sol
Ra’s next-door neighbor, El Segundo’s Mexican specialties will turn any outing into a fiesta. Sit outside to soak in the Strip’s atmosphere, while noshing on Mexican favorites like tableside guacamole and cheese crisps. Ten made-to-order taco options get the party started, accompanied by homemade tortillas, and beans and rice, or spring for fajitas or enchiladas. Margaritas come in three sizes (9-32 ouces), so drink up during happy hour. 3200 S Las Vegas Blvd., (702) 258-1211 elsegundosol.com
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