Dining

Best Brunches in Las Vegas

Your checklist of the most deliciously decadent weekend meals

Image
There are many reasons to love the Bagel Cafe.
Photo: Mikayla Whitmore

Sweet and savory combos on overload. Flavors from Mexican to Cajun to Asian to barbecue. Way too much Champagne. This is your checklist of the most deliciously decadent weekend meals in the brunchiest city anywhere.

VEGAS CLASSICS

Sterling Brunch at BLT Steak When Bally’s Steakhouse closed last year before becoming BLT Steak, gone were the infinite pours of Perrier-Jouët Champagne, unlimited American sturgeon caviar and an epic lobster, cognac and Boursin omelet. But the Strip’s most lavish brunch returned to a newly renovated room with its mainstays intact and BLT’s famous giant popovers. All is right with the world once again. $90. Bally’s, 702-967-7999. Sunday, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. –Jim Begley

Border Brunch at Border Grill Almost four years after Border Grill at Mandalay Bay shook up the scene with an unlimited small-plates brunch, Border Brunch is still humming along, delivering bacon-jalapeño PBJs (a transcendent trio of smoke, salt and sweet), egg-white oysters Rockefeller and other scrumptious bites. It’s so successful, the brunch concept has been imported back to LA (about time LA learned something from us). $34.99, $10 bottomless mimosas. Forum Shops at Caesars, 702-854-6700. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7403; Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. –JB

Border Grill Brunch

Jazz Brunch at the Country Club With stunning golf course views, an all-you-can-eat menu and buffet-style offerings, live music and a New Orleans vibe, the Country Club’s long-running brunch remains one of the most beloved and decadent meals in Las Vegas—like everything else at Steve Wynn’s properties, it’s top notch. Favorite bites: the freshest smoked salmon ever, sausages at the carving station, seafood ceviche, unlimited crab legs, shrimp and oysters, eggs Versailles, crepes Bienville and a great grilled Wagyu beef hot dog. Don’t forget the boundless bubbles. $64. Wynn, 877-321-9966. Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. –Don Chareunsy

Gospel Brunch at House of Blues Praise the lord and pass the jambalaya. Recently updated with music curated by gospel star Kirk Franklin, this House of Blues institution is a different kind of party brunch. Live carving stations slicing up roasted turkey and juicy prime rib hit the Vegas-style buffet spot, augmented by an omelet station, Southern classics like biscuits and country gravy and “Low Country” rice salad with white chocolate bread pudding for that sweet tooth. $59.95. Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7600. Sunday, seatings at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. –Brock Radke

Croissant French Toast served at Veranda in the Four Seasons on March 30, 2015.

Fountains Brunch at Jasmine This over-the-top experience might very well be the best decadent brunch in town. The view of Bellagio’s fountains—you’re practically inside them—is incredible, made even more mesmerizing when paired with a glass of bubbly. The bright decor and food are elegant and sumptuous. Standout dishes include duck, braised short ribs, fresh seafood (crab legs, oysters and mussels), dim sum and for dessert—what else?—a chocolate fountain. $58. Bellagio, 702-693-8865. Sunday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. –DC

Veranda at Four Seasons Those hot, fresh mini-doughnuts, though ... weekend brunch at the Four Seasons connected to Mandalay Bay has provided a heavenly escape for years, and the friendly restaurant was recently re-styled as a charming trattoria. Of course, that weekend morning doughnut station hasn’t gone anywhere, and the dual benefits of a buffet line and full service keep Veranda among our favorites. Don’t miss the tiramisu croissant French toast, the foccacia eggs Benedict or the Italian Screwdriver cocktail. $39 (à la carte menu also available). Four Seasons, 702-632-5000. Saturday & Sunday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. –BR

LOCAL FAVES

Babystacks Cafe Maybe it’s the seemingly infinite variety of pancakes—cinnabun is a particular guilty pleasure—or Asian breakfast riffs like Rick’s adobo-fried rice or the Spam scramble. But there’s always a line at Babystacks, and it’s always worth the wait. Even an ever-expanding empire with a quartet of locations across the Valley has done nothing to assuage the crowds, so go early. Four locations, babystackscafe.com. Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. –JB

Kalua Pig Benedict served at Babystacks in Las Vegas on April 2, 2015.

Bagel Cafe A great delicatessen is a community institution, and Bagel Cafe is ours. Bulky, smile-inducing bagels of every flavor imaginable smothered with scallion cream cheese, beautiful lox and fresh, crisp veggies are only the beginning. Buttermilk pancakes, smoked fish salads, egg sandwiches or Benedicts ... there are so many reasons there are so many people eating here every morning. 301 N. Buffalo Drive, 702-255-3444. Monday, 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. –BR

Eat At the forefront of the Downtown dining revolution, Natalie Young opened Eat when there was nothing else. Now more than two years later, after so many other eateries have popped up in the neighborhood, hers remains one of its only brunch-worthy destinations. Most importantly, she’s still doling out a chicken-fried steak that would make a Texan cry tears of joy ... because as written in the prophecy, the revolution will be led by a righteous chicken-fried steak. 707 Carson St., 702-534-1515. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. –JB

Hash House A Go Go With classics like chicken and waffles, inventive (and gigantic) eggs Benedicts (with mashed potatoes!) and scrumptious sweet-tooth options like the Snickers-filled pancake, Hash House has been serving up “twisted farm food”—and winning the hearts of locals—since 2009. And now, thanks to all that delicious overindulgence, Valley residents have plenty of locations to choose from. Five locations, hashhouseagogo.com. Hours vary. –Mark Adams

Bagel Cafe

Marche Bacchus Everybody knows this Desert Shores jewel’s lakeside location is ideal for Sunday brunch, when escargot Persillade, crab and asparagus Benedict, buckwheat crepes with fresh fruit and the legendary lobster salad croissant jump off the menu. But now you also know to do brunch during lunch on Saturday, when free wine tastings can be part of your menu. Hello. 2620 Regatta Drive, 702-804-8008. Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. –BR

MTO Café The original MTO Café is a bright venue for Main Street biz meetings. The second location in Downtown Summerlin is an airy nook for the shopping set. Both offer morning grinds from waffles with berries to the MTO Breakfast, a large, photogenic plate featuring a trio of eggs, chicken-sausage links, turkey bacon, griddled mashed potatoes, toast, tomato slices and mixed greens. Oh, and some Spam, too. Somehow it just looks extra-healthy and delicious in all the refulgent sunshine. 500 S. Main Street, 702-380-8229. Downtown Summerlin, 702-982-0770; hours vary. –Greg Thilmont

Norm’s Eggs Cafe Though not gritty enough to be a greasy spoon, Norm’s serves some damn fine diner favorites. Worth the trip alone is an off-menu item not often seen ’round these parts. S.O.S.—aka chipped beef on toast—might not sound particularly appetizing, but this salty, dried beef dish is the perfect foil no matter what you did last night. Norm won’t judge you. 3655 S. Durango Drive #29, 702-431-3447. Daily, 6:30 a.m.-3 p.m. –JB

STRIP SENSATIONS

Buddy V’s The man might be known as “the Cake Boss,” but here, his savory offerings are even better. Sometimes it’s the little things, like the polenta croutons in the Caesar salad. Sometimes it’s the staples like thick, smoked applewood slab bacon. As for the sweets, the top choice is the Panettone French toast, a Christmas treat all year long. $34.95, $14.95 bottomless featured drinks. Venetian, 702-607-2355. Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. –Jason Harris

La Cave Exactly what is butler-style brunch? At this cozy hideaway, it’s basically a buffet where you don’t have to leave your seat. Servers pass with platters of New York-style egg sandwiches, mushroom grits, veal short rib hash and cornflake-crusted brioche French toast, and you grab and eat everything, all morning long. Butlers are cool. $48, $20 bottomless brunch cocktails. Wynn, 702-770-7375. Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. –BR

Wagyu Eggs Benedict served at Serendipity 3 on March 26, 2015.

Serendipity 3 Perch on the patio and people-watch while working your way through Willy Wonka-esque creations like Bigger Than Your Head Pancakes with chocolate chips or blueberries; the Saints & Sinners French Toast Log with bacon, sunny side-up eggs and potatoes; or a crazy Benny of cornmeal-crusted, fried and poached eggs with a Wagyu beef slider on a housemade biscuit plus sausage gravy. Don’t forget to save room for those famous desserts. Caesars Palace, 702-731-7373. Saturday & Sunday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. –BR

Tableau One of the better-kept Strip dining secrets is also one of the most elegant breakfast restaurants in the city—the crisp, sparkling Tableau near Wynn’s Tower Suites. Start with French press coffee or the Purify, a kicked-up juice of honeydew, green apple, kale, cayenne and honey. Then consider duck confit hash and eggs or brown butter apple pancakes with cinnamon mascarpone butter and Vermont maple syrup. Wynn, 702-770-3330. Daily, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. –BR

LATEST GREATS

Bardot Brasserie Everlasting rosé for 20 bucks. Chilled seafood platters and croissant Benedicts with smoked salmon or Swiss chard. The Croque Madame of your dreams. Welcome to Bardot Brasserie, aka brunch heaven. It’s like if Bouchon had a little too much to drink and got a little sexy and decided, yes, I’ll have a side of macaroni and cheese with my king crab buckwheat crepe smothered in beurre blanc. Best new brunch? How about best new restaurant. Aria, 702-590-8638. Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. –BR

The Jim Morrison, a buttermilk pancake topped with fried chicken served at Brooklyn Bowl.

Brooklyn Bowl There’s a reason Bowl brunch doesn’t start until noon: Because it’s super-laidback-awesome, and you’ll want to stay all day. Get rolling on sweet, sassy Drunken Palmers and pretend you’re not gonna order the Jim Morrison, fried chicken with a 10-inch buttermilk pancake. The Bayou omelet is stellar, crammed with smoked trout, collard greens and provolone. The Sloppy Josephine is unbelievable, a shepherd’s pie-ish ramekin of pleasure—mashed potatoes, Sloppy Joe meat, baked eggs, way too much cheese. Brooklyn Bowl, why are you so perfect? Linq, 702-862-2695. Saturday & Sunday, noon-4 p.m. –BR

Embers Many Vegas barstaurants pile on too much grub. Embers holds its brunch hand a bit. Omelets to pancakes, everything is reasonably sized. This makes especially good sense with the rich filet Benedict, which features mini-brioches topped with beef tournedos, poached eggs and truffled Hollandaise. Plus, there’s a nifty front patio and it’s close to REI for postprandial hiking gear shopping. 740 S. Rampart Blvd. #7, 702-778-2160. Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. –GT

Fat Choy All your Fat Choy favorites are available during brunch, like chef Sheridan Su’s incomparable sesame noodles, but weekend-only options include treasures like the decadent Fat Benedict, which adds crispy pork belly to take the dish to a new level. Steak and eggs, featuring a kalbi-marinated flatiron, two over-easy eggs and potatoes, is so good you’ll be dreaming about it until next weekend. Eureka Casino, 702-794-3464. Sunday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. –JH

Hearthstone This new neighborhood palace is hitting on all cylinders, including a recently unveiled brunch rivaling the best in town. Everyone does chicken and waffles, but this version combines duck confit and waffles with maple bourbon syrup. And how about loco moco with a dry-aged burger and chicken rice? Best of all is the tableside Bloody Mary cart, because why be bothered with a buffet when the buffet can come to you? Red Rock Resort, 702-797-7344. Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. –JB

Brunch gets barbecued at Pot Liquor.

Brunch gets barbecued at Pot Liquor.

Pot Liquor This new barbecue dynamo offers one of the best brunch deals around—a selection of special dishes with endless Bellinis, Bloodies or mimosas for under $20. Menu options include smoked brisket hash with potatoes and two eggs, pulled pork and waffles with spiced apple compote, grilled bacon steak and eggs with white cheddar grit cakes and chicken fried steak with buttermilk biscuits and gravy. The casual and comfortable atmosphere is a perfect match for the hearty Southern fare. Town Square, 702-816-4600. Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. –DC

Yardbird Chicken gets the red-carpet treatment in this new Strip-side cathedral of the South. Unctuous chicken liver toast is offal-y good, while Mama’s chicken biscuits highlight the more traditional form of fowl for which the restaurant is famous. And Chicken ’n’ Watermelon ’n’ Waffles is just the combination you never knew you were looking for. Thanks, Yardbird! Venetian, 702-297-6541. Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. –JB

Tags: Dining, Featured, Food
Share
  • It’s a different kind of Mediterranean restaurant, drawing heavily from Mina’s Egyptian heritage to repackage familiar food with robust, Middle Eastern flavors.

  • On our last visit we were lucky to try the special of the day, filet mignon wrapped in crispy pancetta with a mound of Parmesan ...

  • Experience unmatched March basketball viewing parties in Las Vegas! Join SAHARA Las Vegas, Resorts World, South Point and more from March 21-24 for large screens, ...

  • Get More Dining Stories
Top of Story