Gluten-Free Las Vegas Travel Guide
There aren’t many sure things in Sin City. But here’s something you can bet on: with lively resorts, new al fresco shopping areas, every type of entertainment you can imagine, and more restaurants catering to gluten-free, paleo, and even vegan diets, you’re sure to have fun and be well fed in Las Vegas.
By Matt Villano
DO THIS
The Park
When MGM Resorts opened the T-Mobile Arena in spring 2016, the casino company also manicured The Park, an open-air approach from the Strip complete with water features, public art, and restaurants galore. Snap a selfie in front of Bliss Dance, a 40-foot-high statue of a dancing woman. theparkvegas.com
High Roller
Reaching 550 feet at the top, the tallest observation wheel in the world is undoubtedly touristy. But it’s got some of the best views of Vegas and the surrounding valley, especially at night, when the city lights twinkle in the desert darkness. caesars.com/linq/high-roller
Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center
Within the Art Deco–style Smith Center on the west side of Downtown, Cabaret Jazz showcases intimate performances of some of the biggest names in jazz. thesmithcenter.com
Cirque Behind the Scenes
This free open house every Tuesday and Saturday morning of KÀ, the Cirque du Soleil show at MGM Grand, shows off the set mechanics, lighting, and some of the technology in the new $165 million theater. mgmgrand.com
Fremont Street
The most happening spot Downtown, the kitschy-cool covered pedestrian walkway west of the Strip showcases bold visitors ziplining up above. East of the Strip, it’s a hipster haven, with Downtown Container Park, an open-air mall, anchoring the far end. vegasexperience.com
Vintage Slot-Machine Fun
Take the escalator to the second floor of the casino at The D hotel to play vintage slot machines, including one-armed bandits that take and award actual honest-to-goodness quarters. There’s also a refurbished Sigma Derby, a popular simulated horse-racing game. thed.com
SLEEP HERE
Delano Las Vegas
Formerly THEhotel, this property now has a South Beach vibe with spacious suites and a lively outdoor pool. Room service features organics when possible, and in-house restaurant Della’s Kitchen sources ingredients from Southern Nevada farms. delanolasvegas.com
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
More than five years after opening, The Cosmo is still Sin City’s “fun” resort. Many of the spacious suite-style rooms feature open-air balconies (a rarity here), and some have a spectacular view of the Fountains of Bellagio next door. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com
The Cromwell
At the center of the Las Vegas Strip, this boutique hotel’s compact mirrors-and-tufted-leather rooms boast relatively reasonable prices. Upstairs, a rooftop pool and nightclub rage all night long. caesars.com/cromwell
El Cortez Cabana Suites
Technically, these recently renovated suites are affiliated with El Cortez, the oldest casino in town. But the huge new rooms exist in a separate building across the street, adding an air of exclusivity. elcortezhotelcasino.com
Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa
Located ten miles west of the Strip and less than five minutes from hiking, biking, and rock climbing in Red Rock National Conservation Area, this swanky yet laid-back resort incorporates natural materials, such as onyx and marble, into its accommodations. redrock.sclv.com
DRINK IT IN
The Chandelier Lounge
On level 1.5 of The Cosmopolitan hotel’s stunning three-story shrine to the cocktail is where you’ll find head mixologist Mariena Mercer crafting exceptional libations. Order the off-menu Verbena, a margarita with a flower that numbs your mouth. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com
Herbs & Rye
This Downtown speakeasy-style bar does classic cocktails right. Manhattans and Negronis are popular these days, but lighter options, such as a Pimm’s Cup or Pisco Sour, are also worthy. There’s even a modest menu of tiki drinks. herbsandrye.com
Atomic Liquors
Downtown’s ultimate dive bar got its name in the 1950s when patrons used to climb up to the roof to watch mushroom clouds from nearby atomic tests fan out into the surrounding desert. Today you’ll find pages of cocktail options and fantastic patio seating. atomicvegas.com
Delmonico Steakhouse
The high-end whiskey collection at this Venetian restaurant features more than 700 bottlings from nine countries, including Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Japan, Tasmania, France, and India. The oldest of the bunch: a fifty-year-old Glen Grant single malt, which goes for $500 a glass. venetian.com
EAT HERE
Not all of the restaurants on this list are one hundred percent gluten-free, but they are all accustomed to accommodating GF diners. Always be sure to alert your server, or better yet the manager, of your gluten-free status.
Note: Restaurants change their menus and recipes all the time, so be sure to confirm with your server that all the dishes you order are in fact, gluten-free.
Carbone
The ARIA hotel’s Italian restaurant is a throwback to the Rat Pack days when dinner featured showmanship and tableside service. Expect tuxedo-clad servers, Caesar salad (request GF), and bananas foster carts. Must try: Chicken Scarpariello. aria.com
The Buffet
If you want to overindulge in one of the city’s famed all-you-can-eats, celiacs rely on this one at ARIA, especially since a staff member will personally point you toward your options (be sure to ask!). Must-tries: Tandoori specialties. aria.com
Harvest by Roy Ellamar
Bellagio’s farm-to-table restaurant by Hawaiian chef Roy Ellamar specializes in seasonal, fresh cuisine made with sustainable ingredients flown in from all over the West. Must try: Fisherman’s Stew. bellagio.com
Mon Ami Gabi
This French bistro chain at the Paris Las Vegas hotel is GF-friendly, which means you can indulge in French onion soup, paté with GF toast, and more overlooking the Fountains of Bellagio. Be sure to ask for the GF menu. Must tries: steak frites, cheesecake. monamigabi.com
Fleur by Hubert Keller
With reasonably priced, globally influenced small plates and separate GF, DF, and vegetarian menus, this casual spot at Mandalay Bay makes eating easy. Must tries: Oysters Rockefeller, Fleur burger (ask them to hold the bun), and Loup de Mer. mandalaybay.com
Mr. Chow
Caesars Palace’s newest restaurant is one of the hottest in Vegas right now. Even if you don’t spring for bubbly from the roving champagne cart, it’s still a splurge. Must try: Beijing Duck (part of a multicourse menu that must be ordered by at least three people at your table; request a GF version). caesars.com
Nacho Daddy
This casual Mexican joint with three locations has dozens of GF options. Must try: spicy Thai Chicken Bowl. nachodaddy.com
Honey Salt
This upscale eatery twenty minutes from the Strip in Summerlin is the brainchild of Elizabeth Blau and Kim Canteenwalla, two chefs with solid restaurant chops and southwest farm-to-table culinary flair. Must try: pan-roasted halibut, with snap peas, edamame, and carrot-ginger sauce. honeysalt.com
Settebello
In the Village Square Shopping Center about a fifteen-minute drive off the Strip, this award-winning pizzeria imports the flour for its crusts from Italy—even for its GF version—then bakes the pies in a wood-burning oven. Must try: pizza! settebello.net
Le Pho
A cousin of the popular Le Thai, this Downtown restaurant specializes in pho, the wonderfully tasty Vietnamese rice-noodle soup, with GF options stated right on the menu. Must try: Nem Nuong, grilled Vietnamese pork meatballs in lettuce cups with vermicelli noodles and mint. lephodtlv.com
Simply Pure
The Clintons (as in Bill and Hill) visited this Downtown Container Park raw-food eatery during a recent Vegas trip, and the place has attracted crowds ever since. Must try: raw angel-hair zucchini pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and homemade pesto or cashew Alfredo. simplypurelv.com
Photos for Freemont, ziplining, Atomic Liquors Exterior, The town’s iconic welcome, and High Roller Barry J Holmes
