foodie tour las vegas

Guide to Las Vegas Foodie Tours

Las Vegas is known for its rich culinary landscape that ranges from celebrity dining to hidden hole in the wall gems. Papillon has put together this guide that covers the in and outs of Las Vegas food tours – done the right way – so you can peek into the local Las Vegas dining scene as a knowledgeable foodie. 

With so many different restaurants and delicious cuisines to choose from it’s great to have a guide on hand for tackling all that the entertainment capital of the world has to offer. 

Whichever tour, restaurant, or personalized dining experience you choose, you’ll gain an insider's perspective into the local Las Vegas foodie scene along with a cultural experience of what it's like to live, and eat, in Las Vegas.

people on a foodie tour

What is a Foodie Tour In Las Vegas?

A foodie tour is  a trip or tour to a new destination that revolves around food. It is a great way to taste local ingredients, new dishes and to learn the history and culture of the region.

A Las Vegas food tour can be as varied as the city itself – you can find a package that will transport you to the most famous dining spots on the Las Vegas strip, run by chefs such as Gordon Ramsay and Giada De Laurentiis, or you can join a small-group vegan food tour of Downtown and the Arts District that promotes casual and delicious small bits at popular neighborhood spots.  

Las Vegas is truly the culinary capital of America and has something for everyone.

vegas food truck

Downtown Las Vegas Food Tour

If you are looking to escape the lights and glamor of the Strip, get off the usual tourist path, and experience neighborhood vibes in Las Vegas, then head Downtown or the Las Vegas Arts District to have an authentic dining experience. 

Here you’ll find everything from food trucks to famous chefs serving up tasty dishes amid a quirky and artistic neighborhood. The Arts District is an up-and-coming neighborhood still unknown to many tourists. Be one of the first to discover one of the hottest art cities in the USA today. 

Tours usually range about 2-3 hours, stop at multiple restaurants, and your guide will clue you into local art, history, and other hidden gems in Las Vegas' most eclectic neighborhoods.

The top Downtown Las Vegas food tour  guides you as you eat your way through Fremont Street and beyond! This unique downtown Las Vegas food tour combines delicious food, an expert tour guide,  hidden gems, and an evening helicopter adventure!

Your tasting experience includes a range of different types of establishments such as a street cart, a mom-and-pop shop, a hole-in-the-wall, a trendy restaurant, or a food truck and a wide variety of cuisines.

You will also learn about iconic landmarks in Downtown Las Vegas and you will have ample free time before your evening helicopter adventure. 

When it is time for your flight, a luxury vehicle will collect you and whisk you to a VIP terminal at the Las Vegas airport to experience the evening lights and sights of Las Vegas from a state-of-the-art helicopter.

foodie fest las vegas

Las Vegas Strip Foodie Tours

Food tours on the Las Vegas Strip are also extremely popular. They give you an opportunity to sample some of Las Vegas' most delicious dishes and visit a variety of sought after celebrity chef restaurants.These tours take place in the heart of the city and you’ll be surrounded by the top attractions in Sin City. 

The most unique way to experience a Las Vegas foodie tour is a dinner with Las Vegas helicopter tour

Begin your evening at Mott 32 at The Venetian Resort. Mott 32 will design a four-course tasting menu that includes some of the best Chinese food in Las Vegas, (an impressive range of Cantonese, Szechuan, and Beijing regional dishes) exclusively for you. 

After dinner, a luxury vehicle will collect you and whisk you to our Las Vegas VIP terminal for a private helicopter flight over the Las Vegas strip. 

Another top pick is the tasting menu lunch with Las Vegas helicopter tour.  Your  three-course lunchtime tasting menu at The Venetian Resort’s Buddy V's is packed with celebrity chef Buddy Valastro's family Italian recipes. This classic Vegas restaurant features casual dining amid an upscale, Italian decor. 

Enjoy your fest, relax for the afternoon, then board a luxury transport vehicle to a VIP helicopter terminal at the Las Vegas airport to see the lights and sights of the Strip at night.

las vegas skyline from airport

Off Strip Foodie Tours

Many of the better off-strip restaurants don’t have large rooms or fancy decor; just the most affordable priced and delicious food in the United States. 

With more than 3,500 reviewed restaurants in Las Vegas, Sin City is ground zero of solid traditional cuisine from all corners of the globe, experimental chefs plying their crafts, and the largest collection of accessible, cheap eats in the nation. 

Get out of the casino and sit down with up-and-coming chefs creating their own footprints in the city. Here are three off-strip spots you just cannot miss on your next trip to Las Vegas.

Sparrow + Wolf

With an exciting and diverse menu that focuses on the “the evolution of American Cuisine”– steaks, oysters, octopus, Foie gras, duck breast– a wonderful tasting menu, and customer service that leaves you feeling like royalty, Sparrow + Wolf has made a mark as one of the most popular neighborhood gems for locals and visiting guests alike. It centers an exciting corridor of food located on Spring Mountain Rd in Las Vegas Chinatown


Sparrow + Wolf is located at 4480 Spring Mountain Rd, Suite 100, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Raku

Raku is an extraordinary restaurant in a nondescript strip mall in Las Vegas’ Chinatown that is open till 2 am and serves the most  delicious bites of Japanese food in town. It is famous for its omakase, which translates to “respectfully leaving another to decide what is best” in Japanese, delicious skewers from the charcoal grill, and an extensive sake collection. Advance reservations are a must, but it’s well worth the effort to get the chance to splurge on an omakase meal chosen by the chef straight out of Japan.


Raku is located at 5030 W Spring Mountain Rd #2, Las Vegas, NV 89146.

Lotus of Siam

With its James Beard Award-winning Northern Thai food, it’s no longer a secret. But Lotus of Siam continues to impress after more than 20 years. It has grown from a small little hole in the wall in a dilapidated strip mall,  Commercial Center in Las Vegas, to a sleek, modern spot on Flamingo Rd near the UNLV campus.  Chef Saipin’s northern style cooking has opened America into the “Northern” world of Thailand, away from the Bangkok style of sweet and tang.

Lotus of Siam is located at620 E Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA.

Unique Eats In Las Vegas

Las Vegas is also home to a number fun and delicious unique and themed restaurants. Here are few we highly recommend checking out:

Back to the 80s Cafe Las Vegas

Take a step back in time at Back to the 80s Cafe which offers great food and drinks and fun for all ages. This fun spot has a full bar, karaoke,  arcade games, and is full of 1980s memorabilia. George McFly is on the scene, a DJ plays classic 80's tunes all night, and the grill features burgers and sandwiches such as The Culture Club Sandwich, Rocky's Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich and a Monte Christo and fun shakes as well such as the  E.T. Milkshake and the Madonna Milkshake. 


Back to the 80s Cafe is located at 4755 S Maryland Pkwy Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Marrakech Las Vegas

If you are looking for a fun & unique dining experience that features a six-course Mediterranean feast along with live belly dancing performances, head to Marrakech Las Vegas. Since 1979, Marrakech, Nevada's first Moroccan restaurant, has delivered  the best ambiance in town with its plush Mediterranean tent style setting. 


Marrakech is located at 3900 Paradise Rd, Suite Y, Las Vegas, NV 89169-0931.

Top of the Word Restaurant Las Vegas

Located in the Stratosphere Tower Top of the World Restaurant offers the most  breathtaking views of Las Vegas! The dining room revolves 360 degrees every 80 minutes and the award-winning menu of steaks and seafood serves up the quintessential Las Vegas experience! This restaurant is the recipient of many Best of Las Vegas Awards for Best Fine Dining


Top of the World Restaurant is located at 2000 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89104.

Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge On the Las Vegas Strip

Peppermill Restaurant & Fireside Lounge is an iconic reminder of how the Las Vegas strip used to be. When you dine here, you'll not only enjoy the generous portions of delicious food they serve, but you'll also enjoy the cool atmosphere. This restaurant has been featured in several movies and television shows.

The Peppermill is located at 2985 Las Vegas Blvd, NV 89104.

Grotto Italian Restaurant Downtown Las Vegas

Grotto Italian Restaurant is located downtown on Fremont Street in the Golden Nugget Casino. At this unique restaurant, recommended by the Michelin Guide Las Vegas and Gayot Las Vegas, you'll get to enjoy a view of a shark tank pool while eating some of the most spectacular Italian food you've ever had 

Grotto Ristorante  is located at  129 Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101-5603.

Dining in the Dark Las Vegas

Are you ready to elevate your dining experience in a way you’ve never known possible? How about dining in the dark on your next trip to Las Vegas?

Psychologists have been advocating dining in the dark as the ultimate taste experience for many years. Studies show that 80 percent of people eat with their eyes. Once you eliminate that sense, your sense of taste and smell is heightened.

The BLACKOUT dining in the dark experience in Las Vegas begins in a pitch black dining room where servers guide you to your table. Once  acquainted with complete darkness, you’ll feel your way through a seven course prix-fixe plant based meal, one course at a time. Each delicious course has been beautifully created to entice the taste buds and awaken the senses through flavors that flow from dish to dish.

This  journey of the senses that will make you re-evaluate your perception of taste, smell and touch. 

BLACKOUT is located at 3871 S Valley View Blvd Ste 8 Las Vegas, NV 89103.

Las Vegas Foodie Tour Tips

Here are a few considerations to make your Las Vegas food tour go smooth:

  • Where comfortable shoes- most Las Vegas food tours require a fair amount of walking. You can expect to walk up to 2 miles during your tour so leave the heels at home!
  • Dress casual- You’ll be inside and also on the street. You’ll also be walking around town, rain or shine so make sure you are prepared with casual clothing asual clothing. Make sure to dress for ALL weather conditions. You’ll be indoors and outdoors. 
  • Arrange your own transportation- You are responsible for transportation to the meet-up point where your foodie tour begins and from end point once the food tour is completed.
  • Bring extra money if you plan to drink alcohol- Water is available at all stops and others may include other beverages as part of the tasting menu. If you wish to purchase cocktails and alcoholic beverages during your food tour, you’ll be able to as well, but for an extra fee. Some stops even offer alcoholic drinks “to-go.”