8 Best Restaurants in Las Vegas, Nevada

The Tea Lounge may be right off the main lobby, but it’s still a sea of serenity (with the addition of fabulous 23rd-floor views)—this is the Waldorf Astoria, after all. Service is formal but not stuffy, and the afternoon tea is done in the classic English style. There's also a children's tea, with a hot-chocolate option and dishes designed to appeal to the younger set. There are three seatings on Wednesdays through Sundays, and reservations are usually necessary.

Anima means “soul,” and the unique fusion of Italian and Spanish cuisine found at this upscale eatery certainly has it. The boldness of the menu is mirrored by the eye-popping octopus mural that adorns a dining room wall and a charcuterie bar positioned in the front of the house. In the The Gramercy apartment complex, Anima is the latest creation from the team behind the acclaimed EDO Gastro Tapas & Wine in Chinatown, and some favorites originating there can be found at Anima, including the "Bikini" (a pressed ham and cheese sandwich). A delectably eclectic tasting menu underscores the restaurant’s pan-global approach, from squid ink spaghettini to Hawaiian tuna sashimi. Entrees include vegan mushroom risotto as well as the the must-try braised short ribs, served with semolina gnocchi, maitake mushrooms, and black pepper sauce. There’s also a spirited selection of spirits, from a deep wine list with an emphasis on Italian and Spanish offerings to an extensive array of amaro varieties to try.

Chocolate—dark, white, and milk—flows from a tall glass fountain at the entrance of this stunning pastry shop just off the Bellagio's famed conservatory. This artful homage to chocolate has decadent desserts, including cakes, cookies, macarons, gelato, hand-dipped chocolate candies, and particularly memorable crepes (try the one filled with caramel sauce, caramel candy pearls, and whipped cream), as well as salads and sandwiches (Parmesan crisp grilled cheese!). Seating is limited. It's open late, until 11 pm daily.

Locals and visitors alike were delighted when New York's cronut king set up shop in Las Vegas, at Caesars Palace across from The Colosseum. The shop serves Ansel's cronut creations as well as French pastries such as the best-seller kouign-amann, tiger-striped pain au chocolat, huge nutty almond croissants, macarons, and canelés. Mini-madeleines are piped to order and served warm, and Ansel's signature chocolate chip cookie shots and frozen s'mores are made while you wait. Creative, beautiful pastries like the Goldfish, flavored with calamansi, coconut, and mango, are another specialty, and quiche and sandwiches are available. There are a few seats inside if you'd like to sit while indulging in a croque monsieur.

Swoop into this authentic, cozy Italian coffee bar in The Palazzo's Waterfall Atrium for richly brewed premium beverages, flaky pastries, and warm panini. This smart, colorful nook offers 36 flavors of glorious, creamy gelatos, as well as fresh dessert crepes, soups, and salads. Bonbons, truffles, and chocolate-dipped fruits are also available.

This is maybe the best example of a Las Vegas adage, "Never judge a place by its ugly strip-mall facade." In a shopping center you'd usually drive by lies a coffee and tea house that's about as beautiful as they come. An indoor greenhouse covers the central kitchen area, amid a well-appointed warehouse feel with plants, art, and cozy seating and a singular three-tiered reading and browsing area (shoes off, please) in back. The coffee's first rate as well, and it's not unusual for customers to take way too long to ogle the display case of delicious-looking pastries or read the full menu of specialty-drink temptations. There's a soup and sandwich menu for those who want to extend a coffee break into a meal.

Walking distance from The Strat, this tiny take-out stand offers unbelievably delicious, velvety smooth frozen custard. The flavors change daily (check the website for the schedule), and sundaes are a popular offering. Those with larger appetites should certainly try the ever-popular Western, with hot fudge, caramel, and pecans, or a Fruit Boat, with peach, pineapple, cherry, banana, marshmallow, and peanuts. It's been goin' strong since 1973, and is open most days until 10 pm, 11 pm on Friday and Saturday.