I am heading to Vegas in a few weeks and now with the convenience and price of Uber I want to spend more time off strip. What are good spots to eat and hang out?

I have already planned to hit Franks Tiki Bar but have no idea about other cool off strip spots. I would love to hear your and other peoples input.

Man this thread is a bummer

I feel like the only one who still loves Vegas

We go 2-4 times per year for about 4 days per trip. And this is despite there being a ton of poker rooms here in Southern California.

To me, playing poker in aria/Bellagio/encore is 1000 times better than commerce/bike/Hawaiian gardens. Even though it’s all poker, it’s still not the same.

Yes Vegas is over priced and they gouge you on everything but it’s an escape. It’s my chance to get away from the real world and I love it.

Every time I leave (even when I lose) I can’t wait for the next trip.

Don’t feel bad rigs, it’s a thread full of 40+ poker players talking about how things used to be and how they have only changed when forced.

Pig4bill has epitomized the “old
Man yells at clouds” sentiment. It just is what it is.

I would guess you’re doing Vegas better than most itt. Enjoy yourself and don’t sweat it, Vegas is still awesome it’s just not what it used to be. That’s not always a bad thing, either. Unless of course you’re looking for negativity.

"Chloe's" at Buffalo and Flamingo. The chef and his receptionist wife are the owners. EVERYthing on their menu is good.

"Mamma Mia's" Italian off the strip. Modest pricing, home style Italian, they will give you all the sauteed garlic you want.

For breakfast, "Rachel's" at 150 N. Las Vegas Blvd, 1 block north of Fremont Street. Get a special juice drink and the "favorite" omelette.

For Asian, go to the Golden Nugget downtown and find "Lillie's". If you get the Korean "kal bi" ask for the sauce on the side, it's basically teriyaki and not Korean, but the meat itself is top drawer.

For romantic, "Hugo's Cellar" at the Four Queens downtown.

I'm 40+ and I can't wait to go back someday.

But that's because I didn't feast myself on the Chalupas of Depravity when I was younger. Like there are table games ungamboled and alcohol undrunk and prostitutes unslept with, so on one front I have something to look forward to when I go back but also on another front when I look back on the time I spent there, I remember good times and restaurants we never got time to try, and not "oh my god i got to park my car for free WHAT THEY TOOK THAT AWAY MILLLLLLEEEENNNNNIIIAALLLLLSSSSSSSSS" *shakes fist at sky*

Yea, but you’re like the anti Pig4Bill

Hey, I'm as "Old Man yells at clouds" as anyone, but in Las Vegas, locals simply do not yell at tourists or visitors.

It's more likely, "Thanks for playing" from Runner, Runner.

You're definitely not. I only go once a year, and have already booked up for next summer.

I go every other month.

From So Cal, it's just more enjoyable there.

Funny for me sometimes I'm like mehh for a bit then after a bit I get back into it.

I'm the same when I get to the end of my trip, and just coasting to hometime after the UFC in July.

Say that I'll probably go elsewhere the following year, then I get back to work when I get home, and book my flight in the first Virgin Atlantic sale.

I've been going probably twice a year for the last 15 years - and I haven't really noticed much change from the first time I went.

Prices (especially for food) are higher, but not crazily so. Club prices are ludacris but were like that back in the day as well. There are good and bad hotel rooms, just like before.

The main differences I've noticed are:
a. Fremont Street is 100x better than it was
b. The strip is lousy with scam artists and sketchy people
c. Slot drink service is abysmal (tables still good), and
d. Paying for resort fees and parking

Plus of course the 6:5 bj and the like - but lol at playing that. Poker is also depressing, but again lol at playing that as a rec in Vegas anymore.

I'm also getting bored with Vegas, but it's not because of how different it is - there's only so much you can do there outside of gambling, and if you go often enough you do it all. Plus almost everyone has a place close to them where they can gamble anyways.

Where do you like to stay? What do you like to do while in LV?

I know I was a bit critical in this thread, but I still enjoy every trip and look forward to going back too. I just feel like every time I go, I get a bit less value than the time before, which at some point will make me consider other destinations as I already have a couple times. Whether that be increased resort fees, lower odds at blackjack and video poker, it does seem like every year something is less value than the year before. That is my main gripe. I know some complain about parking, that doesn't matter to me as I never drive there, but I can understand how that is just more of the same that I have been feeling for those who do. It's not enough to stop me from going or enjoying a trip, but certainly is for others.

Part of it might be I don't have any Caeser's or MGM properties by me so unless I go to Vegas many more times per year than I'm already going, I'll never even come close to a level to waive resort fees or anything like that. I don't play slots but am willing to lose several thousand per trip but even when doing that at craps and other table games I get like 200 tier points and no special treatment after going all across for like 3 days straight. I only go once or twice per year or so barely get any benefits than sightly reduced room rates. You would think there would be resorts willing to comp my stay without resort fees.

I'm at the point where it is not even really worth using a card for the couple trips I take per year, or at least not if I stick to craps/blackjack.

go play craps at El Cortez. They would love to have your action and will treat you like a king.

Downtown

Light workout daily to keep awake for...

Poker (Golden Nugget, sometimes Wynn or Venetian or, if UFC is in town, MGM)

Food

UFC if in town, Shows

"drop out" for a few days

Not for everyone but I enjoy it

Decided to ride the motorcycle to Laughlin and avoid Vegas. The poker room at the Edgewater overlooks the Colorado river and has the most beautiful view from poker room or even a casino that I've ever been to.

Poker sucks, but still can get a little craps fix.

Actually, Las Vegas stacks up pretty well against other cities with respect to things to do outside of gambling; just not a real specific reason to come here and not on a par with Southern California in the "general things to do" category.

Just got back from four nights (basically five days).

Vegas is a good weekend town, but I start to get antsy if I'm there too long. I don't mind big cities or crowds, but the Strip is just a bit too much with the sensory overload, crowds, and noise. I like it in small doses, but it just kind of makes me numb after a while.

I'm gonna sound like the ultimate life nit here, but one of my biggest gripes with the city is the air quality. After a few days of sitting in casinos and breathing in secondhand cigarettes, my throat always goes a bit raspy and my clothes stink like smoke. Not a huge deal, but it's just kind of gross if you're not a smoker.

I also think the scene on the Strip suffers a bit from homogeneity. It feels like every big casino has a Cirque Du Soleil show and an overpriced night club with DJs/rap artists now. It's all the same stuff, and if you're not interested in that type of vibe then your options on the main drag are somewhat limited.

Lots of good food though and obviously it's a great place for gambling. Also great for people watching. Vegas is definitely a spectacle and there's nothing quite like it, but it's something I can only handle for a few days at a time.

After complaining earlier about tiring of Vegas, I think I'm close to booking my next trip! Going to make a few changes:

1) Not saying at Caesars. I'm thinking the Bellagio or the Wynn.

2) I'm going change the stakes I play. I used to enjoy playing 1/2 back in 2010 when I first started because the money actually meant a lot to me. I think I need to start playing 5/10 to actually have the money on the table mean something to me again. I figure this could make a big difference.

3) Will dabble with some PLO!

I'd advise against going to Vegas to play in the worst 5/T games in the country. It's 3pm on a Saturday and there are currently two 5/T games running in the entire city. I'm not there so I can't say how many of the eighteen 5/T players are nit grinders that can't even hold a simple conversation but my guess is that the # is quite high.

I do like your idea about playing PLO though. Even the smallest PLO games can play quite big, and the atmosphere tends to be way more fun than NL.

Ouch!

I may be wrong but what Vegas poker rooms have a view of anything? No windows anywhere.

Casino's are built that way for a reason......

A very prolific urban myth.

Both M Resort and Red Rock have windows and daylight. Probably more places I don't know about.