The Best Cafés in Las Vegas
Food is a big part of the Las Vegas experience, but not everything has to be luxury on-the-Strip dining. Cafés and coffeehouses offer a more casual and typically more affordable menu that pairs nicely with a rich, smooth cup of coffee, tea or juice.
Like many cities, Las Vegas is a melting pot of cultures, which is evident in the themed resorts and varied mix of Asian, American, African, Latin American, Middle Eastern and European eateries. There is a flavor to suit every taste, even for those who prefer something casual, lighter and more familiar. For a more affordable alternative to the fine dining found in the heart of the city, here is Culture Trip’s guide to the best cafés in Las Vegas.
Divine Cafe
Cafe, American
Pinpointing the best cafés in Las Vegas sometimes means stepping away from the Strip and finding some of the city’s other popular tourist attractions. The Springs Preserve, located off I-95 just 10 minutes from the north end of the Strip, is a natural expanse of desert beauty that’s also home to the Divine Cafe. Unlike the fast-food eateries you find at aquariums and other attractions, Divine is a full café with a lunch and brunch menu stocked with salads, small pizzas, fish and chips, salmon, omelets and house-made sides. It is reasonably priced and offers outdoor seating that overlooks the city’s resorts and the tan and green desertscape of the Springs Preserve.
AmeriBrunch Cafe
Cafe, American, Mexican
Get your fix of classic American breakfast and lunch options just minutes from the Fremont Street Experience. Due to its location, it’s easy to hit the slots at the Four Queens Hotel or The D and break for a moderately priced bite and a cup of Peet’s Coffee at this contemporary-rustic café, but it also makes it perpetually busy. However, the wait for the breakfast burrito, chicken cobb salad, pancakes and fruit, or any of the other handcrafted recipes is well worth it.
MTO Café
Cafe, Restaurant, American
With two locations – one in Downtown Las Vegas off South Main Street and the other in Downtown Summerlin – MTO Café is an ambitious establishment created by locals as a go-to spot for the community. A simple design captures the casual atmosphere of this Vegas eatery, which dishes out comfort cuisine like the popular Fat Elvis french toast, huevos rancheros, pancakes and an assortment of sandwiches, soups and salads. At MTO, every dish is made with your appetite in mind.
TIABI Coffee and Waffle
Cafe, American
Due to its proximity to both the Las Vegas Strip and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, TIABI Coffee and Waffle leaves the frills of flashy decor at the door. Instead, its menu makes up for the simple environment, and being accessible to university students, TIABI keeps prices reasonable and welcoming. It serves a variety of waffle sandwiches, freshly brewed coffees, espressos plus blended and signature beverages, such as the Tiff’s Waffle Macchiato – a cinnamon vanilla macchiato with whipped cream and a churro waffle.
BabyStacks Cafe
Cafe, American
Gäbi Coffee and Bakery
Cafe, Italian, American
A smooth cup of artisan coffee goes well with the contemporary oriental decor and premium pastries at this café located just west of the Strip on West Spring Mountain Road. Pulling from the hip vibe of newer, upscale venues in Las Vegas, Gäbi is an attractive space that fuses the best of a café and coffeehouse. Along with the selection of sweet treats, such as coffee tiramisu, éclairs, rainbow roulade and red velvet cinnamon rolls, Gäbi Coffee and Bakery also offers small appetizers, including focaccia pizza, crisp salads and sandwiches. The true stars, however, are the signature coffees, teas and blended drinks.
PublicUs
Cafe, American
Stroll the streets of Downtown Las Vegas to build up an appetite for PublicUs, a canteen-style American café. Found on Fremont Street and Maryland Parkway, PublicUs serves up a mix of handcrafted sandwiches, wraps and salads, along with an assortment of freshly baked pastries. PublicUs is contemporary and industrial in design, with seating ideal for kicking back and enjoying pleasant conversation over a cup of coffee. While it has the ambience and appearance of a café found on the Strip, this eatery stays true to the pricing of classic Vegas to remain accessible to residents and tourists.
The Bagel Cafe
Cafe, American
The Bagel Cafe is a bit of a drive from the heart of Las Vegas and the Strip, but the trip ends with a plate of breakfast classics, hearty sandwiches and full entrées. The venue brings the best of a New York City bagel café to the desert with house-made bagels and pastries, soft omelets, fluffy pancakes and crispy Belgian waffles. For later in the day, it offers a range of options, including potato pancakes, chicken parmesan and salmon. The reasonable pricing at The Bagel Cafe isn’t a deterrent, which is evident in the near constant line that reaches the door.
Makers and Finders
Cafe, South American
Local people can enjoy the freshly brewed coffee of Makers and Finders in Downtown Summerlin, while travelers can kick back after a day of exploring at the Arts District location. Conveniently located on South Main Street and Charleston Boulevard, this pristinely decorated café features a menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner options with Latin American influences. From the breakfast burger on a brioche bun to the vegan selection, there is a little bit of something for everyone at Makers and Finders. The urban coffee bar-café is an art piece in itself, with a mix of industrial and colorful accents.
Grand Lux Café
Cafe, American
Staying off the Las Vegas Strip is often ideal for saving money, but the higher prices of the Grand Lux Café at The Palazzo are warranted and worth it. The Grand Lux is the epitome of an upscale café, featuring a menu of familiar breakfast, lunch and dinner favorites. There is another location nearby in The Venetian that is equally as generous with large plates of food, including fluffy omelets, fresh sandwiches, crisp green salads and pastries perfected by in-house pastry chefs. While the prices at the Grand Lux Café may be double of those at a regular, off-the-strip joint, its flavors and environment more than make up for it.
This article is an updated version of a story created by Chloe Hanschen.