Favorite local hangouts of World Series of Poker players

Samantha Rea

Sunday, July 12, 2015 | 2 a.m.

The World Series of Poker is the top event on the poker calendar, attracting about 90,000 poker players to Las Vegas for the summer.

The series of tournaments, which began in May and will end for the summer July 14, takes place at the Rio, where players compete to win millions in prize money and the ultimate bit of bling — WSOP bracelets. It’s a hardcore schedule of 14-hour days, jumping from one tournament to the next.

But there is life outside the WSOP. The Sunday spoke to seven players whose live poker earnings combined add to more than $13 million. They shared their thoughts on the best Las Vegas spots for eating, drinking, relaxing and, of course, playing poker.

The players

Asher Conniff of Brooklyn won the World Poker Tour World Championship this year.

Favorite things to do in Las Vegas: Lounging by the pool, hanging out with my buddies and maybe having a few drinks. I try to fit activities in as much as I can, but R&R can really help with the WSOP.

Favorite place to stay: I’m renting a house with three friends. I’ve spent a lot of time traveling the live poker circuit, and I’ve learned I really don’t like extended stays in hotel rooms. It’s refreshing to walk outside, take a swim in the pool and get the hell out of the Rio.

Favorite restaurant: I absolutely love Yama Sushi — it’s all-you-can-eat sushi at a great price, served super-fast. Texas de Brazil is my favorite steakhouse, but they’re all so good. I also have to mention In-N-Out Burger because it’s amazing.

Where to work out: My pool. When I can bring myself to do it, I do laps in the pool at my rental house. It’s so peaceful, plus it’s a good workout.

Where to play poker outside of the WSOP: This summer, I’ve played the WPT500 event at Aria, a bunch of Planet Hollywood PHamous events, and I’ve played at the Venetian twice. They’ve all been great, but nothing matches the tournament I played at the Golden Nugget. Everything about it was so “old Las Vegas.” It was phenomenal.

Best place to take friends and family: It’s so cliche, but there’s nothing better to do in Vegas than party with your close friends. You can’t do it in excess, but the occasional epic night here is a time to remember forever. Plus, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!

Anton Wigg has won eight European Poker Tours and a European Masters of Poker Main Event.

Favorite things to do in Las Vegas: Indoor skydiving at Vegas Indoor Skydiving. But bring clothes you can sweat in; it gets hot!

Favorite restaurant: Firefly. It has outdoor seating, the entire menu’s good, and it’s off the Strip.

Favorite place to stay: If I came for the summer, I might rent a house, but I only come for the Main Event so I always stay in a hotel. This year I’m at the Palazzo, but next year I’m staying in a hotel that doesn’t have a casino.

Best place to take friends and family: I haven’t been to the Grand Canyon yet, but if my family visited, that’s where I’d take them. And the IMAX at the Palms, as we don’t have IMAX in Sweden. And Cirque!

Anthony Zinno of Rhode Island won his first WSOP bracelet this summer after four final tables. He has won three World Poker Tours and is the WPT Player of the Year.

Favorite things to do in Las Vegas: The best things about Vegas are free drinks, 24/7 action, good food and weather, and pools. I also like to walk the Strip, get some sun and listen to music.

Favorite restaurant: I like Tao. It has great sushi and roasted Buddha chicken, which is amazing. Jjanga, near the Rio, has phenomenal sushi, and it’s all-you-can-eat. Grand Lux Café has a cool atmosphere, good prices and lots of variety. It’s like a smaller version of Cheesecake Factory.

Favorite bar: I like O’Sheas because it has cheap beer, beer pong and laid-back people looking to have fun. Five-dollar blackjack is cool, too, to sit and chat and have free drinks.

Favorite place to stay: I stayed at the Rio for some of the summer, since that’s where the WSOP is. Now I’m at Vdara. I like it a lot because it’s close to the Rio, it’s smoke-free, and I have my own kitchen with a washer and dryer.

Where to work out: I’m staying at Vdara, which has a nice gym. I wish I had more time to go.

Dylan Wilkerson of San Francisco has won a World Poker Tour, a European Poker Tour and made two WSOP final tables.

Favorite things to do in Las Vegas: I go hiking in Red Rock. There’s a great view of the city and the Strip.

Favorite restaurant: Chada Thai. It’s well priced, and it’s in Chinatown, so it’s close. And the chef is from Lotus of Siam, one of the best-known Thai restaurants.

Favorite bar: The Gold Spike downtown. It has pool, shuffleboard, life-size Jenga and beer pong.

Favorite place to stay: I rent a house in south Las Vegas with friends.

Best place to take friends and family: I’d take them bowling at the Gold Coast or rent a boat on Lake Mead.

Allen Kessler of Las Vegas has three WSOP Circuit rings and has made several World Poker Tour and WSOP final tables.

Favorite things to do in Las Vegas: I like to play slots and eat free casino food.

Favorite restaurant: Anthony’s Steakhouse at the M Resort. I know all the staff, and it’s great food.

Favorite place to stay: I live in Vegas, so I stay in my house!

Where to work out: No running, and I don’t go to the gym. But I walk a lot through huge casinos.

Where to play poker outside of the WSOP: The Charity Series of Poker event at Planet Hollywood and the M Resort Hollywood Poker Open $2,500 main event.

Scott Stewart of California, is a regular on the WSOP Circuit. He has won three circuit rings and made five more circuit final tables.

Favorite things to do in Las Vegas: When my friends and I have a day off, we buy steak, burgers, hot dogs and throw a barbecue. We make mudslides out of vodka, Baileys, Kahlua, milk and vanilla ice cream — it’s the perfect drink for outdoors. We do that every year. This year we rented a boat for the first time and went out on Lake Mead. That was really good fun.

Favorite restaurant: Whenever one of my friends wins more than $10,000 in a poker tournament, they treat everyone to a steak dinner. Whoever wins the money picks the steakhouse. They’ve got a lot of good steakhouses here. I don’t care where I go as long as I get my filet rare, but the steakhouse downtown at the Golden Nugget is a hidden gem.

Favorite bar: Carnival Court between Harrah’s and the Flamingo. It has live music and dancing. It’s really good fun.

Favorite place to stay: Every year, my friends and I rent a house together. There are eight of us living all over the country, and the WSOP is like our annual get-together. The best house we rented was a two-story near the South Point with a swimming pool, a barbecue, a pool table and a pingpong table.

Valentin Vornicu of San Diego has won six WSOP Circuit rings and made the WSOP national championship three years in a row.

Favorite things to do in Las Vegas: Eating out, clubbing, pool parties, playing with my dog and exploring the new downtown area.

Favorite restaurant: Violette’s Vegan eatery is amazing, and it’s owned by Cyndy Violette, who’s a great poker player. Bar + Bistro in the Arts Factory is also really good. It has some great choices for vegans.

Favorite bar: Stoney’s — and it’s not even close. It’s always packed, fun, and they have tons of specials.

Where to work out: It’s too hot to train outdoors. I use the gym at the Rio. It’s pretty decent if you avoid rush hours.

Where to play poker outside of the WSOP: I won a $500 6-max at Planet Hollywood a few days ago. That’s pretty much the only place I’ve played outside the Rio.