Let’s be honest, it’s been a long summer for all of us. But as the temperatures get further from triple-digits, it’s time to take advantage of the one of the best parts about living in Las Vegas—outdoor weekend brunching. There’s no shortage of restaurants offering the midday repast, and many offer patio seating for these social distanced times.
To get you started, we’ve picked 12 of our favorite brunch spots, where you can dine out in the open air and feel the occasional cool breeze kiss your skin. Find a friend or two and share a meal—it’s the best thing we can do right now to support our city’s dining scene.
Americana
Shrimp and Grits, brioche French toast, Smoked Salmon with marinated cucumber and herbed cream cheese, and cocktails at Americana (Yasmina Chavez/Staff)
Where: 2620 Regatta Drive #118, 702-331-5565, americanalasvegas.com.
Brunch served: Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Setting: Americana’s sprawling outdoor area offers different views of Lake Jacqueline, along with a casual vibe that matches a varied, easygoing menu from veteran chef Stephen Blandino. This restaurant space has changed a lot through the years, but as Americana it has become a neighborhood favorite.
Menu: Highlights include the toasted bagel with smoked salmon, marinated cucumbers and herbed cream cheese; carnitas burrito; charcuterie and cheese board; Italian eggs benedict with prosciutto and bruschetta; Over the Rainbow loco moco; brioche French toast with strawberry jam and maple syrup; plus bottomless mimosas, bloody marys, grapefruit palomas and red wine sangria.
Cost: Entrees, $12-$25. Bottomless drinks, $17.
BORDER GRILL
Where: Mandalay Bay, 702-632-7403, bordergrill.com.
Brunch served: Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Setting: Tucked along the path between the hotel and its sprawling pool area, the shaded patio feels like a hidden Vegas oasis.
Menu: Border Grill has suspended its longtime all-you-can-eat small plates extravaganza, but it still offers a weekend brunch menu, with addictive a la carte options like chilaquiles, spicy chicken tamales with eggs, jalapeño bacon breakfast burritos and Peruvian Drunken French Toast. And as before, the drinks can flow to your table for a single price.
Cost: Entrees, $18-$28. Bottomless mimosas, micheladas and bloody marys, $30.
BOTTIGLIA
Where: Green Valley Ranch Resort, 702-617-7191, bottiglialv.com.
Brunch served: Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Setting: Henderson has lots of breakfast and brunch spots but few outdoor options, making Bottiglia’s patio—set on the Paseo Verde side of the property and equipped with shade coverings and misters—something of a southeast Valley rarity.
Menu: The Italian eatery’s wide-ranging brunch offerings run from lighter fare like smoked salmon avocado toast and a chopped salad to such heartier selections as lobster Benedict, king crab bucatini pasta and a good ’ol cheeseburger and fries. Groups might consider starting with a shellfish tower.
Cost: Starters, $7-$44. Entrees, $14-$44. Bottomless mimosas, $18.
BOUCHON
Where: Venetian, 702-414-6200, venetian.com/restaurants/bouchon.
Brunch served: Friday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Setting: Tucked away on the 10th floor of the Venezia Tower, Thomas Keller’s Bouchon is a true weekend treat. Dine on the terrace that overlooks the pool, and simply get lost in the elegance.
Menu: All the bistro classics are here. Go decadent with oysters and caviar, and order the assortment of pastries for the table. You won’t find a better pain au chocolat anywhere. Follow those up with Escargots de Bourgogne and the foie gras sauté, then maybe a crab Benedict, with jumbo lump crab, a muffin, glazed corn, onion confit and hollandaise sauce.
Cost: Starters, $9.50-$28. Entrees, $22-$60.
CARSON KITCHEN
The B.E.C. at Carson Kitchen (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
Where: 124 S. 6th St., 702-473-9523, carsonkitchen.com.
Brunch served: Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Setting: Carson Kitchen’s garden patio (along with its rooftop, when the weather permits) is one of the best spots to take in the Downtown scene, and the recently debuted brunch menu provides one more reason to visit this culinary gem.
Menu: Sweet and savory dishes abound, including Sopapilla French Toast, served with citrus mascarpone, berry compote and Thai chili maple syrup; and the B.E.C. sandwich, pork belly served with an over-easy egg, white cheddar, herb mayo and arugula. And the creative take on shrimp and grits—with Fresno chile, cilantro, mint, shallot and nuoc cham—is a must-try. Pair with curated cocktails like The Dude Abides (citrus vodka, almond milk, cold brew liqueur and orange bitters) or That’s My Jam, a classic bloody mary made with bacon jam vodka and fresh lime.
Cost: Entrees, $10-$15.
DW BISTRO
Where: 9275 W. Russell Road #190, 702-527-5200, dwbistro.com.
Brunch served: Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m.-
2 p.m.
Setting: DW Bistro’s patio is an oasis nestled in the tidy towers of the Gramercy’s offices and residences. Potted greenery adds to the serene vibe, a perfect complement to the inventive menu. Up front, owner Bryce Krausman welcomes guests like old friends. This is what brunch is all about.
Menu: Don’t pass up the pastry basket, because it’s full of carb-tastic wonders. After that, there are sweet and savory entrees from which to choose, including challah French toast, fried chicken and waffles and our favorite, the New Mexican red chile pork bowl—red chile roasted pork served over rice topped with a sunny egg and served with fresh local tortillas.
Cost: Starters, $10-$14. Entrees, $15-$22.
ECHO & RIG
Where: 440 S. Rampart Blvd. #120, 702-489-3525, echoandrig.com.
Brunch served: Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Setting: Alfresco dining is widespread at Tivoli Village, but the versatile Echo & Rig steakhouse is a favorite for its upscale balcony patio and varied menu that includes fresh small plates and brunch twists, plus cocktails, bloodys and mimosas.
Menu: Recommendations include the fried spinach salad with chili lime vinaigrette; flatiron steak sandwich with roasted Anaheim chilies and preserved lemon chimichurri; Drunken Goat sandwich with red wine-marinated goat cheese brie and cranberry chutney; shortrib hash with smoked paprika hollandaise; Maryland blue crab cakes; and New York egg sandwich with American cheese and smoked bacon.
Cost: Small plates, $3-$12. Entrees, $9-$19.
ESTHER’S KITCHEN
Truffle polenta at Esther’s Kitchen (Steve Marcus/Staff)
Where: 1130 S. Casino Center Blvd. #110, 702-570-7864, estherslv.com.
Brunch served: Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Setting: The Arts District has become the beating heart of Downtown, with restaurants and breweries dotting the landscape. Esther’s Kitchen is undoubtedly one of its shining stars, offering Italian soul food we all could use in these times. The space inside is quaint and hip, but with the weather cooling, the patio is where it’s at.
Menu: The porchetta Benedict, with pepperonata, poached eggs, calabrian chili hollandaise, is one of the more imaginative iterations of the brunch classic. And we’ll never say no to the Chitarra Cacio e Pepe pasta, no matter the time of day.
Cost: $11-$16.
THE FRONT YARD
Brisket Benedict with a beer flight at the Front Yard (Yasmina Chavez/Staff)
Where: Ellis Island Casino & Brewery, 4178 Koval Lane, 702-733-8901, ellisislandcasino.com.
Brunch served: Saturday, Sunday and
holiday Mondays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Setting: The addition of the Front Yard, an indoor/outdoor beer garden and entertainment venue, to locals favorite Ellis Island is a boon to all, but especially sports fans. Catch big games on an 18-foot screen (along with more than a dozen smaller ones) while noshing on brunch favorites and sipping bottomless mimosas.
Menu: Standouts include the French toast waffle, made with Hawaiian sweet bread and spiced powdered sugar, maple syrup and butter; brisket Benedict with caramelized onions, bourbon barbecue drizzle and a cheddar biscuit; and the salmon lox flatbread with caper cream cheese, red onions tomatoes and dill.
Cost: $6-$14. Bottomless mimosas, $25.
LA CAVE
Where: Wynn, 702-770-7375, lacavelv.com.
Brunch served: Saturday & Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Setting: The secluded, enclosed patio area opens to the fresh air, providing a hybrid inside/outside experience.
Menu: La Cave’s famed “butler-style” brunch finds servers circulating carrying trays loaded with small-portion goodies like filet mignon eggs Benedict, Snickers pancakes, veal short rib hash and loaded tater tots. Guests have two hours to try everything on the menu, and hit their favorites again … and again.
Cost: Adults, $49; children under 12, $28. Bottomless bloody marys, mimosas, sangria and sparkling wine, select cocktails and beers, $29.
MARCHE BACCHUS
Where: 2620 Regatta Drive #106, 702-804-8008, marchebacchus.com.
Brunch served: Sunday, 10 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
Setting: The adjustable, climate-controlled patio space at Marche Bacchus on the shores of Lake Jacqueline in the Desert Shores neighborhood is simply iconic, a must-try local brunch institution. Nowhere else can you browse a carefully curated wine shop and pick out a bottle to sip near serene waters while enjoying refined French favorites and completely forgetting the fact that you’re still in the desert.
Menu: Consider the Escargot Persillade; smoked salmon Benedict with creamy goat cheese; bananas Foster pancakes with toasted pecans and brown sugar rum sauce; lobster salad croissant; roasted chicken and mushroom crepes; croque madame; and truffled grits and beef grillades.
Cost: Entrees, $14-$19.
MON AMI GABI
Where: Paris Las Vegas, 702-944-4224, monamigabi.com/las-vegas.
Brunch served: Daily, 7-11 a.m.
Setting: In a year of travel restrictions, Mon Ami Gabi’s patio is as close as you’ll feel to dining en plein air in Paris. It is also the best people-watching perch on the Strip.
Menu: The breakfast menu has three brunch specialties that shouldn’t be overlooked: the smoked salmon platter, with a toasted bagel, cream cheese, capers and chives; corned beef hash and poached eggs with roasted red pepper and Yukon gold potatoes; and French toast with blueberries and whipped cream. Pair with one of the house sparkling Brut and choice of elixirs, and you’ll feel transported to the City of Light.
Cost: Starters, $6-$9. Entrees, $13-$30. Cocktails, $15-$16.
Take it to go!
Rooster Boy Cafe (Steve Marcus/Staff)
Don’t feel like sitting down for brunch? There are other ways to enjoy the midday meal outdoors as the weather cools. At Desert Shores, head to Rooster Boy Cafe (2620 Regatta Drive #113, 702-560-2453) and grab some pastries or sweet and savory galettes and coffee and power-walk with a friend around Lake Jacqueline. Don’t forget to grab bags of granola to take home. … If you’re in the southwest part of town, Egg Sammie (7379 S. Rainbow Blvd. #170, 725-204-8881) specializes in portable sandwiches—the Fremont, with scrambled eggs, caramelized onions and fried mozzarella, is a favorite—that you can easily pack up for a picnic across the street at Nevada Trails Park. Bring a blanket to spread out under a tree and take a nap after your meal. … If Downtown is more your scene, check out the outstanding brunch menu at 7th & Carson (616 E. Carson Ave., 702-868-3355). Order some avocado toast and a cinna bun pull-apart to-go and while the morning away people-watching at Container Park. … The Strip might not be as jam-packed with people these days, so take advantage of the light traffic and enjoy the shops at the Linq Promenade. But first, stop at Virgil’s BBQ (702-389-7400) to grab a hearty Chef’s Favorite breakfast burrito with jack cheese, bacon, avocado and pico de gallo. … And if nature’s calling your name, head to Springs Preserve (333 S. Valley View Blvd., 702-822-7700). With 180 acres dedicated to trails, there’s no better place to spend a cool fall day. But first, pick up some fuel at Divine Cafe. There are plenty of healthy choices like the teriyaki bowl or the Salmon Niçoise salad. –Genevie Durano
