As a New Yorker, I’ve always looked at the Vegas Strip as Times Square, while the rest of Las Vegas is the boroughs surrounding the tourist trap. Now that I’m older, I realize there are expensive tourist traps around the country.
Since prices in Las Vegas have become an issue, we’ve been exploring some of the many Vegas Strip Adjacent places to get affordable eats, drinks, and gambling. You can see some of the fairly priced casino info here and some of the non-casino restaurants here.
This may sound counterintuitive, but this week we’re going to look at some places off the beaten path to find fairly priced food and drink without leaving the Vegas Strip. In my mind, some of this is Strip adjacent pricing without leaving the Strip.
Casino malls, food courts (not halls), drug stores, and delivery companies all fall into this category. Each of these outlets offers plenty of options to find prices closer to what you’d expect to find in your hometown or away from the Vegas Strip.
Casino Malls Are Chock Full Of Deals
Vegas Strip casino malls have plenty of deals. Since they’re usually tucked away from the action around the casino floor, they have to work a little harder to generate revenue.
I’m not talking about passages and plazas with retail outlets like Mandalay Bay and Wynn. I’m talking full throttle malls full of the chain stores and restaurants found around the country:
- Caesars Palace – Forum Shops
- Planet Hollywood – Miracle Mile Shops
- Venetian – Grand Canal Shoppes
Each of these malls has multiple bars and restaurants with happy hours and daily deals. The times and prices change frequently, so I’m not going to share specifics. I’d rather this not be outdated by the time it’s posted because one deal is no longer active.
I look at this as leading a horse to water. I can’t make you drink, but the websites above have way more information than I expected.
The Miracle Mile Shops probably have more food and beverage deals than the others. The mall also has a coupon book you can download before visiting.
Since the mall at Caesars Palace is operated by one of the largest companies in the country, its website posts current sales here and here.
Visit the information or concierge desks at each mall to see if they have any coupon books for additional discounts. Sign up for their email lists to stay informed about upcoming sales and exclusive discounts.
The Fashion Show Mall, across from Treasure Island, the Venetian, and Wynn, also has plenty of fairly priced outlets. Cigar smokers should seriously consider Happy Hour at the Davidoff Cigar Bar outside the mall. There are multiple daily deals.
Food Courts, Not Food Halls, Offer Cheapest Eats
Food courts and food halls are slightly different. While food courts feature mostly chain restaurants, food halls have more elevated quick-serve dining options.
The difference sounds minor, but you can see it in the prices. Both are probably the cheapest places to eat at their respective properties, but food court outlets typically have cheaper prices by a few bucks.
For comparison, a meal at fast-food McDonald’s is always less expensive than quick-serve burger joints like Five Guys.
If you’re at the Venetian, compare prices at the Grand Canal Shoppes food court and the new Via Via food hall on the main floor of the casino. The former has been my go-to for a quick, cheap meal during G2E for years.
Cheap Eats Hidden in Plain Sight
Planet Hollywood was always my number one property in Las Vegas when I was a Caesars customer. When comps weren’t available, I opted for Harrah’s because the staff and Diamond Lounge were great.
This isn’t news today, but when I stayed at Harrah’s, I found a little food court and McDonald’s sort of tucked away from the Strip. It’s set back a little between Harrah’s and Casino Royale.
The McD’s prices were the same as advertised on TV. The food court has Chipotle, Panda Express, and more.
At the time, neither had the typical Strip price bump. I probably had as many meals from those two restaurants as I did comps from the casino.
Keep your eyes open and head on a swivel because you never know where you’ll find deals. Speaking of fast food deals, the ice cream shake at In-N-Out at The Linq is probably the cheapest shake made with real ice cream that you’ll find on the Vegas Strip.
Order In-Room Supplies on the Way To Vegas
I learned this hack from friends who visit Las Vegas to work at conventions and expos for the week. Some of them will prepare an order with Uber, Instacart, or another app during their flight to place when they land, so they have ample food and drink for their rooms and the convention floor while they’re working.
Ordering bottles of cold brew and water along with snacks and personal items is much less expensive through the apps than at the casino gift shops. For reference, a 42-ounce bottle of cold brew will cost less than a large cup at a casino coffee shop.
This is especially useful for anyone staying in a suite or extended stay hotel with a kitchenette. You can order plenty of food to prepare for yourself and save money throughout the trip.
Don’t Forget Drug Stores
Before the apps were available, some of these friends used to visit the closest CVS or Walgreens to purchase supplies. There are plenty of each on the Vegas Strip.
This is an even less expensive option than the apps since you’ll pick up the order yourself, and there are no fees or tips involved.
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Marc grew up on the mean streets of the South Bronx. He's the rare combination of Yankees and Jets fan which explains his often contrarian point of view. He learned about gambling at a young age working down the street from a bookie who took action on anything from the mainstream sports to the last three digits of the purse for certain horse races. Yeah, that's a thing. Today Marc is a freelance writer and social media consultant which allows him to work anywhere there's a wifi signal. This allows him to work from the sportsbook at Red Rock Resort or the food court at The Venetian where you’ll find fast and free wifi. Writing about steak, booze, gambling and Las Vegas is a tough job but somebody has to do it.