Aug 21, 20204 min read

Las Vegas in 72 Hours

Updated: Jul 18, 2021

Looking for the best things to do in Las Vegas? You've come to the right place! You could spend weeks here and still not see/do/eat everything, but I have a passion for tightly packed trips, so if you need the Las Vegas highlights, I've got them right here. Scroll down to the bottom for a filled out 72-hour Las Vegas Itinerary PLUS a blank version for you to update with your own travel information.

Best food/drinks in Las Vegas

Lardo—Lardo was undoubtedly my favorite meal in Las Vegas. Crazy, right? Crazy that a simple sandwich could take the win, but that's where you're wrong, it wasn't a simple sandwich. It was a life-changing sandwich. I know that sounds dramatic, but hear me out: It's called the Pho'Rench Dip, and it mimics a french dip in that you dip the sandwich, but instead of sauce, it's pho. Lardo is originally based in Portland, Oregon as a craft sandwich and beer shop. The restaurant is located in a block of restaurants called Block 16 Urban Food Hall inside the Cosmopolitan, along with other favorites like Nashville's Hattie B's Hot Chicken.

China Poblano—Located on the second floor of the Cosmopolitan, China Poblano was such a fun mix of authentic Chinese and Mexican dishes. I started with the Pomegranate "Salt Air" Margarita, and if you don't mind acidic drinks, this was amazing! We also got dishes like Queso Fundido, dim sum and noodles, which was the perfect combination of both cultures.

Beauty & Essex—Beauty & Essex definitely has speakeasy vibes. Located on the 3rd floor of the Cosmopolitan, the front of the restaurant is disguised as a real pawn shop. Once your in (I highly recommend making reservations), you feel transported into a dimly lit lounge. I loved the Earl The Pearl drink, but we also got the Wasabi Pea-Crusted Salmon and the Spaghettini.

Mon Ami Gabi—Though we only went for a glass of wine and escargot, Mon Ami Gabi was such a beautiful restaurant. Since it is located on the first floor of the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, you can ask to sit on the outside patio (which I highly recommend) as it will give you an incredible view of the Bellagio dancing fountain shows.

Eggslut— Located on the second floor of the Cosmopolitan, Eggslut is packed from open until close. It's the perfect hangover food and breakfast for morning hike, either way, you must stop here for breakfast one day. They're known for all their egg breakfast sandwiches, but their menu specialty is called the Slut, and it's a mason jar full of potatoes, egg and slice of baguette.
The Chandelier— This three-story bar starts inside the casino at the Cosmopolitan, but the best part is that the whole thing is inside a giant Chandelier.

Flights—Located inside Planet Hollywood, this was definitely our favorite happy hour. We went for lunch and while the food was OK, the best part was the $10 flights of 3 drinks. The restaurant is airline-inspired so everything came in a flight (set of three).

Rose. Rabbit. Lie/The Study—While we didn't eat at the restaurant portion (Rose. Rabbit. Lie.), we did walk through and saw that it was so much more than just dining. There was a small stage in the corner, with performers, live music and special effects that made you feel like you were eating at your own personal concert. The Study, which was just the bar portion, had a similar intimate feeling but definitely less overwhelming. I had the Crimson & Clover, and I definitely recommend.

Mothership Coffee—This has seriously been my favorite cup of coffee so far this year, ask my boyfriend, I chugged the cappuccino in less than a minute. In addition to the stellar coffee, the inside atmosphere of Mothership is extremely unique and relaxing and mixes well with the fun and upbeat design of the outdoor area. Plus, it's in the downtown Las Vegas area so it's a great excuse to make your way down there.

District: Donuts, Sliders, Brew—Located inside the Block 16 Urban Food Hall at the Cosmopolitan, District has truly killer donuts and, not to mention, crazy donut breakfast sandwiches. Their donut flavors rotate daily, but the Croque Madame sandwich was amazing.
Secret Pizza—Just as the names suspects, this pizza place is not easy to spot. It's located on the third floor of the Cosmopolitan and has amazing, late-night, New York style pizza.
TacoMan Grill—About a 15-minute drive south of the Las Vegas Airport, TacoMan Grill has a Flaming Hot Cheeto Burrito that you won't want to miss. For us, this was our first stop after we got the rental car at the airport because we were starving and still had some time before hotel check-in.

Best things to do in Las Vegas

These are some of my favorite activities in Las Vegas, but if you're looking for more detail, I have a whole blog post here on the Best Outdoor Activities in Las Vegas.