SAHARA Las Vegas is an iconic hotel along the Las Vegas Strip. It’s known for its plush and elegant suites, along with its casino of extensive table games and slot machines. For those who are looking for entertainment, the hotel also has sports viewing events and live performances.
But if there’s anything you shouldn’t miss at SAHARA Las Vegas, it’s the hotel’s line-up of exquisite fine dining and casual restaurants. Forbes Travel Guide has even described the SAHARA as the “hottest hotel for foodies” in Sin City some years back.
Sure, it can be tempting to forego these restaurants and hit the clubs ASAP after grabbing something from the Starbucks inside the hotel. But if you miss out on the award-winning fare at SAHARA’s restaurants, you will surely be missing out.
In the SAHARA, you’ll find a plethora of dining options. These range from sophisticated steakhouses and Italian restaurants to casual joints serving the most delicious American grub and comfort food. Let’s take a look at each of the seven restaurants in this timeless Vegas hotel.
Sahara Las Vegas Restaurants
1. Bazaar Meat By José Andrés
- Hours: Daily 5:00 – 10:00 PM
Bazaar Meat is perfect for steak and meat lovers. The man behind this fine dining affair is none other than Michelin-starred and James Beard Award-winning José Andrés. In his restaurant, he celebrates premium meats through delectable dishes that bring out their juicy, tender flavors.
For tapas-style dining, you can enjoy tartare, carpaccios, and embutido from their meat bar. For a hearty meal, try some of the meats straight from the fire pit, including Spanish suckling pig, Japanese Wagyu and Kobe meats, and other premium cuts of steak.
But Bazaar Meat isn’t your run-of-the-mill steakhouse. Chef José wows with inventive and eclectic dishes that show off the beauty of meat and seasonal ingredients with a touch of playfulness and modernity. His unique, mind-blowing dishes include cotton candy foie gras and caviar cones.
As Bazaar Meat pushes the boundaries of a traditional meat restaurant, it comes as no surprise that it has snagged awards left and right. The Las Vegas Review-Journal has given it a couple of Best of Las Vegas awards—for Fine Dining in 2018 and Date Night in 2019.
Do you follow a special diet? Don’t worry. The restaurant also has celiac, pescatarian, and vegetarian menus, so there’s always a sumptuous meal awaiting everyone.
2. Balla Italian Soul
- Hours: Daily 5:00 – 10:00 PM | Happy Hour from 5:00 – 6:00 PM and 9:00 – 10:00 PM
Have a romantic Italian dinner at Balla Italian Soul, a restaurant by James Beard Award-winning Chef Shawn McClain that puts the robust and vibrant flavors of the Amalfi Coast in the spotlight.
The fine dining restaurant serves antipasti appetizers, freshly made pasta, roasted meats and entrees, and mouthwatering pizzas. The food is so scrumptious here that they were awarded the Best New Italian Restaurant by Las Vegas Weekly in 2023.
Start by ordering something for the table, such as the restaurant’s housemade focaccia, some margherita pizza, or rich, creamy burrata. Then, dive into the handmade pasta, pizzas, and mains. Some highly recommended dishes are the Pork Delmonico and the classic spaghetti Bolognese.
Looking for a more posh and classy dinner menu? Try Balla Italian Soul’s tasting menu, which comes at $60 per person. Add $40 and you can get wine pairings hand-picked by the Sommelier for every dish. The menu gives you an antipasti, housemade pasta, and meat from the wood fire.
Then, cap off your meal with their extensive selection of red and white wines from Italy, as well as some refreshing cocktails.
The restaurant has discounts exclusively for locals. Every Tuesday, locals get 50% off premium steaks. On Wednesdays, they can get 50% off any bottle of wine.
3. Zeffer’s Café
- Hours: Daily 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Zeffer’s Café is SAHARA’s premier breakfast restaurant perfect for brunch favorites. The casual dining spot has everything you could ever want for breakfast, from hearty Southern food to light, healthy bowls and salads.
While Zeffer’s Café has a more laidback vibe, it still breathes an air of sophistication. Every dish is served beautifully and with finesse, making your breakfast feel a little more sophisticated. It’s the perfect place to start your day after a long night of partying in Vegas.
They have light and refreshing dishes such as Greek yogurt parfait and avocado toast. If you’re looking for something more filling, try their Grand Marnier French toast, breakfast skillets, or their signature shrimp n’ grits.
They also have alcoholic drinks that would be perfect for brunch, such as beer, cocktails, and wines. You can also get non-alcoholic drinks like fountain sodas and coffee.
4. Uno Más Street Tacos + Spirits
- Hours: Sun to Thu 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM | Fri and Sat 11:00 AM – 2:00 AM
Yearning for the vibrant aromatics and flavors of Mexican food in Vegas? Don’t sleep on Uno Más Street Tacos + Spirits, a casual restaurant serving up fresh tacos and cocktails to satisfy your Latin American food craving.
The eatery serves tacos with corn tortillas (which are made fresh daily), seasonal vegetables, and juicy, succulent meats. When these ingredients are assembled, you get authentic street tacos, as if you were in the middle of Mexico City.
There are plenty of tacos to choose from here. They have pork al pastor, carne asada, pollo asado, and their crowd-favorite shrimp Xni-pec tacos. Not big on tacos? Try out their burritos and burrito bowls instead.
Uno Más is also well-known for its sweet and refreshing margaritas. The Las Vegas Review-Journal voted the eatery for having the Best Margaritas in the city.
The best time to come and try their frozen margaritas is on Tequila Tuesdays, when you can sip on $5 margaritas all day long.
5. Chickie’s and Pete’s
- Hours: Daily 11:00 AM – 12:00 MN
Chickie’s and Pete’s is a well-loved American sports bar that originated in Philadelphia, PA. It was even named the #1 Sports Bar in North America by ESPN at one point. Due to its success, it has expanded in other cities as well—including Las Vegas.
If you’re in Vegas to watch a sports event, Chickie’s and Pete’s in the SAHARA is the perfect place to do so. They have over 50 huge TVs and sound systems to hype you up as you watch your team go for gold on the screen.
Of course, a sports bar wouldn’t be complete without serving American grub and comfort food. If you visit Chickie’s and Pete’s, you need to try their famous Crabfries. These French fries drizzled with creamy white cheese sauce and topped with crab or lobster make for terrific game day fare.
Aside from the fries, they also serve seafood dishes such as crabcakes and seafood platter. The joint also has cocktails and over 20 kinds of beer on tap.
6. The Noodle Den
- Hours: Sun to Thu 5:00 – 11:00 PM | Fri and Sat 5:00 PM – 12:00 MN
Chef Guoming “Sam” Xin’s The Noodle Den whips up classic Northern Chinese fare from xiao long bao dumplings to hand-pulled noodle soups. It’s the SAHARA eatery you want to stop at if you’re craving the savory, spicy, and umami flavors of Asian cuisine.
The restaurant boasts an exhibition kitchen that allows guests to watch as chefs make noodles by hand and cook them to perfection. Their noodles go great with exquisite savory meats such as Kung Pao chicken, Mongolian beef, and Taiwan beef brisket.
You can also try Chinese soups and dim sum classics like pork wontons, hot and sour soup, and pan-fried dumplings. For a more luxurious treat, taste their mouthwatering black truffle and pork xiao long bao.
7. Prendi
- Hours: Daily 4:00 PM – 4:00 AM
While not exactly a restaurant, Prendi is a SAHARA fixture that is well-loved by guests who are always on the go. Instead of sitting down for your meal, Prendi allows you to get freshly-made Italian salads, breads, and sandwiches to go.
Some of the most popular menu items include their fluffy focaccia pizzas and refreshing salads. They also have classic Italian sandwiches, like their roast beef and cheddar melt or the turkey pesto panini.
For those with a sweet tooth, go for their gelatos, sorbets, and indulgent house-baked cookies.
Pro Tip: Check Out SAHARA’s Bars for After-Dinner Drinks
Heading to one of the restaurants about for dinner and looking for some drinks afterward? Check out the trendy bars within SAHARA Las Vegas. After finishing up your meal, you won’t have to go far for delicious cocktails and sophisticated spirits. Here are your options.
CASBAR Lounge
The CASBAR Lounge is SAHARA’s 24-hour bar and lounge. Here, you can sip on the hotel’s cocktail specials. Their delectable cocktails include the Butterfly Gimlet (gin, bergamot liqueur, white peppercorn, jasmine) and the Peachy Tea Keen (bourbon, peach, honey jasmine).
You can also personalize the cocktail of your dreams by scanning the QR code by the bar and uploading an image of your perfect drink. Add some extra details about it and the staff will be happy to whip up your cocktail for you.
Not a fan of cocktails? You can also get wine by the glass and beer specials, including Corona Extra and Modelo Especial.
Happy hour at this lounge is every day from 3-5 PM and 8-9 PM. During these hours, you can get cocktails for half the price and buy-one-get-one-free beers.
Related: Best Lounges In Vegas
The Tangier
For a more elevated drinking experience, head over to The Tangier—a retro, vintage-themed bar with sophisticated, old-world charm. This classic lounge is known for its world-class extensive collection of brown spirits. They have everything from scotch to bourbon.
Aside from these, they also have specialty cocktails that are in line with the old-money theme. They have drinks such as The Manhattan, the Toronto Cocktail, and the Philadelphia Fish House Punch.
Their most timeless cocktail is the Tito’s Vodka Old Fashioned. They age the vodka in barrels for at least 30 days to give it that amber hue with notes of vanilla and caramel for some sweetness.
The Tangier is open every day from 3:00 PM to 2:00 AM.
Nearby Hotel Restaurants:
Conclusion
SAHARA Las Vegas is home to a diverse set of restaurants and eateries, so there’s always something here for everyone. Whether you’re craving comfort food like tacos or French fries or are looking for a fine dining restaurant for a romantic dinner, there’s a dining option for you here.
Remember to make the most out of your meal at any of SAHARA’s restaurants by making a pit stop at one of its trendy bars afterward to cap the night with some drinks, too.
Next time you visit the Strip and are looking for a place to eat, swing by SAHARA Las Vegas to experience any of its restaurants. Whatever you’re in the mood for, there’s a restaurant within the celebrated hotel that will match the vibe.