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If you’re wondering whether it’s a good idea to spend Thanksgiving weekend in Las Vegas, the answer is definitely yes! November is a prime time to visit Vegas, with perfect weather, lots to see and do, and some of the best Thanksgiving dining you could ever hope for. We put together this complete guide to spending Thanksgiving in Las Vegas, with our favorite suggestions of ways to celebrate. From where to eat to where you can find the best Black Friday shopping, we’ve got all your plans covered.

What’s Thanksgiving Like in Las Vegas?

Thanksgiving weekend is a very popular time to come to Vegas, with people flying in from all over the country to enjoy their holiday weekend. Compared to the freezing temperatures of other parts of the country, the weather in Las Vegas during Thanksgiving is quite tolerable. With an average high in the mid 60s and average low in the low 40s Fahrenheit, it feels pretty mild and rarely rains.

You’ll want to get onto booking your Thanksgiving trip to Vegas as soon as possible, as it’s a busy time for the city and hotel pricing can skyrocket if you wait too long. Another important thing to keep in mind is making reservations early for your Thanksgiving dinner. Those who wait too long end up wandering the Strip looking for a place to dine, and finding every restaurant booked up.

Thanksgiving is the time that Vegas begins to celebrate the holiday season, so you’ll have the treat of seeing the Las Vegas Strip all lit up with holiday decorations. Most attractions, shops and restaurants remain open, so with that and the bustling foot traffic, the Strip is a vibrant and exciting place to be.

Where To Have a Delicious Thanksgiving Meal in Vegas

Whether you’d prefer to chow down on a Thanksgiving buffet or dine in an upscale restaurant, these are our top 7 places to enjoy your turkey dinner.

Bazaar Meat by Jose Andres

This upscale steakhouse restaurant by Michelin-starred chef Jose Andres specializes in all things meat. Andres calls his restaurant “a celebration of the carnivorous in all its forms”. (We included Bazaar Meat in our list of top 10 Las Vegas restaurants.) The restaurant has an eclectic and amazing style of décor and an open kitchen where you can view your cuisine being made.

Bazaar Meat’s delectable Thanksgiving menu allows you to choose from a wide selection of starters such as cheesy Delmonico potatoes, croquetas de pavo made from turkey-bechamel fritters, shrimp and crab cocktails and more. Main course choices include Josper-roasted turbot or BN Ranch Heritage turkey. For dessert, every guest is served a slice of pecan pie, roasted apple puff pastry and pumpkin tart.  


Bardot Brasserie

This French bistro-style fine dining restaurant at ARIA serves up French comfort food with a twist by Chef Michael Mina. They are known for their menu of iconic French delicacies, a fantastic wine selection, and an unforgettable weekend brunch.

Bardot is offering a special prix-fixe Thanksgiving menu, which is served family-style. Start off with premium chilled shellfish, a charcuterie and cheese selection along with endive salad, then comes the heritage roasted turkey and cognac-glazed ham. For dessert you’ll be served pumpkin pie and pecan pie topped with vanilla ice cream.


Picasso

This exquisite fine-dining restaurant at Bellagio is another one from our top 10 Las Vegas restaurants. Created by Chef Julian Serrano, this is a place to dine on incredible French and Spanish cuisine while surrounded by original artwork by Picasso himself.

Picasso’s Thanksgiving feast includes delicious dishes like Maine lobster salad, foie gras au torchon, and roasted milk-fed veal chop. Every table receives complimentary servings of sweet potatoes, brioche stuffing and cranberry sauce.


Bacchanal Buffet

There’s nothing more Vegas than a buffet, and Bacchanal Buffet at Caesar’s Palace is simply one of the very best in town. At 25,000 square feet in size, this newly-renovated buffet is the largest in the city, with food prepared in open kitchens in front of you. It’s like being able to choose from 9 different restaurants in one spot.

On Thanksgiving, Bacchanal will be serving up apple cider-brined roast turkey and herb-crusted smoked turkey breast. They’ll also have apple sausage and sage stuffing, cranberry sauce with mandarin oranges, mashed potatoes and gravy, and sweet potato casserole with bruleed marshmallows. Don’t forget to grab a slice of pumpkin pie for dessert!


The Buffet at Wynn

One of our top 10 buffets in Las Vegas, The Buffet at Wynn lives up to the standard of excellence that Wynn properties are known for. Its gorgeous marble dining room is filled with beautiful floral arrangements, and the food is top notch, including lots of options for vegans and vegetarians. With 15 cooking stations, you have a whole lot of delicious options to choose from.

The Buffet at Wynn is offering a Thanksgiving dinner that will make your mouth water. Dishes to choose from include herb and butter roasted turkey, turkey roulade, sea salt crusted prime rib and autumn corn succotash. For dessert they’ll have crème brulee, pumpkin spice cake, orange-cranberry cupcakes and classic pumpkin pie.


Eiffel Tower Restaurant

Want to dine with one of the best views in Vegas? At the top of the replica Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas, the Eiffel Tower Restaurant looks out over the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip and serves delicious French cuisine in a classy, upscale setting.

Their Thanksgiving 3 course menu, created by Chef J. Joho, includes mouthwatering dishes such as cream of butternut squash soup, turkey with chestnut dressing, potato gratin and Brussels sprouts, and old fashioned pecan pie with butterscotch ice cream for dessert.


STK at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

STK Steakhouse, located at the ultra-trendy Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, is one of our favorite upscale restaurants, serving fresh takes on steakhouse favorites in a vibrant atmosphere that includes a popping bar and a DJ. It’s a hangout spot for celebrities and locals alike.

STK will be serving a delicious holiday meal of roasted free-range turkey breast with confit turkey thighs, cranberry sauce, twice-cooked sweet potatoes, foie apple stuffing, Brussels sprouts and sweet corn pudding.

Shop ‘Til You Drop at the Best Shopping Spots in Vegas

The Las Vegas Strip is one of the best places to shop on Black Friday, with extravagant shopping destinations that will make your jaw drop. Here are a few of the best options.

Fashion Show Mall

The largest shopping mall on the Vegas Strip, Fashion Show Mall is over 2 million square feet of shopaholics heaven. With retail stores, including 6 department stores, you’ll be sure to find the holiday gifts you’re looking for, plus a little something for yourself. Fashion Show Mall is so big, you’ll end up spending the whole day there.

Miracle Mile Shops

You’ll find the Miracle Mile Shops attached to Planet Hollywood, right in the heart of the action on the Las Vegas Strip. This huge shopping destination spans 1.2 miles and offers over 200 shops, as well as 15 restaurants ranging from casual bites to fine dining. You’ll find a wide array of name brand apparel, fashion accessory and beauty stores to choose from.

Miracle Mile’s hours stay the same throughout the holiday season, so you can shop from 11am – 8pm even on Thanksgiving Day! After your day of shopping, catch a show at Zappos Theater, located right in the heart of Miracle Mile. The Mentalist and V – The Ultimate Variety Show are 2 very popular ones.

The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace

Exploring The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace is an opportunity you don’t want to miss when you’re visiting Las Vegas – even if you’re just window-shopping. It’s an extravagant Roman-themed shopping mall featuring vaulted ceilings like the sky, not to mention elaborate fountains and statues throughout. (They even have a full-scale replica of the Statue of David!)

With 145 stores ranging from boutique to designer, you’ll find just what you’re shopping for. Cartier, Coach, Georgio Armani, and Gucci are just some of the amazing stores you’ll find here.

Other Things To Do On Thanksgiving Weekend in Vegas

With all the incredible shopping and dining to be had, don’t forget that Las Vegas is known as the Entertainment Capital of the World – so there are lots of other experiences to enjoy during Thanksgiving weekend.

Take In the View

Want to get a great view of the holiday lights on the Vegas Strip? Take a ride on the High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel right in the center of the action. For a romantic viewing experience, head to the top of the 46-story-high Eiffel Tower Viewing Deck to catch one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. Or see the glitter and glamor from a luxury helicopter, complete with a champagne toast.

Take In a Show

No trip to Vegas is complete without catching one of our world-class shows. There’s something for everyone’s taste when it comes to Las Vegas shows, from Cirque Du Soleil’s surreal water ballet, “O” to mind-blowing magic from world-famous illusionist David Copperfield. Take a look at our top 10 Las Vegas show recommendations for more ideas!

Take a Tour

Don’t come to Las Vegas without exploring a bit. With some of the most majestic landscapes and stunning sightseeing experiences, there’s a lot to see in this wild and wonderful city. Take a ride on a jump-on, jump-off double decker bus with Big Bus Tours, or live it up with a limo ride down the Las Vegas Strip. We love Neon & Nature, a helicopter tour that lets you see the juxtaposition of the natural wonder of Red Rock Canyon and the neon lights of the Strip.