15 Of The Toughest Restaurant Reservations To Get In Las Vegas
Las Vegas isn’t just a dazzling destination for gamblers—it’s also a world-class haven for passionate food lovers. Over the years, I’ve dedicated countless hours trying to land reservations at the most sought-after restaurants along the legendary Strip, often needing to plan months ahead just to secure a table.
The competition for these high-demand dining spots can be even more intense than a high-stakes poker game. From celebrity chef venues to hidden culinary gems, the city is brimming with restaurants that attract devoted foodies from around the globe.
Curious to know which establishments boast the longest waitlists and the most loyal fans in Sin City? Get ready to dive into the mouthwatering world of Las Vegas dining at its finest!
1. é by José Andrés
Hidden behind a secret door at Jaleo sits the most exclusive dining experience I’ve ever encountered. With just eight seats available per seating, this culinary theater makes winning the jackpot look easy in comparison!
Last summer, I set calendar reminders three months in advance just to attempt a reservation. The avant-garde tasting menu changes constantly, featuring mind-bending molecular gastronomy that plays with texture and temperature.
The most ridiculous part? Reservations open exactly three months ahead at midnight Pacific time, and they’re typically gone within minutes. I’ve literally stayed up late just to click ‘reserve’ the second the clock struck twelve. Worth every sleepless minute!
2. Mizumi’s Floating Pagoda Table
Scoring the legendary floating pagoda table at Mizumi nearly broke my reservation-hunting spirit! This single table sits on its own private island in the middle of a koi-filled lagoon at the Wynn.
My anniversary was approaching, and I desperately wanted to surprise my wife with this romantic spot. I called daily for weeks before finally catching a cancellation. The setting is straight out of a movie – a Japanese garden with waterfalls providing the soundtrack to your meal.
The table accommodates just four diners and requires a hefty minimum spend. Pro tip: book on weekdays during off-season months like February for slightly better odds. Even then, expect to plan 2-3 months ahead!
3. Joël Robuchon
Snagging a seat at the late master chef’s eponymous restaurant feels like hitting a royal flush! This temple to French gastronomy at MGM Grand holds more Michelin stars than any living chef in the world.
My foodie friends laughed when I mentioned trying to book just two weeks before my Vegas trip. Rookie mistake! The 16-course degustation menu is legendary, featuring dishes so beautiful they should hang in the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art.
The intimate space seats only 40 guests per night, creating an atmosphere of exclusivity that matches the eye-watering prices. I finally managed a Tuesday late seating after joining their email list for cancellations. The bread cart alone was worth the three-month wait!
4. Delilah at Wynn Las Vegas
Getting into this swanky supper club makes me feel like I’ve time-traveled to the Rat Pack era! Celebrities flock here like tourists to the Bellagio fountains, making reservations nearly impossible to secure without connections.
My birthday wish last year was dinner at Delilah. I started calling two months ahead and still ended up on a waitlist! The art deco space transforms into a nightclub after hours, with surprise performances that have included Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
The hostess told me they receive over 1,000 reservation requests daily. My persistence paid off when I finally scored a table at 10:30pm on a Wednesday. The roasted chicken carved tableside and the people-watching were equally magnificent – I spotted three celebrities during dessert!
5. Restaurant Guy Savoy
Sweet mother of foie gras! Attempting to book Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace feels like trying to get front-row seats at a sold-out Adele concert. This Michelin-starred French restaurant serves up culinary masterpieces that haunt my dreams.
I once planned an entire Vegas vacation around a reservation here. The famous artichoke and black truffle soup alone justifies the difficulty in securing a table. The restaurant offers just 75 seats, making competition fierce.
After striking out online, I called directly and learned their secret: they hold back some tables for hotel guests and high rollers. I immediately booked a room at Caesars and miraculously scored a Thursday reservation. My wallet wept, but my taste buds threw a parade!
6. Bazaar Meat by José Andrés
Holy carnivore heaven! José Andrés strikes again with this meat-lover’s paradise that’s harder to get into than a poker tournament final table. Located in the Sahara, this isn’t your average steakhouse – it’s a theatrical celebration of all things meat.
My brother and I tried booking for his bachelor party weekend, only to find nothing available six weeks out. The cotton candy foie gras and suckling pig have created such a cult following that prime weekend slots fill up months in advance.
We eventually scored a late Thursday reservation by calling directly and sweet-talking the hostess. The fire-cooking display kitchen and the wagyu beef tasting are spectacular enough to justify planning your entire trip around. I’ve now learned to book Bazaar Meat before even buying plane tickets!
7. Nobu Villa at Caesars Palace
Forget the regular Nobu – the real unicorn reservation is the Nobu Villa! This ultra-exclusive experience takes place in a 10,300-square-foot rooftop villa where celebrities like Justin Bieber have stayed.
My jaw dropped when I learned about this option while dining at regular Nobu. The experience includes a private chef from Nobu’s team preparing a custom menu in the villa’s kitchen. Only one group per night gets this privilege, making it possibly the toughest reservation in town.
You need connections and deep pockets – think $5,000+ minimum for the experience. I befriended a Caesars VIP host who put me on a list for cancellations. Six months later, I got the call for a last-minute opening when a celebrity canceled. The omakase under the stars was life-changing!
8. Carbone
Mamma mia! This New York Italian transplant at Aria has a waitlist longer than the line for the Bellagio buffet on a Saturday night. When Mario Carbone brought his red-sauce joint to Vegas, he apparently packed all of Manhattan’s dining demand with him.
I learned my lesson trying to make a spontaneous visit during a conference. The spicy rigatoni vodka pasta has achieved cult status, with guests booking exactly 60 days out when reservations open. The old-school tableside service and the theatrical waiters in burgundy tuxedos create an atmosphere worth planning months ahead for.
After striking out online, I discovered the bar offers first-come, first-served seating. I showed up at 4:30pm on a Tuesday and still waited 45 minutes for a spot. The veal parmesan was bigger than my head!
9. Partage’s Chef’s Table
Vegas locals tried keeping this off-Strip gem secret, but the cat’s out of the bag! Partage’s chef’s table experience in Chinatown offers front-row seats to French culinary magic that rivals anything on the Strip.
My foodie group chat exploded when one friend snagged this reservation six months in advance for a birthday celebration. Only four people per night can experience the special chef’s table tasting menu, where Chef Yuri Szarzewski personally serves and explains each course.
The restaurant doesn’t advertise this option on their website – you need to call directly and often join a waitlist. The 10+ course menu changes daily based on ingredients and chef’s inspiration. We witnessed techniques with liquid nitrogen that made molecular gastronomy look like child’s play. Worth every penny of the $250+ per person price tag!
10. Lotus of Siam
Who would think a Thai restaurant in a strip mall would be harder to book than a penthouse suite on New Year’s Eve? This James Beard Award-winning spot has been Vegas’s worst-kept secret since Anthony Bourdain raved about it years ago.
My first attempt at dining here was comically naive. I showed up without a reservation on a Friday, only to be told the wait was three hours! Chef Saipin Chutima’s Northern Thai specialties, particularly the garlic prawns and crispy duck with panang curry, have earned a cult following that books weeks in advance.
Even their newer, larger location fills up instantly when reservations open 30 days out. Pro tip from a local: their online system releases tables at midnight, and you’d better be ready with your finger on the button. I’ve literally set alarms to book!
11. Esther’s Kitchen
Farm-to-table pasta in the desert? Sounds impossible, but Chef James Trees has created such magic at this Arts District hotspot that locals guard reservations like winning lottery tickets!
My first attempt to visit Esther’s was during First Friday art walk – rookie mistake! The tiny restaurant books solid weeks in advance, especially Thursday through Sunday. The seasonal pasta dishes and sourdough bread have developed such a following that they’ve had to implement a strict cancellation policy.
After three failed attempts, I learned their insider hack: they save a few tables for walk-ins each night, but you need to arrive before they open at 5pm. I showed up at 4:15 on a Wednesday and still found eight people ahead of me in line! The pasta carbonara made with local eggs was absolutely worth the sunburn I got waiting outside.
12. Cipriani
Bellissimo! This Italian institution from Venice has brought its white-jacketed waiters and celebrity clientele to Wynn Plaza, creating reservation chaos that would make even a casino pit boss sweat.
My last Vegas trip coincided with a major boxing match weekend. Attempting to book Cipriani was like trying to get front-row seats to the fight! The restaurant’s reputation for hosting A-listers means tables are often held for VIPs until the last minute.
After striking out online, I learned that Wynn concierge services can sometimes work magic for hotel guests. I sweet-talked a concierge into putting me on a waitlist, then received a 9:30pm opening when they released some held tables. The legendary carpaccio and risotto primavera were spectacular, as was watching a famous rapper order $5,000 bottles of champagne at the next table!
13. Yui Edomae Sushi
Sushi so exclusive it makes the high-roller rooms look accessible! This tiny strip mall spot serves the most authentic Tokyo-style omakase in Vegas, and chef Gen Mizoguchi accepts just 30 guests per night.
My sushi-obsessed cousin insisted we try booking for his bachelor party. We called two months ahead and were told they were fully committed, but they’d add us to the waitlist. The fish is flown in directly from Japan multiple times weekly, and the chef’s 20+ course progression follows traditional edomae techniques.
Our persistence paid off when we called weekly to check for cancellations. Eventually, we secured a 9:45pm seating on a Monday. The uni and A5 wagyu nigiri nearly brought tears to my eyes! Locals told us they book recurring reservations months in advance just to secure spots at this hidden gem.
14. Le Cirque
Monkeys and acrobats and foie gras, oh my! This circus-themed French institution at Bellagio books faster than front-row seats at Cirque du Soleil. The lakeside tables with fountain views are particularly impossible to secure.
My parents’ 40th anniversary deserved something special, so I aimed for the best table in the house. Despite calling three months ahead, the prime 7:30pm fountain-view tables were already booked! The lacquered Maine lobster and chocolate soufflé have earned such acclaim that even weekday reservations require advance planning.
The reservation specialist revealed their secret: they release a few tables 90 days out, but save the best fountain-view spots for Bellagio high-tier players and MGM Rewards members. I upgraded my parents’ room to a fountain-view suite, which miraculously helped the concierge “find” a perfect table. Sometimes you have to play the Vegas game!
15. Kaiseki Yuzu
Finding this reservation is like discovering a royal flush in your poker hand! This tiny Japanese gem in Chinatown offers just 12 seats and serves a traditional kaiseki experience that rivals anything in Kyoto.
My Japanese food-loving heart nearly broke when I called for a reservation and learned they were booked solid for two months. Chef Kaoru Azeuchi prepares a seasonal 10-course progression that changes monthly, featuring techniques rarely seen outside Japan.
The restaurant doesn’t use online booking platforms – you must call directly, and they maintain a physical reservation book old-school style. After three months of calling weekly to check for cancellations, we finally scored seats at the counter. The chef’s meticulous knife skills turning daikon into translucent roses was worth every persistent phone call. This might be Vegas’s best-kept culinary secret!