Nevada

This health food café is an amazing resource when you’ve overindulged a bit. From two conveniently locations (one on either side of town), they offer up raw and vegan meals, cold pressed juice, and a small market with supplements and clean snacks.

This casual restaurant and juice bar is a local favorite off the strip. They open early—7am—and serve breakfast, lunch, and early dinner. With a number of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, the menu has a California bend: Poblano Breakfast Wrap, acai bowls, Ahi Tuna Tacos, salads, wraps, and burgers made from natural grass fed beef (or black beans). This is also a good spot to pick up a juice or smoothie after a long night out, when cleansing might be on the mind.

Though it’s admittedly a little over-the-top (the gold color scheme means that even the tiniest details are gilded), spa at the Encore is generally held to be one of the best in town. The theme feels partly Indian and partly Moroccan, starting with the dramatic entrance: guests walk down a river-rock path lined with gold lanterns, to be greeted at the end by an 8-foot, hand-carved sculpture of Buddha. Inside, there are waterfall showers, a marble Jacuzzi room, and a series of hot and cold plunge pools. As for the treatments, we recommend the Nalu Body Ritual, which includes Polynesian massage, full body exfoliation, and a coconut oil scalp treatment. For expecting mothers, they offer a pregnancy-specific massage that’s pretty unmatched.

Mandarin Oriental is known for their luxurious spas, but the experience at their Las Vegas location is exceptional, even for them. The two-floor space offers treatments that are exclusive to Las Vegas, like the Lucky Eights, a soothing reflexology series. Even if you don’t have time for a formal appointment, relax by the pool and in their quiet lounges, both of which offer phenomenal views of the entire strip.

If you’re traveling with a group, Vegas is an excellent place to scope out the Airbnb scene. We’re particularly excited about this spot, nestled up against the mountains in the appropriately named Sunset neighborhood. There’s an infinity pool with excellent views, a waterslide, plus a huge yard.

Until now, most boutique hotel experiences in Vegas were embedded inside the larger hotels (read: Tower Suites at the Wynn, The Four Seasons at Montecarlo), which is part of what makes the Cromwell so special. The brand-new spot only has 88 rooms, so it feels much more personal than some of the larger, more sprawling compounds. It’s also home to the first-ever restaurant from Giada De Laurentiis—if you can get past the gift shop in the front, you'll find some of best meatballs and chewiest pizza on the strip. And, if you're into that kind of thing, the reviews of their nightclub, Drai's, have been uniformly positive so far.

Considering its location right in the middle of The Strip and its bustling casino, the MGM isn’t an obvious pick for the Un-Vegas Vegas guide: That said, the MGM Mansion program is really in a league of its own. The Mansion is actually physically separate from the MGM itself—the building is made up of 29 individual villas, which range from one- and two-bedrooms up to full-fledged homes. It features its own separate driveway and lobby area, making it a thoroughly private experience, despite its central location. Each villa overlooks a lush, Italian-style garden atrium that’s much more Tuscany than Vegas, and has its own private dining area. In an effort to keep the vibe quiet and civilized, there are no bachelor parties or big groups allowed.

The farthest from the strip of any of our recommendations (about 45 minutes east), Lake Las Vegas is one of the most Un-Vegas places in town and one of the better places to stay if you’ve brought the kids along. The Westin here is located right on the lake, with a series of pools, mountain views, and two huge waterslides. The resort also offers great access to the lake—there’s a small beach to lounge on, and guests can rent SUP boards, jet skis, and boats to explore the water. At night, grab a glass of wine and watch the desert sun go down over the water—the patio is outfitted with several fire pits that are perfect for congregating around.

The Mandarin Oriental in Vegas has all the style and amenities you’d expect from the chain (Asian-inflected design, high-touch service, and cool flourishes like the 23rd floor lobby). That said, the real draw is the fact that this is one of the only hotels on The Strip without a casino, so it feels more like a retreat from the madness of the street than part of it. The spa is truly world-class, taking up two full floors with its sprawling pools and lounge rooms. Bonus: the 47-story building is LEED Gold certified.

With great local restaurants and plenty of kid-focused parks and activities, Summerlin is one of Vegas' more family-friendly neighborhoods. Accordingly, the JW Marriott here (it’s about 20 minutes from The Strip) feels much more like a family resort than a casino hotel. The property has more than 50 acres of pools and gardens altogether, and it’s right across the street from Angel Park Golf Course, one of Vegas’ best. The aforementioned pools make it a great spot for kids, and there’s a big spa for parents as well. If you must gamble, the chilled-out Rampart Casino is just a few steps away.