Best Things to Do in Las Vegas Chinatown
About ten minutes away from the bustle of The Strip sits the Las Vegas Chinatown neighborhood, a melting pot of cultures. Massage parlors and game arcades share walls with happening watering holes and world-class Asian restaurants (the area’s main draw), perfectly blending Asian and American ways of life and offering visitors a wide plethora of interesting things to do.
Whether you already have a trip planned to Chinatown or you need convincing reasons to add a day here to the itinerary, here’s a list of some of the best things to do in Las Vegas Chinatown.
Things to Do in Las Vegas Chinatown
Here’s the lowdown on some of the best things that await you in Chinatown and how your trip can turn even more memorable by including these in your trip.
Activities in Las Vegas Chinatown
If you’re looking for things to do in Las Vegas Chinatown, here are some hidden and not-so-hidden gems that should feature on your list of Las Vegas Chinatown activities!
If, like me, you’ve ever traveled to Vegas to get away from the stress of daily life, you can take it one step further at Wreck Room. Vent all that frustration as you smash and wreck TVs, glass bottles, ceramic mugs, computers, and more, without the worry of getting arrested or having to clean up!
If your feet are sore after all that exploring and partying, unwind at the XY Foot Spa (located in Spring Mountain’s Center) with their killer hot stone massages. Some of the best hours I’ve ever spent in Vegas were here, thanks to the amazing service, professional and courteous staff, and reasonable pricing.
Restaurants in Las Vegas Chinatown
If there’s one thing you’ll find in abundance in Chinatown, it’s great eating joints.
Over 150 restaurants offer everything from sushi to traditional Chinese fare to delicious freshly baked bread to local food, suited to everything from chill hangout sessions with friends to hearty, hangover-curing meals to date nights in Las Vegas Chinatown—to say you’re spoiled for choice is an understatement!
Try Gabi Coffee and Bakery for that much-needed cuppa post last night’s partying, accompanied by bread straight out of the oven. For a solid meal, try out world-class Asian restaurants such as Chubby Cattle, Chengdu Taste, LaMoon, Yun Nan Garden, or for delectable non-Asian fare check out Partage or Sparrow and Wolf.
ShangHai Taste and the top rated Raku are personal favorites—you can watch your food being made from scratch and that’s always made me more respectful and mindful while eating it.
If you’re working with a strict budget, stop in at Dirt Dog, where you can gorge on street-style corn and amazing hot dogs.
For more dining recommendations be sure to check out our Guide to the Best Restaurants in Chinatown.
Shopping in Las Vegas Chinatown
The one shopping spot that most visitors to Chinatown naturally gravitate towards is The Center at Spring Mountain.
This mall houses a range of gift shops and stores, such as the World of Feng Shui, where I picked up some very pretty jewelry and gorgeously scented incense sticks, or A Gamer’s Paradise, where we picked up the latest video games at some pretty great prices.
The next obvious venue is the Chinatown Plaza, located between Arville Street and Wynn Road. Shopping here is like a trip through China, with Tang Dynasty-era statues, plaques and framed posters displaying information about Chinese history and art, Chinese music bursting forth from stores, and vendors enticing you with their wares.
You’ll find everything from cosmetics, fine arts, plants, jade, arts and crafts, jewelry, Chinese herbs, and souvenirs here, including Nevada’s sole Chinese bookshop, The Great Wall Book Store.
If you’re done exploring these two options and still have leftover funds (you have my admiration if you’ve achieved this!), head to one of Chinatown’s latest shopping destinations—Shangai Plaza, sitting right at the heart of Chinatown.
This fancy venue primarily houses bakeries and eateries, but you’ll find the odd store selling Asian-themed trinkets.
Entertainment in Las Vegas Chinatown
In addition to catching the WOW, Las Vegas Little Theater, and Cirque du Soleil shows mentioned above, you can find entertainment with the below options:
Gaming fans will love Game Nest Arcade, nestled into the Mountain Point Business Park. From console games to Japanese arcade games and everything in between, you can get your fix of Bish Bashi, Initial D Zero, and the latest Nintendo, Playstation, and Xbox.
The best part? You only have to pay an all-inclusive hourly fee at the entrance and nothing more to play.
Try to escape The Basement! This may sound ominous, but I promise it’s a world of fun if you live and breathe murder, mystery, and mayhem!
This escape room, located on Polaris Avenue and Spring Mountain Road, tasks you with escaping from psychotic kidnapper Edward Tandy’s dead mom’s study or basement—live actors make the experience frighteningly real!
If you crave to do more than fire guns virtually, head to Machine Guns Vegas, where you can channel your inner Rambo and show off all that your virtual battles have taught you as you fire state-of-the-art AK-47s.
Located at Aldebaran Avenue and Spring Mountain Road and open seven days a week, Machine Guns Vegas’s impressive armory includes over 40 historical and modern firearms and is just as friendly to beginners as it is to experienced shooters.
Nightlife in Las Vegas Chinatown
In Vegas, the streets come alive after dark with magical energy vastly different from sunlit hours, and Chinatown is no exception.
Here are some of the best things to do in Las Vegas Chinatown when it comes to nightlife:
Venturing into Chinatown, the first stop is the iconic Golden Tiki. Located on Spring Mountain Road, this refuge is equal parts tropical wonderland, garage rock hangout, and tiki bar. Step inside to find yourself face-to-face with larger-than-life Tikis, and plenty of delicious cocktails and tropical ambiance to go around.
Belt out the latest Taylor Swift hits or go retro by channeling your inner Madonna at J Karaoke, housed in the Center. This karaoke bar lets you rent singing lounges that you and the gang can have a ball in while munching on fusion food and downing delish cocktails.
Mas Por Favor Taqueria y Tequila is known for its amazing food but after dinner head through a tunnel that leads to a secret speakeasy, where your mind is blown by some amazing craft cocktails, tequila, Mexican beer, and a local DJ or live band belting out some addictive beats!
The Sand Dollar Lounge is an iconic fixture in Vegas’s cultural landscape, formerly known as the Sand Dollar Blues Bar, threw open its doors in 1976 and continues to remain a top choice for both locals and tourists.
Located in the Plaza Vegas Business Park, an evening here is filled with pool tables, tap beer, table slots, craft cocktails, and some lovely live music from up-and-coming artists.
If your idea of nightlife involves quietly sitting in a classy bar and enjoying your drink, Mordeo Wine Bar is your best bet. This cozy bar features a glass-encased floor-to-ceiling wine rack, gorgeous views of the city, and an impressive drinks menu serving everything from sangria to sake.
Sightseeing in Las Vegas Chinatown
As mentioned, there’s not much to see in Las Vegas Chinatown, but an excellent way to immerse yourself in the area’s culture is to eat your way through it with a guided food tour.
There are plenty of amazing tours offered by operators such as Secret Food Tours, Taste Buzz, and Finger Licking Foodie Tours that’ll leave you with more than just a full tummy of local and international delicacies—you’ll meet some pretty amazing people and learn fun facts, the area’s history, and insider tips for future partying and dining.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, there are a lot of things to do in Las Vegas Chinatown—much more than just one weekend can cover.
But that’s the great thing—you now have reasons left to return to beautiful Chinatown, and return you will, for the area’s excellent culture, eateries, and the ample other fun that’s on offer!
