BODN 2025 HAVE IT YOUR WAY
Best Late-Night Dining
Gambling can mean keeping some crazy hours. Blackjack at 6 a.m.? No problem. Craps at 3 a.m.? Toss those dice. And slot players can spin those reels at any time of day. Because of the fast-paced, full-throttle casino lifestyle, casinos are accustomed to the 24/7 environment—when a bite to eat really knows no defined time period. Some of the best dining can still be had late into the night (some might even call it morning). A steak late at night? No problem. Breakfast for dinner? Grab a menu. Sure, you can satisfy your late-night cravings with some boring diner grub, but just because you’re out late doesn’t mean you have to. These restaurants serve up something special—no matter what time the clock reads.
Atlantic City: Noodles of the World, Borgata Resort Casino Spa
Chicagoland: Kitchen 888, Bally’s Casino Chicago
Colorado: Twenty-Four 7, Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk
Detroit: Grand River Deli & Burgers, MotorCity Casino Hotel
Florida: Carousel Club, Gulfstream Park
Gulf Coast: Salt & Ivy, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
Iowa: Double Down Dogs, Ameristar Hotel Council Bluffs
Lake Tahoe: Café Del Soul, Bally’s Lake Tahoe
Las Vegas Downtown: Freedom Beat, Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas Locals: Raiders Tavern & Grill, M Resort
Las Vegas Strip: 108 Eats, STRAT Casino Hotel & Tower
Laughlin: The Sidewalk Café, Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino
Louisiana: Claim Jumper Grille, Golden Nugget Lake Charles
Maryland: Bread + Butter, MGM National Harbor
Missouri: Phat Tai, Hollywood Casino St. Louis
Native Midwest: Little Eagle Café, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
Native Northwest: Market 253, Muckleshoot Casino Resort
Native South: Lagniappe Market, Coushatta Casino Resort
Native Southwest: Black Fig Coffee & Bistro, Talking Stick Resort
New England: novelle, Mohegan Sun
New York: Three Sisters, Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino
Ohio: American Burger Bar, JACK Cleveland
Oklahoma: Grand Café, Choctaw Casino Resort Durant
Pennsylvania: Guy Fieri’s Mt. Pocono Kitchen, Mount Airy Casino Resort Spa
Racino: TAP Sports Bar, MGM Northfield Park
Reno: Purple Parrot, Atlantis Casino Resort Spa
Southern Indiana: The Deli, Bally’s Evansville
Tunica: Seasons Café, Southland Casino Hotel
Vicksburg: Southern Bites, Bally’s Vicksburg
Best Outdoor Dining
Mix in some sunshine and evening air with delectable dishes at these outdoor bistros. Outdoor dining offers real escapism, when the gambling scene gets a bit overwhelming and some fresh air might be one of the best things on the menu. Many casinos have gotten creative with their outdoor offerings, creating unique pop-up spaces and even outdoor live music venues. Customers seem to love the efforts. At the right casino, it can make that meal into a memorable event cherished long after the check is paid. Here are this year’s top choices for Best Outdoor Dining. Grab a seat and relax.
Atlantic City: Landshark Bar & Grill, Resorts Atlantic City
Florida: Beach Club Bar & Grill, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
Gulf Coast: The Blind Tiger, Harrah’s Gulf Coast
Iowa: 22 & Vine Café, Riverside Casino & Golf Resort
Lake Tahoe: Saltgrass Steak House, Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe
Las Vegas Downtown: Citrus Grand Pool Deck, Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas Locals: Laguna Pool House & Kitchen, Palms Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip: Spago by Wolfgang Puck, Bellagio Las Vegas
Laughlin: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Golden Nugget Laughlin
Louisiana: Bill’s Bar & Burger, Golden Nugget Lake Charles
Maryland: Signatures Bar & Grill, Rocky Gap Casino Resort
Native Midwest: Edgewater Café, Four Winds Casinos – South Bend
Native South: Club House Restaurant, Dancing Rabbit Golf Course, Pearl River Resort
Native Southwest: Sandia Clubhouse Grill, Sandia Casino Resort
New England: The Scorpion Bar, Foxwoods Resort Casino
New York: Wildflowers, Turning Stone Resort Casino
Ohio: Hard Rock Cafe, Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
Oklahoma: Landshark Pool Bar and Tiki Bar & Dining, River Spirit Casino Resort
Pennsylvania: The Liberty Bell beer garden, Parx Casino
Racino: The Bugler, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort
Reno: Chickie’s & Pete Crab House and Sports Bar, Grand Sierra Resort
Southern Indiana: Spring No. 8, French Lick Resort
Best Happy Hour
Who doesn’t love a good deal? Great drinks at a lower price can make everyone happy—isn’t that why it’s called happy hour, after all? When you really need to break away from it all, sitting down with a cold beer or frosty frozen margarita can be a great way to start the night. Seeing that check with an unexpectedly lower price tag can make that bar break even better. These bar and lounge happy hours bring plenty of happiness for Casino Player readers, offering great drinks, delicious food and an inviting atmosphere, all without breaking the bank!
Atlantic City: Chart House, Golden Nugget Atlantic City
Chicagoland: Youyu Bar & Lounge, Hard Rock Casino Rockford
Colorado: Bistro Mariposa, Monarch Resort Casino Spa
Detroit: Urban Cocktail Hollywood Casino at Greektown
Florida: Yard House, Gulfstream Park
Gulf Coast: Bubba Gump Shrimp. Co., Golden Nugget Biloxi
Lake Tahoe: Chart House, Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe
Las Vegas Downtown: Ike’s, El Cortez Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas Locals: VooDoo Steak, Rio Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip: 108 Eats, STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower
Louisiana: Celebrity Lounge, Bally’s Shreveport Casino Hotel
Maryland: Legends Lounge, Horseshoe Baltimore
Native Midwest: 5 Bridges Bar, Island Resort Casino
Native Northwest: Henry’s Mahogany Bar, Red Hawk Resort & Casino
Native Southwest: Waters Café, Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage
New York: Upstate Tavern, Turning Stone Resort Casino
Oklahoma: Mickey Mantle’s, WinStar World Casino and Resort
Ohio: The Lounge at Final Cut, Hollywood Casino Columbus
Oklahoma: Ruth’s Chris Steak House, River Spirit Casino Resort
Pennsylvania: Sports & Social, Live! Casino Hotel Philadelphia
Racino: Parlay Lounge, Hollywood Casino at The Meadows
Reno: Bistro Napa, Atlantis Casino Resort
Best Casino Cocktail Service
Excellent service, great taste, plenty of options, top-shelf spirits. These are some of the qualities that can make for great casino cocktail service and the properties listed below have the perfect mix. The waitstaff works tirelessly to serve up great drinks to gamblers so they don’t have to move from their seats and miss any of the action. This is a monumental task to be sure, and a great waiter or waitress is certainly appreciated. Great service is certainly worth tipping for and a courteous “thank you” is also always appreciated.
Atlantic City: Resort Atlantic City
Chicagoland: Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana
Colorado: Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk
Detroit: MotorCity Casino Hotel
Florida: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
Gulf Coast: Scarlet Pearl Resort & Casino
Iowa: Hard Rock Hotel Casino Sioux City
Lake Tahoe: Bally’s Lake Tahoe
Las Vegas Downtown: Downtown Grand Casino Hotel
Las Vegas Locals: Palms Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip: Wynn Las Vegas
Laughlin: Golden Nugget Laughlin
Louisiana: Margaritaville Casino Resort Bossier City
Maryland: Rocky Gap Casino Resort Golf
Missouri: Bally’s Kansas City
Native Midwest: Soaring Eagle Casino Resort
Native Northwest: Snoqualmie Casino
Native South: Coushatta Casino Resort
Native Southwest: Sandia Resort & Casino
New England: Bally’s Twin River Lincoln
New York: del Lago Resort & Casino
Ohio: Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
Oklahoma: Hard Rock Hotel Casino Tulsa
Pennsylvania: Live! Casino Hotel Pittsburgh
Racino: Miami Valley Gaming
Reno: Grand Sierra Resort
Southern Indiana: Bally’s Evansville Casino Hotel
Tunica: Gold Strike Casino Resort
Vicksburg: Bally’s Vicksburg
Best Bartenders
Beyond simply serving up drinks, excellent bartenders add to the environment and bring plenty of fun to the bar experience. Some of these service professionals are happy to serve up quick conversation, excellent recommendations or super service with a smile.
These barkeeps also bring plenty of mixology expertise, working tirelessly to serve you delicious concoctions in a great atmosphere. A great cocktail can be a real work of art, offering a perfect blend and giving gamblers a much-needed break from the casino floor. These bars, lounges and restaurants feature some of the best bartenders in the casino industry. Looking for a new drink? Don’t be afraid to ask and you may soon have a new favorite.
Atlantic City: Bar One, Resorts Atlantic City
Chicagoland: Hard Rock Café Center Bar, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana
Colorado: Escape Bar, Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk
Detroit: Bacchus Bar, Caesars Windsor
Florida: The Rez Grill Bar, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
Gulf Coast: Lux Lounge, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Biloxi
Iowa: The Yards, Hard Rock Casino Hotel Sioux City
Lake Tahoe: HQ Center Bar, Bally’s Lake Tahoe
Las Vegas Downtown: OneBar, Golden Gate Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas Locals: Unknown, Palms Las Vegas
Las Vegas Strip: Carnaval Court, Harrah’s Las Vegas
Laughlin: The Range Bar, Harrah’s Laughlin
Louisiana: Celebrity Lounge, Bally’s Shreveport Casino Hotel
Maryland: David’s Restaurant & Bar, Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Missouri: Judy’s Velvet Lounge, River City Casino Hotel
Native Midwest: Dacey’s Sportsbook & Taphouse, FireKeepers Casino Hotel
Native Northwest: 12 Moons, Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel
Native South: Eagle Bar & Grill, Coushatta Casino Resort
Native Southwest: The Y Lounge, Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel
New England: The Scorpion Bar, Foxwoods Resort Casino
New York: The River Bar, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino
Ohio: Council Oak Bar, Hard Rock Cincinnati
Oklahoma: 5 O’Clock Somewhere, River Spirit Casino Hotel
Pennsylvania: Sports & Social, Live! Casino Hotel Pittsburgh
Racino: Centerbar, JACK Thistledown
Reno: Crystal Lounge, Grand Sierra Resort
Southern Indiana: Cavanaugh’s On the River, Bally’s Evansville Casino Hotel
Tunica: Jack Binion’s Steak House, Horseshoe Tunica
Vicksburg: Sandbar Café, WaterView Casino & Hotel
Best Beach/Pool Bar
When the temperature rises, nothing beats a casino pool scene. Grab a lounge chair, towel, and perhaps a book to pass some time on a sunny afternoon. These oases offer some real relaxation, cool water, hot tubs and great libations to make the scene even better. Whether there’s a swim-up bar or just excellent drink servers, a drink and some time at the pool can make for the perfect combination. A nice massage might also be on the itinerary. Some casinos located on the ocean may even offer a real beach club, adding even more to this tropical escape. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
Atlantic City: Landshark Bar & Grill, Resorts Casino Hotel
Colorado: Splash 23 Poolside Bar, Monarch Casino Resort Spa Black Hawk
Florida: Pool Bar & Grill, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
Gulf Coast: Wahoo’s Poolside Bar & Grill, Palace Casino Resort
Lake Tahoe: Stillwater Pool Bar & Grill, Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino
Las Vegas Downtown: Citrus Grand Pool Deck, Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino
Las Vegas Locals: The Sandbar, Red Rock Casino
Las Vegas Strip: Swim & Social Bar and Cafe, STRAT Hotel Casino Tower
Laughlin: Cancun Lagoon South Pool Bar, Harrah’s Laughlin
Louisiana: H2O Bar & Grille, Golden Nugget Lake Charles
Maryland: Terrace Bar, Rocky Gap Casino Resort Spa
Native Midwest: Pool Bar, Four Winds Casino Resort – New Buffalo
Native Southwest: Oasis Bar, Casino Del Sol
Oklahoma: Landshark Pool Bar, Tiki Bar & Dining, River Spirit Casino Resort
Pennsylvania: Ultra Pool, Mount Airy Casino Resort
Reno: Sole Poolside, Peppermill Reno
Southern Indiana: Spring No. 8, French Lick Resort
