All of the info you could want about casino gambling, steakhouses and spa services is out in the open and easy to find—just check casinos’ websites.
But what brings longtime locals to which casinos, and why? Our first tip: Many casinos offer locals’ discounts; for example, the Peppermill offers 20 percent off pretty much everything, all of the time. Check with the players’ club folks at your casino of choice for details.
Here are a few more tips from the RN&R team.
The Oyster Bar at The Nugget, open since 1959, feels like a portal to a far-away, long-ago world you didn’t even know you were nostalgic for. This is where to indulge in special-occasion seafood classics like oysters or cioppino when you don’t want to break the bank. —Kris Vagner
Some of the more interesting bands that play in casinos—like Huckleberry Road from Reno, and Paige and the Overtones from Las Vegas—play original songs in the Terrace Lounge at the Peppermill. —Mark Earnest
The New York steak and eggs at the DC Cafe at the Tamarack Casino is an incredible value—a 10-ounce (!) New York steak cooked the way you like it; two eggs (sunny side up for me); and perfectly cooked hash browns and toast, all for less than $20. This is a protein-heavy meal with a quality steak that you would pay a lot more for anywhere else. —David Rodriguez
Spa Toscana in the Peppermill is lush sanctuary from the daily grind. Thanks to the huge windows flanking the indoor pool, it’s a treat to lounge poolside or in the hot tubs—especially when it’s snowing. —Susan Winters
One of Reno’s best happy hours is at Bistro Napa in the Atlantis—although here, they call it “Social Hour,” and it lasts for an amazing two hours (from 4 to 6 p.m.), during which all of the small plates, flatbreads and beverages on the special lounge menu are half-price. Yes, this includes Bistro Napa’s delicious Hibiscus Manhattan. (Be sure to tip the servers on the full price before the 50 percent discount. They work very hard during social hour!) —Jimmy Boegle
At La Strada in the Eldorado, themushroom ravioli in porcini cream sauceare next to impossible to resist. —Kris Vagner
I’ve shot a lot of concerts over the years, and the Grand Theatre in the Grand Sierra Resort is the best place to see one—with top-notch acts, easy parking and a friendly staff, plus great stage lighting and tasty after-show sandwiches at the Second St. Marketplace cafe. —David Robert
The Italian meatball sandwich at Manhattan Deli in the Atlantis is the real deal—just like the one Italian mom-and-pops have been making back East since time immemorial. —Kris Vagner