Las Vegas’ iconic buffets are shutting down as younger tourists flock to trendier food halls: ‘Dying breed’

Las Vegas’ famous buffets have agelong been a tourer staple, but now they’re facing a trendier contender connected nan Strip.

Food halls offer a different draw, serving decadent dishes successful a cafeteria mounting pinch a myriad of options.

Many of nan city’s staple buffets person been replaced by nutrient halls successful caller years. In 2020, Rio’s Carnival World Buffet closed down earlier reopening arsenic Canteen Food Hall successful Jan. 2024.

ARIA Buffet besides shuttered successful March 2020, reopening arsenic Proper Eats Food Hall successful 2022. The Big Top Food Court astatine Circus Circus replaced a mini information of nan venue’s buffet, opening successful Nov. 2021.

Digital creator Samiya Jakubowicz, a Las Vegas local, shared nan scoop connected nan nutrient hallway segment pinch Fox News Digital.

Jakubowicz, who posts nether nan grip @socialsami, said nan Sin City buffets “are a dying breed.”

“There are only a fewer near connected nan Strip, and honestly, COVID was the turning constituent that really sealed that,” she said. 

“But moreover earlier that, Vegas was shifting toward much upscale eating and nutrient halls were starting to return over.”

The main entreaty of nutrient halls, nan influencer said, comes down to trendiness and ease.

“You don’t request a reservation, they bring in well-known restaurants and chefs from each over, and you tin get a bunch of different nutrient options and value points each successful 1 place,” she said.

“The vibe besides feels a batch younger and cooler, which makes them a nosy spot to bent out.”

Jakubowicz said nan era of free drinks and inexpensive buffets successful Sin City “is over.”

“It’s besides nan existent basking taxable correct now — everyone claiming ‘Vegas is dying’ owed to nan prices,” nan influencer acknowledged.

“Personally, I was ne'er really a immense buffet aliases all-you-can-eat girlie, but I do emotion trying a small spot of everything, truthful nutrient halls are benignant of cleanable for that too. I emotion grabbing a bunch of dishes to stock pinch whoever I’m with.”

She recommended nan Block 16 Urban Food Hall astatine nan Cosmopolitan, arsenic good arsenic Via Via Food Hall astatine nan Venetian and Promenade Food Hall astatine nan Fontainebleau.

“Resort’s World has truthful overmuch assortment astatine their nutrient hall, and honestly, Durango’s off-Strip nutrient hallway mightiness beryllium 1 of nan best,” she added.

“At nan extremity of nan day, nutrient halls are fundamentally conscionable cooler, trendier food courts.”

There is an important caveat, though. Jakubowicz said nutrient halls aren’t cheaper.

But, she said, location is “way much variety, you tin determine your ain value point, amended value and a overmuch much nosy societal ambiance … truthful group deliberation it’s worthy it.”

Clique Hospitality laminitis Andy Masi told Fox News Digital nan imagination down Proper Eats was to lucifer nan Strip’s eclectic eating scene.

“Proper Eats Food Hall astatine ARIA offers everything from a portion of pizza and a gourmet burger to Judy Joo’s iconic fried chickenhearted sandwich, fresh sushi and Parm’s celebrated meatballs,” he said. 

Every crockery is priced nether $20, pinch a $59 all-you-can-eat paper connected weekends, Masi said.

Patrick Miller, CEO of Rio Hotel & Casino, told Fox News Digital nan COVID-19 pandemic was a immense facet successful nan determination to person nan buffet area.

“During nan pandemic, liking successful buffets continued to alteration while nan costs of operating 1 increased,” nan executive said.

“With Canteen, we’ve managed to connection guests nan aforesaid action of flavors pinch a higher accent connected value [food] astatine an affordable value constituent that is made fresh to order, rather than sitting nether a power lamp.”