The Meathead’s Guide to Las Vegas

7 min readMeathead’s Guides are Men’s Health’s field manuals for doing a city right—where to train, what to eat, and when to go all out. Built around workouts, great meals, and local intel, these guides are for anyone who’s looking to do more than see the sights and pose for pics. Come hungry, bring decent shoes, and consider this a full-body itinerary.IN THE 2009 film The Hangover, the main characters wake up in Las Vegas in a daze. Alan (Zach Galifianakis) has no pants on. Phil (Bradley Cooper) isn’t sure where he is. Stu (Ed Helms) has a tattoo on his face and doesn’t know it yet. And there’s a tiger roaming the bathroom of their luxury suite.Adventures that end like that are likely what come to mind when Sin City’s on the brain. And, yes, it’s totally fair. The Vegas adventures you’ve seen in the movies—from The Hangover’s partying to Casino’s seediness to Ocean’s Eleven’s classy sleekness—are still out there for you to find, if that’s what you’re looking for. But these days, there’s also a whole bunch of other things to do off the beaten path for any active guy, wannabe party animal, or Danny Ocean-type (without, ideally, the large-scale thievery).The Las Vegas we want to guide you toward has a little bit of everything. You want to watch sports? We do too. Keep up your gym schedule? Always an option. Maybe a spa treatment? We’ve got you. And that’s just a taste. Las Vegas has way more to offer than what you may have been led to believe—you just have to know where to look.Caesars Entertainment/Lewis PhanBET ON ITCaesars Palace Sportsbook If you’re living the Las Vegas risky life—as with everything, please, only in moderation—there aren’t many better environments than the Sportsbook at Caesars Palace. Imagine a colossal space with a wall of TVs stacked, left to right. It’s like seeing everything happening in the sporting world all at once on a movie-theater-size screen. They sit above a counter where tellers take bets. The space also has a very solid bar (which will take your cash, or if you bet enough, drink ticket), and most importantly, a great collection of people from all over watching dozens of sports games at the same time and cheering their heads off.Rodrick Gilbert of RTG MediaFLEX APPEALDragon’s Lair GymRun by bodybuilder Flex Lewis, who won the 212 Mr. Olympia title seven years in a row before retiring in 2022, the Lair is a fitness fanatic’s dream. That’s not just because it has a host of exotic machines (including the Mega Mass row machine and the Rogers Athletic Squat Pro). It’s also the ideal gym for celeb watching: on any given day, you’re likely to see a pro wrestler (we’ve spotted Jade Cargill and Drew McIntyre), influencer (Mike Israetel’s done content there), or bodybuilder (think: Derek Lunsford). It’s a perfect environment to get strong, whether you’re a gym vet or a beginner (you’ll find more beginners there than you think).Courtesy of Pi•LattesLOCAL REC: GET BENTPi.Lattes Community Pilates ClassesWant to hit some Pilates classes while also getting a taste of local culture? Look out for the community-sourced Pi.Lattes classes—held in a different location, with a different vibe, twice a month, hosted by someone in the community. Afterward, there’s a small social event, usually involving coffee, matcha, and all sorts of local wellness vendors. It’s a good—and healthy—respite from a lot of the madness that you can find elsewhere in the city.Lisa JohnsonROCK ONThe Punk Rock MuseumNothing in Vegas is ever boring, and that goes for the museum scene too. The Punk Rock Museum (located between the Strip and Downtown Vegas, near the Arts District) puts 45 years of loud, fast, anti-establishment genre history in one place. You’ll see all sorts of cool keepsakes and tributes to bands you’ve been listening to for decades. Think Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong’s guitar, the couch Kurt Cobain loved passing out on, or a piece of the stage from New York City’s legendary CBGB club. There’s a constant rotation of rock royalty giving tours—past guides include Men’s Health friend and frontman of the Offspring Dexter Holland. In one extremely cool room, you can even pick up and play some of the guitars those bands actually used at their shows. The museum is a project of legendary punk band NOFX’s frontman “Fat Mike” Burkett, and if you’re lucky you may just see him around when you pop in.Courtesy of Stadium SwimSOAKING WET IN THE SKYStadium Swim One of the most unique sports-viewing experiences in the city is at Stadium Swim, located high up on Circa Resort’s rooftop. It’s all in the name here—imagine a beach vibe, but with six different pools, and a 143-foot screen where you can catch the game. There are also several bars, bottle service, and outdoor blackjack, if your heart so desires.Courtesy of Kayak the ColoradoGO WITH THE FLOWKayak the Colorado If you need a reset, it’s only a short drive from the Strip to the Colorado River, where you can paddle through canyon walls with zero slot machines in sight. Take a friend and enjoy the sheer cliffs and some unreal blue-green water—whether you go fully guided or handle it yourself. It’s the easiest way to chill out, move a little, and come back to Vegas feeling recharged and ready for round two.MEATHEAD MODE: DO THE DAM THINGIf you can land a permit, launch right beneath the Hoover Dam—an absurd, Star Wars-level megastructure that hits completely different from the water.Courtesy of The Supercar Experience VIP Las Vegas.VROOM VROOMSupercar Experience On the off-chance you see one of those extremely high-end luxury cars out in the world—think a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or McLaren—you’ll probably have one singular thought: “Damn, that’s cool. Too bad I’ll never drive one.” Except with the Supercar Experience, you can do just that. For a set rate, you can drive your supercar of choice on a guided tour of scenic routes in places like the Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, or even through the Strip. Your heart will probably beat faster in one of these cars than at any blackjack table.Robert MillerTHEN, PARK ITCharlie’s Sports BarCharlie’s is the Wynn’s bar and restaurant that’s directly next to its sportsbook—and it’s a perfect place to grab a table, settle in, and watch their many TVs for a few hours. They’ve got great bar food (think different types of buffalo chicken fingers and boneless tenders, nachos, mozzarella sticks, etc.), a great selection of drinks, and most importantly, great service. If you so desire, your glass won’t ever be empty. Ask for Derrick.George Rose//Getty ImagesTO COOL OFF, GET HIGHMount CharlestonIf you’re looking to feel active and alive, we suggest making your way to Mount Charleston, no matter the season. Located about 40 minutes outside of Las Vegas, temperatures here are always a little cooler than in the city. It’s a great spot for hiking or biking in warmer months or snowboarding and skiing in the winter. If you want to make an afternoon of it, this might be the best spot in the entire state for a picnic.NPS / Andrew CattoirLOCAL REC: SPRING BREAKGold Strike Canyon Hot SpringsA few days in Las Vegas might have you screaming “Serenity now!” Sorry, forgive the Seinfeld reference. But you won’t feel more serene anywhere in town than hiking this trail to the hot springs just outside of the city. Obviously, nice weather is preferred here, but no matter when you go, you’re going to end up with beautiful views of the Colorado River before all is said and done.Cole CurtisHOWDY, BRODustlandTrade the lights for some boots and hit up this ’70s-Western-inspired bar and hangout spot located in the Arts District. The joint features one of the only vintage photo booths in Las Vegas, a seasonally rotating cocktail menu, and a curated selection of beers. On weekends, guests can enjoy live music or karaoke, making it an ideal place for a low-key evening or to kick off a night out. The vibes are A+ all the time.Courtesy of In N OutTHE HANGOVERIn-N-Out You probably already know this one, but that doesn’t make it any less of a staple. It’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s delicious. They’re some of the best fast-food burgers in the world, especially if you layer on some of the free banana peppers. If you can handle spice, it makes a great thing that much better. LOCAL REC: CLAY DATEImperial SpaThere are a lot of fantastic spas on-site at the biggest hotels on the Strip—the Wynn, the Venetian, and Caesars are all lovely and treat you like royalty. But if you head off the Strip to the Imperial Spa, you can find a truly unique experience: the Red Clay Sauna and Beds. Your body will thank you later.©JOSE SALINAS MEDIA all rights reserved. Courtesy of Sorry Not Sorry Creamery.THE LAS VEGAS MAN Jeff, 32, broadcaster A sports and betting fanatic, Jeff has lived in Las Vegas since 2019 and knows as much about the local culinary scene as anyone. His picks lean away from the Strip and toward deeper cuts.Herbs and Rye: A classic on Sahara, fun atmosphere, great cocktails. Steaks always on happy hour pricing!Golden Tiki: Another Vegas classic, a tiki bar in Chinatown! Great happy hour, great drinks, and if you get lucky you may even sit in Bull Shit Corner!Al Solito Posto: Italian classics in Summerlin, great food, great vibes, great cocktails.China Mama: They’ve expanded across the Las Vegas Valley with their great Chinese food.Sorry Not Sorry Creamery: The viral sensation with multiple locations across the Las Vegas Valley. SNS has the best ice cream in the city; get the OG Buttercake.Evan is the culture editor for Men's Health, with bylines in The New York Times, MTV News, Brooklyn Magazine, and VICE. He loves weird movies, watches too much TV, and listens to music more often than he doesn't.