Las Vegas Strip buffets drop to only 4 as luxury dining takes over

The days of bargain kiosks aimed at attracting Las Vegas gamblers are coming to an end, but there are a few notable exceptions.

“Buffets bring people in,” said Michael Gaughan, owner of the South Point hotel and casino. Wall StreetJournal. “They get their money’s worth and they stay around and play.”

South Point loses between $1.5 million and $2 million a month, but its buffet draws about 3,000 people a day, according to the publication.

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The casino’s breakfast, which includes two bloody marys, is $16.95 for members. The prime rib and champagne brunch, including two mimosas, starts at $32.95. The prime rib dinner buffet includes peel-and-eat shrimp and costs $37.95, or $32.95 for members.

People start lining up before noon for Seafood Night, which starts at 3 p.m. on Friday, the Journal reported. It includes prime rib and includes two glasses of wine, red sangria or draft beer for $57.95, or $52.95 with club discount. The lunch buffet is $22.95 for members and $26.95 for non-members.

Budget hotel Circus Circus also offers a budget buffet. It bills its offerings as “classic Las Vegas fare with something for everyone.” The buffet starts at $19.95 and usually operates Friday through Sunday.

Excalibur Hotel’s weekday brunch is $32.99 for adults and $18.99 for children. Brunch price increases slightly on Fridays. Mimosa brunch is available on Saturday and Sunday and costs $43.99 per adult.

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Circus Circus manages to turn a monthly profit of $50,000 to $80,000 during the summer season through crafty tactics, including using prime rib not ordered from the hotel steakhouse in the buffet casserole, the Journal found.

Las Vegas’ famous buffets have fallen victim to the Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing requirements and a trend of affluent visitors seeking high-end restaurants, according to the publication.

Some more affordable Vegas buffets include bloody marys and champagne in their breakfast and brunch offerings. (iStock)

There were more than a dozen traditional Vegas buffets on the Strip in 2020, the Journal reported. Now only four remain.

Unlike many Strip resorts, budget casinos rely heavily on repeat local customers and value-conscious gamblers, making cheap buffets an effective way to increase casino traffic.

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Meanwhile, luxury buffets are booming in Las Vegas. Caesars’ Bacchanal buffet ($87 and up) and Wynn buffet ($80 per person for dinner) often have long wait lines, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Luxury travel expert Whytney Rawls told Fox News Digital that the city’s economy has fundamentally changed.

“Gaming was once the most important source of income,” Rawls said. “Today, a much larger share comes from premium room rates, fine dining, nightlife, entertainment, retail and large-scale events.”

The number of traditional Las Vegas buffets on the Strip dropped from a dozen to just four in 2020. (iStock)

While the city was once a playground for casual travelers, these days many visitors struggle to justify the entrance fee, Fox News Digital previously reported.

The city is turning more towards luxury hotels, celebrity chef restaurants, stadium weekends and expensive events, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), the number of visitors to Las Vegas in 2025 dropped 7.5% from 2024 to 38.5 million. In 2024, visitors generated a record $55.1 billion in direct spending.

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There is a new demographic. By 2024, 64% of visitors earned $100,000 or more, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

By 2025, the market was even higher. Data showed 44% of visitors earned $150,000 or more, News 3 Las Vegas reported.

Fox News Digital’s Jessica Mekles contributed reporting.