Bouchon Bakery

Bouchon Bakery brings chef Thomas Keller's take on the French bakery to the Strip, and it is one of the best places on Las Vegas Boulevard for a proper breakfast pastry or an afternoon treat. It is inside The Venetian Resort and is part of the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group.

The bakery is known for its artisanal breads and traditional French desserts. The counter offers handmade viennoiserie, confections, pastries, tarts and cookies, and the selection changes through the day, so the best choice is usually first thing in the morning. Sandwiches and salads are made in house every day, including a classic bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich, which makes the bakery a good option for a light lunch as well as breakfast. Muffins, including a pistachio version, are among the items regularly on display.

The coffee is taken as seriously as the baking. Espresso drinks and coffee are custom-blended for Keller by his longtime partner Equator Coffees and served year-round, so you can pair a croissant or a tart with a well-made cappuccino. Many visitors take their pastries to go and eat them as they explore the resort.

The bakery is open daily from 6am to 5pm, which makes it handy for an early start before a day trip to the Hoover Dam or Red Rock Canyon. Expect a queue at peak breakfast times, especially at weekends. It suits couples, families and solo travellers looking for a quality breakfast without sitting down to a full restaurant meal. Prices are higher than at an ordinary café, reflecting the name and the location, but lower than a sit-down brunch on the Strip.

If you are planning a picnic or a long drive into the desert, the sandwiches and baked goods travel well, so you can pick up lunch here before setting off.

The Venetian is on the central Strip, and Sphere is just to the east, linked to the resort complex by a pedestrian bridge. That makes the bakery a convenient stop before or after a show, and the shops and restaurants of the resort are all close by. If you are staying elsewhere, it is an easy walk along the Strip from the neighbouring resorts, and taxis and ride-shares drop off at the resort entrances.