Temptations in downtown Vegas

Provided to China Daily

The place tends to be noisy, and that's by design. The ceilings are high, the tables are spread out, and there is no WiFi, to encourage diners to interact with each other.

Now, however, downtown Vegas is starting to cohere into the city's first traditional neighborhood. Within the past 12 months, a critical mass of boutique restaurants has moved downtown - a novelty in an area long dominated by the Heart Attack Grill, where people who weigh over 160 kilograms eat free.

Visitors wary of the wait at Young's restaurant can walk a few blocks south to MTO, which serves fresh comfort food in a brightly lit space. Or they can amble north toward the touristy Fremont Street, where the Rat Pack once gambled, and check out Wild, a whimsical gluten-free pizza and salad place that is much more delectable than you might think. A block away, Le Thai offers addictive, spicy Thai food in a tiny space.

Wild and Eat were both funded by the Downtown Project, which is remaking the once-derelict heart of Las Vegas with funding from Zappo's CEO Tony Hsieh.

The project also is responsible for a new park built out of shipping containers opposite Eat. One of the containers is home to Pinches Tacos, arguably the city's best Mexican food.

But no matter where you eat, the Container Park is an appealing after-meal destination. It offers beer, wine and giant twirling slides for adults as well as kids.

This is still Vegas, after all.

Associated Press