The counters in Las Vegas worth queuing for: bread, pastry, and the morning ritual.
Bakery counters in Las Vegas worth queuing for: levain breads, laminated pastry, regional bakes and the morning ritual.
Suzuya Patisserie in Las Vegas is the Japanese-style bakery on Buffalo Drive since 2012, a family-owned counter for Japanese cakes, crepes, sandos and coffee with a Chinatown branch.
Tip: The strawberry shortcake is the signature; the Chinatown branch on Spring Mountain runs shorter hours but is closer to the Strip.
Worth the queue: Strawberry shortcake
Bouchon Bakery at the Venetian in Las Vegas is Thomas Keller's pastry counter, a French-American patisserie with viennoiserie and sandwiches that has run since 2004.
Tip: Pain au chocolat are best before 10am; the TKO chocolate-cream sandwich is Keller's most reordered counter item.
Worth the queue: Pain au chocolat and TKO (Thomas Keller Oreo)
Freed's Bakery in Las Vegas is the Anderson family's third-generation Eastern Avenue bakery since 1959, a Brooklyn-rooted shop for custom cakes and strawberry shortcake.
Tip: Same-day cakes available; the strawberry shortcake by the slice runs $9 at the counter and has not changed in fifty years.
Worth the queue: Strawberry shortcake
Berry Cakes in Las Vegas is the all-vegan bakery on South Arville, a counter for vegan cinnamon rolls, cupcakes and savoury hand pies, plus a small breakfast and coffee menu.
Tip: Cinnamon rolls run hot from 10:00 to noon; the savoury hand pies are the only hot-food option late afternoon.
Worth the queue: Vegan cinnamon roll
The Cupcakery in Las Vegas is the long-running suburban cupcake counter since 2005, the city's first dedicated cupcake bakery with named flavours and weekend custom orders.
Tip: The Boy Next Door (vanilla bean) is the consistent best-seller; the seasonal flavours rotate monthly and sell out by closing.
Worth the queue: Boy Next Door cupcake
VegeNation Bakery in Las Vegas is the downtown Carson Avenue vegan bakery counter, a sister to chef Donald Lemperle's VegeNation restaurant with vegan croissants and breads.
Tip: The vegan croissant programme runs Friday to Sunday; weekday pastry counter is more sandwich-focused.
Worth the queue: Vegan croissant
Ronald's Donuts in Las Vegas is the Spring Mountain Chinatown donut shop since 1980, the city's most beloved vegan donut counter (the vegan menu marked clearly) plus traditional fryer items.
Tip: Most of the menu is accidentally vegan; the marked vegan section is bigger than the rest. Sells out by 12:00 most days.
Worth the queue: Vegan glazed donut
Le Paris French Bakery in Henderson is the traditional French bakery on Eastern Avenue, a viennoiserie and patisserie counter with almond croissants, pain au chocolat and macarons.
Tip: Closed Mondays; the almond croissants run only on weekends and sell out by 11:00.
Worth the queue: Almond croissant
Peak food season in Las Vegas is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Las Vegas rewards trust.