This Retro Las Vegas Steakhouse Was One Of Elvis' All-Time Favorites

When it comes to the "Golden Age," mid-century Las Vegas is right up there with Old Hollywood and France's Belle Époque. And perhaps no eatery sums it up better than a certain steakhouse on Sahara Drive. Opened in 1958, the Golden Steer embodies an era when Vegas was all about Rat Pack glamour, moody lighting, extra-stiff martinis, and steaks meant to be savored in red leather booths with a lounge singer nearby. Yes, Sinatra loved the spot, and Marilyn Monroe definitely had a champagne cocktail there once or twice. But the crown of the steakhouse really goes to the King. That is, Elvis Presley, who performed frequently in Las Vegas during the height of his career. The restaurant quickly became a favorite refuge of his. Presley was a regular at the Golden Steer during his Vegas residencies in the late 1960s and early '70s. 

According to restaurant lore and long-time staff accounts, he favored private, late-night visits, often arriving after his shows. It makes sense why this was one of Elvis Presley's favorite restaurants in the U.S.: it was discreet, offered old-school hospitality, and portions big enough for his renowned appetite. The menu has changed little over the decades, and that's part of the draw. Thick-cut steaks are the headline, but so is the chicken cacciatore and famous caesar salad, prepared tableside. Of course, the Steer also features that old-school steakhouse side of a baked potato, simlpy labeled "Vegas' Largest Baked Potato" on the menu.

The restaurant feels like a time capsule in the best way. Dark wood paneling, dim lighting, white tablecloths, and tuxedoed servers await your every move. Many of the circular booths are dedicated to their past patrons: Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joe DiMaggio, mobsters, and former mayors — all reinforcing the sense that you're dining inside a piece of Vegas history. In fact, many of the dinner scenes in the quintessential mobster movie "Casino" were reenactments of what went down at the Steer in the '70s. But for Elvis Presley, the Steer wasn't about mob deals or meeting celebs. It was about ritual and comfort. After the intensity of his performances at the International Hotel nearby, it makes sense he would gravitate toward places that felt familiar, where the service was respectful, the martinis were extra-dirty, and the burgers were custom-made from filet trimmings. 

In a city built on constant reinvention, the Golden Steer endures by standing still. As the oldest continually operating steakhouse in Las Vegas, its connection to Presley isn't just a footnote, but a reminder of a time when Vegas was smaller, crazier, and fueled by the same indulgences that made both the restaurant and the King so iconic. Even today, booth 4 is named in his honor, not as a flashy shrine, but a quiet tribute. And if you're lucky enough to be in Sin City this year, the restaurant is celebrating the King's 90th birthday all year long.