Las Vegas Strip Loses Another Buffet as Luxor Confirms March Closure

^{By next month, the unique, memorable Luxor experience will no longer include a buffet. (Image: courtesy if Two Forks and a Passport)}

The Las Vegas Strip will lose another buffet, with MGM confirming the Luxor will close theirs on March 30.

Although the all-you-can-eat feasts were once a staple of Las Vegas casinos, but they have seen a steady decline in recent years. At the start of this year, just eight remained on the Strip, and that was replicated Downtown where only one is left. 

Casinos.com's Guide to Las Vegas Casino Buffets (with Hours and Prices)

MGM Resorts did not provide any specific reason behind their decision to close the Luxor buffet, but a spokesman said: "The company is constantly evaluating properties to meet consumer preferences and align with larger market trends."

Those trends should not really come as a huge surprise to anyone either. Although the closures started during the Covid pandemic as a safety precaution, the truth is casino execs had long since started re-examining the cost efficiency of buffets. 

The Covid pandemic, and the phased reopening of Las Vegas following the 78-day shutdown, gave them a chance to start quietly removing them. 

Covid Killed the Casino Buffet?

Some never reopened, including previously impressive culinary spreads at Mandalay Bay and Mirage. 

However, while Covid was blamed, increased public awareness and interest in nutrition and health were already having an impact on the popularity of the buffet. 

MGM have not said what they will do with the sprawling space beneath the casino floor which houses the buffet, although it is expected to be used for a new food court. Their current one, which is small and has Johnny Rockets, Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs, and Bonanno’s Pizza among others, is relatively small and a little out of the way on the Mezzanine Level. 

Moving it downstairs to the buffet space would guarantee more direct footfall from casino players as well as allow for a bigger area with more options and seating. 

What will be especially interesting to see, though, regardless of what Luxor do with the space, is whether the theming survives. 

Luxor has largely survived the de-theming of Las Vegas casino resorts because, frankly, when you’re a giant pyramid with a sphinx outside, you are married to ancient Egypt whether you want to be or not. 

Even then, though, while obelisks and statues have remained inside, original details like the boat ride from the barge-themed reception to elevators are very much a thing of the past now. 

The buffet space has a huge amount of Egyptian theming and it was something that definitely made it stand out from the rest. Hopefully that theming will survive any renovation of the space, but few will be expecting it to. 

Nearby Buffet Alternatives: South Strip

If you are considering staying at Luxor and trying a buffet, you will still have a couple of options nearby. 

Right next door, in fact, Excalibur has a really nice budget buffet to enjoy. It is far from high-end, and doesn’t have evening opening, but it’s good value – especially Monday to Thursday at $31.99. The Excalibur buffet is open daily, 7am to 2pm. 

Another option is MGM Grand, which is a little further away but still easily walkable. While the prices and opening times are similar, the buffet is probably not quite the same quality in my experience. 

For a full list of Las Vegas casino buffets, opening times, and approximate cost, see our full guide.