Best restaurants near Resorts World Catskills (off-property)
If you’re looking for off-property dining near Resorts World Catskills, most top choices are actually on the resort campus: Cellaio (Italian/steak), Lotus (Chinese/Asian), Dos Gatos Cantina (Mexican), The Catskills Bistro (all-day comfort food), Good Friends (Asian street food) and the RW Food Hall cover the spectrum from formal dinner to grab-and-go. Reservations are recommended for table-service restaurants like Cellaio and Lotus; casual spots take walk-ins.
In this guide
- Quick overview: on-campus options just outside the gaming floor
- Best spot for a steak or formal dinner: Cellaio
- Asian choices: Lotus for fine dining, Good Friends for casual
- Casual, 24-hour and family-friendly picks
- Where to go for drinks or late-night energy
- Practical tips for dining at Resorts World Catskills
Quick overview: on-campus options just outside the gaming floor
Resorts World Catskills groups most of its dining within the resort complex, so when people ask about 'off-property' restaurants nearby, many of the easiest and closest choices are the resort’s own venues. These include Cellaio, Lotus, Dos Gatos Cantina, The Catskills Bistro, Good Friends and RW Food Hall.
Several venues welcome guests under 21 (dining and pool access are available to all ages), but remember the casino floor, Bar 360 and Butterfly Beach Bar have 21+ access rules.
- Cellaio — Italian steakhouse (dinner service on specified nights).
- Lotus — Chinese/Asian fine dining (dinner most evenings).
- Dos Gatos Cantina — Mexican cantina with outdoor lawn space and happy hour.
- The Catskills Bistro — All-day American comfort food; 24-hour service Fri–Sat.
- Good Friends — Casual Asian street-food kiosk; long daily hours.
- RW Food Hall — Grab-and-go coffee and quick bites.
| Venue | Typical Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cellaio | Dinner | Reservations recommended; specific weeknight hours |
| Lotus | Dinner | Fine-dining style; accepts reservations via OpenTable |
| The Catskills Bistro | Breakfast / All-day / Late night | 24-hour Fri–Sat |
| Good Friends | Lunch & Dinner | Self-serve kiosk for quick meals |
| RW Food Hall | Grab-and-go / Coffee | Morning through late evening |
Best spot for a steak or formal dinner: Cellaio
Cellaio is Resorts World Catskills’ Italian-inspired steakhouse and the property’s primary choice for a higher-end dinner. The menu emphasizes steak and Italian preparations curated by Celebrity Chef Scott Conant.
Cellaio’s listed hours are limited to dinner on select days (Wed–Thu evenings, Fri–Sat later, Sun evening); the resort site lists a phone for the restaurant. Reservations are recommended for busy nights and weekend service.
- Cuisine: Italian steakhouse, house-made pasta, raw bar and salads
- Typical service: Dinner only on specified evenings
- Reservation tip: Call the resort dining line or Cellaio’s listed phone
| Day | Typical Hours | Reservation |
|---|---|---|
| Wed–Thu | Dinner (listed start 5:00 p.m.) | Recommended |
| Fri–Sat | Dinner (later hours listed) | Recommended |
| Sun | Dinner (evening) | Recommended |
Asian choices: Lotus for fine dining, Good Friends for casual
Lotus is the resort’s fine-dining Chinese/Asian restaurant; it’s presented as an elegant dinner option and accepts reservations through OpenTable. Hours on the resort listings show evening service most nights with later weekend hours.
Good Friends is the casual counter-service option offering street-food–style dishes across Chinese, Vietnamese, Hong Kong and Malaysian influences. It’s aimed at quick, made-to-order meals and stays open late.
- Lotus — dinner service, reservation-friendly, fine-dining setting
- Good Friends — self-serve kiosk, noodle soups and quick bowls, long hours
- Both venues welcome guests under 21 (the casino floor rules differ)
| Venue | Service Style | Hours (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Lotus | Table service / fine dining | Dinner most evenings; later on Fri–Sat |
| Good Friends | Counter / kiosk | Open daily with late-night hours |
Casual, 24-hour and family-friendly picks
The Catskills Bistro provides breakfast, all-day comfort food, a late-night menu and Sunday brunch. It’s one of the resort’s most family-friendly options and operates 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays, which is useful for late arrivals or families with varied schedules.
If you want quick coffee or grab-and-go items, use the RW Food Hall. Dos Gatos Cantina adds a more relaxed Mexican option with an adjoining outdoor space that hosts live music and lawn games during happy hour on Fridays and Saturdays.
- The Catskills Bistro — all-day menu; 24/7 on Fri–Sat; family-friendly
- RW Food Hall — coffee, sandwiches, quick snacks for grab-and-go
- Dos Gatos Cantina — casual Mexican with outdoor lawn events during certain happy hours
| Venue | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Catskills Bistro | All-day meals, breakfast, late night | 24-hour service Fri–Sat |
| RW Food Hall | Quick coffee and snacks | Grab-and-go |
| Dos Gatos Cantina | Casual dinners and outdoor happy hour | Outdoor activities Fri–Sat happy hour |
Where to go for drinks or late-night energy
If you want a lively bar atmosphere, Bar 360 sits inside the Sportsbook 360 and is open all day. Empire Lounge is near the hotel lobby and follows a speakeasy-style cocktail program; it’s open most afternoons and late into the night.
Butterfly Beach Bar overlooks the indoor pool atrium and operates on a restricted schedule (closed some weekdays and open later on weekends). Note that some bar areas and the casino floor require guests to be 21 or older.
- Bar 360 — sports bar environment; open all day; 21+ for entry to the sportsbook area
- Empire Lounge — lobby cocktail lounge; open afternoons into the night
- Butterfly Beach Bar — poolside cocktail bar with weekend hours; 21+ access on certain days
| Bar | Typical Hours | Age restriction |
|---|---|---|
| Bar 360 | Open all day | 21+ to enter sportsbook area |
| Empire Lounge | 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. (resort listing) | 21+ to drink |
| Butterfly Beach Bar | Closed Mon–Thu; open Fri–Sun (times vary) | 21+ to enter |
Practical tips for dining at Resorts World Catskills
Hours and service patterns change; the resort site and individual restaurant listings note that hours are 'subject to change.' If you have time-sensitive plans (concerts at the RW Epicenter, spa appointments at Awana Spa, or late arrivals), call ahead to confirm hours and make reservations.
Dining reservation help is available via the resort dining/reservations line. Remember that some venues restrict entry by age (casino bars and certain bars are 21+), while most table-service and casual dining venues admit guests of all ages.
- Reservations: recommended for Cellaio and Lotus; useful for weekend dining.
- Age policy: dining venues listed as open to under-21 guests include Cellaio, Lotus, The Catskills Bistro, Dos Gatos, Good Friends and RW Food Hall.
- Check before you go: weekend and event nights can change hours.
| What to check | Why |
|---|---|
| Restaurant hours | They vary by day and can change for events |
| Reservation policy | Table-service venues may fill up on concert or event nights |
| Age restrictions | Casino and some bars are 21+ even though restaurants often allow families |
