Casino hotels dominate the Las Vegas skyline and inside they are just as jaw-dropping, with theatres, clubs, art, restaurants, malls and even the odd gondola ride, writes John Katsilometes
Red Rock Resort
Off the Strip by several miles and closer to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Red Rock Casino Resort is a property of Station Casinos, which made its mark in Vegas by appealing to those who actually live there. But Red Rock is as fancy and decadent as any on the Strip, with a masculine design of crimson and burnt orange and a chain of more than 3.1m Swarovski and Preciosa crystals (measuring 99 miles) hanging throughout the resort. During the summer, Red Rock opened a 7,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre, and its pool concert series is one of the most popular of its kind in the city.
1011 West Charleston, +1 702 797 7777, redrocklasvegas.com, doubles from $130
Aria at CityCenter
Photograph: Gene Blevins/LA Daily News/Corbis
The centrepiece of the 67-acre CityCenter, Aria is where you play it big in Vegas. There are 4,004 guest rooms, and that doesn’t count the theatre where Elvis still lives, in the Cirque du Soleil production Viva Elvis. The vast, dark-wood-designed hotel and casino is filled with water features, including fountains that greet guests at the porte-cochère. Public art is heavily featured: guests at reception are met with artist Maya Lin’s Silver River sculpture, which greatly resembles … well, a silver river. Aria is home to more than 16 restaurants, including those operated by star chefs Michael Mina (American Fish) and Masayoshi Takayama (Bar Masa and Shaboo).
3730 Las Vegas Boulevard, +1 702 590 7111, arialasvegas.com, doubles from $129
Bellagio
Bellagio, Las Vegas.
One of the big “wow” events in recent Vegas history was the opening of Bellagio, which ushered in the era of the “mega-resort” in October 1998. The splashy Fountains at Bellagio water show at the front of the hotel, envisioned by hotel founder Steve Wynn, continues to halt traffic on the Strip. Inside, the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens change with the seasons. Looming at the registration desk is a glass sculpture designed by the artist Dale Chihuly. The resort is home to the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, also a Wynn vision. In the 40-table poker room hangs a painting by LeRoy Neiman, titled simply (and appropriately) The Game.
3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South, +1 702 693 7111, bellagio.com, doubles from $149
Wynn Encore
Photograph: Eric Kabik/Corbis
Encore opened as a twin to the equally giant Wynn in late-2008, and the two properties represent Steve Wynn’s greatest hits: fantastic restaurants, an interior design of canopies and coffered ceilings that bring to mind the effects of Bellagio. Upon opening, the resort threw a stack of cash and the use of a private jet to country music superstar Garth Brooks, booking his one-man show in the theatre next to Le Rêve. Appropriately, those shows meet in the middle of these hotels. For outdoor entertainment, try the Encore Beach Club, which sits nearly atop the Strip and is one of the finest pool clubs in town.
Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Boulevard South, +1 702 770 7000. Wynn Encore Hotel, 3121 Las Vegas Boulevard South, +1 702 770 8000, wynnlasvegas.com, doubles from $189
Venetian-Palazzo
Photograph: Alamy
Gondoliers steer you through the Venetian, welcoming guests to the waterway that cuts through a replica of St Mark’s Square. Strolling performers sing operatic tunes, and it is all played out in a winding, pedestrian retail centre known as the Grand Canal Shops. The Venetian opened in May 1999, followed in 2007 by the Palazzo next door. Some of the city’s great shows and restaurants are here: Jersey Boys, Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular and the Blue Man Group. Lagasse’s Stadium at Palazzo is one of the city’s finest sports books, the only place in the city where you can find a man watching sport in the jersey of his favourite team, shouting at a big screen and devouring a banana creme pie dessert conceived by Lagasse himself.
Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South, +1 702 414 1000, venetian.com. Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino, 3325 Las Vegas Boulevard South, +1 702 607 7777, palazzo.com, doubles from $169
Caesars Palace
Photograph: Ethan Miller/Reuters/Corbis
Caesars opened in 1966, has been known as one of the last standing haunts of the Rat Pack, the site of some of the greatest prizefights in history, and the spot where daredevil Evel Knievel went tea-over-teakettle in a 1967 motorcycle leap. These days, the stars are Celine Dion, Elton John and Rod Stewart. All take the stage at various times at the 4,100-seat Colosseum. Another popular show is Absinthe, held in a big white tent in the hotel’s Roman Plaza, near its entrance. One of the city’s first Strip retail centres, the Forum Shops, remains an ideal place to fling your credit card or put that blackjack hot streak to good use.
3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South, +1 702 731 7110, caesarspalace.com, doubles from $179
Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan Hotel, Las Vegas.
If the Mirage launched the mega-resort era in Vegas, the Cosmopolitan seems to be its bookend. Built next to CityCenter, the resort stacks 2,995 rooms – the majority of which offer terraces and views of the Strip. Tucked into the Marquee nightclub, a three-storey party space, is an enclave known as the Library, where guests shoot pool and read Vegas-centric books, The signature gathering spot is the Chandelier bar, a bedazzled, multi-decked haven of hobnobbing. A pizzeria called, simply, Pizzeria, sits down an unmarked hallway, giving the impression you sort of have to know somebody to find the place. The concert and party centre, Boulevard Pool, is positioned high above the Strip.
3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South, +1 702 698 7000, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com, doubles from $160
Mandarin Oriental
Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas.
Perhaps the coolest floor in all of Vegas is the 23rd at the Mandarin Oriental, where the Mandarin Bar overlooks the Strip on one end and Pierre Gagnaire’s Twist looks out from the other. This is a non-gaming hotel, it has no grand theatre or any sort of resident production show or headliner. But it is one chic spot, with live jazz playing from the Mandarin Bar and visitors reclining in the lounge next to the reception. Yes, that is on the 23rd floor, too, a spot called the Sky Lobby. The hotel provides one of the great escapes in Las Vegas, a 27,000sqft.
3752 Las Vegas Boulevard South, +1 702 590 8888, mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas, doubles from $195
Mandalay Bay
Photograph: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Laden with deeply coloured floor tiling in its valet entrance and a uniquely curious fragrance that hints at citrus, Mandalay Bay is a genuine mega-resort with 3,300 rooms, and filled with an array of entertainment venues. The 12,000-seat Mandalay Bay Events Center hosts boxing and mixed-martial arts events, the House of Blues features emerging and contemporary pop acts. Upstairs two venues provide terrific views of the Strip: the cozy, pop art-laden Foundation Room and MIX restaurant and nightclub. Shark Reef, the watery walking park filled with sharks and other exotic, aquatic creatures, is the quintessential fun-for-the-entire-family attraction.
2950 Las Vegas Boulevard South, +1 702 632 7777, mandalaybay.com, doubles from $130
Mirage
Photograph: Alamy
The Mirage can often be overlooked these days, as more gargantuan resorts have sprouted since it’s breathtaking opening in 1989. Siegfried & Roy once performed here, and these days the Beatles (with the Cirque du Soleil production Love) and a master ventriloquist (theatre headliner Terry Fator) rule the entertainment scene. Inside, the casino floor is shrouded in tropical surroundings. Guests walk through a glass atrium that lets the sun shine in, hearing the soothing sounds of a waterfall over the action at the casino. Mirage has been upgraded to keep pace with its taller competition, and is still one of the city’s major players on the Strip.
3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South, +1 702 791 7111, mirage.com, doubles from $60
The 8 Best Casino Hotels in Las Vegas
When visiting Sin City, why take a gamble on your accommodations? Double down with the eight best casino hotels in Las Vegas.
I’m standing outside The Bellagio watching more than 1,000 fountains gracefully dance in choreographed unison, waving along with the sounds of classical music as they shoot up 460 feet against the Las Vegas skyline. Suddenly, I get it. Sure, Vegas has seen its fair share of criticisms – it’s crowded, it’s crass, it plays to our lowest common denominator. But even the most jaded of visitors to the tourist-packed Sin City street would find it hard to deny the presence of sheer magic in the air.
As the self-described “Entertainment Capital of the World,” one of Earth’s most-visited tourism destinations attracts crowds for an infinite number of reasons, from buttoned-up business conventions to booze-fueled bachelor parties. But no matter what brings you here or which Cirque du Soleil show you are waiting on to start, everyone at some point sits down to place a bet. When gambling is a top priority on your trip, here are eight of the best casino resorts to book in Las Vegas.
Join the Daily Poker Tournaments at The Mirage
One of the first mega hotels on the Vegas street isn’t here to blow you away with over-the-top gimmicks or superfluous glamour. The 3,044-room AAA Four Diamond resort has been one of the top hotels on Vegas since it was built by Steve Wynn in 1989, with a classy old-school Vegas vibe that remains lively without being overly annoying.
Famous for long hosting one of the top poker rooms in Vegas, The Mirage‘s 100,000 square feet of gaming space includes a massive sports book, equipped with 85-foot HD projection screens, and themed slots such as Iron Man and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. After wandering the casino floor to get a lay of the land, saddle up to the 25-table poker room and try your hand at seven-card stud or join in on the daily No Limit Texas Hold’Em tournaments.
Lodgings range from tastefully decorated standard rooms to absurd three-bedroom villas with 24-hour personal chefs and butler service. Check out the nightly volcano eruption shows outside the casino, before heading over to Tom Colicchio’s Heritage Steak for dinner and capping the night with a performance of The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil. If you’re feeling adventurous, wander over to the adults-only Bare Pool Lounge for some “European-style sunbathing” and live DJs.
Highlights
Screen Time
The hotel’s sports book features 85-foot HD projection screens.
Find Love
The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil performs regularly.
The Mirage Hotel & Casino
Rated 4 stars out of 5
Top rated
Las Vegas
8.5 Excellent (54483 reviews)
Sip Scotch at the High Roller Table at The Bellagio
Inspired by the gorgeous Italian lakefront town of Bellagio and memorialized in the 2001 heist film Oceans Eleven, The Bellagio has long been synonymous with luxury in Las Vegas. However, it’s not just the world-famous fountains, the on-site art gallery or the hotel’s lush botanical gardens that make this hotel one of the top choices in Las Vegas.
The Bellagio’s sprawling 116,000 square feet of gaming space (roughly the size of two football fields) hosts one of the best gaming floors in Vegas, its sexy 40-table poker room a haven for pro players and World Poker Tour showdowns. You can also sip rare vintage Scotch while rolling the dice in the opulent Art Deco Club Prime high limit lounge, or pick out a winner amidst the hotel’s 2,300 slot machines.
Rooms are noted for their beauty and elegance, with accommodations ranging from simple yet luxurious hotel rooms to ultra-ritzy invite-only villas. When you’re done dominating the craps table like Danny Ocean, toast your winning with a fancy French feast at a table overlooking the fountains at the AAA Five Diamond Le Cirque. The next day, kick back at the Mediterranean-styled The Pool at the Bellagio Hotel for a more laid-back take on the typical Vegas pool party rager.
Highlights
Poker Face
The hotel’s opulent poker room is a haven for pro players.
Garden Party
In addition to the world-famous fountains, the hotel also boasts its own art gallery and botanical gardens.
Bellagio
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Top rated
Las Vegas
8.8 Excellent (44136 reviews)
Escape into Nature at Red Rock Casino Resort
Perched near the base of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, about 10 minutes west of the street, the 5-star Red Rock Casino Resort is the most criminally overlooked of all Las Vegas casino hotels. Take a break from the endless noise of the street and get back to nature, overlooking stunning sandstone canyons and picturesque red-hued mountains from the comfort of your room.
Gamblers will find a more intimate environment for planning a date with lady luck. Instead of getting lost in a maze of massive gaming floors, Red Rock offers a more manageable layout of 20 poker tables and 16 blackjack tables, along with baccarat, craps, roulette, bingo and a chic VIP high limit table games lounge. With 2,700 slot machines and a 200-TV-strong sports book, the resort is also known by locals as one of the best hotels for slots and video poker in Vegas.
Accommodations include chic, modern hotel rooms and opulent Grand Villa Suites. Play some poolside blackjack at the Sandbar Pool, see some live music at the on-site Rocks Lounge, or carve into some USDA Prime steak at T-Bones Chophouse. There’s even a 72-lane bowling alley with “cosmic” bowling on weekends for those who want a little fun without having to suffer through another cookie-cutter, eardrum-bursting Vegas nightclub experience.
Highlights
Rock Out
Enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and canyons of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
Get Bowled Over
The hotel includes its own 72-lane bowling alley with “cosmic” bowling on weekends.
Red Rock Casino Resort
Rated 5 stars out of 5
Top rated
Las Vegas
9.0 Excellent (4610 reviews)
Play Blackjack by The Pool at Encore at Wynn
Together with the adjacent Wynn Las Vegas, Encore at Wynn is one of the largest and most opulent hotels in Vegas. Located on a quieter stretch of the street(north of most Vegas mega resorts) with all guests at the newer 2,034-room Encore given access to the full suite of amenities at the main 2,716-room Wynn, the combined resort claims the most five-star awards of any independent hotel in the world.
With an almost incomprehensible 263,000 square feet of gaming space between the two hotels, Encore’s gaming floor is a bit more laid-back and is home to the Wynn’s legendarily posh 28-table poker room. The hotel also boasts one of the widest varieties of table games and slots, in addition to a high limit gaming pavilion at its always-happening Encore Beach Club pool.
Rooms and suites are among the biggest on the street, unfurling excellent views of the skyline and mountains from as high as 48 stories. While the resort also includes its own shopping complex and 18-hole championship golf course, Encore’s most well known attraction is its massive 40,000-square foot XS Nightclub. Regarded as one of the world’s top clubs, it features a 10-foot rotating chandelier amidst an otherworldly assemblage of 10,000 lights set to pounding EDM music.