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The best hotels in Las Vegas for a 2023 getaway
Rising like a neon oasis from the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas is loud and delightfully glitzy – it's also home to some of the world's most fantastical hotels
From the colossus Caesars Palace, the grandaddy of The Strip, New York, New York with its giant rollercoaster, and The Venetian, which brings the Grand Canals of Venice to the desert, complete with gondolas – Las Vegas is the most fun city in the US and should be experienced at least once in a lifetime.
While gambling and entertainment are very much the focus, it's not to say there's a dearth of culture in this desert city. Catch a touring exhibition in the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, witness works by Dali, Picasso and Warhol in the Martin Lawrence Galleries in Caesars Palace, or visit Art Square in Las Vegas Arts District, a clutch of modern art galleries and performance spaces.
Of course, Las Vegas is not the only attraction in the Nevada desert. Venture out from The Strip to find dramatic canyons, winding rivers and spectacular state parks to explore. It's also a launch pad for exploring the Grand Canyon.
From the dancing fountains of the Bellagio to the stylish suites in the Nobu, we've cherry picked some of the best hotels in Las Vegas.
Bellagio
Home of the famous dancing fountains, Cirque du Soleil and glitzy, gilt-edged casinos by the dozen, the Bellagio is everything you could possibly want from a flashy Las Vegas hotel. Inspired by the villages of Europe – the vast lobby oozes marble-laced Italian glamour – this vast hotel has a huge pool area with private cabanas, pool bars and a spa, and even a modern art gallery.
An opulent sprawl set around a lake, the Bellagio has some 4,000 rooms, all spacious and elegantly decorated, with views over the fountains or the gardens. Dine out on buffets fit for an emperor or enjoy fine dining at Picasso under the gaze of the Spanish artist's great works.
NoMad Las Vegas
A burgeoning trend on the luxury hotel scene is offering a hotel within a hotel. The NoMad Las Vegas is one such place, found within the sprawling Park MGM hotel on The Strip. The NoMad brings a little old-school European glamour to Vegas with low-lighting, ruby red carpeting throughout, and a swanky restaurant based on the Library at The NoMad New York, its sister property.
Airy rooms have chichi vibe with wooden floors (rare in Vegas) and vintage hints like retro photographs and minibars made out of steamer trunks. While guests have full run of the MGM, the NoMad offers exclusive corners for guests to escape to, including a Moroccan-style pool area and a swish boutique casino with a Tiffany glass ceiling.
The Palazzo at The Venetian
Bringing Italian Renaissance glamour to the Mojave Desert, The Palazzo at The Venetian offers a more refined and luxurious stay than its sibling, but still in the heart of Vegas showtime. Unlike the neighbouring Venetian, where hordes of visitors flock to ride gondolas on the Grand Canal, The Palazzo is less of a destination hotel and more exclusive for guests.
After a day on the tables, cool off in the pool, fringed by palm trees and 'ancient' columns or relax in Canyon Reach Spa, one of the world's largest day spas. The all-suite Palazzo famously has some of the most spacious rooms on The Strip. All are decorated in chic contemporary tones and plush fabrics, while the even more spacious upgraded suites offer split-level living and sunken lounge areas.
Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas
There's much more to Las Vegas than gambling and galas. Its proximity to the Grand Canyon and Red Rock Canyon makes it a great base to explore Nevada's more natural attractions. Of course, after hiking in the desert you'll want a luxury base to return to and where better than a trusty Four Seasons. Tucked away on the 35th to 39th floor of Mandalay Bay, the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas offers a completely separate experience and is a rare oasis of calm amid the hubbub of The Strip.
One of the few non-gaming hotels in the area, step inside the grand lobby, all high ceilings, marble floors and a swathe of modern art, to find a quiet pool area, a spa and a clutch of dining options. Rooms are overtly plush, as expected from Four Seasons, and most offer serene views of the mountains, making it easy to forget you're in the neon capital of the world.
El Cortez Hotel & Casino
A far cry from the mega resorts on The Strip, the El Cortez Hotel & Casino near Fremont Street in Downtown is a true Vegas institution. From the moment you step into the lobby – with its 1948 Cadillac, dulcet tones of Sinatra and images of mobsters – you'll be transported back to the golden age of Vegas.
Most of the rooms are from the original 1940s hotel, so not as spacious as those on The Strip, but all feature heavy polished wood furnishings and swirly carpets and have a retro Vegas charm. Dine out in Siegel’s 1941, the signature restaurant named after El Cortez' original owner, mobster Bugsy Siegel. Or kick back with an Old Fashioned in the scarlet-clad Parlour Bar cocktail and piano lounge, which truly evokes the Rat Pack era.
Nobu Hotel at Cesars Palace
One of the original hotels on The Strip, Caesars Palace is simply iconic but, for some, the colossal Roman Empire-themed hotel with its ornate frescoes and oversized Greco-Roman statues is just a little too...Vegas. But tucked inside its grand walls is the Nobu Hotel, the first of its kind in Vegas to introduce the concept of a hotel within a hotel and offers a more sophisticated stay yet still in the heart of the action.
The 200 rooms all have a contemporary Japanese vibe. Guests have access to the Qua Baths and Spa, which features an arctic room – welcome in the desert heat – and the Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis, exclusive to Nobu guests. Of course, priority reservations at Nobu restaurant are standard and worth their weight in gold.
Delano Las Vegas
Rising like a bar of gold bullion out of the neon-lit skyline, Delano Las Vegas brings Miami South Beach to the desert. Located at the southern end of The Strip, it offers a quieter base with the emphasis on relaxation rather than gaming. The hotel is decked out in earthy tones, natural woods and subtle lighting, add in the lack of casino, and the mood feels exclusive and stylish, and quite unlike the standard Vegas hotel.
Naturally, the Delano is all about luxury and highlights include the beautiful Bathhouse Spa, the Beach Club pool, exclusive only to Delano guests, and Rivea, the exquisite fine dining restaurant by Alain Ducasse. The 1,000-plus suites are understated yet stylish; think off-whites and greys, clean lines and floor-to-ceiling windows, many with views along The Strip.
Vdara Hotel and Spa
A non-smoking, non-gaming hotel is as rare as hen's teeth in Las Vegas. But overlooking the neon-lit Strip, this stylish five-star spa hotel is all about relaxation rather than revelry. Step inside the Vdara Hotel and Spa's cool lobby, adorned with colourful modern art, and find a serene atmosphere replacing the obligatory tinkle of slot machines. As a spa hotel, Vdara offers a handful of healthy dining places, but for sliders and illicit cocktails, head to Vice Versa Patio and Lounge which has a terrace with a fire pit.
The biggest draw is Vdara's state-of-the-art spa and its signature European heat experiences. Spacious suites are understated; all clean lines and modular furnishings, and have views across the glittering cityscape. Upgrade to a luxury suite or loft and gain access to the exclusive club lounge.
The Cromwell
Las Vegas is renowned for its glitzy thousand-bed mega resorts bursting with casinos and celebrity restaurants – and this is what many want – however, if you're looking for something a little less obvious, The Cromwell is just the spot. Moments from Bellagio's dancing fountains and the Eiffel Tower at Paris, this boutique hotel - and it is boutique by Vegas standards – has a rather theatrical appeal.
Step inside to a womb-like warmth of rich plum velvet, polished mahogany and glittering chandeliers. There's a seasonal rooftop pool, lined with palm trees, and a live music lounge. Naturally, a casino too. The rooms are decadent and plush; think jewelled tones, leather furnishings and even more chandeliers. GIADA is the hotel's signature restaurant, an Italian concept headed up by TV chef, Giada de Laurentis.
Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa
A holiday in Vegas doesn't always have to revolve around casino hopping along The Strip. Venture out from the neon-lit clamour to find relaxation in the desert in this rare oasis 10 miles from Caesars Palace. Blending the glamour of Old Vegas with Nevada's natural desert attractions, the Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa has the spectacular backdrop of the Red Rock Canyon.
Once ensconced in the resort, you can enjoy the award-winning spa, which offers moonlight yoga and desert hot stone massages, while a clutch of palm-fringed pools keeps everyone cool in the searing heat. Out of the 800 rooms, all neutrally decorated, the best offer desert views. But the glitz and glamour of Vegas is never far away, the resort offers a free shuttle to The Strip.
Circa Resort and Casino
When it opened in 2020, Circa was the first new hotel to be built in Downtown Las Vegas for nigh on 40 years. And what a treat it is. Dedicated to the professional sports fan, it brings even more superlatives to this decadent desert city with the largest bookmaker in the world, Nevada's longest bar, and Stadium Swim, a vast pool complex with a 40-foot screen, so you can still catch the game from your lilo.
The 777 rooms are Vegas-style spacious and have a hip, retro vibe, with rich browns, cool whites and deep blues. Upgrade to one of the suites for views over Stadium Swim. As for dining, naturally, Circa doesn't disappoint with Barry’s Downtown Prime Steakhouse, and 8 East, a pan-Asian restaurant by acclaimed chef, Dan Coughlin.
Encore at Wynn Las Vegas
Visitors don't flock to Vegas for its demure appeal - they come for flashy luxury and opulence, which is found in spades at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas. Located on the quieter, northern end of the Strip, the sister property to Wynn Las Vegas is drenched in glamour from the marble-clad hallways, the red-and-gold trimmed casinos to the vast indoor boulevards lined with actual trees.
Catch a top-name show at the Encore Theatre, steam away in the hammam in the spa, or dine out in Sinatra's Italian restaurant, which plays homage to Ol' Blue Eyes with rare mementoes and photographs. Of course, being Vegas the Encore is no boutique offering and has a dizzying 2,000 suites, all palatial in style with gilt-edged mirrors and contemporary art and perfect for relaxing after a day on the tables.
ARIA Resort & Casino
Rising from the Strip like a sparkling wave of glass, ARIA offers some contemporary style amongst the more glitzy Las Vegas greats. Step inside to find a monumental glass atrium which fills the lobby with rare (for Vegas) natural light, while the tinkling of the water wall installation makes it feel serene and harmonious.
A hotel built for relaxation, there's a super-luxe spa with salt rooms and unique Japanese heated stone beds, a trio of pools surrounded by Bali-style cabanas and 20 or so restaurant choices, including the acclaimed Bardot Brasserie by Michael Mina. The rooms are nicely spacious and contemporary in style. Perhaps swank it up with a Sky Suite, which throws in access to a private pool, free airport transfer and a lounge offering free snacks, wine and cheese, all with views of the Strip or the desert.
Golden Nugget
Step back in time to the glamorous heyday of Las Vegas with a stay at Golden Nugget. Located in the heart of East Fremont Street in Downtown, moments from the Fremont Street Experience and The Mob Museum, this vintage hotspot – best seen at night when it's all lit up like a fruit machine – will not disappoint true Vegas aficionados.
Inside it keeps its retro charm with a gold-and-black décor throughout, several old-school casino halls and revamped vintage interiors. It adds in some wacky Vegas-style attractions like the water slide through a shark tank and The Chart House, a seafood restaurant-slash-aquarium. The rooms are a delicious throwback to the Seventies with a brown and cream decor, polished mahogany furnishings and dizzying geometric patterns.
MGM Grand
With views over the 'New York skyline', this mega hotel casino complex is one of the cornerstones of the Las Vegas Strip. Once the largest hotel in the world, MGM Grand offers an endless array of casinos, a myriad of theatre shows, including KÀ by Cirque Du Soleil, and fine dining restaurants by the dozen - it's so big it's practically got its own postcode.
There are more than 5,000 rooms, all suitably Vegas spacious, which means plenty room, and all have a mid-century modern vibe, with warm tobacco hues, classic furnishings and mirrored walls. Of course, dining is a main event at the MGM, especially as it's home to Joël Rubichon Restaurant, which holds three Michelin stars and serves some of the finest cuisine in the world.
Sahara Las Vegas
Once a big player on the Vegas gaming scene, the Sahara dominated the northern end of the Las Vegas Strip in the Fifties, with its African Sahara themed décor, complete with fake camels. Now more than 70 years later, it's back with a vengeance (although fewer camels) and a more contemporary vibe.
With hundreds of rooms, some still have the sleek white lines and features designed by Philippe Starck, while those in the Alexandria Tower are more opulent with a Regency style flounce and frills. Guests have access to an exclusive rooftop pool and the uber-luxe Amina Spa, while Vegas gourmands flock to Sahara's flagship restaurant, Bazaar Meat, headed up by the Michelin-starred chef and winner of the James Beard award, José Andrés.
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