By J.C. Thomas
An intriguing characteristic of Las Vegas is its compulsion for constant reinvention while always keeping a tight grip on nostalgia. The city will blithely demolish its oldest icons (RIP Tropicana, Stardust et. al.) while enticing tens of millions of annual visitors with the promise of vintage glamor. They come in pursuit of old-time Rat Pack cool and fearless hedonism under neon lights, but would also like to sleep in a non-smoking hotel room with plentiful USB ports, excellent WiFi and a big flat-screen, please.
The Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas reveals the benefits of revamp over replacement. The property has a notable heritage, having opened in 1971 (pretty ancient by Vegas standards) as the Union Plaza. Located next door to a Union Pacific depot, it had a railroad theme and maintained its own Amtrak station and ticket window until the late 90s. Under new ownership since 2004, this century’s Plaza has undergone a series of big-budget renovations. Most recent are its snazzy facade, rooftop pool, and three massive murals by renowned street artists.
Stay in the Heart of Downtown Vegas
The Plaza Hotel is on Main Street in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. Downtown is often overlooked in favor of the more-famous Strip a few miles away, but in recent years has forcefully reclaimed its status as the original tourist hub of the city. First impressions of the hotel are in line with this trend. Its transformed Main Street facade envelops visitors under the Carousel Bar’s millions of twinkling vintage lights, flanked by the highlighter-pink lure of Pinkbox Donuts to one side and the LED-illuminated entrance of a smoke-free gaming space to the other. Above it all sits the rooftop patio and glass dome of Oscar’s steakhouse, a filming location for a scene in Casino (1995).
From here, you’re just steps from downtown’s premier tourist attraction, the Fremont Street Experience. This open-air entertainment district covers five blocks of bars, casinos, light shows and free concerts across three stages. Also nearby is Vegas Vic, a 40-foot neon cowboy sign that has welcomed visitors since 1951. Other downtown tourist destinations include the Mob Museum, the Neon Museum, and DISCOVERY Children’s Museum.
The Murals
Three striking 21-story murals make the Plaza Hotel visually unmissable, as well as an important player in the local street art scene. Three internationally respected street artists – Shepard Fairey, D*Face and Faile – have transformed the hotel’s north tower into a monumental gallery.
Multimedia artist D*Face’s “Behind Closed Doors” brings primary-color comic-book pow to the pool area, while Faile’s “Tribute to Cassius Marcellus” presents an amusing, contemporary twist on paintings of dogs playing poker. Shepard Fairey’s “Cultivate Harmony” is the largest mural in Las Vegas, visible all over downtown. It’s a complex geometric op-art affair in black and white, reminiscent of the back of a playing card and occult elements of paper currency.
Quite simply, the murals are very cool to look at, lending the Plaza Hotel’s reinvention a hipness that complements its heritage.
The Pool and Pickleball
The Pool at the Plaza has undergone an extensive revamp inspired by the concept of “retro Palm Springs meets classic downtown Las Vegas.” The 70,000-square-foot pool deck, heated pool and hot tub are exclusive to hotel guests, as are reservations for cabanas and daybeds. The rooftop setting overlooks the Fremont Street Experience, and is itself overlooked by one of the hotel’s murals. Poolside sun loungers, towel service and smart lockers are available, and there’s a food truck onsite as well.
Also new to the pool area are 12 rooftop pickleball courts. The Plaza is the only downtown hotel to offer so many. Other recreational amenities include the Plaza Gym, a hybrid concept blending a typical fitness center with a CrossFit gym.
Plaza Hotel Accommodations
The Plaza Hotel has close to 1,000 guest rooms and suites in varied configurations. The top floors of the north tower are home to upgraded luxe rooms, their high-rise location promising quiet serenity far removed from the casino floor. Standard amenities include plush bedding, big flat-screen TVs with premium cable channels, a mini refrigerator, pod-style coffee maker, walk-in shower, blackout curtains, and ample USB charging ports. Rooms and suites on higher floors have views of distant mountains or Fremont Street.
The hotel hosted my family group (two adults, two kids) in a luxe room with two queen beds, and we found it to be spacious, pristinely fresh and clean (not always a guarantee in an older Vegas hotel) and an ideal home base for our adventures both downtown and at the Strip. The decor is sleek and contemporary, with minimalist clean lines, color blocking in desert terracotta and cream, unfussy furnishings, and attractive modern art and photography.
Other accommodation options include pool patio rooms, which have a private covered patio leading to pool area; junior, mini, and one- or two-bedroom suites, and penthouse suites.
On-Site Dining
While there’s never any shortage of dining options anywhere in Las Vegas, it’s often ideal to dine at your own hotel. At the Plaza, there are great options for all meals and all appetites. Start in the morning at the Coffee Bar, which serves barista drinks from the local Dark Moon Coffee Roasters plus freshly made pastries, savory breakfast treats and gelato. Light or casual dinners might be at one of the Food Court eateries or Pop Up Pizza, which offers handmade pizzas, fresh salads and a full bar menu.
For sit-down dining, consider the Plaza’s signature Oscar’s Steakhouse, widely regarded as one of the best in the city, or Hash House A Go Go, which serves up Midwest-inspired comfort food in massive portions.
There’s no wrong time of day to score a sugar high at Pinkbox Doughnuts, a Vegas-based, award-winning confectioner with more than 70 inventive varieties. Adjacent is the outdoor Carousel Bar, an ode to Vegas kitsch with its moving carousel horses, 14-foot neon showgirl, glittering lights, video poker and decadent menu of cocktails, shots, craft beers and more.
The Plaza Hotel Casino
The Plaza Hotel features an 80,000-square-foot casino floor. It’s easy to skirt past if you’re staying with kids or impartial to gambling, but otherwise prime for all kinds of gaming action. There are slot machines galore, including penny slots, 3D slots, and downtown’s only smoke-free and social media friendly gaming space. Other options include table games, keno, a sports book, video poker, and downtown’s one and only bingo hall.
Details:
Plaza Hotel and Casino
1 Main Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
(800) 634-6575
Planning a Vegas trip? Check out “Museum Monday: Real Bodies at Ballys Las Vegas”
California News Press and its contributors received goods, services and/or other professional courtesies to facilitate this review. All opinions are those of the author.
