Review: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas Casino and Resort

As one of the newer properties on the strip, the Cosmo still has that shiny new feel to it. Everything seems to sparkle, from Cosmo’s Chandelier Bar to the floors in the Casino that appear to be ingrained with glitter.

Pulling into the property, one can’t help but admire the hotel lobby’s massive digital columns that break up the main check in area.

The hotel is split into two towers, the Boulevard and the Chelsea. One consistent gripe I’ve had with Cosmo over the years is the excessively long wait time for the elevators that service the rooms.  This trip was no different, one night while heading back to my room in the Boulevard Tower I waited almost twenty minutes! I don’t understand why this continues to be an issue for them regardless of the tower. I don’t believe there’s a private elevator option for VIPs because while waiting, there appeared to be a very high roller with his family (also waiting) accompanied by two Cosmo hosts. It sounded like the hosts were getting an earful in Mandarin. I can only imagine they were headed up to the Boulevard Penthouses and were forced to wait along with the rest of us (read more about those incredibly luxurious penthouses here.)

Elevator issues aside, it’s hard to knock this hotel.

In my opinion, the Cosmo has one of the strongest restaurant collections on the strip. From big name chefs to NYC name brands, there would appear to be something for everyone. My group managed to eat at Blue Ribbon, STK, Beauty and Essex and Red Plate, Cosmo’s newest restaurant and probably the best meal I had while in Vegas. STK also delivered a memorable meal, but not for the food or loud (perhaps too loud) music while we ate. Vegas enjoyed an earthquake while we were there, making the restaurant feel like a cruise ship. That was pretty scary.

This was also my first trip back since Cosmo opened Urban 16, their take on the urban food hall and I had to sample a few things. I tried Hattie B’s fried chicken and Tekka Bar. Both were surprisingly good and I’m actually looking forward to eating more from Tekka next time I’m back. I ended up skipping the hidden Ghost Donkey bar, but if you look close enough you’ll find the door.

Most casino layouts in Vegas are the same – massive room with tables and slots taking up the inside with food and other shops lining the outside. That seems to work for most of Vegas. Cosmo, because of its design (originally supposed to be Condos/hotel and then pivoted to casino resort) was forced to fit the casino into a tighter space. I actually like this change of pace and it definitely offers good people watching down the main corridor (especially when the pool parties get out).

In terms of table limits, Cosmo definitely skews higher than some of the other strip casinos. I managed to play at a $25 3/2 black jack table, but there was usually only one such table available every day (plenty at 6/5 but that’s just dumb). Craps was also a $15 minimum but I’ve definitely played $10 on past trips while there. If these limits sound too low for you, head up to the Talon Club, one of Cosmo’s high limit rooms. It was empty when I walked through their mid day but the private baccarat rooms looked incredibly nice.

I can’t give a review of the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas without mentioning the pools. The hotel has two main pools but the Boulevard pool is the clear winner. Overlooking the strip, it usually fills up pretty early. If Marquee is Cosmo’s day club, this scene is probably a couple of notches lower on the party scale, usually pretty mellow early on and ramping up as the afternoon drags on. Not really my scene but a great pool and solid cocktail menu.

There have been a lot of rumors swirling around about a potential sale of the property. If there is a sale, hopefully the buyer doesn’t mess up a good thing. The Cosmo offers everything I’m looking for when going to Vegas – central location, high end and solid casual food options, decent gaming and a great pool experience. Add in their unique rooms (be on the look out for a room review of the cosmopolitan coming shortly) and It’s hard for me to want to stay anywhere else when in Vegas.