I’ve had the pleasure of staying at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Las Vegas twice over the past two months for a total of ten days. I’ve stayed here several times since the building switched over from being a Mandarin Oriental, and it remains my favorite hotel on the strip for good reason. I’ve stayed in many of the popular casino hotels including the Wynn, Encore, Venetian, Bellagio, Palazzo, Caesars Palace, Paris and MGM Grand and for the most part enjoyed them all well enough to various degrees, but for me, the Waldorf Astoria stands out as a cut above the rest for many reasons.
ARRIVAL AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS
First off, when you arrive at the Waldorf Astoria, you don’t feel like you are on the strip. The entry to the hotel is calm, almost never overly crowded and always relaxing. The check-in desk is about thirty feet from the front doors, is always adequately staffed and I’ve never waited more than five minutes, which for anyone staying at a Las Vegas hotel knows is very unusual unless you are a VIP or have status with certain properties. Lobby elevators (maybe seventy-five feet from the check-in desk) take you to either the third floor where you must board another bank of elevators around the corner to the guest rooms or ride up to the bar and restaurant located on the 23rd floor. I can honestly say that almost every time that I have walked through the doors to check-in, I’ve been in my room in under five minutes and probably never more than ten minutes.
SMOKE AND CASINO FREE OASIS
Being a non-smoking, non-casino property is a literal and figurative breath of fresh air, especially for those with children. I enjoy visiting the casinos as much as the next person, but prefer staying in a hotel where I don’t have to travel through smoky casinos to get to my room. If you want a casino in your hotel, this probably isn’t the place for you. The Park MGM, Cosmopolitan and Aria are all less than five-minute walks, with New York and the MGM Grand also very close by.
ROOMS AND AMENITIES
Rooms are typically nice for a higher end Las Vegas hotel. My most recent stays were in King Junior Suites (I’ve seen prices for these rooms range from $350 to $600). I paid $399 per night during one stay and used 85,000 miles per night for a King Room but was upgraded to a Junior Suite on check-in. Key room features:
- Walk in showers (with sprayer and shower head) with separate tubs and dual sinks
- Walk-in closet with safe
- Stocked mini bar, nice sized TV, plenty of outlets, charger plugs, desk
- Free high speed Wifi
- Nice view of the strip (at least from any room I’ve had here, but can’t speak for all rooms)
- Comfortable beds
- Separate valet box, so as not to be disturbed during pick up
- Nightly turndown service with chocolates
Hilton members with status and frequent hotel guests can expect some kind of fruit or dessert platter and/or a bottle of wine or champagne on arrival.
The spa, gym and pool are located on the 8th floor. I haven’t experienced the spa, however the gym, while not exceptional for a hotel of this level, is solid. There are lots of cardio pieces and a handful of machines. There is enough to get a decent workout in, but not the best hotel gym I’ve been in. I think it will satisfy most hotel guests. The rooftop-style outdoor pool is pleasant, well-staffed and has food and drink service. Standard stuff.
There is a $55 daily resort fee, presumably to cover the “free” Wifi, pool and gym, which I’ve been charged on some stays and not others for some reason.
DINING AND DRINKS
Zen Kitchen serves great breakfasts (try the breakfast burrito!) and a life-changing, excellent almond croissant! The dinner menu is about what you’d expect at a Waldorf Astoria with sushi rolls, steaks and a mix of American style fare (salads, pastas…). It’s perfectly fine, but there are lots of more interesting places to eat in town (see below). Peacock Alley is perfectly fine for bar bites, but both 23rd floor bars, including Hard Shake are more about the drinks, the scene and the view of the strip from high up. Room service is also available and an OK option if you don’t want to eat out.
NEARBY DINING OPTIONS
Top nearby dining options include Hakkasan for fancy Cantonese, located in a nightclub at the MGM Grand. Eataly is good for something quick and casual and located in the Park MGM. Best Friend is for outstanding LA Korean BBQ and more and it’s in the Park MGM. Mastro’s Ocean Club and Bazaar Mar by genius chef Jose Andres are both at the Shops at Crystals, which is just across the skywalk from the Waldorf Astoria. Brewdog Brewery is also across the street if that’s your thing.
The hip, fun and super tasty Best Friend at the Park MGM
If you are willing to venture out a bit, the Arts District has a bunch of great breweries including Crafthaus and Able Baker. And you have to try what’s probably my favorite restaurant in all of Las Vegas, Esther’s Kitchen, where you can have drinks in the upstairs cocktail room and dine on outstanding Italian inspired dishes.
Arts District, Las Vegas
CONCIERGE AND BELL STAFF
The concierge desk was almost always staffed with two people, and they couldn’t have been more helpful. I visited once to have a package shipped, which was handled quickly and painlessly and visited another time for some dining recommendations which didn’t disappoint. Outside, the bell staff is eager to handle luggage, get you a car, give directions or take care of pretty much anything else you throw at them. Rumor has it that there is a house car, but across all my stays, I’ve never even seen it, let alone taken a ride in it! One other thing to note, is that while at many hotels you have to find the specific ride sharing location (which may or may not be on the ground floor), cars come right to the main front entrance of the hotel which is convenient and stress free.
PROS AND CONS
Pros:
- Non-smoking and non-gaming with fast and easy check-in
- Quiet and peaceful for a Las Vegas hotel
- Walkable to Aria, Cosmopolitan, Shops at Crystals and Park MGM
- Responsive service when compared to the bigger casino hotels
Cons:
- $55 resort fee, though most hotels have these
- On-site dining is good, but not as good as other hotels
- More expensive than many hotels (but worth it if you want what it offers)
FINAL VERDICT AND WHO SHOULD STAY HERE
If you are looking for a higher-end hotel with all the amenities but without the noise and smoke of a typical casino hotel, then I’d recommend checking out the Waldorf Astoria. It doesn’t have any of the celeb chef, top notch restaurants that most of the hotels in town have, but I prefer venturing out for my meals anyway.
View from Wynn Golf and Sphere, just because!