Until Circa opened in October 2020, no new hotel had been built in Downtown Las Vegas for 40 years. The hotel was acquired by MGM Resorts International in 2022 and is operated by Marriott, and is now part of a new brand collection, the MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy, that gives Marriott members special access and points on stays. Look for The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails, a swanky room behind a janitor’s door where you can take in a major whiskey selection and, yes, actually schedule an old-school shave and haircut, and the hidden Ski Lodge at Superfrico, inspired by ski chalets in Hokkaido, Japan.

Cosmopolitan has long had some of the Strip’s most standout restaurant and lounge options, and they’re constantly adding fun new things. All the rooms, though, appeal to those who love clean-edged design. In recent years, the Cosmopolitan has focused on upping its offerings for bigger spenders, and its rooms reflect that: the Chelsea Penthouses, for instance, start at 2,400 square feet, and the three-bedroom penthouses have terraces with panoramic views. Its rooms are some of the best for entertaining on the Strip (and some of the very few with open-air terraces). The guests are usually on the younger side of the Strip demographic, with plenty of money to spend on all the great restaurants, cabanas at the pool, and bottle service at Marquee Nightclub. If you’ve ever seen Cosmopolitan’s provocative ads about being the “right kind of wrong,” you’ll understand who it’s trying to attract-and it’s succeeding. The gym is actually a Canyon Ranch, where you can go on the climbing wall, get nutritional counseling, and even have your gait analyzed, while the spa is full of unexpected extras, such as acupuncture. Beyond dining, everything you need can be found inside The Venetian. But perhaps the most memorable thing about the place is its huge array of restaurants, including Estiatorio Milos for incredible seafood (and the Strip’s best lunch deal), Mott 32 for excellent Chinese food, and new openings from superstars Tetsuya Wakuda (Wakuda) and Eyal Shani (HaSalon). The complex is enormous, with more than 7,000 rooms and three million square feet of retail and meeting space spread across the Venetian and Palazzo hotels. After having passed a replica of Venice’s campanile and Rialto Bridge, arriving in this basilica-style registration area should feel totally cheesy-and yet, it is so over-the-top and grand, you can’t help but be impressed.

Just walking into The Venetian lobby feels like taking a trip to the Bel Paese it’s completely frescoed to its vaulted ceiling, and its centerpiece is a massive, gilded sphere held up by four golden women.

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