When the Cosmopolitan opened in 2010, it was the start of a brand new era in Las Vegas. The town was slowly climbing out of the recession, and this was likely to be the last new resort to be built from the ground up for a long time. So it broke the mold.

What you’ll notice first about the Cosmopolitan is that there are so many things to notice. Crisp LED screens on the columns near check-in display fluid, moving graphics that keep guests entranced. At one point, Liberace’s Rhinestone Roadster was even parked near the Strip entrance. There’s no shortage of visual stimulation in the 100,000-square-foot casino or the floors above, and that’s even without the frenetic slot machines.

They especially love their chandeliers at the Cosmopolitan. The three-story specimen in the middle of the casino floor is made of 2 million crystals and houses the multi-level Chandelier Bar. It joins the Bond Bar on the Strip side, which has live DJs and girls dancing in boxes above the crowd; and the more subdued Vesper Bar near registration (a spot where you’d likely find casino execs having a drink). Each has its own cocktail program to match the vibe.

The most basic rooms are quite swank, done up in relaxing blues and metallics, and starting at around 500 square feet. Each features a giant, marble-tiled bathroom. The direct view from the bed right into the shower is . . . cool? (If you’re not feeling modest.) If it’s reasonable, upgrade to at least the terrace studio. In these, you also get the benefit of 200 more square feet and a kitchenette, plus a private terrace, a rarity on the Strip. The one-bedroom suites have even better amenities, like deep Japanese soaking tubs that look out the window, separate seating areas that can be closed off from the bedroom, and terraces that wrap around the corner of the building.


The Cosmopolitan’s restaurant collection also ushered in a new era for Vegas’ culinary scene. It helped move appetites away from celebrity chef-driven spots to more urban, real-food-city fare. Its Wicked Spoon Buffet reset the bar for the all-you-can-eat-experience. Even more foodie cred was earned when they added David Chang's hipster restaurant Momfuku and acclaimed dessert spot Milk Bar.


Entertainment-wise, Cosmopolitan has made a name for itself as a stop for indie bands and big name artists. Sometimes they play the intimate Chelsea showroom, sometimes they’ll play outdoors to standing room only crowds at the Boulevard Pool. The pool also serves as the daylife part of Marquee, one of the biggest nightclubs on the Strip. In winter, the pool gets covered, faux snow gets piped into the air, and the space becomes a skating rink.


The clientele here, whether they’re guests or not, tend to run on the younger side. This isn’t a quiet hotel, that’s for sure, nor does it ever aim to be.