The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Rooms and decor

Picture having your own luxury apartment in the middle of the Strip instead of an ordinary hotel room, and you have the concept The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has chased since it opened in 2010, built on a sharp residential design that deliberately feels more like home than a giant resort. The more than three thousand rooms across two towers, The Chelsea Tower and The Boulevard Tower, are done in a modern, warm-toned style, with art worked in even inside the rooms. The most talked-about pick is the Terrace rooms with a private terrace that juts out for a full view of the Strip and the Bellagio fountains, a rare thing in Vegas where most hotel windows do not open. Several suites also come with a fully equipped small kitchen, including stove, microwave, fridge and counter, plus a deep Japanese-style soaking tub in the bathroom, so a multi-night stay stays comfortable. Many reviews say the rooms look better than the price suggests, and stepping out to sip coffee on your private terrace as the city wakes is the kind of thing that brings people back.

Food and amenities

If this hotel has a heart, it is the atmosphere and the common spaces built to be fun to explore. Start with the highlight everyone stops at, The Chandelier, a spectacular three-story bar set inside a crystal chandelier strung with more than two million beads. Each level has its own character and cocktail menu, and walking up and down through the crystal curtain feels like changing worlds floor by floor, which is why reviewers praise it the most as a photo and drinking spot. Around the building you will find a contemporary art collection and digital installations spread throughout, from a digital column in the lobby to surprise corners along the walkways, giving the feel of walking through a gallery more than a casino. For unwinding there are several rooftop pools with cabanas and city views, plus the Marquee Dayclub and Nightclub, a pool party by day that turns into a lively nightclub after dark. On food it goes all out with more than 19 restaurants under one roof, from Block 16 Urban Food Hall gathering famous street food from several cities to well-known fine dining, plus a full spa and fitness, so much that you barely need to leave.

Location and getting there

Location is another strong card here. The Cosmopolitan sits right in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip on Las Vegas Boulevard, flanked by two giants, Bellagio and ARIA, so you step out into the middle of the famous landmarks. The Bellagio fountains dance in view out front, the luxury Crystals mall and CityCenter zone sit right next door, and Paris with its replica Eiffel Tower is across the street, so you can wake up and walk to sightseeing, shopping, food or hotel shows without really needing a car. To go farther you can walk across the Strip to the monorail stop on the Bally's/Paris side, about 12 minutes, to run toward the Convention Center or the end of the Strip. Harry Reid Airport (LAS) is only about a 10 to 15 minute drive away. In short, if you want to base yourself in the heart of the Vegas buzz in a hotel that looks modern and styled, this location is a full ten.

Things to know before booking

To help you decide, here is the straight talk. The first thing to know is the hidden cost, since there is a nightly resort fee and a parking charge added on top of the room rate you see at booking, so the final total runs higher than expected. Check the fee details clearly before you book. The other thing to weigh is the lively party atmosphere, because the hotel has the Marquee Nightclub and plenty of nightlife crowds, and some reviews mention hearing noise or bass-heavy music drifting up to the room, especially on weekends. If you are after a quiet stay and an early night, this may not be your place, and if you sleep lightly, avoid low floors near the nightclub zone and pick a higher floor first. On top of that the building is big and very crowded, so in high season or on weekends the lift and check-in queues can run long, and walking from your room through the casino to the pools, restaurants or parking takes a while. Some guests feel service slows on busy days, so checking in early or arranging things ahead can help. And remember the private terrace that is the selling point is only on the Terrace rooms, so pick the right room type when you book.

Our take

After reading through hundreds of real reviews, our team sees The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas as a hotel that sells its identity as a mid-Strip design hotel with full confidence, from the residential rooms with a private city-view terrace and the home-feeling suites with full kitchens to the iconic three-story Chandelier bar, the rooftop pools, the art throughout the building and a central location with an easy walk anywhere. If the trip in your head is waking up to sip coffee on the terrace looking at the Bellagio fountains, shopping the mid-Strip, coming back to soak in a rooftop pool and closing the night with a cocktail in The Chandelier, this is about as good a fit as it gets. But if you are after a quiet resort with no party noise and no nagging fees, the size and buzz here may not be your thing. Overall we give it 8.5/10, best for couples and design lovers who want to base themselves in the heart of the Vegas buzz in a modern, styled hotel with a private terrace of their own.