Rooms with Views: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

If you grew up in the eighties or nineties Las Vegas more than likely conjures images of castles and pirate ships. The on-strip casinos tried and pretty much successfully changed the reputation of the city from Sin City into a veritable theme park that to this day takes visitors around the world - the colorful spires atop Excalibur, the canals and singing gondoliers inside the Venetian and the half-size replicas of Lady Liberty and the Eiffel Tower.

Photo: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Fast-forward a decade and once again Las Vegas makes a shift. After the opening of Wynn, Encore, Mandarin Oriental and other more, shall we say, sophisticated resorts, came the high-end nightclubs, lots of luxury shopping and plenty of five-star dining options catering to the young upwardly-mobile professionals who are now one of the main markets. (The frat boy / playboy wannabe types are still here, they are just a bit older, and have jobs or rich parents.) This reinvented Vegas is what we experienced on our recent visit, and our room with a view was at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, one of the newest resorts in town and arguably the most representative of this new market.

The Cosmopolitan doesn’t have the sordid history that many others in Vegas do, but it can still lay claim to a bit of drama after it went through the hands of several owners and the Hearst Corporation, owners of Cosmopolitan the magazine, filed a trademark suit against them for use of the name. The resort finally opened at the end of 2010 and now offers guests an overwhelming number of facilities that could allow you to never even step foot outside the building, except for a dip in the pool of course.

Photo: The room with a view at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Located south of the Bellagio and right across the street from Planet Hollywood, the view from our room was pure Las Vegas. If you want a panoramic view of the strip, a wrap-around terrace suite is a must. There are 247 of them out of the nearly 3,000 rooms and suites available. Perhaps not as awe-inspiring as the actual Eiffel Tower, Paris Las Vegas is right across the street. And of course you won’t feel like you’ve landed in Lake Como, but the Bellagio Las Vegas is a sight in itself and of course includes the dancing water fountain.

Photo: The 480 square-foot wraparound terrace offers amazing views of the Las Vegas Strip

Each 1,200-square-foot suite features glass doors that open to a 480 square-foot wraparound terrace complete with lounge chairs to enjoy your morning coffee (or Champagne, you’re in Vegas after all). The grey and blue color palate is modern and sleek, with pale wood cabinets in the well-equipped kitchen (we doubt you’ll use the stove or microwave but the wine chiller definitely came in handy). The balcony can also be accessed through the bedroom, which has a king-size bed and a large en suite bathroom with C.O. Bigelow amenities, a large tub, separate shower and two bathroom vanities as well as the requisite plush robe and slippers. The suite also includes a guest bathroom, bar, desk and dining area.

Photo: The Chelsea offers a sweeping variety of entertainment to guests

As with most of the mammoth integrated resorts in the city, The Cosmopolitan really does have it all, including The Chelsea, a 40,000 square foot performance theatre that has hosted the likes of Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett this past New Year’s Eve, Bruno Mars and country music star Keith Urban, who we happened to enjoy from the comfort of one of the gallery VIP boxes on the second level.

Dining options are plentiful too, with a broad range of cuisines. Modern French brasserie Comme Ca stood out with its fantastic steak and fish dishes and their classic cocktails.

Greek restaurant Estiatorio Milos also stood out with its amazing selection of fresh seafood. Wander around and peruse the selection before picking out what looks good. You can have it cooked however you like, but the advice we were given, and which we followed, was to keep it simple. Our fish was prepared with just oil, capers and parsley. Let your table captain guide you through the varieties to find one to satisfy your appetite, and of course a bottle of chilled white to satisfy your thirst.

Casual eateries include China Poblano which is an interesting mix of Chinese and Mexican cuisine that didn’t quite live up to its potential, although we couldn’t get enough of the delicious and creative cocktails. And then there is the “secret” pizza parlor offering allegedly the best slices in the city.

Photo: Bamboo pool offers a respite from the desert heat

After a morning dip in the pool head to Overlook Grill for fantastic eggs benedict. If you are looking for something more filling, try the Wicked Spoon Buffet which has an eclectic mix of practically every cuisine you could hope for, your hangover will thanks you.

If the gambling and gorging has left you feeling a little fatigued, head to Sahra Spa and Hammam (read our review here) for a pick-me-up. After you’re rested and revived, it is one to what we think was the crowning glory of our visit: Rose.Rabbit.Lie (read our review here). And of course let’s not forget why people (used to) come to Vegas. The Cosmopolitan has 100,000 square feet of gaming space.

Las Vegas is a city of excess and indulgence and for the more adventurous there are all kinds of entertainment options, including a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon, which is a very unique way to look at this oasis in the desert.

For a current list of events at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas click here.

For reservations call 1 (702) 698 7575

www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

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