Plaza Hotel and Casino Review

Address: 1 N Main St, Las Vegas, NV 89101

Phone: (702) 386-2110

Plaza Hotel & Casino Overview

Let’s get one thing right away, Plaza Hotel and Casino isn’t the fanciest hotel in Las Vegas. That title goes to the ranks of Encore at Wynn Las Vegas, MGM Grand, and Bellagio Hotel and Casino. However, it’s pleasant and effective for guests looking for some entertainment, a chance to gamble, and budget-friendly accommodation in Downtown Las Vegas.

Plaza Hotel and Casino is in the heart of Downtown Las Vegas at North Main Street, right across the street from Circa Resort & Casino and Golden Gate Hotel and Casino. That puts it within walking distance of popular attractions and sights, such as Fremont Street Experience, Fremont Street, and the Las Vegas Convention Center. Interestingly, the land on which the hotel and casino stand was once Vegas’ first rail station operated by Union Pacific.

The four-star hotel has 995 cozy rooms and suites across the twin towers. Aside from standard amenities such as climate-controlled air conditioning, complimentary Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs, the guest rooms also boast thoughtful features like laptop workspace and premium bedding. Bathrooms are airy with fancy, eco-friendly toiletries and hair dryers.

Past guests rave about the rooms’ overall comforts, cleanliness, and décor. Another nice touch is that housekeeping is available upon request in all guest rooms. As far as variety goes, accommodations here balance the new and old—the rooms aren’t too fancy, yet they’ve been beautifully appointed and upgraded with top-notch linen. They boast lots of space, high ceilings, painted molding, and a banquet of fascinating antiques.

The hotel has a newly-renovated onsite casino with more than 700 slot machines, 23 gaming tables, a bingo hall, a high-limit VIP room, and a sportsbook powered by William Hill. There’s a vast line-up of sports markets and betting options here, plus large screens that show live sporting action.

There are over six dining options at the hotel-casino, including the high-end Oscar’s Steakhouse for happy hour & American cuisine, a food court, a Mexican grill, and a café/coffee shop. For guests’ convenience, the hotel serves a sumptuous cooked-to-order breakfast (at a fee) each morning, with continental favorites like eggs Benedict and crepes on the menu.

For some relaxation and reinvigoration, hit the spa, hot tub, or heated outdoor pool equipped with pool umbrellas, sun loungers, and cabanas. Other onsite amenities include a regular roster of live shows, performances, and concerts, as well as two bar/lounges, wedding services, a banquet hall, a poolside bar, a beauty salon, and a fitness center.

Overall, the room rates, dining, and other conveniences at the 25-story hotel are far more affordable than at nearby properties like Golden Nugget Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and The D Casino & Hotel. However, nothing jumps at you as luxurious or fancy as you’d expect from a Vegas hotel. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’d be better off spending top dollar at The D Casino & Hotel, The Venetian Casino, or The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Even so, past guests sing the praise of Plaza Hotel and Casino’s central location in Downtown Las Vegas and the overall value for your money. You’re sure to have a big time at a fraction of the typical Vegas cost. Read on to find out if the property lives up to the hype.

Pros

The hotel has a rooftop sports deck with a large swimming pool – one of the best such amenities in Downtown Vegas.
Guests speak well of the hotel’s customer service, staff attentiveness, and help turnaround.
The outdoor pool is generously equipped with guest-friendly features, such as lounging chairs, cabanas, and pool umbrellas for your convenience.
Front desk safes and express check-out make signing out of the hotel easy and hassle-free
Multilingual staff includes Turkish, Spanish, Filipino, and English
Plenty enough dining options, including upscale restaurants like Oscar’s Steakhouse, The Sand Dollar Downtown, and Hash House A Go Go, plus quick bite spots like Pop Up Pizza, Mexican Fresh Grill, and a food court with many fast-food outlets
Start your morning on the right foot with a cooked-to-order breakfast for a small fee
The hotel’s central location places you in proximity to many attractions and famous sights downtown, including the highly sought-after Fremont Street Experience
The property has pleasant rooms with standard amenities and nice touches like premium linen, separate living areas, a laptop workspace, and modern bathrooms stocked with eco-friendly toiletries
There’s a decent onsite casino with a good selection of table games, slot machines, and a William Hill sportsbook (linked with the brand’s mobile and online sports betting platforms)
An indoor fitness center with ample weight-training and cardio equipment
Free Wi-Fi throughout the property and free onsite parking
The walls of the hotel building feature fun-to-look-at murals
Great value for money

Cons

The atmosphere in the casino is generally low-spirited
Smoking is allowed in some public areas and rooms (although this can be a pro for some)
Dining options are limited, especially if you’re after a fine dining experience
A mandatory daily resort fee is included in your room rate (not unusual in Vegas)
Some parts of the hotel are under construction, which can be an inconvenience

Rooms & Suites at Plaza Hotel and Casino

Plaza Hotel and Casino currently offers 995 rooms and suites spread across 25 stories on twin towers. Although the guest rooms feel a bit generic, they’re surprisingly pleasant, often clean and fresh, with exciting views of the mountains, Las Vegas skyline, and the Strip.

Each room has climate-controlled air conditioning, a handful of charming antiques, and flat-screen TVs. More than that, most units feature thoughtful extras like laptop workspace, office desks, and modern beds dressed in premium linen.

Room Types

This downtown property offers several standard room types: Luxe, Deluxe, Pool Patio, and Junior Studio. All these guest rooms come with either two queen-size beds or one king-size bed. As far as the big picture goes, these four room types are, more or less, the same, except for the Junior Studio, which has higher square footage, fancier décor, and additional amenities like coffee makers and mini-fridges.

Luxe and Deluxe rooms are hardly different. They offer 325 square feet of space, in-room safe, and come with either one king-size or two queen-size beds. The beds feature premium bedding, pillow top mattresses, plush pillows, and triple sheeting. The in-room décor is somewhat muted, including laminate wood flooring, light-brown wallboard, and patterned carpeting.

In-room amenities are nearly the same in Luxe and Deluxe rooms. Each has a large flat-screen TV, coffee maker, safe, iron/ironing board, mini refrigerator, full-length mirror, and USB ports. A few differences … Luxe rooms offer a choice of Mountain View or Fremont view, while Deluxe rooms can have a Mountain View, Fremont view, and/or Las Vegas Strip view.

At the same time, Deluxe rooms have more elegant bathrooms with tub/shower combo and fancy light fixtures, two notable upgrades from the walk-in shows, and plain lighting hardware found in Luxe bathrooms. Surprisingly, flat-screen TVs in Luxe rooms are larger at 49 inches than those found in the Deluxe counterparts, which are only 32 inches.

Some Deluxe units are smoking-friendly, while all Luxe rooms are non-smoking. Room rates vary significantly for both types, depending on season, availability, and bed count. We’ve seen units go for as little as $29.99 nightly, but you should expect to cough up between $75 and $150 for a night’s stay in Luxe and Deluxe rooms.

Pool Patio rooms have an average size of 325 square feet, just like Luxe and Deluxe units, but add private covered patios that lead to the pool area. They offer standard features – 1 or 2 beds with premium bedding, comfy living space, mini fridge, in-room safe, and coffee maker. Patio Pool units one up Luxe/Deluxe rooms with large 55-inch flat-screen TVs with pay movies and premium channels. You can also request a rollaway.

Junior Studio is the biggest non-suite room you can book at Plaza Hotel and Casino, averaging 400 square feet in size. They offer more luxury and comforts than their smaller counterparts, including top-notch beds with equally top-shelf linen, select pillows, and crisp triple sheeting. Coffee makers, mini-fridges, fancy toiletries, and flat-screen TVs round out the in-room niceties. Expect stunning views of Fremont Street from Junior Studio.

Junior Studio rooms are 400 square feet and come with one king-sized bed. All rooms have a mini refrigerator, a separate workspace, an improved bathroom, and modern furnishings throughout the unit. Junior suites are typically priced between $135 and $195 per night.

Suites at Plaza Las Vegas take things up a notch, and there are a handful of types to choose from: Mini, One Bedroom, Two Bedroom, Luxe, and Penthouse.

Mini suites – As the name suggests, the Mini-Suite guestroom is the smallest of the suites, starting at around 500 square feet. But don’t let this fool you— the suite is roomy, pleasant, and comfortable, with a spacious sitting area and breathtaking views of the Strip. Each room features a coffee maker, mini fridge, wet bar, 32-inch flat-screen TV, and premium toiletries.
One Bedroom Suite – At around 650 square feet, One Bedroom suites are larger than Mini-Suites. They come with all the Mini Suite amenities, as well as multiple flat-screen TVs, 1.5 baths, and a living room parlor.
Luxe Room Suites – An incredible upgrade from the standard Luxe rooms, these suites span around 725 square feet of comfort and luxury. They’re among the most modern guestrooms, with pretty décor, luxury bedding, and many USB ports.
Two Bedroom Suites – If you’re looking for a unit with the largest space, it’s a no-brainer to book one of Plaza’s exquisite Two Bedroom suites. They come at 1,000 square feet, featuring all of the Deluxe room amenities plus multiple flat-screen TVs, 2.5 baths, and a living room parlor. You can request a smoking suite and rollaway with this choice.
Penthouse Suite – The Penthouse suite is the ultimate in luxury and comfort at Plaza Hotel and Casino. The loft-style suite is hella spacious (at 945 square feet) with all the deluxe amenities, along with a hot tub, a 42-inch flat-screen TV, a bar fridge, and a spa-esque marble bathroom.

In-Room Amenities

We’ve already touched on almost all bases regarding in-room amenities and features in rooms and suites at the hotel. All guest rooms here feature large flat-screen TVs, bath amenities, full-length mirrors, living spaces, in-room safes, coffee makers, and mini-fridges.

USB ports, laptop workspace, iron with ironing boards, hair dryers, magnifying mirrors, and free Wi-Fi are standard in all rooms and suites. Pricier units build up from there with better bath amenities, larger floor space, and higher bath count.

While Luxe, Deluxe, Junior Studio, Pool Studio, Mini Suite, and Luxe Room suites have regular baths, the rest takes the bathroom game to the next level. One Bedroom and Two Bedroom suites have a total of 1.5 and 2.5 baths, respectively. Additionally, some suites have multiple flat-screen TVs, a living room parlor, and fancier toiletries.

The Penthouse suite is the star of the hotel when it comes to features and amenities. For one thing, it boasts a spa-style marble-floored bathroom with a deep soaking hot tub. That being said, all rooms and suites have climate-controlled AC, and most don’t allow smoking.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms vary immensely from one room type to the next in terms of design, décor, and amenities. Each bathroom usually has complimentary toiletries, a low-voltage wall-mounted hair dryer, magnifying mirror, and a full-length mirror.

Overall, the bathrooms in standard Plaza rooms are a tad dated but perfectly adequate. It’s one thing we’d like the property to work on, but given the competitive room rates, we can let it slide. Besides, suites and patio rooms have far better and more modern bathrooms.

All suites and some room types have private baths, the majority with a tub/shower combination. The rest have walk-in showers, except the Penthouse, which wows the lucky guests with a spa-style marble bathroom complete with a deep soaking hot tub.

Room Check-in Process at Plaza Hotel and Casino

The front desk at Plaza Hotel and Casino is staffed 24/7, and the staff makes the check-in process a breeze. You’ll love the experience right out of the gate, especially if you’ve had to battle the long check-in lines at Strip hotels.

You can check into your room from 4 PM; everything should be pretty easy and straightforward. The front desk staff is accommodating and wants to thin any crowd at the entrance, which is a good thing for guests.

Front desk safes are available for storage before check-in. They’re free to use and quite secure. Of course, you may ask for early check-in when booking your room, but this will be subject to availability. You may incur a small fee for checking in early.

The check-out process is smooth, as well. You can opt for express check-out or go the traditional route by checking out at the front desk. There’s no shortage of friendly, smartly dressed, and helpful employees at the check-in area.

You have until 11 AM to check out of your room, but you can request late check-out. Note that late check-out without prior notification can result in a fee being added to your bill. Thankfully, you can use front desk safes to store your luggage after checking out. Better yet, it’s always open, night or day.

Room Status and Conditions

Let’s face it; Plaza Hotel and Casino is an icon in downtown Las Vegas. It has been around for over half a century, so the rooms are expectedly dated and could use a refresh. Although the rooms are old-looking, they’re usually squeaky clean, pleasant, and neat. The beds and beddings are top-of-the-line, while the furniture is so-so.

The décor is somewhat muted, perhaps a nod to the hotel’s iconic status. However, it could be improved to lighten up the living space and bedroom ambiance. If there’s one thing Plaza rooms excel at, it’s accessibility – every inch of the room and throughout the property is very accessible.

One notable downside is that the walls between rooms are on the thin side. You’ll probably hear everything your next-room neighbors are saying or doing. That’s a big shame.

Bottom line – Plaza rooms balance the modern and the old. Some are handsomely upgraded with lots of space and prettier décor, while others are a bit dated. The fair room rates are hard to beat, though.

Restaurants & Bars at Plaza Hotel and Casino

Plaza Hotel and Casino has a modest range of dining options. You’ll find a nice mix of restaurants, from fast-food outlets housed in a centrally located food court to a high-end steakhouse with an à la carte menu. Vegas frequenters might tell you that the dining choice here is limited, but the hotel makes up for this shortcoming with quality and variety.

The hotel also plays host to an excellent selection of three bar/lounges, with another one in the pipeline. However, most are tucked inside gaming areas, which may put off non-gamblers. The range of drinks and food is certainly impressive.

Top Dining Spots at Plaza Hotel and Casino

There are multiple restaurants and eateries to suit all budgets, taste buds, and cuisine preferences. Savor a leisurely prime cut of beef, enjoy a quick bite at the food court, or down your chow with a smooth sip of cocktail at happy hour — it’s all possible at Plaza Las Vegas.

Cooked-to-order breakfast is available.

Oscar’s Steakhouse

Oscar’s Steakhouse is the hotel’s most upscale dining option. Nestled in the iconic glass dome of the Plaza Hotel, this fancy steakhouse has a buffet-style menu and is named after the infamous mob lawyer Oscar Goodman. The ambiance inside the restaurant is glamorous, as the windows overlook the mesmerizing Fremont Street lights.

The dining room, bar, and lounge at Oscar’s Steakhouse are open every Wednesday through Sunday, from 5 PM to 10 PM. The award-winning restaurant serves a delicious menu of fresh seafood, beautifully-aged steaks, and in-house sides. During Happy Hour, you can sample a diverse wine list, as well as delicious cocktails and beer.

Hash House A Go Go Las Vegas

A Las Vegas homegrown brand, Hash House A Go Go has a new home in Plaza Hotel and Casino. The restaurant is known for its oversized portions, creative menu, and fancy presentations. The breakfast choice is beyond impressive. It opens from 7 AM to 2 PM.

Pop Up Pizza

Part of the Pop Up Pizza restaurant chain, this option is the best place to try hand-tossed gourmet pizzas made with exciting fresh toppings. Vegan fare, vegetarian options, and fresh salads are available, too. It opens daily from 11 AM to midnight, except on Fridays and Saturdays when it serves its fresh pizzas until 2 AM.

Food Court

There’s a Vegas-style food court onsite at Plaza Hotel. It includes a handful of major fast-food joints, including:

McDonald’s
Pinkbox Doughnuts
Coffee Bar
Fresh Mexican Grill
Subway
Manchu WOK®

Most eateries and cafés open as early as 6 AM, and some stay open 24 hours.

Drinking Options

There are three bars & lounges at the Plaza Hotel and Casino: Omaha Bar, located on the casino floor; the Sand Dollar Downtown, the go-to spot for craft cocktails and live music; and the Sportsbook Bar, also located on the gaming floor next to William Hill Sportsbook. The third option — CAROUSEL BAR— is under renovation and will come online soon. The 2,500-square-foot spot will offer a unique outdoor bar experience, with guests enjoying wine, beer, and handmade cocktails.

From our experience, and that of most past guests, drinks, and cocktails tend to be fairly priced at Plaza Las Vegas compared to other popular downtown hotels and clubs.

Amenities and Features at Plaza Hotel and Casino

Plaza Hotel and Casino is a mid-range hotel, which is reflected in the array of features and amenities available to guests. Even so, there are enough extras to keep an average Vegas visitor engaged and happy, including an outdoor pool, a casino, pickleball courts, a fitness center, a salon, and a regular line-up of live shows/entertainment.

Below, we list the various features and amenities you can expect as a guest.

Pools

The Plaza Hotel and Casino has a large outdoor pool. The rooftop pool deck spans a whopping 70,000 square feet, so you’ll have plenty of space to kick back and relax. As if that isn’t fantastic enough, the pool deck overlooks downtown Vegas and the famous Fremont Street.

A poolside bar will ensure you stay buzzed all day long (of course, with a bit of self-control and responsible drinking). The general pool atmosphere is lively, with vibrant colors, bar service, and live DJ sessions. The view of the D*Face’s Behind Closed Doors mural is even more stunning from the pool area.

You don’t need a bottomless budget to live big and party hard at Plaza, unlike other popular Sin City properties, particularly those found on the Las VEGAS Strip. You can rent daybeds and cabanas stocked with food and refreshments for as little as $100 a day. Complimentary towel service is available to hotel guests in the pool area.

Spa, Salon, and Fitness Center

The hotel doesn’t have an onsite spa, which is disappointing, but hey, this is a budget property downtown! To make up for that, it has a state-of-the-art fitness center teeming with strength-training equipment, cardio machines, and free weights. The gym staff is always on hand, and the facility is clean, comfortable, and organized.

The 5,000-square-foot facility offers group classes and personal trainers, and you can book a massage or relaxation treatment at the gym for either half an hour or a full hour. The fitness center is open to non-guests for a $25 fee per day.

Pickleball Courts

The hotel has one championship court and 12 pickleball courts within the pool deck. The courts are open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM. Pickleball equipment for rental and lessons are available.

Gift Shop

Located next to the lobby in the food court, the gift shop at the Plaza sells Vegas souvenirs and presents, as well as last-minute travel necessities, sundries, snacks, magazines, toiletries, and drinks. It’s open daily.

Studio 71

If you wish to snap Instagram-ready photos downtown, look no further than Studio 71 at Plaza Hotel and Casino.

Business and Wedding Amenities

Plaza Hotel doesn’t have dedicated business or wedding venues. However, they offer a ballroom, a banquet hall, and wedding services, including wedding planning, photography, catering, reception, and much more.

Live Shows and Entertainment at the Plaza Las Vegas

The Sand Dollar, a popular local drinking spot with fantastic live music, opened its second location at the Plaza Las Vegas in 2021. The new live music bar offers nightly entertainment as well as delicious refreshments.

If you enjoy stand-up comedy, The Comedy Works is the place to be. Some top touring comics, including Gilbert Gottfried, Nick Di Paolo, Jamie Kennedy, and others, can be found inside the Plaza Showroom. Check their schedule to discover who is scheduled to perform.

Rodeos are held outside at the Core Arena. It is the city’s only permanent outdoor equestrian center. Throughout the year, the arena hosts various events, including the Las Vegas Days Rodeo and events during the National Finals Rodeo.

Parking

If you plan to drive your own car, you’ll be glad to know that parking at the hotel is easy and convenient. All guests enjoy free parking in the self-parking garage at Carson Avenue and Main Street. You can take a ticket when you enter the parking garage and have it validated during check-in.

Casino at Plaza Hotel and Casino

As the name suggests, the casino is Plaza’s crown jewel and the star attraction. It houses all the big hits, including 700 casino slot machines and 100+ gaming tables, plus a sportsbook and racebook, both powered by William Hill. The casino floor is modestly sized by Vegas standards, spanning 80,000 square feet of gaming space.

The casino includes a bar, the Omaha Bar, known for drinks specials, happy hour, and tasty Coladas with varying flavors from Piña to the margarita.

Slots at Plaza Casino

The casino at Plaza Hotel and Casino has a strong focus on slots. They have classic slot machines, high-limit slot machines, penny slots, sleek 3D slot machines, and much more. The gaming floor is teeming with a wide range of slot machines.

You can wager as little as 1¢ and as high as $100 per spin. There is a decent selection of progressive jackpots, as well. The casino also runs 777 slot tournaments on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Plaza is also planning to add a smoke-free slot gaming space. The 2,500-square-foot gambling hall will be social media-friendly and feature 80+ machines, including the recently released Christopher slot game.

Table Games at Plaza Casino

There are more than 100 gaming tables on the casino floor at Plaza Hotel. They offer multiple variants of casino classics like blackjack, American roulette, craps, and poker games, such as High Card Flush, Let It Ride, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.

Unfortunately, baccarat tables are nowhere to be seen, as do European and French roulette tables. Likewise, there are no high-limit gaming tables here, so high-rollers might have to scratch their itch elsewhere.

Bingo at Plaza Hotel Las Vegas

Plaza Hotel and Casino has the only bingo hall in downtown Vegas. So, if you’re a fan of the game of chance, you don’t want to miss this spot. The 280-seat bingo room hosts a wide variety of bingo tournaments and cash ball bonus games. Bingo Millions progressive jackpot is part of the action here.

Keno at Plaza Casino

If you’re a fan of the casino game Keno, you’ll feel at home at Plaza Hotel Las Vegas. Keno games run daily every five to eight minutes Wed-Fri from 11 AM to 7 PM. A Live Keno lounge was recently opened on the casino floor.

Plaza Hotel and Casino Review: The Verdict

Plaza Hotel and Casino is a classic downtown Vegas property that has many things going for it. The hotel delivers more value than most Vegas hotels, and past guests couldn’t agree more. The rooms are clean and pleasant. And while a little dated, they boast impressive features and are priced below most other downtown Vegas hotels—no wonder the property has one of the highest repeat customers in Sin City.

Expect to enjoy a great time at a low price here. Amenities are not exceptional, but who’d say no to an outdoor pool deck with cabanas, a poolside bar, daybeds, and lounge chairs? The casino is undoubtedly the hotel’s main feature, offering 80000 square feet of pure gambling bliss. Fans of slots, bingo, table games, video poker, and Keno are in for a treat.

When all’s said and done, Plaza Hotel and Casino is a 4-star property ideal for budget travelers who don’t mind or even prefer being miles off-Strip.

Does the Plaza hotel have a pool?

Yes, Plaza Hotel and Casino has a 70,000-square-foot rooftop pool with plenty of amenities to match.

What movie was filmed at the Plaza Hotel Las Vegas?

Plaza Hotel Las Vegas has been featured in many movies, including James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever, Pay It Forward, The Mexican, Looney Tunes: Back in Action, The Girl Next Door, The Grand, and The Hangover 3.

Does the Plaza charge resort fees?

Yes, Plaza Las Vegas charges a $28 mandatory daily resort fee plus an occupancy tax of 13%.

How much does it cost to park at the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas?

If you’re a guest of Plaza Hotel, you’ll enjoy complimentary parking. If you’re a non-guest, you will pay a daily parking fee of $10 on Sunday through Thursday and $25 on Friday and Saturday.