Circa Resort & Casino pays homage to old Las Vegas in the best way possible. The nods to Downtown Las Vegas and the classic Vegas beginnings can be seen throughout the casino and even in the rooms—the decor is cheeky but never cheesy. The award-winning resort is the newest resort and casino in the Downtown area and one of the newest hotels in Las Vegas.
You’ve likely seen the giant blue tower at night (from a distance, it almost resembles a spaceship), and the rest of the resort stands out too. We were invited for a hosted stay at Circa Resort & Casino to have a look at (and taste of) everything the newest Downtown Las Vegas resort has to offer and review it here for you.
A Downtown Las Vegas Staycation at Circa Resort & Casino
Check-In & Parking
If you’re staying at the hotel and bringing your car, make sure to utilize the valet parking. You can enter through the “Garage Mahal” or drop your vehicle off at the resort valet entrance right in front of the front desk. Valet for hotel guests is only $7—a veritable steal by valet standards, especially in Las Vegas.
Circa Resort & Casino is unique in many ways, one of which being that the property is 21 and over only. Any time you enter the property, you will need to show a valid photo identification that verifies your age. While this might be slightly daunting at first, you won’t have to constantly show your ID every time you get a drink or visit the bar, making for a more seamless transaction.
The check-in process was smooth and easy—if you’re looking for a room with two beds, just note that there is an extra charge since every bed is a king, and a room with two beds needs additional space (you won’t be sorry, though).
The Room
The hotel tower is extremely central in the resort, which makes virtually every bar and restaurant on the property just a brief walk from the hotel elevators (they were secure every single time we went through them).
Our room and the hallway leading to it boasted a very lush blue color scheme. We were surprised at the amount of space in the room (the L-shaped seating was comfortable and spacious), and the desk was perfect for getting in some work time from the comfort of a hotel room.
One recent feature we’ve seen in hotel rooms recently is the touchscreen panel for controlling lights, curtains and thermostats. While some have been a little less than user-friendly, this one was pretty straightforward (minimal fumbling around if you’re remotely tech-savvy). We also greatly appreciated the abundance of USB outlets on the nightstand—helpful for charging numerous devices at one time.
The bathroom was also relatively large with nicely updated fixtures—there are good hotel showers and bad hotel showers, and this one was definitely on the high end of the good spectrum. The mini-fridge under the desk was extremely useful for late-night snacks (and leftovers from Barry’s Downtown Prime) and quick munches in between brief (but frequent) work sessions.
Stadium Swim
The pool at Circa Resort & Casino is truly one of a kind—visitors can enjoy the Las Vegas sun, six swimming pools and a 40-foot tall screen (it’s also 143-feet wide). The pool area is perfect for enjoying the game from the water or one of the daybeds or cabanas. We visited Stadium Swim for some lunch and sunshine, and while our visit was brief, it would have been lovely to spend an entire afternoon at the pool.
If you’re visiting with a group, try opting for a pitcher of one of the Signature Creations (like the peach Margaritas or Kentucky tea) along with a Stadium Platter (like lobster corn dogs and chicken fritters).
Fremont Street & Downtown Las Vegas
Now, you didn’t book a room in Downtown Las Vegas just to sit in your room (although, with such a comfortable space, you would be forgiven if you chose to). One of the best features of Circa Resort & Casino is its prime location right on Fremont Street.
The Fremont Street Experience has come a long way in the last decade, cleaning up a lot of the streets that were once quite a bit worse for wear. While it’s still advisable to exercise caution (as it is when you venture out in just about any metropolitan area), the district is now littered with outdoor bars, live music stages, touristy gift shops and quick-service eateries.
We made our way to The Mob Museum on this visit since we were gifted free tickets last month for the 10th Anniversary Celebration. The museum lives inside the old historic courthouse, and the building is almost impossible to miss when you walk down Stewart Avenue.
Much of the museum is kid-friendly; though specific exhibits have an age limit (the Crime Lab and the Firearm Training Simulator), a significant amount of the content is a bit more mature, so use your best judgment when bringing children. One of the best features of the museum is The Underground Speakeasy and Distillery, which contains a Prohibition exhibit that should not be missed.
Barry’s Downtown Prime
Highly considered one of the best steakhouses in Las Vegas, Barry’s Downtown Prime combines old Vegas glitz and glam with all the modern amenities of a world-class steakhouse. The entrance is hidden in plain sight—the escalators can be found right next to Vegas Vickie.
The menu contains a variety of wet and dry-aged steaks in several sizes (items like the 44-ounce double ribeye steak are perfect for sharing), numerous seafood options (Atlantic salmon and Dover sole are among the offerings), several toppings like fresh truffles and King crab, and one of the largest selections of steak sides in town (over a dozen).
Make sure to save room for one of the restaurant’s decadent desserts like tableside baked Alaska or the campfire s’mores. If you’re dining with vegetarians, never fear. Barry’s Downtown Prime also has a special vegan menu with items like vegetable meatloaf and the roasted beet carpaccio.
Bar Crawling
There are several great bars inside Circa Resort & Casino—you can easily have a bar crawl without ever leaving the property. That’s actually encouraged, and Circa recently introduced its own “Ladies Night Out Bar Crawl.” The bar crawl includes drinks at Stadium Swim, Legacy Club, Vegas Vickie’s and the Overhang Bar for a price of $75.
If you’re not quite in the mood for the crawl, the numerous bars at Circa are perfect for a relaxing cocktail. Legacy Club is located atop the resort and has one of the best views in Las Vegas. The rooftop space has indoor and outdoor seating and a fun selection of cocktails and mocktails.
Vegas Vickie’s should not be missed. The iconic neon cowgirl is a fantastic photo opportunity, and the bar serves up drinks from morning to late at night (the bar also just debuted a new summer cocktail menu). The Mega Bar off the casino floor is the longest indoor bar in Nevada at 165 feet long.
The Overhang Bar overlooks the resort’s sportsbook—the most extensive sportsbook in the world. The bars are perfect spots to grab one more libation before tucking into your comfortable accommodations for the night.
Saginaw’s Delicatessen
Before you head home (wherever home is), get a fantastic breakfast to fuel you for the day ahead. Saginaw’s Delicatessen on the second floor serves up a delicious all-day breakfast, and the restaurant is also open 24-hours in case you want that breakfast at 3 a.m.
You’ll find breakfast classics (like “Nate & Sally’s French Toast”), deli favorites (like “Cousin Jeffrey’s Blintzes”) and delicious flavors (like “Circa’s Morning Wager”). It’s the perfect send-off after an energetic staycation at Circa Resort & Casino.
