Disney World is to children what Vegas is to adults, and no, that is not an understatement by any means. It is literally an adult f*cking playground where rules don’t exist and time is an abstract concept, especially when you can’t tell if it’s day or night from inside your hotel. Now usually, when you’re planning a trip, your hotel might not be your first priority because you figure you can pass out anywhere if you’re drunk, right? Well, you’re going to want to put some thought into where you stay in Vegas, because the hotels there are just made differently. They are destinations in and of themselves, and if you choose to, you could spend the entire weekend without stepping foot outside the property (which we wouldn’t judge you for).
The Cosmopolitan is no exception, and if you’re planning a group trip of any kind, you’re going to want to heavily consider staying here. Here are a few reasons why:
The Rooms
The suite options at The Cosmo are essentially created for large parties, especially the Wraparound Terrace Suite. The suite can also connect to the room next door, allowing your entire group to share accommodations without being squished. The Terrace Suite’s balcony doors open to a huge terrace that offers insane views of the Vegas skyline—the perfect place for all your Instagram photos-to-be.
Prices def vary by season and weekend, but chances are you’re only going to Vegas for 3-4 nights anyway and if you split that up by a few people, you’re likely spending $100 each night. If you’re really trying to ball out you can book the Bungalow, a three-level room (is this a room? a house?) with a private patio, outdoor kitchen and bar, rooftop plunge pool, and a prime view of Marquee Dayclub.
The Restaurants
You could eat every meal, plus two snacks, at this hotel during your entire trip and not even get halfway through their options. There’s a dining option for every mood, hungover included (looking at you, The Henry and The Juice Standard). To kick off your weekend you need to make a reservation at Rose. Rabbit. Lie., a supper club where the entertainment is so authentically fun (and not cheesy), you’ll forget you’re even supposed to be eating dinner. If you’re celebrating a birthday or a bachelorette party, this is your spot, plus the drinks make for the most IG worthy cocktails. Other dinner spots we’d recommend are Beauty & Essex, Scarpetta, STK, Blue Ribbon, and Zuma.
Breakfast and lunch are usually more chill in Vegas, just grabbing food when you have a chance as you’re running from hotel room to pool party to bar. You also won’t have to deal with everyone’s dietary restrictions if you go to Block 16 Urban Food Hall, which has six different restaurants within the space including Hattie B’s Hot Chicken (the famous one from Nashville), Tekka Bar: Handroll & Sake, and Ghost Donkey. This is def the fanciest food court you’ve ever seen.
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The Bars/Clubs
Clubs, restaurants, supper clubs, and bars—there are tons of places to grab a cocktail at The Cosmo. Honestly one of my fav pastimes at a hotel is going on a bar crawl without ever leaving the property. Your options here are plentiful but also offer variety. If you want a fancy yet interesting spin on a classic cocktail, hit up Vesper Bar (they also have a neon sign), for a tastebud-altering drink (and a bomb IG photo), go to The Chandelier bar, and if you want to slip away from the crowd, go to The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktail for prohibition-era speakeasy vibes. There are a few others dispersed throughout the hotel, but these are def our top favs.
Marquee Nightclub needs separate recognition because this super club is a monument in and of itself. This 60,000-square-foot club has three main rooms, the Main Room, the Library, and the Boom Box Room, and all make for an epic night out. There are always a ton of rotating DJs, plus it’s operated by the TAO Group so you know it’s legit.
Sahra Spa, Salon & Hammam
I honestly don’t know what I was more impressed with: the size of Marquee or the size of the spa. The spa has 30 treatment rooms, two workout areas, a salon with hairstylists and women who have done Britney Spears’ makeup. Yes, seriously. It also offers one of the country’s few authentic Hammam experiences and you can even reserve the Sahra Spa Penthouse Suite, which is exactly what it sounds like—an insane private room for you and your friends to get a bunch of spa treatments.
The Pools
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There are not one, not two, but three different pools at The Cosmopolitan to choose from. If you, like most people who head to Vegas this time of year, are looking to party allll day, you’ll be spending your time at Marquee Dayclub. This place gets WILD and is the epitome of a Vegas pool party. Trust us, you need to spend an afternoon here. Check the events calendar before going so you can plan which day to go based on what DJ is performing. Each tower at the hotel also has a much more low-key but still impressive pool. You can see right down the strip from the Boulevard pool (the bigger and more lively of the two) and the Chelsea pool is more of a chill little oasis.
The Casino
We all have that one friend who somehow knows how to gamble (like actually gamble, not just play the slots), so make them happy and take them to the 100,000-square-foot casino. If you want to tag along and try your luck, you can play one of their 1,300 slot machines or 120 individual gaming tables.
Everything Else
Treat yourself to a blowout from Drybar, a new bathing suit (because you didn’t pack 15 for a 3-day trip) from Molly Brown’s Swimwear, or a beyond-necessary IV from REVIV IV Wellness Spa all while never leaving your hotel (or taking off your pajamas, because yes we did that). And if you’re one of those people who work out on vacation (don’t understand you, never will), there are massive gyms in each hotel tower. This place is literally a mecca of everything entertainment and the reason why I’ve stayed here four out of the five times I’ve been to Vegas.
All images credit to The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas