Thank you to Waldorf Astoria for hosting my stay so I could experience the property first hand to write this review.
If you had asked me five years ago whether I would voluntarily drive 4.5 hours to America’s neon casino playground, I would have laughed. You couldn’t pay me to go to Las Vegas. The flashing lights, smoky casinos and marathon nights just weren’t my scene. But Vegas has evolved—and so have I.
Today, the city offers something entirely different: luxurious boutique hotels without casinos, refined dining that rivals New York and Los Angeles, and world-class entertainment that doesn’t require a 2am bedtime.
This is how I experienced two nights in Vegas like a grown-up: indulgent, stylish and back in bed before midnight.
Home Base Matters
Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas is the quintessential adult stay, the pinnacle of sophisticated luxury with a sense of serene calm. As soon as I booked my Waldorf experience, the concierge reached out by email to ensure my days were personalized to my liking, from arrival time and dietary restrictions to room preferences and help with planning a special occasion.
Tucked above the bustle of the Las Vegas Strip, my room was a destination getaway, with classic style and contemporary edge – neutral palettes, rich woods, plush textiles, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the desert horizon and Vegas skyline. A grand glamorous bathroom complete with rainfall shower and deep soaking tub are just the things a girl needs to get excited about returning “home” after a day (or night) out.
Every space in the suite felt purposefully designed to help one breathe and relax. A plush robe is ready for lounging and a click of a button next to the bed closes the blackout curtains. Surprisingly, sleep felt easy – the room was so quiet and sheltered from any disturbance.
Dine with a Vegas View
Just a few floors up, on the 23rd floor, newly renovated Peacock Alley awaits, not only for the hotel’s signature Afternoon Tea service, but also for an indulgent dinner that includes a glitzy Vegas view – without noise or chaos. On a plush couch in this dreamy glam powder puff setting, peruse the exceptional menu.
I began with a fitting Rebel Without A Cause Espresso Martini (Ketal One Orange, and Dulce de Leche) accompanied with a tray of tater tot caviar glued with dollops of crème fraiche. This course felt like an exquisite way to start, or end the night, in my case. The uber-fresh sushi that followed, prepared by a 40-year Japanese sushi master, was some of the best reasonably-priced sushi I’ve ever devoured. Black Opal Chimichurri Wagyu Steak Frites, perfectly cooked, sent me over the edge of culinary hedonism.
It’s Showtime
Prior to dinner, I was whisked right to the front door of The Sphere for The Wizard of Oz, thanks to Waldorf’s complimentary car service. The full moon cast a glow above the Vegas orb as the exterior LED screen mirrored nature in a surreal way. The 18,600-seat entertainment arena had me holding on from dizzying heights while the film’s story fully captured my attention, as wind shook the seats, apples dropped, leaves fell, and at times it felt like being inside the storyline of Kansas and the Emerald City.
Art Immersion
The second day, I wanted to feel the sunshine, so I walked to the next immersive experience – an interactive art installation known as Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart, located within AREA15. I cruised by the Bellagio to admire the dancing fountains and the lobby’s always-over-the-top installations before hailing an Uber for the last stretch on the highway. After watching the Meow Wolf documentary many years ago on Netflix, I had always dreamed to visit the original one in Santa Fe. Vegas is certainly the next best place to witness this wild surreal supermarket version, that acts as a portal to other worlds. Filled with mind-bending art and a hidden narrative mystery to uncover, I spent a few hours exploring the colorful worlds – like an unexpected maze of art, storytelling, and immersive experiences. The “grocery store” – filled with products that, when you look closely aren’t what they seem – was hilarious. You can even purchase many of the outlandish items to take home. Hilarious, bizarre, and otherworldly, curiosity is rewarded here.
In the indoor-outdoor hub known as AREA15, I noticed a new pink Malibu Barbie Café, a Liftoff Bar and Ride where visitors dine in the sky, and a whole dark zone area near Meow Wolf, filled with glow-in-the-dark bars and eateries. It felt trippy to go from a sunny desert day, to entering into a dark world.
After the art immersion, I was ready to return to The Waldorf, to rest poolside. The peaceful pool sanctuary above the Strip did not disappoint. Perfect for a nap, their cozy cushioned lounge chairs lulled me into a power nap on the expansive quiet elegant deck. No chaos. All calm. The setting felt too good to be true in Vegas.
Mizumi’s Tranquil Tasting Journey
The Waldorf’s serenity had me geared up for the next solo culinary romp, at the Wynn Las Vegas, for an artful dining experience at Mizumi, which easily turned into one of the top ten meals of my life. I know that statement is so overplayed, but my night at this unexpected dining destination, in view of a 90-foot waterfall, felt like being transported out of the dusty desert into a Japanese teak room with garden.
While others were celebrating birthdays all around me, I was mindfully savoring each course in this Zen retreat – first with an Espresso Martini made with Vanilla Vodka and coconut pandan sochu, then with barrel aged sake to complement each small artful plate – with a choice over 60 varieties of sake and Japanese-inspired cocktails.
First, uni cold noodles with sweet shrimp arrived with gold flecks and caviar, then another stunner was presented – Japanese Madai Snapper Sashimi thinly spread across the plate with dallops of color from flowers, watermelon radish, shio kombu, peas, and salmon roe. The Lobster tempura appetizer might be what I’d request for my last bite in life – while the fresh sushi plate with blue crab handroll and ikura, plus a Crispy Rice topped with Spicy Tuna Sushi course were close seconds.
Meat lovers must try Mizumi’s sliced Japanese wagyu; Japanese Wagyu Gyoza with Yonezawa beef and Hokkaido snow beef; or Robatayaki perfectly charred with flavor – Braised Wagyu Short ribs, Crispy Chicken Wing, and Chilean Seabass. Eat slowly and try not to shed a tear, the execution of each dish shines through with precision and purity. “Bravo Bravo!” is what I quietly whispered aloud after the lingering masterful gastronomic affair at Mizumi. For those who really want to up the romance, book the unique floating pagoda table set on a private deck over the pond via a private path.
Indulgent Self Care
After a nighttime salt soak bubble bath, I woke up the next day ready for the Waldorf’s high-rise spa. This super serene light-filled spa impressed with sauna, steam, bubbly chair spa jacuzzi jets, and an Experience Shower, where a push of a button offered varying pressures and temperatures from jets all over the walls with settings like Arctic Blast or Rainforest Spritz. The spa’s numerous relaxing areas are designed for privacy and rest, while taking in the Vegas views.
The warming Vitality Massage, with castor and cardamom included a belly massage and pressure points on the face and feet. This special treatment helps with detoxification, stimulating lymph nodes, and blood flow to the stomach, feet, and head. As I get older, I am all about a massage that promotes digestion and metabolism. Who would have thought a wellness routine would be elevated in Las Vegas?
The Wild Card
To round out my solo journey, I connected with a childhood friend who happened to be in town on business, for a 4-hour lunch at the Venetian hotel. Nestled in at Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano, we began with grilled calamari and mozzarella, served with herb focaccia, then rounded out our afternoon feast with rich plates of fresh pasta – prosciutto and mortadella tortellini topped with shaved truffle and a bowl of Casonzei, pork and veal ravioli with pancetta floating in Parmigiano. Paired with a full-bodied Brunello, of course.
After long hugs and a beautiful afternoon of reminiscing on close to 40+ years of friendship, Las Vegas felt complete. I was reminded that it’s possible to do Sin City on your own terms, luxurious and low key, indulgent and comforting. I can’t wait to go back!
