Upgrades, Enhancements, Location Make Vegas’ Plaza Hotel & Casino a Good Bet Downtown
by David Yeskel
Until a few years ago, downtown Las Vegas was primarily defined by the Fremont Street Experience – the blocks-long, casino-and-entertainment district covered by the impressive Viva Vision canopy. But with new and enhanced hotel products, trendy restaurants in the Fremont East district, art installations, and cultural activities, downtown has now become a destination unto itself, drawing an increasing number of visitors.
After a series of recent upgrades and enhancements, The Plaza Hotel & Casino, directly facing the Fremont Street Experience, is now well-positioned to capture some of that business. The property’s rich history dates back to its opening in 1971 as the Union Plaza, a homage to the Union Pacific Railroad Depot, whose station and ticket windows were directly connected to the hotel.
With nearly 1,000 rooms and suites split between two towers, The Plaza offers a range of comfortable accommodations that fit nicely within its midscale niche. The entry-level Deluxe rooms (starting at under $100 including resort fee on some midweek dates), which feature rich furnishings in a comfortable setting, represent a good value proposition in downtown’s hotel market. The newly remodeled Luxe rooms – starting at about $30 more per night than the Deluxe accommodations – feature a more contemporary look with modern furnishings and updated/reconfigured bathrooms.
Bearing the name of former Las Vegas Mayor and infamous mob defense attorney Oscar Goodman, Oscar’s is a classic Las Vegas steakhouse inside the property’s iconic glass dome with perfect views of the Fremont Street Experience. Go for Oscar’s Chopped Salad, Crazy Phil’s Onion Soup, and Manny’s 9-oz. Rip Cap, but be sure to finish with the incredibly rich and warm Deep Dish Chocolate Cookie – topped with vanilla ice cream, of course. Other notable outlets on the property include Hash House a Go Go, serving massive portions of “twisted farm food,” Pop-Up Pizza, and social media-worthy Pinkbox Doughnuts.
Recent upgrades and enhancements
In mid-2023, the Plaza’s Main Street facade and porte-cochere were transformed with four new venues: The open-air Carousel Bar, decorated with moving carousel horses (but not for riding) directly facing all the action of the Fremont Street Experience; an alfresco rooftop patio at Oscar’s Steakhouse; a can’t-miss Pinkbox Doughnuts outlet; and slot influencer Brian Christopher’s smoke-free and social media-friendly gaming space. A relatively new live music venue, The Sand Dollar Downtown, features local headliners and craft cocktails.
The property’s casino, which will get a much-needed refresh in the coming year, still offers players more liberal odds than most Strip casinos, including 3:2 Blackjack payouts on every table; single-zero roulette; and 10x odds on all Craps tables.
Retro pool deck, new pickleball courts, & bingo hall cater to a diverse clientele
The Pool at the Plaza offers what management calls a “retro Palm Springs meets classic downtown Las Vegas” outdoor space with a wet deck, hot tub, private cabanas, bar, and food truck. With 13 new Pickleball courts adjoining the pool deck, the Plaza has the distinction of being the only hotel/casino in Las Vegas with that number of courts dedicated to the fast-growing sport.
Underscoring the importance of public art in the downtown area, The Plaza boasts three, impressive 21-story murals by internationally known artists on its North Tower.
Other recent property upgrades include a multimillion-dollar renovation to the convention center, including downtown’s largest ballroom with upgraded A/V; a refurbished bingo hall (the only one downtown) with 200 new electronic bingo units; and the Plaza Gym, a 5,000 sq. ft. facility that offers guests a modern, urban-style gym that’s a convenient hybrid between a boutique CrossFit gym and standard hotel fitness center.
Located adjacent to the Plaza, the CORE Arena is downtown’s first and only equestrian center with 80 equine stalls for year-round use.
Miss Behave’s “Mavericks,” a show the producers call a “flirty, filthy, and fabulous blend of comedy, circus, burlesque, and variety,” will kick off a recently announced residency in the property’s vintage showroom this October. Meanwhile, to further enhance downtown’s ambiance and provide a service to the community and visitors, The Plaza will feature a free fireworks show every Friday night this summer.
And there’s another built-in advantage to a stay at The Plaza – or at any property in the immediate downtown area: restaurants, shopping, entertainment, museums, and other cultural attractions are almost all within a 15-minute walk. No rental car needed, no parking expense incurred; no traffic hassles.
There’s a renaissance happening in downtown Las Vegas, and The Plaza is an integral part – and conveniently right in the middle – of it.
