Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas still shining bright into its second decade: Travel Weekly
A stunning three-story crystal chandelier is the focal point of the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. When it opened on Dec. 16, 2010, the Chandelier Bar was seemingly created for Instagram, a platform that was launched just months earlier.
Guests can imbibe signature drinks in distinctive lounges under, within and over the shimmering structure, one of the many touches that made the Cosmopolitan special when it opened its doors and why it’s now become an integral piece of the MGM Resorts International’s Las Vegas portfolio.
The last newbuild resort on the Strip before Resorts World opened last year, the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has two high-rise towers, the Marquee and Chelsea, housing more than 3,000 rooms and suites, many with sliding glass doors opening onto private terraces overlooking the Strip.
Contemporary rooms project “urban elegance” and “eclectic charm” with splashes of unexpected art, wallpaper and photography. Marble-floored bathrooms feature deep soaking tubs and rain-like showers.
Helping complete the resort are more than two dozen restaurants, the 110,000-square-foot casino, the 3,200-seat Chelsea theater, 243,000 square feet of meetings space and a 43,000-square-foot spa and fitness facility. An ingenious underground parking garage was the city’s second such subterranean structure after Palazzo.
An emphasis on art
Digital artwork, including more than 500 displays of different shapes, sizes and resolutions, is built into the architecture. LED-plated pillars, with constantly changing imagery, greet guests in the registration area. Other serendipitously placed artwork abound, including large-scale paintings, photography, mixed media works and sculptures.
Art-o-mat machines, looking like cigarette dispensers, sell original small works of art by more than 400 collaborators.
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Even something as mundane as the Strip-facing Starbucks became a canvas for French artist and photographer Georges Rousse, who transformed it into an interactive, public artwork with paint, architectural flourishes and photography. What initially looks fragmented and chaotic becomes a unified illusion from a certain vantage point in the coffee shop.
Spiegelworld’s “Opium” show is an otherworldly, madcap adventure in an intimate theater setting. Audience members can see every wriggle, strain and unique achievement of athletic artists up close. The performers are not exactly bound to a hilariously raunchy script as they improvise and take audience members on a wild trip through space.
Foodie haven
Spiegelworld’s adjacent restaurant, Superfrico, described as “Italian American Psychedelic” and an entertainment experience in itself, is among the latest additions to the Cosmopolitan’s ambitious food and beverage program.
Wicked Spoon, which along with the Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace, pioneered the idea of individual servings at a buffet. Eggslut captures the essence of breakfast with every egg-inspired dish, Holsteins is the place to go for burgers and alcohol-infused milkshakes, and STK is a bustling bar and steakhouse.
Renowned chef and humanitarian Jose Andres has several options: China Poblano is his refreshing take on both Chinese and Mexican flavors; E is best described as avant-garde Spanish; and Jaleo features authentic Spanish tapas.
Restaurateur Chris Santos teams with Tao Group on Beauty & Essex, with twists on classic cocktails and shareable plates. Eric and Bruce Bromberg’s Blue Ribbon plates such favorites such as oysters on the half shell, bone marrow and fried chicken.
The Marquee Night Club and Dayclub, which hosts top DJs from around the world, and the Marquee Pool, which hosts movie parties in the summer and becomes a skating rink in the winter, are consistently popular draws.
A square bar dominates a relatively modest (at least by Strip standards) sports book. Guests can play billiards and other games while watching their favorite sports, and a barbershop is just a short walk away when the action on the screens subsides.
While MGM Resorts International works to fully include the Cosmopolitan under its umbrella, the resort will remain part of the Marriott Autograph Collection, and the Identity Membership & Rewards is still the players’ loyalty program.
An FAQ on the resort’s website handles many other questions guests might have about the transition to MGM Resorts ownership.
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