What's hot on the Las Vegas pool scene this season

04/29/2023

An unusually long, cold, wet winter perhaps delayed some visitors from enjoying the many pools on the Las Vegas Strip. But the pool season is in full swing now with the first string of 90-degree days of the year occurring the last week in April.

In a recent study based on social media data, Las Vegas had six of the top 10 most photographed swimming spots in the country. The 11-acre Mandalay Bay Beach, with its imported California sand and wave pool, was the most photogenic based on its popularity on social media, including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

The tropical-themed pool at the Mirage was second. With its 200,000-gallon shark tank aquarium, the Tank at the Golden Nugget was fifth. Red Rock Resort’s pool was seventh, Stadium Swim at Circa was eighth, and Encore Beach Club at Wynn Las Vegas was ninth.

These are just a few of the many choices guests have to take a refreshing plunge — or just enjoy some poolside refreshments — in the city. Here’s a sampling of what else is happening this season:

• Elia Beach at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas kicked off the pool season on April 20. Operated by the Wish You Were Here Group, it offers guests a beachlike atmosphere with Mykonos-inspired decor and an upbeat ambience. Bamboo-framed and fabric-draped cabanas create a picturesque setting. The space is for those 21 and older, and there is no cover charge.

Elia Beach’s new menu, curated by the chefs behind the hotel’s Kassi Beach House, includes shrimp tempura, beef tenderloin skewers and whipped ricotta served with sourdough bread. New this year, the Spa at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas will have a dedicated cabana for spa services.

Food and beverage minimums are required for the reservation of cabanas and daybeds, starting at $100 for daybeds and $150 for cabanas. For additional information and to make reservations, visit the Elia Beach website.

• The Wish You Were Here Group also created the Rouge Cabanas, an upscale, adults-only poolside experience at Red Rock Resort. The area features eight cabanas, several lounge-style seating options, a variety of culinary fare and a dedicated outdoor bar with live DJ entertainment.

Reservations are encouraged, with walk-ins available for both cabanas and tables. Cabana and table reservations include a food and beverage minimum, which waives the traditional rental fee. General admission and bar seating is complimentary on a first-come, first-serve basis.

• The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has an array of rooftop poolside events throughout the summer. The Poolside Fitness and Brunch, featuring a yoga class, is held at 7 a.m. on the first and third Friday of each month through Sept. 15. Dive-in movies are shown on the resort’s 65-foot digital marquee at 8 p.m. every Monday from May 22 to Sept. 22.

• Aria’s lavish pool area unveiled an expanded pool bar this year. A renovated lounge space includes six TVs and a reimagined menu of refreshments.

•  MGM Grand’s 6.5-acre area boasts four swimming pools, three whirlpools, waterfalls and a lazy river. A refreshed Dive Bar has four frozen drink machines with a walk-up area for ordering drinks.

•  The Oasis Pool at Luxor, with four pools and four whirlpools, hosts Temptation Sundays, Las Vegas’ longest-running LGBTQ+ pool party, returning in May.

• The Park MGM Pool is designed to be reminiscent of a European country estate’s secret garden. Lush blooms and vines serve as portals to each area, and several poolside bars serve signature cocktails and light bites.

• The Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas has an elevated pool bar menu and private cabana experiences. In a tranquil setting, guests can enjoy fresh, citrus-marinated mahi tacos, a health-conscious Buddha bowl or the spicy diablo flatbread.

• Athena Infinity Ultra Pool at Resorts World Las Vegas is an adults-only area overlooking the Strip. Its menu has a selection of Mediterranean-inspired beverages and bites.

• The Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis at Caesars Palace has seven distinct pool experiences, including five swim-up blackjack tables and 48 cabanas.

• On the 11th floor of the Cromwell, Drai’s Beachclub has scheduled a diverse lineup of entertainers throughout the summer. There are 75 VIP bottle service tables, poolside daybeds, two full-service bars and unparalleled views of the Strip.

• For those seeking a party atmosphere, the Liquid Pool Lounge at Aria,
Marque Dayclub at Cosmopolitan, the Wet Republic Ultra Pool at MGM Grand
and Daylight Beach Club at Mandalay Bay all deserve consideration.