Palazzo

Palazzo Review

I always feel a bit decadent checking in solo to a suite. It seems like just a bit too much room for one person. But that's what Las Vegas is about -- a bit too much of all the good stuff. And that's where I was for the weekend, in a suite in the brand-new Palazzo Las Vegas.

In an everyone-should-feel-like-a-high-roller spirit of Las Vegas which I love, 650-sq-feet suites at Palazzo Las Vegas are standard. And you are lucky to be reading this, because I'm going to tell you all the cool things in the room that totally threw me when I walked in, sans bellman. (Having someone show me how the room worked might just have been worth that tip.)

First, when I walked into Suite 30-820, I should have flipped on the master switch right by the door to turn on every light in the suite, instead of trying to find switches on all the lamps. Second, I could have used the ultra-cool remote control that was conveniently hung on the wall near the bed to open and close the drapes instead of walking over to the window and cursing designers who left off the cords. Third, I might have turned of the glowing top of the TV console via the switch on the side, instead of leaving it on as a nightlight. (In my defense, I plead a combination of jet lag and too many stays in relatively low-tech hotel rooms.)

The bathroom was just the right combination of decadent and useful, with a built-in makeup table separate from the vanity, two sinks, and a separate shower and soaking tub. I was surprised to see the tub was not a whirlpool. I learned the surprising reason later: it was a sacrifice the Palazzo Las Vegas made for its Silver Green LEED certification. The first hotel thus far on the Strip to earn it, the Palazzo Las Vegas is the largest building with this certification in the world. So, in deference to the environment, I did without.

Because of the three-hour time difference I went straight to Dos Caminos to eat lunch or dinner, depending on which time zone you're counting. At check-in I was steered toward this glittery Mexican restaurant, the outpost to the original New York City location, as a good place for a casual meal, with a recommendation to "Try the guacamole." Let me add to that, try the El Camino margarita (with hand-squeezed lime), the tortilla soup (poured tableside), and the ceviche trio (tuna with cactus was my favorite). Everything at this upscale Mexican restaurant was fantastic, and the tequila menu was extensive. I even saw sipping tequilas like Don Julio. At night, the low-slung sofas in the lounge area becomes a hotspot just off the casino.

I was struck during my visit by how accessible Las Vegas makes rare experiences. I stopped by Double Helix, the wine bar in The Shoppes at Palazzo Las Vegas, where rare and boutique wines are sold by the glass. In Morels, a French steakhouse with a patio on the Strip, you can also order cult wines by the glass. I was able to sample a few of the 55 types of boutique cheeses they have on hand, served with (a new one on me) fresh honeycomb. (It's chewy and sweet, as you might expect, and worth a try.) I'm also still daydreaming about the food at Table 10, one of Emeril's restaurants. This one's named after the table in the original New Orleans location where they would meet at the end of every evening to plan the next night's menu.

The theater in Palazzo Las Vegas was built for Jersey Boys, the musical story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons which opened earlier this month. The show is really entertaining, whether or not you grew up with the songs. Honestly, I knew so little about them before I saw the show that I was waiting the whole time for the band's plane to crash (spoiler: they don't die and I was thinking of a different band altogether), and I still enjoyed the show immensely. At different times I felt like I was in the audience of a fantastic concert, on stage facing the lights, and behind the scenes as inspiration strikes for hit songs like Big Girls Don't Cry.

Back to the shopping -- which you can do after Jersey Boys, as the shops are open until midnight on weekends. The Shoppes at Palazzo Las Vegas is no ordinary mall. Many of the stores have special collections you can't find anywhere else, like diamond-encrusted dice at Piaget. Anchoring the Shoppes is a fabulously glitzy Barneys. I was surprised to see a Bauman Rare Books, the only place outside of Philadelphia and New York you can see one (and definitely worth a stop for book lovers and history buffs alike).

Spending a weekend at the Palazzo Las Vegas without venturing outside onto the Strip was surprisingly easy. The hard part was fitting it all in. Of course, I had to squeeze in some blackjack (I lost), a massage at Canyon Ranch SpaClub (a long walk from the Palazzo but worth it), and dinner at Restaurant Charlie (interesting and artistic cuisine). (Reviewed 5/1/2008)

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Palazzo is located: on the Las Vegas Strip, next to the Venetian.
3255 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 USA
Phone: (866) 263-3001; Reservations: (877) 883-6423
Web site: Palazzo
See Palazzo on a map of Strip Hotels

^{As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodations for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.}