City Center Las Vegas

[Jason Atchley]

Anyone know anything about the new hotels Aria or Vdara?

I know Vdara just opened and Aria is opening soon. They look fairly comparable, but I am sure there are major differences. Has anyone here stayed at or been in Vdara yet?

 

[Real_Texas]

Vdara opened on 12/3 and is a non-gaming hotel with around 1500 suites, the room product is amazing. I was there on opening day and there is Bar Vdara in the lobby along with an Asian fusion restaurant named Silk Road.

ARIA opens on Wednesday, I was over there last week walking the casino floor and it is simply amazing! The look and feel of the casino, restaurants and architecture is like nothing I have seen in an urban atmosphere. The rooms look incredible though I haven't taken a room tour yet. Total ARIA room count is around 4000. The Elvis Cirque Theater looks really awesome, cant wait to see the show.

I'll probably have a little more to offer Tuesday after we go to Play Days in the casino and eat at a few of the restaurants.

 

[HornHawk]

Going in January and will see what all the hubbub is about. Was about 90% finished when I was there in August. The restaurants going in are all top shelf and will be eating at Michael Mina's new place there.

The interesting thing is to see how it fares in this economy. Could be a lift to the economy there as curious travelers step in to see what's going on, or it could be a billion dollar bust in a city with a ton of empty rooms. I'm betting it'll be somewhere in between and fare okay as the economy rights itself.

 

[ChiroHorn]

We stayed @ the Aria during Valentine's wknd. Superb hotel & super nice rooms. Connected to the upscale mall & the Bellagio by tram. Highly recommended. The Vdara looked like its twin.

 

[dalhorn1]

ChiroHorn, any suggestions on restaurants in the Aria or the rest of City Center? Have a room booked at the Aria for the last weekend of April.

 

[ChiroHorn]

There was a good one in the Crystals mall. Not sure of the name, but it's the one that looks like a tree house. Great food & drinks, but kinda pricey. Super svc too.

 

[Lidig8r]

Ok.. was in Vegas over the March 13 weekend.

On Friday night, we dined at Bar Masa, first floor of Aria. A fairly stark, 'urbanesque" interior.... BUT.. some of the best sashimi I have had in a very long time. (by way of standards, I think Blue Fish generally sucks, no longer eat sushi (waste of rice) and don't use soy mixed with wasabi). Wait staff was fabulous. Food is a bit pricey, but.. oh my.

The next night we ate at Twist... on the 23rd Floor of Aria. In the past, we have hit pretty much all the 4 and 5 star restaurants in Vegas... and this one compares very favorably. First, make reservations.. it's small restaurant (I think it seats... 64). Go a bit early, chill out and have a drink a the Sky Bar right next to it. Great views.. pretty people... great atmosphere... the food then at Twist is superbly done.. well crafted, great presentation, attentive wait staff. Could not have asked for a better dining experience.

It was a special event for us and when I made reservations a few weeks before hand, I told them that. I got a confirming telephone call the day before and they asked if we wanted anything special. We asked for a flower bouquet on the table of red roses and stargazer lillies... no problem... we asked for a special dessert.. in this case, a grand marnier souffle. they said ordinarily, they only have a chocolate souffle but...
so the next night.. dessert time... grand marnier souffle. And it was out of the park.

Would not hesitate to go back there.

Here's a review of it.
The Link