About our rating system“Bland” is a dirty word in Las Vegas. And its one that was often lobbed at the Monte Carlo hotel, the name of this property before it was given a $550 million makeover and reemerged as Park MGM. Was that massive outlay worth it? Well, the hotel now fits in far better with its surroundings, which include The Park outdoor entertainment space and T-Mobile Arena. And the guest lobby is more contemporary, having added an enormous sculpture of tree roots emerging from the center of the ceiling; that art work, along with fresh flowers and lots of bright, natural light, brings the park indoors. The guest experience is also more high tech. Gone is the standard walk up registration, replaced with kiosks with touchscreen tablets so you can check in with minimal human interaction if you so choose.
Going all in on the park theme, the newly renovated rooms are named after birds: Skylark, Nightingale and Nighthawk—and are done in either rich red or warm green tones. Walls are adorned with lovely little details such as smaller pieces of framed art, photos and knickknacks rather than the standard giant frame-hotel art that you’ll usually find over the bed. It’s meant to evoke city apartment living, and you wouldn’t be faulted for feeling like you’re staying at an AirBNB rather than a giant mega resort, even in the standard 400-square-foot rooms.
The renos also brought in more cosmopolitan choices for on-site eateries, such as pretty breakfast-and-lunch spot Primrose, as well as Chicago favorite Bavette’s Steakhouse. Perhaps most intriguingly, Las Vegas finally got its own Eataly on the Strip side of the property, as well as Los Angeles wunderkind Roy Choi with his fun Best Friend.
The final piece of the puzzle was the boutique, hotel-in-a-hotel addition, NoMad Las Vegas, whose 293 rooms sit in the top floors of the towers. This outpost is as beautifully appointed as the brand’s New York property, with carefully curated art pieces and bespoke furniture, and curious additions like the freestanding tub next to the bed in the Atelier suite. Oak flooring in the room is a nice, homey touch, though New Yorkers may feel a bit of size envy; some guest rooms are larger than plenty of East Village apartments, even if they’re decorated with the same artful sensibility.
