Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

It's impossible to forget you're in the Hard Rock, no matter where you go in this rock-fixated joint: even the hall carpeting is decorated with musical notes. The rooms are large, with sleek furnishings, Bose CD-stereos, and flat-screen plasma TVs that show continuous music videos on one channel. Some beds have leather headboards, bathrooms have stainless-steel sinks, and the double French doors that serve as floor-to-ceiling windows actually open. The Hard Rock's pool area -- a tropical beach-inspired oasis with a floating bar, private cabanas, and poolside blackjack -- is a favorite filming location for MTV and popular TV shows. Very crowded (but fun) public areas offer plenty of opportunities for people-watching. It's possible to score reasonable rates here on weeknights -- the Hard Rock has definitely lost a bit of its arrogance, thanks to all those competing hipster-infested hotels in town, and works harder to please guests. The Rock Spa is one of the coolest places in town to get a massage.

The Casino. Slots have guitar-neck handles, blackjack layouts are customized with rock-related art, craps tables are adorned with Grateful Dead lyrics, and the rock music plays nonstop. The machines not only look good, but the player's club is surprisingly generous with bonus programs that are more like a locals-oriented casino than a tourist trap. There's a fun pickup bar in the middle that's designed for eyeballing the miniskirts walking by. Though you have to look for the tables with the best rules, it's usually a lively place to play, and the young and good-looking dealers often have as much fun as the players.

Because of the extremely modest original construction of the Hard Rock, the small sports book was made into a separate area closed off from the main casino -- with its own bar, this self-contained environment is a haven from the craziness outside. Head out to the pool for swim-up blackjack tables.