Fodor's Expert Review The Cromwell

Caesars Entertainment has transformed Bill's Gambling Hall into the only small boutique hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. The results are stunning: inviting rooms with hardwood floors, plush furnishings, and a Parisian flair. Bathrooms have steam showers, and every floor has a coffee station for guests in the morning. On Friday and Saturday, guests are invited to sip bubbly with the general manager. Downstairs, the swanky casino is home to Giada, the first restaurant of celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis (who is on-site more than you might think). Upstairs, on the roof, is Drai's, a nightclub and pool area that raves (way too loudly) all night long.

room

The Cromwell is small but mighty. Reminiscent of a Parisian-style apartment, the rooms feature hardwood floors, plush seating and antique trunk-style furnishings, giving them a modern and vintage flair.

The small size and energetic nightlife means not the quietest hotel experience. Request a room in the middle of the building to avoid street and rooftop noise from Drai’s Nightclub.

Photo: Deluxe Room - 2 Queen Bedroom / The Cromwell Hotel Las Vegas

Photo: Deluxe Room Living Area / The Cromwell Hotel Las Vegas

Photo: Deluxe Room - 1 King Bedroom / The Cromwell Hotel Las Vegas

bathroom

High-end bath products and a rain shower experience make the small size of the bathroom feel that much more luxe, which also has a window. There’s a vanity with a Hollywood-lit mirror and a hair straightener, which should make the ladies feel extra glamorous.

Photo: Gallery Suite Bathroom / The Cromwell Hotel Las Vegas

Photo: Double Vanity Bathroom / The Cromwell Hotel Las Vegas

lobby

The Cromwell thrives on maximizing the drama despite its small size. The circular lobby bar, Bound by Salvatore, is robed in dark tones, with low lighting and gold and neutral-tone curtains adding to the mystery. But what’s not mysterious is the man behind the menu—Salvatore Calabrese is perhaps one of most famous mixologists in the world. He’s behind the bars of London institutions Dukes and the Library Bar at the Lanesborough Hotel, as well as his own eponymous joint. Many swear by his martini, dubbed “the best in the world.”

pool

The rooftop Drai’s Beachclub has daybeds, cabanas, and bungalows, plus that amazing view of the Strip.

gym

There is a 24-fitness room located behind the lobby.

dining

The Cromwell put its egg in one basket when it came to dining, and its bet has paid off. Giada De Laurentiis’ first restaurant in Vegas, Giada, has become a destination for serious foodies. The dining room is one of the most beautiful in the city, with window views of the bustling corner of Las Vegas Boulevard. The food? Simply out of this world, from the antipasti bar to the pizza to the pasta.

drinking

You won’t need to find another watering hole once you’ve planted yourself at Bound, which features live music nightly. Plus, its cocktail menu is so innovative, whether you’re looking for a classic Old Fashioned or something more unusual, such as the Cromwell Cocktail, made with Cîroc Red Berry vodka, strawberry liqueur, strawberry purée, fresh orange juice and maple syrup with a hint of balsamic vinegar.

YOU SHOULD KNOW As mentioned, The Cromwell has some of the smallest rooms in the Strip at under 400 square feet. And they’re also dark, which is part of the ambiance the property is going for. If you’d like more natural light, request a south-facing room or a corner spot on the west end.