I happened upon the Delano Las Vegas by accident and honestly, it was a turn of events that really opened my eyes to non-smoking, no-gambling hotels in Las Vegas.
Based on recent reviews at Tripadvisor, it seems to be doing quite well with those restrictions in place. Here is my experience.
Booking
I booked the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino for this trip but they upgraded me to a basic suite at the Delano during check-in. I knew they shared the same casino and property but didn’t know you could check in and get your key at the other desk.
These hotels are both members of the MGM Rewards program and I suggest you sign up before booking to get credits and discounts.
Check-In
So after checking in at the Mandalay I walked past the casino floor and down a nice hallway just past the sportsbook. This hallway was lined with interesting chairs and mirrors which I found several people using for photo ops and pit stops. My main social icon image was actually taken here.
I walked past the Delano front desk and straight up to my room. I will have to remember this for the next time in town. Could come in handy if one hotel is packed or facing some sort of delay.
Room
The Delano has basic suites up to the 18th floor, anything above that and you are in a VIP suite with significantly more square footage. I was on the 17th floor and happy as a clam.
I did a full walk-through video if you want to see additional details of the room and what it looked like.
The view was basic and gave me a nice shot of the tower along with the airport and the end of the strip. Overall a very, beige-y vibe that reminded me of a hospital, I can only imagine housekeeping challenges.
Bathroom
I totally missed the picture of the TV on the wall so you can watch while taking a bath, trust me, it was nice. Otherwise more muted tones and while everything was spotless it did show some signs of wear and tear.
The bathtub, a big thing for some readers, was extra deep and filled quickly, enjoy if you can.
Dining
Most of my dining was scheduled with Mandalay Bay restaurants since that was where I originally intended to stay. Of course, there is only one real restaurant at the Delano (and one coffee shop), Dellas Kitchen.
Here are the detailed reviews of the places I ate at in the Mandalay – STRIPSTEAK, Border Grill, Citizens, S Bar, and The Foundation Room.
Dellas kitchen
Open aired just off the lobby and known for their huevos rancheros, salted caramel sweet apple cream pancakes, and grits and greens.
I ordered the Huevos Rancheros, a nice tortilla on top of a bed of black beans. The tortilla had a nice crispy edge although the tomato sauce was a bit overpowering and could have used some chunks of tomato instead of just a purée. Overall wonderful flavor and preparation but it missed the Nevada desert mark.
The yogurt bowl came with granola but nowhere near enough. The pomegranates were just too much to grind and chew even though the yogurt was light and full. Replace the pomegranates with honey or more granola
The side of biscuits and gravy was good and included a little heat. The biscuits themselves were thin with a little crisp edge. No meat in the gravy which would have really set it off.
Nightclub
I did get a chance to hang out at the S Bar over on the Mandalay Bay side and hopefully, I will get back soon to see what the Skyfall Lounge is all about. I have heard it has the best views of the strip but other than that it’s just a cool place to hang out while not gambling.
If you have been to the Skyfall Lounge let me know what you thought in the comments.
Final Thoughts
I did like the fact that the hotel was smoke-free and gamble-free. Don’t get me wrong, I like to gamble and will gladly stay on the craps table until 3 in the morning if lady luck lets me.
It’s just that when I am done, I want to walk away and reset. I know Park MGM is similar and I have a feeling other casinos may follow the lead in the non-smoking policy.
While the rooms are nice I think I may stick with the more “Vegas” decor of “extra” found at the Cosmopolitan or Venetian. What about you?
