Sometimes in life you get to that point where a fruity drink in a pool, or a nice dinner with an amazing view are the only thing that matters. I am at that point in my life again and I bet many of you are too. I am going to tell you about a place that I have been going to for 20 years , in my opinion it’s the best overall bargain in Las Vegas. That place my friends is the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino.
I am pretty much a “regular guy” , I work hard and when I take a vacation I want to have a blast, but I don’t want to spend a ton of money. What is important to me is that the things I spend my hard earned paycheck on, are worth it to me. I want my food to taste good, great service, good drinks and a great place to relax. I love Vegas but for the last 5-10 years it’s become so expensive at most places I can’t afford to have a good time. I mean, am I really going to spend $1000 for a bottle of Vodka and a chair at some club? I want value in what I get and I don’t want to have to take out a second mortgage just to have dinner with my wife.
I am going to give you a list of what I think is great about the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino (AKA The Strat.) and I think you will be pleasantly surprised at what I have to say.
Prime Rib from McCall’s Heartland Grill
The Food: The Stratosphere has an amazing and creative Executive Chef named Rick Giffen and he is not afraid to think out of the box when it comes to food. You want a great steak or a prime rib, check out McCall’s Heartland Grill . I love this place, the steaks are always perfectly cooked and the prices are super reasonable and if you are a fan of whiskey and bourbon you will love McCall’s as they have whiskey and bourbon flights to go with your amazing steaks. My hot tip for McCall’s is to get the steakhouse prime rib sandwich for $16.00 now that’s a good deal!
The 107 Sky Lounge. is my favorite place in the world for a drink before dinner. They have a fantastic happy hour with 1/2 price appetizers including the best pork belly around and 2 for 1 martini’s. The view is amazing and I love to watch the lights of the Las Vegas strip twinkle as I sip my martini, it kinda makes me feel that “Rat Pack” vibe. This place is so great, I would choose it to have the finale martini of my life. I could just sit down, relax, savor the view and sip away.
Level 107 SkyLounge Martini and a view
I like to dress up at least once during my vacation, so my wife and I can ditch our teenage kids and remember why we fell in love. The Top of the World Restaurant . I love restaurants that “revolve” but honestly the food those places usually isn’t the best. The food at the Top of the World is outstanding with French Chef Claude Gaty at the helm in the kitchen the creativity never stops. The menu is constantly evolving as Chef Gaty and Chef Giffen experiment with seasonal ingredients in order to come up with new dishes. Top of the World also serves the classics like steak, lobster and amazing seafood dishes. I can’t wait to go here again soon, trust me on this one, its a “must do” if you go to Vegas.
It’s not all about big steaks and fancy food, one of the best things about the Stratosphere is the food is great everywhere, and I NEVER say that! I am also, a big fan of the extensive pool food menu , from bacon wrapped street dogs to ahi tuna cones, the food at the pools is far from boring.
Sunset at the Radius Pool
The Pools: In order to make a place great, it has to have great pools. The Stratosphere has 2 awesome pools that are totally different from each other. The Radius Pool and Wet lounge is located on the top of the old tower that was part of the “Vegas World” hotel from back in the 90’s. The pool sat unused for many many years which is a shame because the pool deck has a phenomenal view of the city of Las Vegas (you see a theme here, I like views.) The best time to go to the Radius pool is during sunset, you can grab a drink in a coconut (yes, its really in a coconut) and just relax in a warm breeze and watch the sun go down, all while listening to some cool tunes from the live DJ.
Now I am a “cabana” guy, I like to have a place to relax, someplace to spend the day with my family while we hang out at the pool. The problem with getting a cabana at a nice Las Vegas pool is the cost you an arm and a leg, I mean its ridiculous. Well I am going to let you in on the best kept secret in Vegas. The cabana’s at the Elation Pool are totally affordable!! They start at $100.00 for a weekday and come with a pitcher of drinks and an appetizer! The cabanas are twice the size of other resorts and have a TV and couches, they are literally the perfect place for an 8 hour pool day! The pool itself was just remodeled with a brand new bar and decking so your feet don’t get hot when you chase down the errant pool volleyball.
Elation Pool Selfie!!
The People: What makes me keep coming back to the Stratosphere is not just the great food, amazing view and awesome pools. It’s the people that work there who make me keep coming back. I feel like a King, I feel important and even though I am pretty much a middle class guy, I feel like a high roller. The employees take pride in what they do and it shows. Things like that make all the difference to me when it comes to being able to relax, and that is what matters most.
So take my advice next time you are in Las Vegas, check out the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino and tell em Chris Cognac sent you. You never know, you might just run into me at the pool!