Aria is an eye-catching modern, sleek, and stylish resort situated right in the centre of the Las Vegas strip. Its spectacular curved glass and steel exterior is, quite simply, a work of art and impresses me every time I see it. 

The resort is the centre point for the contemporary City Center complex which includes other high-end hotels as well as the lavish Crystals shopping mall.

There’s no doubt that Aria’s exterior and surroundings exudes an air of sophistication and prestige, and it is considered a high-end property in Las Vegas. 

But does the hotel and casino inside deliver on that reputation? I went along to take a look. 

Aria opened its doors in December 2009 and, at the time of opening, was one of the most technologically advanced hotels in the world, as well as one of the best new casinos around..

With features such as touchscreens located throughout the property and rooms that automatically adjust curtains, turn off unused lights and electronics, and regulate the temperature when a guest enters or leaves, it was cutting edge technology for 2009. 

The Aria name was actually inspired by opera, due to it forming the central feature of the CityCenter complex. If you’re not familiar with opera (like me), all you need to know is that arias are usually the focal point of the spectacle. At that time, it was supposed to be the only casino in the complex. Nowadays, it’s not.

Deliberately designed without a theme, the creators wanted the appeal to be ‘the beauty of the architecture.’ However, there was a focus on making the resort as environmentally friendly as possible. 

In fact, Aria became the largest hotel in the world to receive the LEED Gold certification for its environmentally friendly design which reduced energy consumption and improved air quality. 

Location 

I’d classify Aria as being in the centre of the Las Vegas strip, however, it is set back a little from the front. It sits with Park MGM and the other south strip properties to one side, and Cosmopolitan and Bellagio on the other. 

You can take an internal walkway between Aria and Park MGM. The walk is carpeted and comfortable and only took me around four or five minutes. 

Going in the other direction, you can access the Cosmopolitan through the Shops at Crystals complex. Here you’ll find chic, high-end, designer retailers, gourmet restaurants and art galleries. Think of it as a shopping mall for the rich. 

The walk is pleasant and takes only four or five minutes, but having stayed at the Aria previously, I know from personal experience it can get a little tedious having to walk back and forward through it every day to access the main strip. 

What I will say is though, tedious or not, once you’re through the shops, you are slap bang in the middle of the Las Vegas strip. Here you’ll be surrounded by Planet Hollywood, Paris, Cosmopolitan and Bellagio, so you’re right in the middle of the action. 

If you don’t fancy the walk, the Aria Express tram is also available and connects Bellagio, Vdara, Park MGM, The Shops at Crystals and Aria. 

This is a free and regular service. The only caution I would give is that the tram stops can actually still be quite a walk from the resorts. Don’t expect a quick hop-on service from the casino, allow a two to three minute walk to the tram stop. 

With regard to transport from Harry Reid International Airport, Aria falls within Zone 2 of the fixed rate taxi fee, which is $25 plus tip. There is plentiful parking, but for a fee. 

Aria has a sprawling casino floor covering 150,000 square feet, which is one of the biggest in Las Vegas. 

On first look the casino appears dark, moody and the sheer size was a little overwhelming. It has a large rectangular shape and seems to go on forever.  

However, on closer inspection, and with some familiarity, I could see the merits and distinguishing features that make the casino unique.

I mentioned earlier that Aria looks like a work of art with a focus on the aesthetics, and this is brought onto the casino floor too. 

When I walked around, I found various sculptures and art installations both on the casino floor and adorning the walls. Adding texture, sophistication, and let’s face it, a little bit of culture to a casino floor is certainly something different. 

This tone carries on throughout the casino in its furnishings, its glitzy bars and mood lighting. It almost has an up-class nightclub feel to it, but in a much more civilized setting. 

When I looked around at the other casino players, it’s clear that Aria does attract a certain clientele. Although there is no dress code in Las Vegas casinos, there was certainly fewer t-shirts and shorts, and more smart/casual than usual in Aria. 

The restaurants and bars that surround the casino mirror the theme, with elegant signage, smartly dressed servers and subtle artwork and furnishings too. 

I would summarize Aria casino as classy. Visiting the casino feels like walking into an expensive restaurant or swanky bar. The darkly lit casino floor brings a certain atmosphere that some will find appealing, but others may not. 

Table Games Selection

Table games are something Aria excels at. As well as a large poker room, you’ll find around 140 table games in total. 

All the usual favourite games are covered here, plus some interesting variations too. 

I enjoy a bit of roulette now and again and I found several tables with different bet levels. You can also play blackjack, craps, and baccarat plus different poker variants too. 

The Aria tables I played at were in good condition, the chairs were comfortable, and the dealers were professional and friendly as well. 

Classic table games:

• Roulette
• Blackjack
• Craps
• Baccarat
• Texas Hold’em
• Pai Gow Poker

Variants:

• Free Bet Blackjack
• Mini Baccarat
• Let It Ride Poker
• Three Card Poker
• Casino War
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em
• Pai Gow Tiles

Minimum bets at Aria are usually $15 - $25 and I haven’t seen it drop below this for a long time so don’t expect to find low bet tables. 

You can find the popular European Roulette here, but this requires much higher stakes due to the single zero. Blackjack pays 6:5 too, which can be an irritant to some. 

Aria has one of the busiest poker rooms on the strip. It has 24 poker tables and I often see it packed out due to daily tournaments at 1pm and 7pm and cash games that run 24 hours a day. Weekday buy-ins usually start at $140, rising to $240 at weekends.

Slots

With over 1,900 slot games, Aria is a slot player’s dream. As I mentioned earlier, the floor is actually so big its difficult to know where to start. 

I found a wide and varied selection of slots, ranging from some traditional three-reel mechanical slots to the most modern video slots in Vegas. Of course, all the big favourites are here including:

• Dancing Drums
• Wheel of Fortune
• Buffalo
• Huff n More Puff
• Quick Hits
• Dragon Link
• Regal Riches

For those of us that still live in hope of that big life-changing Vegas Grand Jackpot (someone has to win, right?) you can play wide-area progressives such as Megabucks. 

In August 2023, an Aria guest took home $10.1M on the Megabucks Gold Forge game on just a $5 bet. Nice to know it can happen, I suppose. It keeps the dream alive. 

Bar-Top Gaming

If you enjoy a bit of drinking and socialising while gambling (don’t we all?), then bar-top gaming can be really fun.

To play, simply pull up a chair, put some money in the slot and choose your game. Often, there’s a selection of video poker, blackjack, and some slots on these bar-top games. 

Comped drinks are a big draw for bar-top gaming. You have quick access to the bartender who will offer complimentary drinks, with a tip of course, depending on how much you’re spending on the game. 

The system differs, depending on the casino, as to how your spend is evaluated and how frequently you get offered drinks. Some use the bartender’s discretion, while more and more casinos are using a light system. The Aria, as far as I could tell, was the former. 

At Aria, you’ll find bar-top gaming at Gem Bar, Lobby Bar, Alibi, and the Sportsbook bar. 

When I went, I played at Gem Bar, which is a lovely spot, right in the centre of the casino. This is a great option as it offers multi-line video poker, and I enjoyed a comped malibu and diet coke while playing. 

Aria Sportsbook

As an MGM owned property, the Aria sportsbook is operated by BetMGM. 

The non-smoking sportsbook is a hive of activity, particularly on weekends or big game days and the atmosphere is lively and fun.

A wall of 90 high-definition screens shows sports of all types with big marquee events shown on one of the impressive 220-inch televisions.

What I really like about the Aria sportsbook is that you can sit back in comfort in luxurious armchairs and order cocktails and snacks during the game. I’ve taken advantage of this before myself, enjoying a pizza and a beer while watching some soccer. 

To place bets, you can go to the kiosks or use the electronic terminals which are scattered around the property.

Waitress Service

It is true that if you’re playing in Las Vegas, then you really shouldn’t be paying for drinks.

Free complimentary drinks are available by waitress service if you’re playing on slots or table games.

My personal experience is that waitress service isn’t the best at Aria, particularly if you’re playing slots. 

I found it to be very sporadic and not consistent, and largely dependent upon how busy the casino is and where you are located on the gaming floor. The one exception to this seems to be the Poker Room, which is exceptionally well served by the waitresses at all times of day.   

The sheer size of the casino and the long sprawling shape probably works against the servers here, as there’s a lot of space for them to cover. 

However, in previous visits, I have played slots for over an hour without one offer of a drink. 

The waitress service is certainly better when playing table games, where I was offered several drinks.

If complimentary drinks are important to you, then there’s two things that can improve your chances of getting them. Firstly, notice where the waitresses are based and sit on a slot close by. 

While this won’t guarantee you a drink, it will certainly ensure that waitresses will pass by frequently and you’ll be on their radar. Secondly, tip well. If your waitress knows its worth her time coming back, she’ll return regularly. 

When it comes to what drink to order, you can select from a range of beers, spirits, wine, and cocktails, just ask what they have on offer. At Aria, I often order a Baileys over ice or a Cosmopolitan. 

High Limit Gaming at Aria Casino

As you would expect from a casino with such an up-scale vibe, high limit gaming is both available and exquisite at Aria.

The high limit lounge features beautiful golden orange tinted décor, a spectacular cocktail bar and table games for both blackjack and roulette. 

Meanwhile, the high limit slots area looks like something from a sci-fi set with stylish fittings and individual slot booths. 

As with all high limit slots areas in Vegas, they are not reserved for high stakes players alone. Mid-stake gamblers who don’t mind spinning at $5 or more are also welcome. 

Being completely honest, the first time I ventured into a Las Vegas high limit slots area, I was a little intimidated. 

I thought I’d find nothing at my bet level and would have to walk out sheepishly. But I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed the quieter, more private gaming experience. 

If you’re going to try a high limit slots area, then Aria is a good one to start with, even if just for the décor alone. 

Cash and Payment Options

When it comes to gambling in Las Vegas, cash is still very much king. 

While you can use digital payments for all your hotel, food, and beverage, shows and attraction costs, you still need cash for the casino floor. Personally, that’s how I prefer it.

There’s nothing quite like handing over a couple of crisp $100 bills to the dealer and getting your chips. Or putting that first $100 into a slot. That is a thrill you just won't get at an online casino.

It also means that you have much more control over how much you spend rather than tapping a credit card left, right and centre. 

Something to flag here is ATM fees, which are notoriously bad throughout the strip. You can find one or two with low fees, but not in the major casinos themselves. Generally, you’re going to pay anything from $4 - $10 per withdrawal with casino ATM’s charging the most.

The good news is that, handpay jackpots aside, payouts are instantaneous. Even online casinos that payout fast can't compete with that. 

The exterior of Aria features two 50 storey curvilinear glass towers which are stunningly beautiful. 

I remember first walking into the resort, feeling a sense of anticipation of whether the interior would match the exterior, and I wasn’t disappointed. 

The spacious hotel lobby is bright and elegant, with water features and various art installations delivering a sense of both quality and tranquillity. 

With every season or big event, a new theme is installed in the lobby to reflect the occasion. This can include hanging artwork or materials, sculptures, flower arrangements or photographic backdrops. The Christmas and Fourth of July displays have been two of my favourites. 

As a recipient of the AAA Five Diamond Award, you should be able to expect a special experience when you stay at Aria, but is that the case in reality?

Aria Rooms

Aria has just over 4,000 rooms and prides itself on their quality.

They boast about rooms being technologically advanced and environmentally friendly. And it’s true – these were both deliberate defining characteristics of the original design.

I stayed in a Deluxe King room, which is the most basic room you can choose, and I have to say I was impressed.

From the minute I walked into the room, the large curtains opened automatically, adding a nice welcoming touch to my arrival. 

Looking around the room, it felt spacious, at around 520 square feet, with a well-designed layout, smartly decorated walls, and dark wood furnishings. 

The room felt incredibly light despite the dark decor, helped mostly by the huge floor to ceiling windows letting in lots of light, but also the minimalistic furniture in the room. 

While the bathroom had that wow factor, with a cool rounded bathtub, large separate shower and his and hers sinks with a cream and gold décor.

The room had all the standard amenities you’d expect such as hairdryer, iron/ironing board, TV, safe and bathroom toiletries. 

One extra special amenity though, was the in-room touchscreen controller. This allowed me to control the lights, temperature, curtains and even gave me the option to order room service

If you want a step up from the basic room, for an additional cost you can choose a ‘Stay Well’ room with offers additional wellness and air purifier technologies. 

Alternatively, you can book an Aria Tower Suite which starts at 920 square feet, or an Aria Sky Suite which go from an impressive 10,050 square feet. Obviously, this all depends on your budget. 

If you have a furry friend that you want to bring along, dog-friendly rooms are offered at Aria. An additional $150 per dog per room is required and there are various conditions you have to adhere to. If this is something of interest, check out the full conditions at the MGM website. 

Bars

There are plenty of places to enjoy a drink at Aria, some of the most popular bars include: 

• Lobby Bar – relaxed atmosphere with occasional pianist
• Gem Bar – lively centre casino bar 
• Alibi Ultra Lounge – opulent lounge bar with premium spirits
• Lift Bar – masterfully crafted cocktails and live music 

If you’re looking for a more informal drinking environment, then the Sportsbook bar is a good choice. Or you could have some fun trying to find the Aria speakeasy Easy’s Cocktail Lounge.

Don’t forget Jewel Nightclub is still one of the top go-to clubs in Las Vegas. Open Monday, Friday and Saturday, the club features headline DJ’s and artists and attracts a huge party crowd. 

Buffets and Restaurants 

Restaurants can be found on both the casino floor and the upstairs promenade at Aria. 

The resort features some of the best fine-dining and diverse restaurants of any Vegas hotel and casino which is one of the big perks of being an Aria guest. 

Whatever cuisine you enjoy, you’ll discover a good option at Aria. From Thai, Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese, Mediterranean, to good old-fashioned seafood and steak, you will find it all here. 

Some big highlights include Jean Georges Steakhouse, Julian Serrano Tapas, CATCH, Carbone, Din Tai Fung, and Javier’s.

My personal recommendation is Thai food restaurant Lemongrass. Set in beautiful surroundings, just off the main casino floor, the food is delicious and reasonably priced. I went for the Crispy Pork with Chinese Broccoli for $35 and it was outstanding. 

Quick, informal eats are also available at Aria. Moneyline Pizza, Posh Burger, Aria Patisserie and Starbucks all offer cheaper food options, as does the newly opened Proper Eats Food Hall.

Located on the second floor, the Proper Eats Food Hall is open 7am – 11pm everyday and has replaced the Aria buffet. It provides quick eat options from the around the world. 

Vendors include London’s Seoul Bird, Los Angeles Wexler’s Deli, San Diego’s Temaki Bar, New York’s Egghead, Mediterranean-centric Shalom Y’all, as well as only-in-Vegas eateries, such as Lola’s Burgers and Laughing Buddha.

Shows and Entertainment

Aria has no resident in-house shows or attractions. It has previously hosted Cirque du Soleil shows and headline acts in the CityCenter performance theatre. However, this closed quite a few years ago when the Convention Centre expanded. 

The truth is, though, it doesn't really need its own entertainment spaces. Guests at Aria can obviously visit shows and attractions at nearby resorts instead. 

Neighbouring property Park MGM is home to the Dolby Live amphitheatre where you can see the likes of Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. 

The T-Mobile Arena is also situated directly behind Park MGM which is home to the Las Vegas Golden Knights NHL team as well as hosting headlining acts such as Madonna, Justin Timberlake, and Usher. 

Aria is well situated for both as well as various Cirque du Soleil shows such as ‘O’ at the Bellagio, ‘Ka’ at MGM Grand and ‘Mad Apple’ at New York-New York. 

Aria Pool

If you’re keen to take a break from the casino for a while, then you can enjoy a chill day around one of Aria’s three pools.

They are all very close together and surrounded by palm trees and shrubbery to give a sense of relaxation and serenity. The Breeze Café and Pool Bar are also close by if you want snacks and refreshments. 

While there are plenty of free day beds on offer, you can also hire a cabana for an additional cost if you want to make it an extra special experience. 

When I visited the pool, it was later on in the day so was fairly quiet. I enjoyed a half hour dip in relative peace, but I know from experience that day times can get exceptionally busy, so I suggest you get there early to nab a bed.

LIQUID Pool Lounge is a 16,000 square foot adult-only day-club at Aria. Offering a child-free haven with poolside pampering, dipping pools, and refreshing cocktails, this looks ideal if you want some extra luxury and fun around the pool. 

Aria Spa

If you like a spa, then Aria is probably an exceptional choice for you. In fact, the proeprty boasts the largest Forbes Five-Star Spa in the world. 

There are an extensive array of treatments on offer, including the usual things like massage, skin-care, facials, aromatherapy, and an awful lot more. 

The attached salon offers hair and beauty services, including pedicures, and there is even a Kalologie Medspa which provides IV Therapy to help you get past jet lag and hangovers quickly. 

For the fitness fanatics among us, a fully equipped gym and fitness centre is also situated within the Aria spa.

Aria is part of the MGM Rewards program, which covers nine other resorts in Las Vegas.

This has one huge benefit. Because they are all linked, you can earn points and use rewards at any of the MGM properties, not just Aria.

There are five tiers in total you can climb, with benefits increasing every time you step up a tier. However, one of the wonderful things about MGM Rewards is that you still receive good perks, even on the lowest level. 

The tiers are set out as below starting with Sapphire and ending at Noir which is invitation only:

• Sapphire: complimentary rooms
• Pearl (20,000 tier credits): as above with free self-parking and occasional complimentary concert tickets
• Gold (75,000 tier credits): as above with zero resort fees and free room upgrades (where available)
• Platinum (200,000 tier credits): as above with airline credit and priority lines
• Noir (Invitation only): as above with guaranteed restaurant reservations

To sign up, just make your way to an MGM Rewards desk at any MGM property to complete a registration form. You’ll need to be at least 21 years old and have some form of photographic ID. 

You’ll start with a Sapphire MGM Rewards card and as soon as you get it, start using or showing the card every time you spend in an MGM property.

That means whether you’re paying for food and drink, show tickets, buying from shops and, of course, gambling. 

For slot players, just insert the card into the slot before you spin. For table players, hand the card to your dealer before you play. 

Showing your card whenever you spend money, means every dime can be recorded on your account to help you climb the tiers and gain bigger rewards. 

Should you join MGM Rewards?

For me, MGM Rewards is one of, if not the, best rewards program in Las Vegas. The fact that you can build up rewards by spending in nine different resorts means you have much more flexibility and opportunities to earn points. 

It can be a little confusing when it comes to how points are awarded, particularly when it comes to gambling.

MGM claim that they take into account both your gambling spends and the amount of time you actually gamble for when they work out your points.

It’s much more transparent with other transactions as you receive four tier credits for every dollar you spend on rooms, food, drink, and retail at MGM properties.

The good news is you can track your progress on the MGM Rewards app which updates in real time to show your progress. 

But it’s important to remember that climbing the tiers is not essential. You can still get perks and advantages even on a lower tier.

I’m currently at Pearl Level, which is only the second tier, but I receive benefits such as free hotel rooms, waived resort fees, free slot play and resort fees. You also earn comp dollars (essentially resort credit) and slots dollars (basically freeplay) as you gamble, which is an additional perk.

So don’t get obsessed with the tiers or the numbers, no matter how much they want you to. Just use the card whenever you can and enjoy the rewards that follow. 

Aria is undoubtedly stylish, contemporary, and impressive in many ways.

I enjoyed the room and could have easily spent longer as a guest. Even with the most basic of rooms, the standards were high, and I’d be interested to see how much more impressive the suites could be.

With regards to dining, I felt spoilt for choice. As someone who enjoys different cuisines, I could easily work my way through the extensive restaurants on offer. And hopefully, in time, I might.

The casino is vast, and I found every game I wanted to play, whether on slots, table games and bar-top gaming. 

However, and I almost can’t believe I’m saying this, Aria lacks something. But I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. 

Position wise, it has a decent location, close to other resorts and centre strip. But its set-back placement is a small negative requiring a five-minute walk just to get to the strip. 

While the casino is vast, its also very dark and spaced out so it doesn’t quite have the playful atmosphere of a casino such as New York-New York for example. Plus, the waitress service has been lacking on a number of my visits. 

For me, comfort is a big thing when I’m gambling. And at Aria, you can feel quite underdressed if you’re wearing casual. Due to its nightclub feel, it does feel more like somewhere I’d visit before or after an evening meal or a night out rather than a daytime casino.

With no resident attractions and an average pool complex, a lot of Aria’s attention seems to be on the aesthetics and styling with a focus on keeping that tone of sophistication throughout the property.

For me personally, I prefer a resort with a little more character and bounce, but there’s certainly a huge market in Vegas for Aria and for some, it will be their perfect resort.