You know that feeling when you walk into a place and it just smells like money? Not in a tacky, gold-plated faucet kind of way, but in a "someone definitely thought about the air filtration system for three years" kind of way. That is the ARIA Resort & Casino. It’s been sitting there in the middle of CityCenter since 2009, and honestly, it still feels more modern than the shiny new builds that went up last week. It’s a massive glass monolith that somehow avoids feeling like a cold office building.
Most people get Las Vegas wrong. They think it's all about the neon and the cheap shrimp cocktails of the 90s. But ARIA changed the math. It’s the centerpiece of an $8.5 billion complex. Think about that number. It’s basically a city within a city.
The Tech That Actually Works (For Once)
When ARIA first opened, they bragged about being the most technologically advanced hotel in the world. Usually, that’s marketing speak for "the TV remote is confusing." Here, it actually means something. You walk into your room, and the curtains open automatically to show you the Strip. The lights dim. The temperature adjusts because it knows you’re there. It’s all controlled by a tablet next to the bed.
Kinda creepy? Maybe a little. But once you’ve used a tablet to order 2:00 AM fries without talking to a human being, you’ll never want to go back to a standard corded phone.
The tech isn't just for show, though. ARIA is a LEED Gold-certified building. In a desert city where water is basically liquid gold, that matters. They have high-tech features that save millions of gallons of water and use massive amounts of natural light to cut down on energy. It’s sustainable luxury, which sounds like an oxymoron, but they make it work.
The Rooms are the Real Star
Standard rooms at ARIA start at about 520 square feet. That’s huge. If you’ve ever stayed in a cramped hotel in New York or London, this feels like a palace. The floor-to-ceiling windows are the real kicker. You’re looking out at the Eiffel Tower at Paris or the Bellagio fountains, depending on which side you're on.
But if you really want to talk about the ARIA Resort & Casino experience, you have to mention the Sky Suites. This is the "Forbes Five-Star" territory. You get a private entrance. A private elevator. A lounge with free snacks and wine. It’s where the high rollers and celebrities hide out when they don't want to be bothered by the plebes at the penny slots.
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The Food Scene is Honestly Ridiculous
Las Vegas has become a graveyard for celebrity chef vanity projects, but ARIA has managed to curate a lineup that actually stays relevant. Carbone is the obvious heavyweight here. Good luck getting a reservation. It’s mid-century Italian-American glamour. The spicy rigatoni is famous for a reason, even if it’s all over Instagram.
Then there’s Din Tai Fung.
If you haven't had their soup dumplings (Xiao Long Bao), you haven't lived. Watching the chefs through the glass window as they meticulously fold every single dumpling is basically dinner theater. It’s precise. It’s fast. It’s delicious.
For the steak people, Jean Georges Steakhouse is the move. Jean-Georges Vongerichten is a legend, and he doesn’t miss here. They have some of the highest-grade A5 Wagyu you can find in the States. It'll cost you a month's rent, but hey, you're in Vegas.
Catch is another one. It’s loud. It’s got a flower tunnel that everyone takes photos in. The food is actually good—mostly seafood and sushi—but you’re really there for the vibe. It’s energetic. Sometimes too energetic if you're just trying to have a quiet conversation, but that's what the lobby bar is for.
What Nobody Tells You About the Casino Floor
The casino at ARIA is 150,000 square feet. It’s airy. Most casinos try to trap you in a windowless box so you lose track of time. ARIA uses a lot of natural light and high ceilings. The air feels cleaner because of their advanced filtration. You don't leave smelling like a stale cigarette from 1984.
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The "Ivey Room" used to be the big poker draw, named after Phil Ivey. Now it’s just Table 1. It’s where the highest stakes poker games in the world happen. You might see a guy lose a million dollars on a single hand like it’s nothing. It’s fascinating and horrifying all at once.
The Pool and Spa: A Survival Guide
Vegas in the summer is a furnace. It’s 110 degrees and your skin feels like it’s shrinking. The pool deck at ARIA is an elliptical layout that tries to maximize sun exposure, which is great for a tan but brutal if you don't have a cabana.
Pro tip: The Liquid Pool Lounge is the "party" pool. If you want to relax, stay away from there. If you want a DJ and overpriced vodka sodas, that’s your spot.
The Spa at ARIA is one of the best in the country. They have these heated stone ganbanyoku beds from Japan. You just lie on them and let the heat seep into your bones. They also have a salt room, which is supposed to help with breathing, but mostly it’s just very quiet and very peaceful.
Is CityCenter Actually Convenient?
ARIA is part of CityCenter, which includes Vdara, the Cosmopolitan, and the Shops at Crystals. It’s a lot of walking. Like, "wear comfortable shoes or your feet will bleed" kind of walking.
The Park MGM is right next door, which is great because it has Eataly and the Dolby Live theater. You can see Lady Gaga or Bruno Mars and walk back to your room at ARIA in ten minutes. That’s a huge plus. The tram connects ARIA to Bellagio and Park MGM, which saves you some steps, but it’s still a massive footprint.
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The art collection throughout the property is worth noting too. Maya Lin’s "Silver River" is hanging over the check-in desk. It’s an 84-foot cast of the Colorado River made of reclaimed silver. There are sculptures by Richard Serra and Henry Moore scattered around. It feels like a museum you’re allowed to drink in.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't pay the full "rack rate" if you can help it. Join the MGM Rewards program. Even the lowest tier gets you better rates than Expedia most of the time.
- The "Resort Fee" is real and it sucks. It’s about $50 a night plus tax. It covers Wi-Fi and pool access. You can’t opt out. Just factor it into your budget so you aren't mad at checkout.
- The parking is expensive. Unless you have a certain status with MGM, you're paying for self-parking. The walk from the garage to the front desk is long. Really long.
- Don't miss the buffet. Most Vegas buffets died during the pandemic, but the Buffet at ARIA survived. It’s not the cheapest, but the quality is high. The seafood station is legit.
Why It Still Matters in 2026
With newer resorts like Fontainebleau and Resorts World grabbing headlines, ARIA is now the "established" player. But it doesn't feel old. It feels refined. It’s for the person who wants the Vegas experience without the kitsch. You aren't going to see a pirate ship or a medieval castle here. You’re going to see glass, steel, and very expensive art.
It’s a place for adults. While kids are allowed, it’s not really "family-friendly" in the way the Disney-fied Vegas used to be. It’s sophisticated.
Actionable Steps for Your Stay
If you're planning a trip to the ARIA Resort & Casino, here is exactly how to handle it for the best experience:
- Download the MGM Rewards App: Use it for mobile check-in. The line at the front desk can be an hour long on a Friday afternoon. Skip it. Use your phone as a room key.
- Book Dinner Months Out: If you want Carbone or Jean Georges on a weekend, you need to book as soon as the window opens (usually 30-60 days).
- Request a High Floor: The views are significantly better above the 20th floor. Ask for a "Strip View" facing north for the best look at the fountains.
- Use the Tram: Don't walk to the Bellagio in the heat. The tram station is tucked away near the entrance to the Crystals mall.
- Check the Event Calendar: If there's a huge convention at the Las Vegas Convention Center or a big fight at T-Mobile Arena, prices will triple. Plan your dates around the "dead" spots in the calendar for the best value.
ARIA isn't the cheapest place on the Strip, but it’s arguably the most consistent. It’s high-end without being stuffy. It’s tech-heavy without being cold. It’s basically exactly what a modern Las Vegas resort should be.