Initial impressions of the stunning new Durango Casino & Resort
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The Southwest Valley finally has a resort to call its own. The 15-story Durango Casino & Resort is now open with dining, drinking, gaming and more than 200 hotel rooms, but does Station Casinos’ latest property live up to the hype? A few thoughts:
The place is gorgeous.
Durango has something you don’t see often in Vegas—a casino floor with windows that allow natural light and the presence of the outside world. The layout has been described as “box-like” but is easy to navigate without the sprawl associated with larger resorts. The top restaurants—Nicco’s, Summer House, Mijo and the George—have beautifully designed patios and it’s sometimes hard to figure out where the indoor and outdoor spaces begin and end. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the same old standard dining rooms.
The pool is the resort’s best decoration.
The pool likely won’t be open until March, but you can see what it looks like through towering floor-to-ceiling windows at Bel-Aire Lounge, one of Durango’s most rewarding surprises. The sophisticated Strip-style social spot has expertly crafted cocktails, indulgent small bites and lounge beats played at just the right volume. Give Durango credit for not putting a tiki hut with fruity tropical drinks next to the pool.
The food hall is more of a food district.
Eat Your Heart Out is less of an elevated food court and something more akin to the mixed formats of Eataly. You have direct-order counters and a few full-service, sit-down mini-restaurants. Fiorella is the most charming, modeled after Marc Vetri’s original pasta spot in Philadelphia with tin ceilings, chandeliers, vintage photos and beautifully plated dishes.
The coffee is the best you’ll find at any Vegas resort.
And it’s not even close. Vesta serves locally roasted coffee at counters in both the food hall and check-in lobby. The lattes and other specialty drinks are fun, but if you’re a coffee nerd who cares about the quality of carefully sourced beans, an automated pour-over machine brings out the natural flavors with no extra ingredients required.
The George will change the way you watch sports.
The George Sportsman’s Lounge
The George Sportsman’s Lounge is seamlessly integrated with the neighboring STN Sportsbook (with adjustable “hedges” in between). The outdoor patio feels like a huge backyard party with a stadium-style layout sloping in the direction of a massive video wall. The George is spicing up the sports viewing experience with DJs, a Kiss Cam and theatrical moments during commercial breaks. Don’t be surprised to see a mime dressed as a referee or an “angry housewife” in curlers show up.
Burgers, burgers, burgers.
Irv’s Burgers brings a decades-long SoCal legacy to Eat Your Heart Out, but there are plenty more options to discover on property. The Kobe beef sliders at Bel-Aire are full of flavor, topped with a decadent bone marrow butter. The smashburger at Nicco’s goes even further with a pair of Wagyu patties (a blend of Kobe, Hokkaido Snow and olive-fed beef) topped with special sauce and American cheese.
Cocktails come ‘round the clock.
Durango is a place where you can have a cocktail morning, noon and night. Summer House has a quick-serve counter that opens at 9 a.m. with boozy coffee and cocktails to go (along with some of the most decadent cookies in Las Vegas). DRNK in the food hall actually found a way to make alcohol-fueled slushies taste good. Wax Rabbit, a hidden lounge inside Mijo, is the resort’s most exclusive late-night hangout. Unlike most speakeasies in Vegas, it actually is hard to find, but once inside, you’ll appreciate the soft red glow and collection of agave spirits. And the George is open 24/7 to watch rugby and soccer at any hour with a lineup of cocktails made with edible paper and custom syrups.
Prices are ambitious.
The prices for almost anything at Durango would be reasonable for the Strip these days, but they push the limits of what’s accepted elsewhere around the Valley. Cocktails generally run in the $16-$18 range throughout the property. Yu-or-Mi has great sushi rolls (and gets credit for adding new dishes and not just repeating the menu from the original Arts District location) but is one of the most expensive offerings in the food hall. Happy hour menus or locals’ discounts would go a long way in building loyalty as Durango courts returning customers.
