Downtown hotel with the most "character"?

I'm giving a lot of consideration to an all-Downtown visit in 2017, partly as a way to keep the cost down and also for the experience. It seems a fun place to stay, and a change of pace from the Strip in a way.

From the cost-saving perspective, I like the sound of the hotels that don't charge resort fees, but my main consideration really is to try to find a Downtown hotel bursting with character and uniqueness that you can't quite so readily find on the Strip. I like the look of the Downtown Grand, and maybe for a different trip it would be perfect, but I get the sense that there are other more "characterful" hotels Downtown.

 

The el-cortez or golden gate would be another option.

 

If you're looking to keep the costs down, I would say you could do a lot worse than then 4 Queens, which is where another friend of mine from the UK always stays with his wife during the WSOP.

I always stay at the Nugget, because I like to stay where I'm spending most of my time, and not having to move about makes it easier.

 

Main Street Station is bursting with character with all the antiques, railcars etc throughout the entire place.

 

Wow, that does sound pretty great. They have a brewery there too, right?

 

Yes they do with some very tasty brews.
Maybe if VMB member Blonde for Ever reads this, I think she has a pdf of a brochure showing the antiques and where they came from. I think it is her, maybe not, but it is available at the Players Club desk, whether you stay there or not.

 

I've stayed at Downtown Grand a few times, and its fine, but it has NOTHING in character. I agree with the El Cortez (but an older crowd), MSS, or Golden Gate. Golden Gate is so small that you might absorb all of the "character" fairly quickly.

 

Just to throw in a little more character... The Golden Gate was issued the first telephone number in the City of Las Vegas in 1907. Their number was 1.

 

I must admit I am fan of the El Cortez. The casino opened in 1942 and still has the original facade. They offer $5 craps, 3/2 $5 blackjack, .25 cent roulette, refundable ATM fees, and fee free coin counting machine. If you buy the LVA member rewards book they have a coupon for a cabana suite for $45 the first night with the 2nd night free. One thing I laugh about is if you get 1500 points on your slow card you can get a free pack of smokes.

 

"Downtown hotel bursting with character and uniqueness"

I also vote Main Station Station. I think it best fits this description.

 

El Cortez. There's no more vintage character in any property in Las Vegas. MSS may have antiques on display, but the EC is the antique.

Nick

 

Agreed, we need to know what kind of "character" you're looking for. If you mean the place where you're most likely to witness something you'll still be talking about many years later, you want the El Cortez.

 

Excellent question, well put I have to admit that my head has been turned by the MSS recommendation, it really looks like the kind of place I had in mind. I actually played some BJ in El Cortez on my last visit and I absolutely know what people mean when they say that the property itself is the antique. It's a cool place, but MSS I think ticks the right boxes for me - antiques, character, brewery, no resort fee.

 

Don't forget Winston Churchills snooker table on the 2nd floor from the not so "secret" elevator at MSS

 

Definitely MSS. I mean you can piss on a piece of the Berlin Wall in the main Men's room. What's better than that?! (Ok, you'll have to miss the urinal a little to the side to actually 'hit' the Berlin Wall. The urinals are mounted on it.) Also, a lot of good gaming and a brewery.
The Golden Gate at 1 Main Street is the first hotel in Las Vegas, Nicely redone, it has many old old slot machines with fruit on the wheels and a nice vibe. The beds are newer and very comfortable like the better hotels on the Strip...but the rooms are tiny, tiny, tiny and their bathrooms are tinier, tinier, tinier.
The 4 Queens has a nice feel, low table minimums and fair games but the beds suck. I do most of my playing Downtown at the 4Qs but don't like staying there.
The El Co has a lot of good gaming but it's smokey as hell. I can't put up with the place longer than an hour and so I never stayed there.
The Golden Nugget has rooms most like the Strip properties, so I've read, but their gaming is horrible in comparison to the rest of the Downtown properties.

 

Bob Snow created a great casino with MSS. Definitely take the time to visit the 2nd floor and the tables.

I used to visit his Church Street Station in Orlando. What an amazing place....all European antiques and back bars from around the world.

 

The Berlin wall and Churchill's snooker table sound amazing! That's exactly the kinda thing i'm after haha

 

The urinals at the MSS men's bathroom are mounted to a piece of the Berlin Wall and they covered the wall lately with plexi-glass. I wonder why....:evillaugh

When I use the urinals I look left...then right....(sometimes up and down when drunk) and go ahead and pee on it.... plexi-glass and all (if nobody's looking):evillaugh